Travel with Rick Steves

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 world's great thinkers and philosophers. And the author of a guidebook to Fiji shares the tourism highlights of the South Pacific nation where her family has lived for generations. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 layover at Heathrow. Get inspired by nearby day trips that are easy to arrange when you're staying in London. And discover why there's a Ravenmaster who guards a thousand years of history at the Tower of London. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Meet the first woman — and youngest contestant — to win the world's longest endurance horse race across the wilds of Mongolia. Explore the beauty of Iceland on a day trip from the capital, Reykjavík. And hear what the pandemic lockdown has been like for Rick's friends in Belgium and Switzerland. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 us how a yellow envelope a friend gave her set the tone for a three-year, round-the-world adventure. And listeners share concerns they have as they plan their next overseas travels. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 to start new projects, and tour guides from Rome, Venice, and Siena describe what their cities' gradual re-openings have meant to them. Plus, nature writer Gary Ferguson shares eight master lessons Mother Nature wants to teach us. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 romantic walk along the Seine as well as the marvels and delights you can find in the city's many specialty museums and galleries. And for the pleasure of slowing down to savor the moment, we'll explore Burgundy, a couple hours south of the capital. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

After visiting battlefield monuments and memorials, Jason Cochran saw how American history has been written and re-written. He tells us how the Civil War still factors into how his native South views itself. We'll also look at the ultimate summer adventure in social distancing on the Alaska Peninsula and hear how a group of high-school buddies road-tripped to every Major League Baseball stadium. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 in Canada's West Coast metropolis, and a travel writer from Buffalo rediscovers his hometown's resilience and the fun you can find on either side of the Niagara River. We'll also hear what Bosnia offers as a diamond-in-the-rough destination. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 tell us what they found when they got to know the residents of a legendary commune in the middle of Copenhagen. And we get mom-tested advice for making everyone happy on an overseas trip with teenagers. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Chandler O'Leary recommends highlights for a drive up the Pacific Coast Highway, from San Diego to the Olympic Peninsula. Matthew Gavin Frank describes some of the quintessential local dishes you can enjoy across the South. And listeners remember people they encountered in their travels, where a simple act of kindness became a lifelong memory. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

A pair of millennial tour guides from the Netherlands describe the fun their generation looks forward to having again when their country returns to normal. Scottish guides recommend stops to explore when you walk the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Hear what you shouldn't miss when you visit the Andalucía region of southern Spain. And Rick develops a case of "Venus envy" in the museums of Europe. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Get stoked for when we can travel again with expert advice on enjoying Lisbon's intimate and historic neighborhoods. Architecture critic James Gardner tells us why he bought an apartment in Buenos Aires, where European elegance and Latin culture combine. And frequent traveler Wendy Simmons shares tips for enjoying your time in the air the next time you take a long-distance flight. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 married to an artist in Bhutan explains what's required for visitors to tour the Himalayan kingdom. And guides from Germany describe the monuments to their country's turbulent history that you'll find in Berlin. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 — and what it requires to turn it around. We'll also hear what the original Earth Day accomplished 50 years ago, and we'll take a closer look at Rome, where viewing more than 2,000 years of history can teach us a few things about our own civilization. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 up again in Orlando and central Florida. And get inspired to build a day hike into your travel plans or explore the attractions of Switzerland's most interesting cities the next time you're in Europe. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

