Travel with Rick Steves
Episodes
510a Megalopolis; Copenhagen's Christiania; Teenagers in Europe
20 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
An architecture professor from Italy compares the scope of today's mega-cities with the more human scale of Venice. A pair of documentary producers te...
604 West Coast Roadtrip; Southern Eats; Travel Kindness
13 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chandler O'Leary recommends highlights for a drive up the Pacific Coast Highway, from San Diego to the Olympic Peninsula. Matthew Gavin Frank describe...
603 Millennial Netherlands; Walking Edinburgh; Week in Andalucía
06 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A pair of millennial tour guides from the Netherlands describe the fun their generation looks forward to having again when their country returns to no...
488a Enjoy Your Seat; Lisbon Neighborhoods; Buenos Aires Bio
30 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Get stoked for when we can travel again with expert advice on enjoying Lisbon's intimate and historic neighborhoods. Architecture critic James Gardner...
602 How Berlin Remembers; Turkish Delights; Travel to Bhutan
23 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Learn about the traditional Turkish comfort foods and desserts that you can enjoy from the shops and street vendors of Istanbul. An American who's mar...
601 Looking for Rome; The End of Ice; Earth Day
16 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Is it really too late? A mountain-climbing journalist explains why he says the accelerating effects of global warming have put the earth in hospice &m...
598 Europe Day Hikes; Orlando 2020; Swiss Cities
09 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Find out how the Disney and Universal theme parks compete for your time and money, and what other things you can plan to enjoy when attractions open u...
600 Notre Dame Fire; Pilgrim Trails; Holy Rover
02 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On our 15th-anniversary edition of Travel with Rick Steves, Rick explores designing your own spiritual pilgrimage: Tim Egan shares what the trail from...
505a Gili Islands; All-Season Australia; Unforgettable Travels
25 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We revisit interviews from 2017 about the motor-free Gili Islands of Indonesia as alternatives to the crowded tourist scene on nearby Bali. A guide fr...
575a Europe Hiking; Exploring Athens; Grooviest Gardens
18 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Get inspired to rediscover the world when it's safe to travel again with an episode that takes us to a number of special outdoor venues. We'll get mor...
481a Saints of Spain; David Suchet — Footsteps of St. Paul; Michelangelo In Florence
11 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tour guides from Spain explain the importance of saints to the Spanish national identity — and as a reason for holding a festival. Actor David S...
599 Weekend in Eger; China 2020; Open Phones
04 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Find out why the Old-World town of Eger, in northern Hungary, is such a popular weekend getaway from Budapest. The head of the Young China Group upd...
521a Berner Oberland; T.T. Williams' Utah; The Philippines
28 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Author Terry Tempest Williams explains why she purchased oil leases near her home in the Utah desert to protest removing protections in a national mon...
451a Lighthouses; Being Welsh; Stanway House
21 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Learn about the important role lighthouses played in the 19th century, and find out where you can visit interesting ones in the US and France. We'll a...
597 Dublin Walk; Immortal Irishman; Aran Islands
14 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's an all-Irish hour, as tour guides from Dublin and the West point out what you can find on a walking tour of the Irish capital and share why the r...
596 San Miguel de Allende; Frances Mayes A Tavola; Scottish Nationalism; Olympic Flame
07 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Discover why the city of San Miguel de Allende is attracting artists and retirees to Mexico, and why food in Italy is reliably good — even in re...
595 The Story of Spanish; First Timer's Spain
29 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Learn how Spanish became one of the world's most important languages, and get tips for enjoying your first trip to Spain and for tackling the massive ...
594 Basque Carnaval; Venice Sinking; Ghosts in Papua New Guinea
22 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Learn why acqua alta episodes are flooding Venice more frequently — and what it was like to live through a week of near-record floods last Novem...
395a Monet's Passion; The French House; Marrying Into Italy
15 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Learn why Monet created colorful gardens at his house near Paris from an artist who helped restore them. Hear how renovating a house on an island off ...
