This new, fourth edition of Bradt's Italy: Abruzzo remains the only standalone English-language guide to this beautiful, increasingly favoured part of Italy. Abruzzo offers the best of undiscovered Italy, from pristine beaches to mountain glaciers, with charming medieval villages clinging to the hillsides in between. This edition has been thoroughly updated to cover all recent developments, explaining in detail its appeal for active tourism, including wildlife-watching, trekking, skiing and horse-riding, plus family holidays. Abruzzo offers one of Italy's most beautiful coastlines, which lie near the country's tallest mountain ranges outside the Alps. Little wonder that Abruzzo is Italy's second most popular skiing centre bar the Alps and that it offers some the country's finest hiking and wildlife-watching opportunities. Moreover, according to the 'I Borghi Piu Belli d'Italia' ('Italy's most beautiful towns') programme, Abruzzo has 25 such locations, second only to Umbria. What makes the Abruzzo region remarkable is that, despite being so close to Rome, it is still about as unique and authentic an Italian experience as you can get in a country so devoured by international tourism. The Abruzzesi feel a sense of relief about this, viewing theirs as the one truly untouched region in Italy and this despite increasing accessibility from other European countries and its emergence as a leading conference destination. Alongside practical information on how to get around, and suggestions for the best places to stay and eat (including both secret urban gems and remote rural idylls), Bradt's Italy: Abruzzo also advises on where to go to enjoy Blue Flag beaches, mountain walks, pristine castles, frescoed churches, World War II commemorative sites, Roman ruins and the chance to spot charismatic animals such as brown bears and grey wolves. There is extensive coverage of Abruzzo's notable cultural and linguistic diversity, and of its cuisine: Abruzzo is home to most of Italy's pasta production. Written with warmth and insight by a native Abruzzese, this fourth edition of Bradt's Italy: Abruzzo contains all the practical and background information, and expert local advice, you need to discover this surprising, enchanting Italian region. AUTHOR: Luciano Di Gregorio (lucianodigregorio.com) is a freelance writer and editor, as well as an educator at both secondary and tertiary levels. He was born and raised as a child in Pescara (Abruzzo, Italy) and later grew up in Melbourne. Luciano spent almost ten years living in Hong Kong, as well as a few years living in London and Brussels. He is currently focusing on an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University, as well as lecturing for a university. He speaks a number of languages and strives to learn more. As a freelance travel writer, he has authored every edition of Bradt's Italy: Abruzzo, has updated other guidebooks and has written for various newspapers and magazines. He recently returned to Abruzzo to live.
This new, thoroughly updated sixth edition of Bradt's Faroe Islands remains the only English-language guide to this isolated, unspoiled Nordic archipelago, home to Tórshavn (the world's smallest capital). There are twice as many sheep as people - meaning that it's still possible to discover a way of life that is fast disappearing elsewhere in Europe, a place where sheep were fitted with cameras to help film for Google Streetview (locally dubbed Google 'Sheepview').
Visiting the Faroes is a chance to experience nature in the raw. Its breathtaking landscapes never fail to inspire, from the highest sea cliffs in Europe at Enniberg on the island of Viðoy to the dramatic seascapes at Akraberg, the southernmost point of the Faroes. Also included are details of how to reach even the remotest corners by bus using a travel card, information on falling seabird numbers in the North Atlantic, and details of where to go sea angling, sea kayaking, birdwatching and horseriding.
Written by expert author James Proctor, who has been visiting the Faroes since 1992, this guidebook offers detailed information about all 18 islands (including Mykines, whose year-round population is barely in double figures). Within the islands themselves, Bradt's Faroe Islands is recognised as the definitive source of information about the Faroes in the English language - and is widely respected as such. There's hands-on advice about where to stay and eat, how to get around - be it by local ferry, helicopter or your own hire car - and what to see and do. This latest edition includes all the most recent developments (including improvements in air, ferry and road travel - the latter including the world's only subsea roundabout - and an expansion in sea-kayaking opportunities) and provides all the information needed for a successful trip, with updated reviews of accommodation (plus Tórshavn's classy new hotels), eating and drinking options.
