Travel with Rick Steves
Episodes
677 Parisians; Heart of Italy; The Scent Trail
21 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Author Graham Robb describes a few of the extraordinary historical characters of Paris. Then vintner and tour guide Cecilia Bottai shares tips for pla...
676 Birth of Korean Cool; Perfect Week in Portugal
14 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Journalist Euny Hong explains how South Korea has made itself not only an economic powerhouse but a pop-culture superpower. And tour guides from Portu...
675 Appalachian Music Trails; Loire Valley Chateaux; Achtung Baby
07 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
British travel writer Will Hide recounts his journeys along the back roads of Appalachia, where country music first arose from the melodies and instru...
674 Driving in Ireland; Women Who Wander; Primed for Prague
30 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Guidebook co-author Pat O'Connor delves into the details of driving in Ireland, where renting a car can be worth the extra expense when it gives you t...
673 Visiting Antarctica; Journeys of Trees; Italy's Northern Lakes
23 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Travel writer Julian Sancton tells us how a trip to Antarctica helped him see that continent through the eyes of the early polar explorers. Then scien...
519a Saints of Ireland and France; David Suchet Steps of St. Peter
16 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Get acquainted with some of the most popular French and Italian saints, and learn why they remain important to their countrymen. Plus, actor David Suc...
672 Paddle Boldly; Hape Kerkeling's Camino; Sacred New Mexico
09 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kayaker Dave Ellingson tells us how he learned to savor the unexpected on a paddling adventure in Minnesota. Then German comedian Hape Kerkeling reliv...
671 Three-Hour Louvre; Friend in Foreign Service; Summer of '73
02 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Get an expert's tips for enjoying the best of the Louvre's gigantic trove of treasures on a short visit. Then hear about what you can expect from US e...
670 Weekend in Brussels; The Temporary European; My Town
26 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A Brussels-based tour guide offers his recommendations for making the most of a weekend in the Belgian capital. Then one of Rick's co-authors joins us...
669 Maeve Higgins Loves You; Kinsale Ireland
19 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Irish-born comedian and writer Maeve Higgins shares what she's observed about the US after a decade of living in New York City, and Irish tour guide B...
557a Speaking in Irish; On the Wind; Irish Craic
12 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hear how the Irish language, once banned by English colonial rulers, has re-assumed its place at the heart of Irish identity. Then listen in as musici...
668 Ancient Ohio Trail; Endangered Places 2022; Atlas Obscura Curiosities
05 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Learn about the Ancient Ohio Trail and its cluster of mysterious geometric earthworks left behind by pre-Columbian "mound builder" cultures. Then find...
667 R. L. Stevenson South Seas; Around the World in 80 Books; Why Wales
26 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Author J. Maarten Troost recounts his journeys sailing the South Pacific in the wake of Robert Louis Stevenson, and the contentment and sobriety he fo...
547a Gaudí's Sagrada Família; Globally Curious
19 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
An expert on Antoni Gaudí reveals what the Modernista architect had envisioned for Barcelona's magnificent Sagrada Família church, and s...
666 Unter den Linden; Touring the Thames; A Heart for Public Art
12 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A pair of German tour guides take us on a vicarious stroll down Unter den Linden, the famed tree-lined boulevard running through the heart of Berlin, ...
665 Surprises from Boring Places; Sidecountry; Dakar, Senegal
05 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We consider how visiting second- and third-tier destinations — places some might dismiss as "boring" — can lead to the most rewarding trav...
664 Tblisi; Bruges; Milan
29 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A young "digital nomad" tells us why Tblisi, in the Republic of Georgia, makes an ideal home base for working abroad. Then a Belgian tour guide descri...
574a American Hawaii; Aloha Rodeo; Surfing Groundswell
22 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Historian Sarah Vowell revisits how the Hawaiian Islands became an American territory in the 19th century, then journalist David Wolman tells us how t...
663 The MLK Trail; Afghanistan Ski Challenge; Favorite Travel Memories
15 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The president of the social-justice nonprofit Sojourners joins Rick to discuss places you can visit to better appreciate the life and civil-rights acc...
662 Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail; When I Return to London; South of England
08 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We hear from a young traveler who, having graduated from college amid the pandemic, used the opportunity to set out on an epic hike from Mexico to Can...