593 Low Country Showdown; The Seine; German Style
08 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Writer Elaine Sciolino explains how the legendary Seine River made Paris into the vital, romantic city you find today. We'll also hear from German tou...
592 Insider's Amalfi; Korean Nunchi; Feedback
01 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Writer Euny Hong explains how a Korean system of non-verbal social skills works, and how it can help in your travels and your life. We also get inside...
506a World of Atlas Obscura; Scottish Hebrides; Saudade in Portugal
25 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The folks from Atlas Obscura tell us about many of the remarkable traditions they've encountered, including a few of the creepiest. We'll also discove...
591 Polynesian Explorers; Northern Greece; Greek to Me
18 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We admire the seafaring prowess of the Polynesians and hear how a cultural faux pas led to Captain James Cook's fateful encounter with 18th-century Ha...
590 Heart of Haiti; Arctic Refuge
11 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On the 10th anniversary of the earthquake that devastated Haiti, journalist Catherine Porter tells Rick how the rescue of a 2-year-old girl brought ho...
589 Paul Theroux's Mexico Journey; Ukraine for Tourists
04 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
One of the top American travel writers of our time, Paul Theroux, tells us about his recent road trip across Mexico to see for himself what the situat...
588 Travel Mode; Amsterdam Manners; Family Travel Plans
28 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Make it your New Year's resolution to travel well. Writer Seth Kugel recommends a few rules for a "travel mode" that helps us focus on the world aroun...
508a Another European Christmas
21 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Warm up your holidays by including time-tested traditions from the Old World, as Rick learns how friends in Germany, England, Belgium, Hungary, Portug...
587 Cod in Portugal; Eating in Naples; Christmas Travels
14 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Find out why cod is an important comfort food in Portugal, and get a taste of the treats found in Naples and the Campania region of Italy. We'll also ...
586 Travel Writers Travels; Autumn Light in Japan; Swedish Values
07 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Pico Iyer explains why autumn is the perfect season for understanding the soul of Japan, Robert Reid recommends how to amp up your next vacation by tr...
585 Pilgrim Trails of Italy; Wayfinding
30 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What is relying on GPS doing to your brain? We'll explore our innate "Wayfinding" abilities with a science reporter who's investigated how some people...
584 My Town; Lidia's Flavors of Italy; Wine Expert
23 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The host of the TV show Lidia's Italy describes how the special of the day varies from region to region in the homes and restaurants of Italy. We'll a...
503a The Nez Perce War; American Nomads
16 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How much are we a product of our nation's history? Learn about the struggles between Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce and US General Oliver Otis Howard i...
583 Provence; Germany This Year; Gdańsk
09 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We commemorate the big anniversaries in Germany for the fall of the Berlin Wall and the birth of the Bauhaus art movement. We'll also hear how Poland'...
582 Istria; Wee County Louth; Tides
02 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Tour guides discuss two of Europe's scenic and less-crowded peninsulas: Croatia's Istrian Peninsula and Ireland's Cooley Peninsula. Then a marine cons...
581 Recoleta Cemetery; Spooky Atlas Obscura; Near the Exit
26 Oct 2019
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...
461a Dracula's Romania; Discriminating London Guide; Travel Kindnesses
19 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Find out about the ruthless 15th-century prince behind the Dracula legend, still a major source of tourism for Romania. Then get introduced to some of...
580 Villages of Tuscany; Megafauna
12 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
American-born tour guides who've settled in Tuscany tell us why it's an ideal region for experiencing the essence of Italy. And the curator of mammalo...
579 Kerouac's Firewatch; Erosion; USA National Parks
05 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
British travel writer Dan Richards describes his hike to the remote post in Washington's North Cascades where Jack Kerouac spent two months as a fire ...
490a Travel Tech; Story of China; Take Your Child to Europe
28 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Historian Michael Wood discusses how Westerners might better understand China, the world's new superpower, by learning more about its monumental achie...
578 Walking Ljubljana; Munich and Bavaria; Wild Animals
21 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The co-author of Rick's Eastern Europe guidebook and a Ljubljana-based tour guide discuss the laid-back charms of Slovenia's capital. Then a tour guid...