Whether you're visiting for the amazing birdlife, to walk some of Europe's least-known hiking trails or simply to sample real village life among the turf-roofed houses painted in a mêlée of reds, yellows and blues, Bradt's Faroe Islands is the perfect companion.
This new fully updated 3rd edition of Bradt's Kosovo is the only full-length English guidebook to this land rich in cultural heritage, generous hospitality and stunning scenery which is celebrating its 10th anniversary of unilateral independence from Serbia. Updated by two resident tourism experts, this new edition is an ideal companion for all visitors, offering maps, contacts and detailed information not easily accessible online, insider knowledge of one of Europe's last unspoiled destinations, and comprehensive detail on sites, attractions and practical information.
What was once a hub for adventurous backpackers and international organisations has become an outdoor adventure destination in its own right with a compelling buzz thanks in part to a vibrant and dynamic young population: the average age here is 26. Mega-hiking trails like the Via Dinarica and Peaks of the Balkans have brought attention to the country's unmatched scenery and multitude of 2,500+ metre peaks. New via ferratas - climbing routes - in the country's north and west appeal to the adventurous set, while newly restored archaeological sites offer a haven for history buffs as well. This third edition contains a wealth of new tour operators and fully updated maps to key cities and regions that make it easier than ever to explore Europe's youngest country.
Ringed by high mountains and recovering from a turbulent past, Kosovo is enjoying a tourism renaissance. Following this guide, visitors can ski over pristine snowfields and hike among saw-toothed mountains, explore the ebb and flow of Islam and of Orthodox Christianity at beautiful shrines such as Gracanica Monastery or Prizren's Sinan Pasha Mosque, sample raki at one of the vineyards, visit a traditional stone kulla, and be initiated into Prishtina's coffee-drinking culture. Bradt's Kosovo caters for all travellers. With detailed descriptions of the country's lively cafés and wide-ranging restaurants, as well as the thriving outdoor adventure scene, plus accommodation to suit all budgets, this new edition is the ideal companion for tourists, NGOs and long-term visitors.
Fully updated for this third edition by expert author Annie Kay (for over 10 years Chairman of the British-Bulgarian Society and a part-time resident of Sofia), Bradt's Bulgaria offers a comprehensive guide to this increasingly popular country, location of Provadia, Europe's oldest prehistoric town. Detailed background information is combined with everything from tips on the best hotels and mehanas to hiking through the Rila Mountains in search of brown bear or simply strolling around Nesebur's harbour. Bradt's Bulgaria also offers better coverage of the country's compelling natural history than any other guide.
New for this edition are greater coverage of outdoor activities and adventure trips, a fresh perspective on Bulgaria's burgeoning music scene and nightlife, significantly increased coverage of food and wine - including winery tours, the local grapes, and some on site restaurants and hotels - plus the benefit of new contributions from locals sharing their inside knowledge of local towns. Also covered are improvements to infrastructure and new attractions such as the Historical Park, the world's largest history park near the Black Sea city of Varna, offering an interactive trip in time going back thousands of years.
Bulgaria has a history and culture as rich and diverse as its landscape. From the gold-domed churches of Sofia to the picturesque National Revival houses of Koprivshtitsa, mountain monasteries to medieval fortresses and ancient rock formations, the country boasts an eclectic mix of traditions and architecture. Recent archaeological discoveries are detailed in this new edition, along with Bulgaria's participation in the European rewilding scheme. From Plovdiv's UNESCO-listed Old Town to the frescoes of Rila Monastery, skiing to eagle spotting in Pirin National Park, elegant Ruse to the deserted beaches of the Black Sea coast, or the former capital of Veliko Turnovo to the famous mountain town of Koprivshtitsa, Bradt's Bulgaria is the ideal companion for a perfect trip
This new, thoroughly updated fifth edition of Bradt's award-winning Iceland guide remains the most in-depth guide available to one of the few countries in the world that has no mosquitoes, no ants, no Starbucks and no MacDonalds. Featuring honest, practical information from an author who has repeatedly visited the country over twenty years and is familiar with its language, history and culture, Bradt's Iceland has won the Lowell Thomas Award (the highest travel writing award available in the United States) and provides more context for individual places than any other guidebook, plus frank, investigative hotel and restaurant reviews that hide nothing.