661 Auld Lang Syne; Paris Sommelier; Gastro Obscura New Year's; Waters of Rome
01 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Two Scottish friends explain the Scots-dialect lyrics to "Auld Lang Syne," and a Parisian sommelier shares his expert tips for selecting — and e...
427b Even More European Christmas Traditions
25 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Learn about holiday traditions observed in France, Norway, Greece, London, the Spanish Basque Country, and small-town Italy. From festively decorated ...
508b Another European Christmas
18 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hear about what Europeans are looking forward to at this time of year, from Saint Nicholas Day through Boxing Day, in Germany, England, Belgium, Hunga...
660 A Theroux Traveler; Why We Travel; Winter in Paris; Dingle Bells
11 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Rick talks with author Paul Theroux about the advantages of traveling solo, and swaps some travel-writing tricks, then TV host Samantha Brown joins us...
659 Lyon; Building a Beloved Community; Influential Iceland
04 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A pair of French tour guides tell us why Lyon is one of their favorite places in France. Then the president of the social-justice nonprofit Sojourners...
546a Greek Godmother; Lidia's American Dream; Promised Land
27 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A Greece-based tour guide describes the elevated role of godparents in her adopted country, where godparents become a lifelong part of the child's fam...
658 Humble American Bragging; Why I Love Madrid; Deep Time Journey
20 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
British travel writer Richard Grant discusses the sporting sense of humor he's observed (and appreciated) behind the distinctly American talent for ov...
657 Perillo Family Italy; Soul of South Korea; Visiting Europe Now
13 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tour operator Steve Perillo describes his family's connection to a scenic town near Naples, and why he's so eager to return. Then travel writer Chaney...
656 On Travel Writing; Antarctic Madhouse; Enchantress of Florence
06 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Rick on a dip into the deeper end of travel literature as he talks with travel essayist Pico Iyer about writing from the heart, then with author ...
581a Recoleta Cemetery; Spooky Atlas Obscura; Near the Exit
30 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Just in time for Halloween and Day of the Dead, meet some of the famous residents of Buenos Aires' Recoleta Cemetery, then take an armchair expedition...
655 SF East Bay; A Week in London; Climate Crucible
23 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Roman Mars, host of the podcast "99 Percent Invisible," describes some of his favorite examples of clever design from his home turf in Oakland and Ber...
654 Best of Bulgaria; Traveling with Disabilities; Chasing the Sun
16 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Two tour guides from Sofia explain why Bulgaria is one of Europe's most underrated travel destinations (hint: it has a long, fascinating history &mdas...
538a Why I Love Berlin; Italian Coffee Bars
09 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Three tour guides from Berlin suggest sights to see and experiences to enjoy in Germany's vibrant, changing capital. And to celebrate Oktoberfest seas...
653 Ærø Island Denmark; Emilia-Romagna; Italian View of Sicily
02 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Find out what makes the small Danish island of Ærø a perfectly charming and cozy getaway, which region Italophile Fred Plotkin consi...
652 Gastro Obscura; Disney World Update; Memory Lane
25 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A writer with Atlas Obscura describes some of the world's most unusual foods — and extraordinary places to eat them. Then the author of Frommer'...
651 Inner Hebrides; Soul of the Family Tree; Ancient Ireland
18 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Scottish tour guides share their best advice for a spirit-boosting trip to the enchanting isles of Scotland's Inner Hebrides. Then author Lori Erickso...
495a National Parks Dinner Party; The Great Southwest; Crazy Utah Bike Ride
11 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Author Terry Tempest Williams describes the various "personalities" of a dozen US national parks, and examines each one's contributions to the America...
650 Silver Linings; Basque Cities; English Villages
04 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Travel writer Don George shares the reflections that have helped him get through the pandemic with a positive outlook. Then tour guides from the borde...
649 Bowen Island, BC; Arctic Wisdom; Warsaw
28 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Listen in as a University of British Columbia professor describes the woodsy charm of Bowen Island, just offshore from Vancouver, and a nature photogr...
580a Villages of Tuscany; Megafauna
21 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
American-born tour guides who've settled in Tuscany explain why it's an ideal region for experiencing the essence of Italy. And the curator of mammalo...