577 Magellan 500; Mexico City Neighborhoods; Ask Rick
14 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Find out why Portugal isn't jumping on the Magellan 500th-anniversary bandwagon like their neighbors in Spain are. Then, guidebook author Julie M...
576 Budget Travelers; Beginner's Guide to Japan; Ireland Today
07 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Travel writer Seth Kugel offers eight tips for enjoying global travels with minimal expense. Then author Pico Iyer tells Rick how he keeps discovering...
493a Rolling Blackouts; Language to Lend; Czech Beer
31 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Cartoonist Sarah Glidden shares the insights she gained while getting to know the Kurdish people of Turkey, Iraq, and Syria. Then a Dutch "language sp...
575 Europe Hiking; Exploring Athens; Grooviest Gardens
24 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Author Cassandra Overby relays expert tips for exploring Europe's long-distance hiking trails. Then Greek tour guides discuss what's new in Athens' ne...
574 American Hawaii; Aloha Rodeo; Surfing Groundswell
17 Aug 2019
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...
494a Liechtenstein Day; Gelato; The English Moors
10 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Hear about what it's like to celebrate National Day in Liechtenstein, one of the world's smallest — and wealthiest — countries. (Hint: Fre...
573 Taste of Sicily; Cycling the Silk Road; Turkey 2019
03 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Discover what makes the food in Sicily arguably the tastiest and most interesting in all of Italy. Then hear what it's like to bicycle 10,000 miles al...
572 Swiss Differences; EU Challenges; Elegant Hungary
27 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Tour guides from across Europe discuss the European Union — and why Switzerland stands apart from its neighbors by not being an EU member. Plus,...
571 Pluto; One Giant Leap; Astronaut's View
20 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Space journalist Charles Fishman tells us how the Apollo 11 moonwalk became reality. Then Alan Stern, the head of NASA's New Horizons mission, tells u...
570 The French; Paris Nightlife
13 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The authors of "The Bonjour Effect" noticed that many problems foreigners encounter in France aren't due to not knowing the language, but rather not k...
476a American Women's History Sites; Diana Nyad; Wilderness Healing
06 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Brent Glass, former director of the National Museum of American History, recommends places you can visit to commemorate the women who changed American...
569 National Park Experiences; Northland; San Francisco Day Trips
29 Jun 2019
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 Beck...
568 Italy 2019; Today's Israel
22 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Tour guides from Rome and Sorrento help listeners plan Italian adventures and let us in on how some things work — or don't work — in Italy...
567 Hokkaido; Arctic Solitaire; Bloomsday in Dublin
15 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Get tips from an American-Japanese author for experiencing the rugged allure of Japan's northern island of Hokkaido. Then hear from a nature photograp...
480a Turn Right at Machu Picchu; Sarah Vowell-Lafayette; Scotch
08 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Author Mark Adams shares what he learned about Incan history while trekking to Machu Picchu, just a century after it was revealed to the outside world...
566 Atlas Obscura for Kids; D-Day Sites; Lisbon 2019
01 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The co-founder of Atlas Obscura, the online almanac of unusual places, recommends destinations sure to fascinate curious kids. Then a military histori...
565 'Greatest Treasure Hunt'; 100 Things to Do in San Francisco
25 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The founder of the Monuments Men Foundation joins us to consider what the world would be like had the Mona Lisa or Michelangelo's David been destroyed...
564 Paddle Pilgrim Norway; Spain 2019; In Praise of Wasting Time
18 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A memoirist describes the challenges and delights of kayaking Norway's spectacular fjords, then tour guides from Madrid share tips for planning a memo...
325b Desert Wisdom of Terry Tempest Williams; Sahara by Motorbike
11 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Naturalist Terry Tempest Williams reflects on a mystery left behind by her late mother, and explains her drive to speak out on behalf of the rugged Ut...
563 Tides; New Horizons Beyond Pluto; London Gardens
04 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Extend your vicarious travels beyond the solar system by listening in as the head of NASA's New Horizons project describes his mission to explore beyo...