This latest edition covers everything you would expect, from the Northern Lights to snow mobiling, dog sledding, visiting West Fjords, Iceland's remotest corner, and the Laugavegur trail, Iceland's most famous 5-day trek. New developments covered include the merging together of different Nature Reserves and National Parks under the 'Vatnajökull National Park' banner, better infrastructure throughout the entire country, new hotels, restaurants, bars and geothermal spas, and more tour companies offering a wider variety of activities. For Reykjavik, there has been a complete update of the city's nightlife, restaurants, hotels, swimming pools and festivals, while other new features include fuller coverage of East Iceland, visiting hot springs and spas, 4X4 adventures in the Icelandic Highlands, plus more details of how and where to experience Iceland's amazing wildlife. Bradt's Iceland also offers the most detailed maps of any guidebook.
Based on 20 years of personal and business travel, exploration and adventure all around the country, the guide is exhaustive, well-researched and comprehensive, featuring a year-round approach to travelling in Iceland in line with the development of the local tourist industry to offer attractions beyond the normal summer season. As a contributor to National Geographic, and a frequent host for tours to Iceland, Andrew Evans explores some of the remotest corners of the country regularly. He continues to lecture about the country to high-end tour groups, as well as the National Geographic Society and Smithsonian Institution. His guide is exhaustive, allowing travellers to make informed decisions, to go anywhere and explore anything.
Bradt's Estonia remains the only English-language guidebook to this Baltics destination and this eighth edition reveals more of the country than any previous guide. Offering extensive coverage of Estonia's complex cultural history and its artists, writers and musicians, alongside comprehensive practical information, Baltics expert Neil Taylor MBE proves that there's much more to Estonia than the cobbled streets and cafés of Tallinn.
Extensive background and practical information is followed by detailed coverage of the fairytale city of Tallinn and the surrounding area, as well as dedicated chapters on north, south, west and central Estonia. Read about John Quincy Adams' visit to Tallinn in 1814, Jack Kennedy's in 1939 and Barack Obama's in 2015. Discover The Windtower at Käina on Hiiumaa Island, a totally 21st-century experience of the countryside and sea, as stimulating to the ears as it is to the eyes; and explore Estonia's maritime history at state-of-the-art Seaplane Harbour. Visit Narva, where 95% of the population speak Russian, but all the signs are in English; and learn why an Estonian President insisted on holding a press conference in a toilet!
From Rakvere, Tapa and Lake Peipsi to Põlva and the Russian Borderlands and the islands of Kihnu, Saaremaa and Vormsi, Bradt's Estonia reaches all corners of the country.
Written by Arctic expert Polly Evans, this new, thoroughly updated fourth edition of Bradt's Northern Lights: a Practical Travel Guide does what it says on the tin, providing practical guidance to the best places to view the natural phenomenon also known as the aurora borealis. Designed for the many people who dream of witnessing this spectacle, it remains the only guidebook to provide detailed treatment of optimum locations across North America (Canada, Alaska), Greenland and Europe (Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland) while also covering practicalities, with this edition providing greater detail on a wider range of accommodation options, from budget hotels to Sweden's spectacular ICEHOTEL, built each year from river water before melting in spring.
The northern lights - arguably the greatest light show you'll ever see - are a major, increasingly popular tourist draw of the Arctic and sub-Arctic winter. The experience is also increasingly popular: in the decade to 2016, winter tourism to northern Norway increased by 378%.