648 Becoming a Digital Nomad; Window Seat; Spirit of the Grand Canyon
14 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Get tips on becoming a "digital nomad" from an American who relocated to the Republic of Georgia. Then consider ideas for taking a deeper look at the ...
647 Algarve Coast; Fijian Customs; What Pandemic Showed Me
07 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Find out what makes the coastline of southern Portugal's Algarve region an ideal destination for family vacations. And learn about some of Fiji's most...
646 Daughter of Peru; Married to Bhutan; Barcelona Guide
31 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Journalist and author Marie Arana describes her cross-cultural experience of growing up in both Peru and the US, and another author, Linda Leaming &md...
645 Romantic Rhine; Indian Ocean Journeys; Where I'm Going
24 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A pair of seasoned tour guides discuss the romantic allure of Germany's Rhine Valley, and author David Mould recounts his journeys in the Indian Ocean...
556a Flamenco Fan; Four Seasons in Lesotho; Faux Pas
17 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A flamenco enthusiast from Sweden explains her lifelong passion for the fiery dance traditions of southern Spain. Then writer Will McGrath tells us wh...
644 Underappreciated Paris Museums; Many Lives of the Louvre; Cote D'Azur
10 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Get ideas for visiting some of Paris' unique, under-appreciated small museums, as well as tips for tackling its massive grande dame, the Louvre &mdash...
643 Pandemic Road Trip; Corona Wanderlust; American Surprises
03 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Esteemed travel writer Paul Theroux recounts his cross-country adventure driving from Cape Cod to southern California amid a pandemic, and Don George ...
569a Best National Park Experiences; Northland; San Francisco Day Trips
26 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Writer Porter Fox tells us what he discovered when he followed the US-Canada border from Maine to Washington State. Then writer and photographer Becky...
642 Turkish Market; Tour Industry; Inclusivity
19 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After learning why a midday stop at the public market is always a good idea in Turkey, get an insider's look at how the tour industry is rebuilding it...
641 Finding Europe in America; Cruise Ship Nightmare; Iceland Backcountry
12 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Get ideas and tips from TV host Samantha Brown for finding little corners of Europe in the New World, then hear an author's dramatic firsthand account...
640 Invisible City; Under the Wave at Waimea
05 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There's an invisible layer to the city where you live. It's meant to make your life easier, but is easy to overlook. Roman Mars of the podcast "99...
554a Why I Love Rome; Garden Lust; Mountain Switzerland
29 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There's something about the city of Rome that lets you know you get to be part of its incredible history. On the next Travel with Rick Steves, we'll h...
639 Mid-American Feast; All the Way to the Tigers; Feedback
22 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Enjoy a picnic of comfort foods from the American Midwest, as Matthew Gavin Frank describes a few of his favorites. Author Mary Morris tells us what s...
638 Sailing in Oslo; Underland; Beyond Amsterdam
15 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There's a largely unknown world to explore, right beneath your feet. Author Robert Macfarlane tells us what he finds intriguing about the "Underland...
286b Mother's Day: Sweet Home Croatia; An American Mother in Paris
08 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On our Mother's Day edition, we hear what it was like to relocate a Midwestern family to the Croatian village their great-grandparents came from. An A...
637 Versailles; Reporting from West Africa; Orthodox Easter Traditions
01 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times correspondent Dionne Searcey tells us about her work as the paper's West Africa bureau chief, where her team's reporting on the women k...
636 Athens Neighborhoods; Digital Nomads; Venice Lagoon
24 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
An American "digital nomad" tells us how he's figured out how to work from home, overseas in the Republic of Georgia. Guides from Athens tell us how t...
635 The Habsburgs; Lost in the Pond; Arabic Friends
17 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Laurence Brown explores a few of the memos that must have gotten "lost in the pond" between the US and Britain. Zora O'Neill tells us how studying the...
482a Sevilla April Fair; Walking England; City Squares
10 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A tour guide from Sevilla explains how the annual April Fair will animate her city again when the pandemic is finished. Guides from England share thei...
634 Holy Land Easter; Mudlarking; Higher Tides
03 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A London "mudlarker" who searches the River Thames at low tide for buried objects describes how discarded items can connect us with life in the Victor...