562 Walking Amsterdam; European Hiking Trails; Ask Rick
27 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
To celebrate King's Day in the Netherlands, tour guides for Amsterdam join us to recommend strategies for enjoying this scenic city on foot. Then the ...
561 Green Oslo; English Cathedrals; Slovenian Cuisine
20 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Find out why Oslo has proudly been declared 2019's "European Green Capital." Then hear all about England's most beautiful and historically important c...
560 Enjoying National Parks; France 2019; Puzzle of Polynesia
13 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As National Parks Week approaches, a guidebook author joins us to share ideas for exploring America’s 59 national parks. Then tour guides to Fra...
559 Dutch Climate Change Strategies; Nina Khrushcheva In Putin's Footsteps
06 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We'll hear some of the ways the Netherlands — a country that can’t afford time to argue about climate change — is protecting its cit...
413a Folk Music of Italy; Swiss Watching; Weekend in Wales
30 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A musician from Orvieto provides examples of the different styles of folk music you can enjoy across Italy, then a British ex-pat tells us what it's l...
558 See You in the Piazza; Populism in My Country
23 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Best-selling author Frances Mayes tells us about her favorite uncrowded corners of Italy, away from the crush of Italy's top tourist destinations. And...
557 Speaking in Irish; On the Wind; Irish Craic
16 Mar 2019
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...
556 Flamenco Fan; Four Seasons in Lesotho; Faux Pas
09 Mar 2019
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...
555 First Timer's Brazil; What Brexit Means to Me; Guatemala Solutions
02 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Travel writer Seth Kugel offers tips for first-time visitors to Brazil, then a team of European tour guides share their personal — and diverging...
360a Joanna Lumley's Travels; Holy Toledo; Good Night and God Bless
23 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
British actress and global traveler Joanna Lumley tells Rick why her family is revered in Bhutan, then Spanish tour guides describe the highlights of ...
458a Adventure Divas; Norse Mythology; Acropolis
16 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Get a taste of Norse mythology and a glimpse of the Vikings' complex view of the cosmos. Plus, hear how Athens' Acropolis remains a powerful symbol of...
554 Why I Love Rome; Garden Lust; Mountain Switzerland
09 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Hear why Romans love their city, even with all its flaws. Then take a deep breath of fresh audio air as author and garden designer/director Christophe...
553 Curry Nation; Young China
02 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Actress and cookbook author Madhur Jaffrey explains why clichés about British food are out of date — thanks mainly to the influence from ...
552 London on a Budget; Why Not Russia; Somali Pirates
26 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Scott Moore tells us what it was like to spend nearly three years as a captive of Somali pirates. Travel writer Robert Reid thinks American me...
551 Cappadocia; Scottish Troubadour; Northern Ireland Identity
19 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Two Turkish tour guides paint an audio picture of the otherworldly region of Cappadocia, where you can get face-to-face with early Christian history. ...
417a Scandinavian Smackdown; Green Book Road Trips
12 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Have you heard the one about the Swede, the Norwegian, and the Dane? Find out what Scandinavians tend to think about their Nordic neighbors, and the s...
550 Expats in Italy; Maeve in America
05 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Americans who've made a new home for themselves in Italy explain what took them to the land of "bella chaos," and how they make it work. Then Irish co...
549 Searching for Stars; Stoked My Spirit; Champagne
29 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Novelist and MIT physics professor Alan Lightman describes how a little time alone with Maine's night sky illuminated his awareness of the universe, a...
548 German Christmas Markets; Christmas in Madrid, Sicily, Ireland, Hebrides
22 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We'll look at what makes the cozy Christmas markets of Germanic Europe so treasured. Then we'll hear about special Christmastime traditions from aroun...
467a Holiday Roadfood; Best Chocolate in Europe; Holiday Travels; Prague Christmas
15 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Food writers Jane and Michael Stern discuss wintertime comfort grub served in America's roadside restaurants, then culinary-culture expert Fred Plotki...
547 Gaudí's Sagrada Família; Globally Curious
08 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
An expert on Antoni Gaudí reveals what the Modernista architect had envisioned for Barcelona's magnificent Sagrada Família church, and s...
