- Martin Dunford
Thanks to the ubiquity of this series (which has expanded over the years to cover everything from horror movies to ethical shopping), The Rough Guides are often the first guidebooks that people think of. The Rough Guide to Rome does have a lot going for it; it gives a broad range of information on the city, as well as tips for a few daytrips out of Rome to places like Tivoli and Ostia Antica.
This is the kind of guidebook that makes a good all-rounder; perhaps it isn't the only one that you'll need, but it's probably the best one to keep with you in your bag while you're on the move in Rome.A particularly nice feature is the appendix, which contains extracts from writing on Rome by people like William Weaver and Elizabeth Bowen. There are also some handy maps, including a train and metro map, and a couple of pages of useful phrases.