633 Granada; Mount Ararat; Colombia's Rio Magdalena
27 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Guides from Spain highlight the historical treasures you can find in Granada today, including the impressive Islamic art of its Alhambra palace. Rick ...
318a Springtime in Basque Country; Irish Song
20 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
You'll find one of the oldest cultures in Europe along the Atlantic coast of Spain and France. We'll explore Basque Country with two guides who have d...
632 Galway; A Week in Ireland; Brittany
13 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We'll help you start your travel plans for when the pandemic is behind us with an all-Celtic hour. Tour guides from Ireland offer insider advice for v...
631 The Ravenmaster; Future Travel; Tour Business in 2021
06 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London explains why a British legend about ravens is being put to the test. A New York Times reporter tells us how p...
630 Portugal's Art and Architecture; Breakfast With Polygamists; Jack London's Yukon
27 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Travel writer Dave Seminara tells us how curiosity led him to meet with healers in the jungles of Nicaragua and Belize. Plus, Richard Grant tells us h...
534a Crete; Alaska's Tip of the Iceberg; Darwin Comes to Town
20 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A Dutch biologist explains how urban evolution is happening faster than we used to think all over the world. Plus, travel writer Mark Adams describe...
629 Loving French Cheese; More Cities of China; Carnival in Venice & Rhineland
13 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
While this year's Mardi Gras parties were called off because of the pandemic, we'll bring you a virtual celebration of Carnival — a social saf...
628 Amtrakistan; Astronaut's View; Renaissance Florence
06 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Find out what taking high-definition photos of Earth through the windows of the International Space Station revealed to astronaut Chris Hadfield. Hear...
627 Guanajuato & Querétaro; Patricia Schultz Places to See; Where I Really Want to Go
30 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With a global pandemic playing havoc with travel plans, we can take refuge in our fondest travel memories and look at places to go next. We'll explo...
626 Unraveling America; Spanish Civil War Sites; Photogenic Scotland
23 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A Canadian observer of America's malaise offers what he calls an "intervention" to his friends in the USA. Plus, we'll explore Spain's civil war with ...
550a Expats in Italy; Maeve in America
16 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
American ex-pats tell us why they chose to make a new home for themselves in Italy — and how they make it work. And Irish comedian Maeve Higgins...
625 Snowdonia; Outposts; Natural Slovenia
09 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
British travel writer Dan Richards explores the historic outposts and refuges you can visit that are scattered among some of the most dramatic scenery...
624 Greek Mythology Sites; National Parks Year; Travel Memories
02 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Guides from Greece tell us about the significant places you can visit to better understand the world of the ancient Greeks. Journalist Conor Knighton ...
549a Searching for Stars; Stoked My Spirit; Champagne
26 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MIT Professor Alan Lightman tells us how a little time alone with the night sky in Maine illuminated his awareness of the universe, and his place in i...
548a German Christmas Markets; Christmas Memories Madrid, Sicily, Ireland, Hebrides
19 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Brighten your socially distanced holidays by looking at the extra observances our friends in Europe normally celebrate this time of year. Listen in ...
623 Christmas in Holland, Santa Fe, Venice; Wassailing; Holiday Travels
12 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Take a virtual vacation to spice up this year's stay-at-home holidays: We'll hear about the festive customs people in Holland, Venice, Santa Fe, and E...
622 UK Royals; Lost Pianos of Siberia; Action in the Piazza
05 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
"Have you got a piano?" Sophy Roberts tells us how that simple question warmed her up to the people of Siberia on a search for historic pianos in the ...
621 Italian Wine and Music; Nomadland USA
28 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jessica Bruder, author of the book that the new movie "Nomadland" is based on, tells us how she learned firsthand how thousands of older Americans sur...
544a Bulgarian Feast; Gascony Gastronomy; Italian Olive Oil
21 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Find out how living in the crosshairs of cultural battlelines in the Balkans has made Bulgaria one of Europe's most interesting places to eat. Food wr...
620 Frankfurt; Ghostways; Where I Really Want to Go
14 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We look beyond the dazzling skyscrapers of Frankfurt to find the city's street-level charms, with the help of a friendly pair of German tour guides. A...
