Lonely Planet Armchair Escapes Right Now
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- Lonely Planet was founded in Melbourne in 1973 by Tony and Maureen Wheeler after a nine-month overland trip from London to Australia.
- The publisher's first guide, Across Asia on the Cheap (1973), sold 1,500 copies printed on a kitchen table.
- Lonely Planet's Pocket series launched in the early 2000s as compact city guides, typically 150–200 pages.
- The company has published over 650 travel guides across 14 languages, with annual updates for high-traffic destinations.
- Becca Blond and Celeste Brash co-authored Tahiti & French Polynesia (multiple editions from 2003 onward).
- A Year of Sport Travel (2018) organises global sporting events by month, from the Australian Open in January to the Dakar Rally in December.
Lonely Planet Pocket Seoul — Thomas O'Malley and Phillip Tang
The pocket-sized MVP for first-timers who want Seoul's palaces, markets, and BBQ joints without the overwhelm.
Thomas O'Malley and Phillip Tang distil South Korea's capital into a 150-page hit list — royal palaces in Jongno-gu, night markets in Dongdaemun, and the Gangnam district's neon sprawl. The Pocket format cuts the fluff (no 40-page history essays) and delivers walking routes, transport hacks, and where to eat kimchi jjigae at 2am. If you're planning three days in Seoul or just daydreaming from your Newtown couch, this guide does the work. The preloved copy at Patina might carry a coffee stain from someone's last layover at Incheon, but the intel's intact.
Explore our current copy of Lonely Planet Pocket Seoul | Browse more Travel books at Patina
Lonely Planet Dublin — Fionn Davenport
Fionn Davenport's Dublin guide is your cheat-sheet to pubs, Georgian doors, and literary history without the tourist-trap nonsense.
Davenport — a Dublin native and Lonely Planet veteran — walks you through Temple Bar's cobblestones, Trinity College's Long Room, and the Guinness Storehouse with the affection of someone who actually lives there. He flags the overpriced spots (yes, the Storehouse) and points you toward neighbourhood pubs where Joyce would've felt at home. The paperback format survives a pint spill, and the maps fold out cleanly. This edition's ideal for a long weekend or for armchair-travelling through Ireland's capital while Melbourne's weather does its worst. Our secondhand copy at Patina might have a creased corner from someone's Ryanair carry-on, but the pub recommendations hold up.
Explore our current copy of Lonely Planet Dublin | Browse more Travel books at Patina
A Year of Sport Travel — Lonely Planet
The bucket-list calendar for sports obsessives — 52 events across 12 months, from Melbourne's Australian Open to Peru's Dakar Rally.
Lonely Planet's 2018 thematic guide organises the planet's sporting calendar by month: the Super Bowl in February, Wimbledon in July, the Tour de France in July, and the Melbourne Cup in November. Each entry includes logistical intel (where to stay, how to score tickets, what to eat) plus cultural context — so you understand why the All Blacks' haka matters or why the Palio di Siena is a neighbourhood blood feud on horseback. It's half travel guide, half sports almanac, and entirely useful if you're plotting a year of events or just want to argue about which fixture deserves your annual leave. The hardback at Patina carries the weight of someone's unfinished travel list — all the Post-its are still inside.
Explore our current copy of A Year of Sport Travel | Browse more Travel books at Patina
Tahiti & French Polynesia — Becca Blond and Celeste Brash
Blond and Brash's comprehensive guide to 118 islands — from Bora Bora's overwater bungalows to Huahine's archaeological sites.
Becca Blond and Celeste Brash spent months island-hopping across French Polynesia to produce this doorstop of a travel guide, covering Tahiti's capital Papeete, the Tuamotu atolls, and the Marquesas Islands. They break down which islands suit honeymooners (Bora Bora, obviously) versus backpackers (Huahine, Maupiti), where to dive with manta rays, and how to navigate Air Tahiti's inter-island flights without bankrupting yourself. The English edition runs 300+ pages and includes transport schedules, accommodation tiers, and cultural notes on Polynesian marae (sacred sites). Our preloved copy at Patina might have sand in the spine from someone's Moorea beach trip, but the maps and logistics are intact. If you're armchair-travelling to the South Pacific from Sydney's Inner West, this is your departure lounge.