As well as advice on the best places to see auroras, this guide offers a succinct, easy-to-understand explanation of the science behind the northern lights, and provides information on tour operators offering northern lights packages, up-to-date guidance on photographing the aurora in the light of technological improvements, alongside practical tips including what to wear, how to drive in winter conditions and how to understand northern lights forecasting.
The guide is further enriched by suggestions for complementary daytime activities such as dog sledging, skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and wildlife safaris; an examination of the reactions of the early explorers to their first sightings of this phenomenon; and insights into the myths and legends of the northern indigenous peoples. There is even advice on how and where to get married in ice chapels!
Whether the northern lights are still on your bucket list or you are an experienced aurora aficionado, Bradt's comprehensive guide to the Northern Lights remains the essential companion to planning and getting the most out of any trip to watch one of the world's most remarkable events.
This new, sixth edition of Bradt's Montenegro is the most comprehensive guide available to one of Europe's hidden corners and features many areas not covered by other guides. Thoroughly updated to incorporate all the most recent developments, from practical information on where to go, stay and eat to vivid descriptions, historical insights and in-depth background on both well-known and off-the-beaten track sights, it is an ideal companion for both independent and group travellers. Beach lovers, culture aficionados, hikers, adrenaline-seekers, birding and wildlife enthusiasts and foodies are all catered for, with details of everything from coastal retreats, the Buljarica wetlands and Ulcinj saltpans to Durmitor and Biogradska national parks, Prokletije Mountains and cultural big-hitters such as Cetinje and Kotor, as well as the many reminders of the country's Ottoman and Venetian heritage.
With new flight routes opening up and the tourist board working hard to promote the country, Montenegro's popularity is on the rise. The Via Dinarica and Balkan Peaks long-distance trails both pass through Montenegro and are drawing ever greater numbers, while adventure sports - climbing, skiing, mountain biking, sea kayaking, coasteering, and white-water rafting, to name a few - form an increasingly significant part of the country's appeal. Montenegrin wine, too, is attracting a growing band of devotees.
With medieval gems and a stark rugged beauty, the country offers something for everyone and with Bradt's Montenegro you are perfectly equipped for a successful trip.
Bradt's Umbria & the Marche is the most detailed guide to combine these two small central Italian regions, which offer all the beauty, history and culture of neighbouring Tuscany only without the crowds, the traffic or eye-popping prices. Dana Facaros and Michael Pauls (authors of the original Cadogan guide to the area) lived in Umbria in the 1980s and have been returning regularly and writing about it ever since. They are the perfect guides to the region's landscapes, hill towns, food and wine, and art and architecture.
The superb art cities of Umbria and the Marche steal the limelight - Perugia, Orvieto, Urbino, Assisi, Spoleto, Loreto, Todi, where art fills every church and palazzo. But never far from these centres wait unspoiled countryside of rolling olive groves, forests and meadows, long walks and towns and tiny villages, nearly all with a masterpiece or two to show off and a great little family-run restaurant. The Bradt guide covers them all, along with the republic of San Marino.
The Apennines rule here. The Marche's geography is dominated by a series of east-west river valleys - the Metauro, Esino, Tronto, etc - twisting down to the Adriatic and often ending in long sandy beaches, from the historic towns of Senigallia and Fano through Ancona's Cornero Riviera to the Riviera delle Palme at San Benedetto del Tronto. Landlocked Umbria, where rivers flow into the mighty Tiber, has exceptional water features as well: Italy's fourth largest lake, Trasimeno; the Tiber Valley; Clitunno springs (once sacred to the Romans); and Italy's most beautiful waterfall, the Cascata delle Marmore.
Featuring superb photography and expert recommendations to suit all budgets, Umbria & the Marche - the fifth in Bradt's increasingly highly regarded series of Italian regional titles - is a timely guide to a more authentic corner of Italy.