619 Paprika; Silver Sword and Stone; Galicia
07 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tour guides from Hungary set us straight on their country's love of paprika and what a good goulash is supposed to be. Author Marie Arana looks at how...
382b Pirates of the Carolinas; Faeries of Ireland; Ghosts of San Francisco
31 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Just in time for Halloween and All Souls Day, we'll explore the legacy of the real-life pirates who operated off the Carolina coast of colonial Americ...
618 Medellin; Traveling with Gloria Steinem and David McCullough
24 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Rick compares notes with travel writer Dave Seminara on Medellín, Colombia, as the "City of Eternal Spring" tries to shake off its former reput...
617 Dutch Masters; Where I Want to Go; Bird Brains
17 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Find out what the art of the Dutch Masters can reveal about the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century, and why Holland and Belgium were so different fr...
542a Wild West Ghost Towns; Heroes of Ireland; Savage Harvest
10 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Author Jim Hinckley recommends Old West ghost towns you can still visit, before they fade away. Irish singer Cathie Ryan shares how Ireland remembers ...
616 Zagreb; Natchez; Leave Only Footprints
03 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Learn why Croatia's capital, Zagreb, is a hidden gem for visitors to eastern central Europe, where tourist crowds have never been a problem. Author Ri...
615 Places to Fly Fish; Monsoon Postcards; Copenhagen
26 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Get inspired to fly-fish in some of the world's most beautiful waters; hear what challenges people overcome every day in the countries that border the...
614 Bulgarian Festivals; Paul Theroux Travels; Checking In
19 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Travel writer Paul Theroux shares what he looks for when he travels — experiences that turn into best-selling books and take readers on adventur...
523a Language Vacations; Ex-Pat Mexico City; YOLO Los Angeles
12 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
An American ex-pat tells us why he's made Mexico City his home for the past 25 years and how the Mexican capital is becoming a magnet for people from ...
613 Lockdown in Honolulu and Edmonds; Santorini; Blue Mind
05 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Rick tells us what it's like to spend his first summer at home in decades. We get an update on how Honolulu is faring without tourist crowds. We'll ...
612 Inland West Coast Roadtrips; Making Scottish Music; Oddball English Festivals
29 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Explore the traditions of Scotland in a special studio concert with folk musicians Jim and Susie Malcolm. We'll also look at some of the quirkier fe...
444a Urban Australia; Epic Family Road Trip; Nordic Cousins
22 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Get an inside look at the mostly friendly rivalry between Sweden and Norway (naturally, it comes with a few old jokes). We'll also meet the traveling ...
611 Pico in Lockdown; Socrates Express; Fiji
15 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Writer Pico Iyer looks for silver linings to the pandemic lockdowns. Eric Weiner explores the life lessons he gained by visiting the home turf of the ...
610 London Layover; Tower of London; Day Trips
08 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for a jolly good "Hour of London": Once we can fly to Europe again, hear how you can plan a quick visit to the city when you have a long layov...
609 Locked Down in Switzerland and Belgium; Reykjavík Day Trips; Mongol Derby
01 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Meet the first woman — and youngest contestant — to win the world's longest endurance horse race across the wilds of Mongolia. Explore the...
511a Open Phones: Travel Plans; Buffy Sainte-Marie; The Yellow Envelope
25 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Singer Buffy Sainte-Marie tells us how her activist album "Medicine Songs" raises awareness about our place in today's world. Author Kim Dinan tells u...
608 Checking on Friends in New York and Italy; Lessons From Nature
18 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As a summer close-to-home unfolds, Rick checks in with friends in New York and Italy: Cultural maven Fred Plotkin tells us how he's used the downtime ...
607 Romantic Bridges and Little Museums of Paris; Burgundy
11 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There's always something new to discover and enjoy when you visit Paris. We'll take a closer look at the beautiful bridges that set the stage for a ro...
606 Aniakchak; Here Lies America; Ballpark Boys
04 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After visiting battlefield monuments and memorials, Jason Cochran saw how American history has been written and re-written. He tells us how the Civi...
605 Vancouver Tourism; Buffalo Hometown Pride; Bosnia
27 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eager for the Canada-US border to reopen? Whet your appetite to visit Vancouver and Buffalo: A former tourism exec explains issues the industry faces ...