Explore our current copy of Tahiti & French Polynesia | Browse more Travel books at Patina
Pocket Oslo — Donna Wheeler
Wheeler's compact Oslo guide nails Norway's capital in 150 pages — Viking ships, Munch's Scream, and where to afford a coffee.
Donna Wheeler condenses Oslo into Lonely Planet's Pocket format: the Viking Ship Museum, the Munch Museum (home to The Scream), the Vigeland Sculpture Park's 200+ bronze nudes, and the waterfront's Aker Brygge district. She includes survival tips for Norway's eye-watering prices — where to find cheap-ish eats, free museums on Thursdays, and which ferry to Bygdøy peninsula won't cost you a kidney. The guide's small enough to fit in a jacket pocket (hence the name) and survives Oslo's October rain. Our secondhand copy at Patina might carry a fjord cruise brochure as a bookmark, but the walking routes and transport maps are clean. If you're plotting a Scandi escape or just need an Oslo fix from your Newtown flat, Wheeler's your local.
Explore our current copy of Pocket Oslo | Browse more Travel books at Patina
Whether you're plotting your next escape or just satisfying armchair wanderlust from Sydney, these Lonely Planet guides offer the research legwork without the new-book markup. As of June 2026, Patina's travel shelves include Pocket city guides, thematic collections, and regional deep-dives — all secondhand, all shipped Australia-wide from our Inner West base. Shop all Travel books at Patina Paperbacks →
Where can I buy secondhand Lonely Planet travel guides in Sydney?
Patina Paperbacks stocks rotating preloved Lonely Planet guides across city, regional, and thematic titles — from Pocket Seoul to French Polynesia. We're an online bookshop based in Sydney's Inner West, shipping Australia-wide (free over $29). The travel collection changes weekly as new stock arrives, so if you're after a specific destination, check back or subscribe to our newsletter for restocks.
Are older Lonely Planet guides still useful?
Depends on the destination and what you need. Hotel phone numbers and bus schedules date fast, but cultural context, neighbourhood walks, and museum recommendations hold up for years. A 2015 Dublin guide still nails Temple Bar's pubs; a 2010 Tahiti guide still covers which islands suit snorkellers versus hikers. For fast-changing cities like Seoul or Dubai, aim for editions from the last five years. For slower-moving destinations (Norwegian fjords, French Polynesian atolls), a decade-old guide works fine if you cross-reference transport online.
What's the difference between Lonely Planet's Pocket and regular city guides?
Pocket guides run 150–200 pages and focus on three-to-five-day itineraries — think weekend breaks or first-time visits. They skip the deep-dive history essays and outlying regions, sticking to city centres and top-tier sights. Regular city guides (300+ pages) include day trips, longer accommodation lists, and more granular neighbourhood coverage. If you're spending a week in Oslo or Dublin, the full guide gives you options; if it's a long weekend, the Pocket edition's enough.
Does Patina Paperbacks ship Lonely Planet guides Australia-wide?
Yes — we ship secondhand travel guides to every Australian state and territory from our Sydney base, with free shipping on orders over $29. Most parcels arrive within 3–7 business days via Australia Post. We pack books in recycled materials (no plastic bubble wrap), so your Pocket Seoul or Tahiti guide arrives in one piece. If you're in Sydney's Inner West, you can also arrange pickup from our Marrickville warehouse by appointment.
Which Lonely Planet guide should I buy for armchair travel?
Honestly, anything with strong visual appeal and cultural depth — thematic guides like A Year of Sport Travel or regional deep-dives like Tahiti & French Polynesia work better than hyper-practical Pocket editions. The big regional guides (300+ pages) include enough history, food culture, and photography to satisfy the couch-bound, while Pocket guides lean heavy on logistics (less fun when you're not actually booking flights). If you're armchair-travelling from Sydney, grab the destination you're most curious about and savour the maps.