Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet is a well-known publisher of travel guidebooks. Established in Australia in 1973, the company has sold more than 150 million books to date. It was started by Maureen and Tony Wheeler, a couple who set off on an adventurous journey from Europe to Asia and finally to Australia in 1972, retracing the path taken by the Oxford and Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition. The name "Lonely Planet" comes from a misinterpretation of the phrase "lovely planet" found in a song by Matthew Moore. Their very first book, titled Across Asia on the Cheap, was a 94-page guide created by the Wheelers in their home. The initial print run in 1973 featured simple stapled booklets with light blue cardboard covers. Tony Wheeler later returned to Asia to expand on their first book, leading to the release of Across Asia on the Cheap: A Complete Guide to Making the Overland Trip in 1975.

International, Consumer

English

Online/Digital

Outlet metrics

Domain Authority

Ranking

Global

#17322

United States

#9360

Travel and Tourism/Travel and Tourism

#85

Traffic sources

Monthly visitors

Articles

The ultimate guide to India's "toy trains"

2 days ago | lonelyplanet.com | Charukesi Ramadurai

On a crisp summer morning, a tiny passenger train snakes through the rolling hills around Ooty (Udhagamandalam) in South India. The train is moving at a painfully slow pace, but the passengers don’t seem overly bothered by the speed (or lack of it). Instead, they are captivated by the passing scenery – the lush hills, the rolling tea gardens and gurgling waterfalls, the countless stone bridges and dark tunnels.
The ultimate weekend in Manchester

5 days ago | lonelyplanet.com | Daniel Stables

I’m not Mancunian, but I have lived in Manchester most of my adult life – so it’s with a combination of great pride and outsider impartiality that I can say my adopted home is the most exciting city in the UK right now.
A first-time guide to Monaco

5 days ago | lonelyplanet.com | Chrissie McClatchie

Call it the ultimate pivot. In 1861, when Monaco was forced to cede most of its territory to France, you wouldn’t blame the ruling Grimaldi family for retreating into the depths of its 13th-century Genoese castle to lick their wounds. But this isn’t one of Europe’s longest-ruling royal families for nothing, and they fought back, smartly, turning the postage stamp-sized territory they were left with into a destination that would become a byword for glitz and glamour.
New York City's best pizza, bagels and burgers

6 days ago | lonelyplanet.com | Ann Douglas Lott

In a place that’s as food-obsessed as New York City, there are some meals that the Big Apple would feel incomplete without. There’s the New York Happy Meal, which typically consists of a martini and fries, often accompanied by a caesar salad for peace of mind. There’s the sandwich order that your local bodega has memorized. There are the hot dogs at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field and the rich, dense New York-style cheesecake.
A definitive guide to Spain's wine regions

6 days ago | lonelyplanet.com | Jamie Ditaranto

For lovers of bold, oaky red wines and crisp whites that remind you of that perfect seaside day, Spain is a dream. There are more than 100 officially recognized wine regions in the country that vary in notoriety from the small but fruitful province of La Rioja to the smaller, more niche regions producing heroic wines at high altitudes like Priorat in Catalonia or along the cliffs of Arribes del Duero in one of the most remote parts of Castilla y León.
11 of the best outdoor experiences in Mexico

1 week ago | lonelyplanet.com | Regis St. Louis

Home to parched deserts, verdant rainforests and most ecosystems in between, Mexico offers a dazzling array of outdoor adventures. Think zip-lining over canyons, snorkeling amid coral reefs and paddling your way over frothing rapids against a jungle-clad backdrop. Mexico is the place for pursuing your passion (or learning something new), whether that’s surfing, hiking, bird-watching, scuba diving or kiteboarding.
10 affordable destinations for budget-friendly travel

1 week ago | lonelyplanet.com | Anna Kaminski

Traveling to far-off corners of the world needn’t make you drift into insolvency. Whether you’re looking to trek in Nepal’s mountains, immerse yourself in traditional village life on Indonesia’s less-visited islands, surf in Nicaragua, attend all-night reggae fests in Jamaica, or explore the attractions of southern Spain, it’s often a matter of getting the timing right.
A first-time guide to Kos

1 week ago | lonelyplanet.com | Kate Armstrong

The third-largest island of the Dodecanese (after Rhodes and Karpathos), the beautiful island of Kos caters to everyone, including families and adrenaline junkies. It offers perfect beaches (one with hot springs), the ancient health sanatorium of Asklipieion, mountain villages surrounded by pine trees, tours of local honey and wine makers, and the alluring alleyways of Kos Town and villages.
Save vs Splurge: Tokyo

1 week ago | lonelyplanet.com | Caroline Trefler

While the current exchange rate between the Japanese yen and the US dollar bodes well for stretching your travel budget, Tokyo can still be expensive. And since we always want to be thoughtful about where to spend and where to save, here are some thoughts to guide you. FoodThere’s a good chance that your travel plans to Tokyo will revolve around eating, so prioritize accordingly.
The ultimate spring weekend in Copenhagen

1 week ago | lonelyplanet.com | Brekke Fletcher

Copenhagen is the type of city that makes you feel cool by default, as if its vibe transfers onto you by simply being there. CPH (yes it's the airport code, but that's what some people call it), Denmark’s darling, dynamic and delightful capital, is known for its walkable and easy-to-traverse city core and gorgeous waterways, not to mention hip bars and restaurants, a focus on sustainability and historical architecture alongside modern, innovative designs.