546 Greek Godmother; Lidia's American Dream; Promised Land
01 Dec 2018
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...
545 Optimism in Armenia; Finding Chopin's Piano
24 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Peter Balakian describes the new positive spirit he encountered during his recent travels in Armenia, whose citizens have ...
544 Bulgarian Feast; Gascony Gastronomy; Italian Olive Oil
17 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Find out what made Bulgaria one of Europe's most interesting places to eat. Food writer David McAninch reveals what makes the culinary tradi...
423a Back Door Balkans; World War I Sites; Kraków
10 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Get insider advice for enjoying the less-visited corners of the Balkan Peninsula, from Bosnia's atmospheric mosques to Montenegro's scenic coast. And ...
543 Cities for Solo Travelers; Achtung Baby; Open Phones
03 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A New York Times travel writer recommends four great cities for solo travelers, and the best time of year to visit them. Then the author of "Achtung B...
542 Ghost Towns of the West; Heroes of Ireland; Savage Harvest
27 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Author Jim Hinckley joins us to recommend Old West ghost towns that you can still visit. Then Irish singer Cathie Ryan describes how Ireland remembers...
541 Greek Theatre; Shakespeare in Swahililand; Iceland Airwaves
20 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
An Athenian theater director discusses drama's role as a building block of civil society since ancient times, and recommends some Greek destinations t...
460a More Skyfaring; Marta Dusseldorp's Australia; Wieners
13 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A transcontinental pilot discusses the marvels of jet travel, then Australian actor Marta Dusseldorp describes her favorite Down Under destinations, a...
540 Living Abroad in Japan; TV Fan's Britain
06 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The author of "Living Abroad in Japan" offers tips for making yourself feel at home in Japan, no matter how long your visit. Then Rick talks to tour g...
539 Travel Portraits — Phil Borges, Annie Leibovitz; Photogenic Sicily
29 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Filmmaker and documentary photographer Phil Borges explains what's behind his remarkable photos of people in different traditional societies of centra...
421a Monet's Garden Passion; Ireland's Ring of Kerry; The Carry Home
22 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Author and artist Elizabeth Murray tells how her life was changed by working in painter Claude Monet's gardens outside Paris. Then Irish tour guides t...
538 Why I Love Berlin; Italian Coffee Bars
15 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Three tour guides from Berlin suggest sights to see and experiences to enjoy in Germany's vibrant, changing capital. And as Bavarians prepare to host ...
537 Caesar Shuffle; More Michael Wood's China; Pleasure Activist
08 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Roman tour guide Francesca Caruso recommends places to explore in the Eternal City that give you a particularly vivid feel for its centuries of histor...
536 Isle of Skye; Cross-Country Kayak; Van Morrison's Belfast
01 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Listen in as tour guides from Scotland let us in on their favorite experiences on the magical Isle of Skye. Then hear what it's like to kayak the leng...
452a Slow Train to Switzerland; Artists Safari; Joys of Travel
25 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In what was the beginning of the packaged tour, find out how middle class Victorian-era tourists from England enjoyed the Swiss Alps. Examine the emot...
535 Pan-American Road Trip; Souvenirs; Open Phones
18 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Hear author Teresa Bruce describe how she retraced a poignant family road trip all the way down the Pan-American highway. Then listen in as we weigh t...
534 Crete; Alaska's Tip of the Iceberg; Darwin Comes to Town
11 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Hear how Crete offers travelers a uniquely fascinating Greek island experience. Then travel writer Mark Adams describes his 3,000-mile voyage along th...
533 Holiday in Iraqi Kurdistan; Traveling Solo; Croatia's Greatest Hits
04 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Neville discusses why you'd enjoy vacationing in northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. Travel writer Stephanie Rosenbloom explore...
532 England's Overlooked Cities; Lake District; Cozy Cotswolds
28 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
British tour guides discuss their favorite overlooked cities to visit, beyond London. Plus, we learn what guides from the Cumbrian Lake District and t...