This new, thoroughly updated edition of Bradt's Belarus remains the only full-blown standalone guide to the most westerly of the constituent republics that formed the Soviet Union prior to the break-up in 1991. Written and updated by expert author and Russian speaker Nigel Roberts, who has been travelling throughout the country for over 17 years, it is the definitive guide to understanding, and making the most of a visit to this much-misunderstood nation.
Included in this new edition is a detailed focus on the capital city Minsk, the most likely destination for first-time travellers and now becoming a major European capital city thanks to an easing of visa regulations, as well as coverage of each of the other five cities and all six regions. Roberts draws on his years of experience and shares many stories and vignettes of his own adventures and experiences of everyday life, all of which help to bring the destination to life. In addition, there are recommendations and tips from his wide circle of contacts, including people at all levels of the tourism industry, charities working on the ground, local people and travellers from abroad, who regularly share details of up-to-the-minute information, changes and developments.
With Bradt's Belarus enjoy the opportunity to put the cliché to the test; only ever described by Western media as 'the last dictatorship in Europe', travellers certainly do have the opportunity to experience elements of life as it was lived in the days of the Soviet Union but can also see beyond the cliché as Belarus seeks to free itself from the Soviet past and establish its own heritage and place in the modern world. Discover beautifully preserved and restored museum towns such as Mir, Njasvizh, Novogrudok, Pinsk and Polotsk; see Soviet-style brutalist and modernist architecture; explore accessible national parks and vast areas of unspoilt wilderness, with ample opportunity to study flora and fauna; visit historic palaces and castles stunningly restored; and enjoy the unconditional hospitality of a people who are anxious to interact with visitors from the English-speaking world.
This new, fully updated fourth edition of Bradt's Kosovo remains the only full-length, English-language guidebook to this Balkan land rich in cultural heritage and contemporary arts, and oozing generous hospitality and stunning scenery. This new edition is ideal for visitors and expats alike, offering maps, contacts and detailed information not easily accessible online, insider knowledge of one of Europe's last unspoiled destinations, and comprehensive detail on sites, attractions and practical information.
Ringed by high mountains and overcoming a turbulent past, increasingly serviced by low-cost flights and benefitting from investment in travel infrastructure, Kosovo is enjoying a tourism renaissance. What was once a hub for adventurous backpackers and international organisations, Europe's youngest country has become a leading outdoors destination in its own right. On mega-hiking trails like the Via Dinarica and the Peaks of the Balkans, you can hike up saw-toothed mountains, with 20 peaks exceeding 2,500 m altitude. This edition features new via ferratas - climbing routes - in the country's north and west, plus thrilling new opportunities for off-piste skiing, zip lining and paragliding.
Prishtina's ever-changing cafe and restaurant scene remains a must, while fresh for this edition include new tourist attractions, such as Germia's adventure park and the Kosovo War Museum. Enthusiasts of Brutalist architecture have plenty to admire, notably Prishtina's National Library, while recently restored archaeological sites, such as Ulpiana and Novo Brdo, offer a haven for history buffs. Gjakova has complemented its flourishing cafe and shopping scene with new nature-tourism offerings. Kosovo has become a leading venue for international DJs, while Grammy-winning popstar Dua Lipa's Sunny Hill Festival has put the country firmly on the musical map, doing for music what Dokufest (Kosovo's documentary and short-film festival) has done for film.
Whether you enjoy a traditional meal and overnight stay in a well-preserved kulla (stone tower-house), relax by sampling raki at a vineyard, or rejuvenate through the dynamic vibe of a country where half the population is aged under 25, Kosovo will surprise and excite. This fourth edition of Bradt's Kosovo contains all the up-to-date information critical to a smooth visit, making it an indispensable travelling companion.
This comprehensive guide to Croatia's capital provides travelers with everything they need to explore this charming city, from the sparkling cultural scene to romantic castles and woodland walks in the surrounding countryside.