On our 15th-anniversary edition of Travel with Rick Steves, Rick explores designing your own spiritual pilgrimage: Tim Egan shares what the trail from Canterbury to Rome showed him about his own religious skepticism; Lori Erickson explains how spiritual travels informed her view of the world as a clergywoman; and Elaine Sciolino remembers how the world responded to the fire at Notre-Dame. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 from Australia shares all-season recommendations for getting away from it all Down Under. And listeners tell us about their most memorable travel adventures. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 more ideas for exploring the long-distance hiking trails of Europe, find out about improvements to the neighborhoods of Athens, and discover the world's most interesting contemporary gardens. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Tour guides from Spain explain the importance of saints to the Spanish national identity — and as a reason for holding a festival. Actor David Suchet tells us what he discovered about his faith when he filmed a documentary about the first-century travels of St. Paul. And Rick chats with art historian Miles J. Unger about the masterpieces Michelangelo created in Florence. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 updates us on how the millennial generation has been coping lately in China. And listeners remind Rick that you're never too old to travel. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Author Terry Tempest Williams explains why she purchased oil leases near her home in the Utah desert to protest removing protections in a national monument. Travel writer Kiki Deere tells us why the Philippines is one of her favorite countries to visit. And a tour guide who mapped hiking trails in Switzerland's Lauterbrunnen Valley talks about the area's Alpine thrills. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 also hear from a Welsh tour guide on the pride that comes from belonging to a distinctive corner of Great Britain, with its own language and traditions. And Rick visits England's Stanway House, a slightly eccentric version of Downton Abbey. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 rugged Aran Islands are one of the top sites to explore Ireland's traditions. And author Timothy Egan explains the legacy of the most famous Irish American immigrant of the 19th century. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 restaurants you might find on a road trip. We'll also hear from a pair of pro-independence Scots on how Scottish nationalism is different by being left-of-center, and a Greek tour guide explains the origins of the Olympic Flame Lighting ceremony. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 art collection at the Prado in Madrid. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 November. Hear what it takes to hike across Papua New Guinea on the notorious Kokoda Trail. And discover the traditions behind the February "Carnaval" celebrations in the Basque Country of France and Spain. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 the coast of Brittany can feed your wild side. Three Americans explain the expectations of being married to an Italian (and living next to the in-laws). And an adventure cyclist shares the story of a timely romantic surprise. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 tour guides on how their country views its important social issues, and we'll learn the differences between the Belgians and the Dutch. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 insider information on enjoying Italy's scenic Amalfi Coast without getting stuck in tourist crowds or traffic. And listeners check in with Rick about travel concerns for shoulder season and where you may need to look over your shoulder. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 discover the timeless character of Scotland's Hebrides islands — where you're more likely to overhear conversations in Scots Gaelic than English — and learn how to turn the blues into songs that make you feel better with the fado music of Portugal. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 Hawaiians. Then tour guides from Athens and Thessaloniki recommend attractions to visit in northern Greece, and The New Yorker’s "Comma Queen," Mary Norris, explains what an appreciation for Greek language and mythology can add to your own Greek odyssey. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 hope to a desperate country — and changed her life, too. Plus, adventure traveler Christopher Solomon tells us what a recent trip to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge showed him about the forces battling over the largest wilderness refuge in the US. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 situation was like on the other side of the border. We'll also look at Ukraine as an up-and-coming Eastern European tourism destination with a lot to offer, at bargain prices. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 around us, and not on our phones. A Dutch tour guide helps us avoid the lines in Amsterdam to better enjoy and appreciate the city. And listeners share their upcoming family travel plans to Europe. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Warm up your holidays by including time-tested traditions from the Old World, as Rick learns how friends in Germany, England, Belgium, Hungary, Portugal, and the Czech Republic celebrate Christmas. Potato salad and fish stew, anyone? For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 hear from listeners on what they enjoy about traveling overseas during the Christmas season, and Rick checks in with an innkeeper in Dingle to learn how the west coast of Ireland gears up for the holidays. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 traveling like a travel writer, and tour guides from Sweden share tips on keeping expenses in check and enjoying Scandinavia like a local. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 are able to navigate with only natural features as their guide. Plus, enthusiasts of hiking Europe's medieval footpaths share what it's like to walk Italy's pilgrim trails to Rome. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 also hear from a Madrid-based wine expert on tips to better enjoy what you're drinking, and listeners tell us what makes their hometowns feel special. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 in the years following the Civil War. We'll also hear about the growing number of older, "houseless" Americans living full time in RVs and camper vans: For some, it's the ultimate freedom; for others, it's all they have left. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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's port city of Gdańsk is an important historical center, and comes recommended as an up-and-coming visitor destination. And hear how the French like to relax in Provence, in the sunny south of France. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Tour guides discuss two of Europe's scenic and less-crowded peninsulas: Croatia's Istrian Peninsula and Ireland's Cooley Peninsula. Then a marine conservationist shares what he's discovered about the power of tides around the world — and how they affect you, even if you don't live near the shore. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 to some of the spookiest places in the Atlas Obscura catalog. And hear what an Episcopal deacon has learned about how people around the world deal with death. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 London's more sophisticated establishments, where you can dine and dress like a real gentleman or lady. And enjoy a taste of Diwali, India's "festival of lights" — plus hear from other listeners about unforgettable people they've met in their travels. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 mammalogy at the American Museum of Natural History tells us what scientists are learning about the fantastic beasts that used to roam the Earth — as they investigate why they went extinct. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 lookout. Then author and naturalist Terry Tempest Williams describes how the processes of erosion define the Utah desert landscape she calls home, and how understanding them can provide a helpful perspective on our civic and social territory, as well as our physical. And photographer and guidebook writer Becky Lomax shares more of her favorite experiences in America's national parks. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Historian Michael Wood discusses how Westerners might better understand China, the world's new superpower, by learning more about its monumental achievements over the past 4,000 years. We'll also get time-tested advice from author Ashley Steel for taking the kids to Europe. Plus, Rick's son, Andy Steves, shares his favorite phone apps and other tech tips for travel. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

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 guide from Munich explains how to become a temporary Bavarian at Oktoberfest. And an adventure traveler shares why even the creepiest critters deserve a little respect. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Find out why Portugal isn't jumping on the Magellan 500th-anniversary bandwagon like their neighbors in Spain are. Then, guidebook author Julie Meade tells Rick which neighborhoods of Mexico City are the most fun to visit. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Travel writer Seth Kugel offers eight tips for enjoying global travels with minimal expense. Then author Pico Iyer tells Rick how he keeps discovering new things about Japan and its people, even after living there for more than 30 years. And tour guides from Ireland share what's new in Dublin. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.