Travel with Rick Steves

Hear what makes Spain's jamon the best ham in the world, then learn about the traditional comfort foods of Scandinavia, and the after-dinner customs that keep Italians lingering at restaurant tables. And find out why a Tulsa mom embarked on a four-year project to prepare meals from every country in the world. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program...

Travel writer Dave Seminara explains why Indonesia's motor-free Gili Islands are a good alternative to the crowded tourist scene on nearby Bali, then a tour guide from Australia shares all-season recommendations for getting away from it all Down Under. And listeners share their most memorable travel adventures. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, progr...

Tour guides from Berlin recommend sites you can visit to better appreciate their city's tumultuous past century, from the Nazi years to the Cold War, and the wall that split Berlin in half. And travel writer Leif Pettersen describes what he enjoyed about living in Romania, and why it's become one of today's best bargain destinations in Europe. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - incl...

Learn about the post-Civil War struggles between Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce and US General Oliver Otis Howard, then 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 re...

Hear about America's spookiest spots, then take a virtual stroll past the colorful, fragrant stalls of a Provencal farmers market with author Marjorie R. Williams. And listen in as some Belgians get nostalgic discussing the hearty comfort foods of their homeland. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricks...

Author Paul Theroux shares the insights he gleaned about America from the people he met in the small towns and backroads of the Deep South. Then history professor Mark D. Van Ells returns with more suggestions for visiting places that honor the sacrifices of Allied troops in World War I. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related...

We hear how Mostar — after suffering intense damage in the Bosnian war — has become an attractive tourist destination on the Adriatic cruise circuit, and get an update on its ongoing efforts to bridge old conflicts. And author Mark Adams divulges the four spots most likely to have inspired the legend of Atlantis. Plus, a Welsh tour guide describes the highlights of convivial, rejuvenat...

Celebrate 500 editions of Travel with Rick Steves with a fond look back at a few of Rick's most memorable guest interviews from the past 12 years. Then get a taste of the elegant life in London as the author of the "Discriminating Guide to London" recommends spots around town where commoners can feel like royalty. And hear how Germany's pop music continues to reflect the intense cultural changes e...

The author of a guidebook series on fly fishing explains why it's such a popular sport worldwide. Then tour guides from Spain take listener calls to share up-to-date-advice for planning a great Spanish getaway. And a seasoned world explorer shares lessons learned on the road that could well transform your own daily life back at home. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including epis...

Listen in to an exploration of the open-air markets of Paris, where souvenir shopping can be memorable in itself. Then hear why Belgian beer is so good that it's worth planning a trip around. And learn about the mysteries and history found in Slovenia's vast network of caves. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - vi...

Friends of Rick's from the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Bosnia share a Slavic perspective on what it means to participate in the European Union. Then novelist David Lida describes what poverty in rural Mexico looks like, and its role in the lives of many who enter the US illegally in search of work. Plus, Rick shares an audio snapshot from a restoration project in the heart of Warsaw. For more in...

Get insider advice for enjoying Naples — home to what has to be the liveliest street scene in Italy — without feeling put off by its in-your-face energy. Then listen in as a leading expert on international terrorism explains how and why groups such as ISIS and Al Qaeda have turned to human trafficking and kidnapping. Plus, hear a tour guide from Oslo's freshest tips for visiting Norway...

The author of Frommer's Orlando guidebook returns with ideas for enjoying central Florida beyond the big theme parks. Then Tampa Bay Times reporter Craig Pittman discusses what makes his home state one of a kind — and much more than the target of punch lines. Plus, writer and trespasser extraordinaire Ken Ilgunas describes his hike from the tar sands of Alberta to the Gulf Coast of Texas. Fo...

Guides from Portugal describe the delights of Porto, and the winemaking traditions of the nearby Douro Valley in the north of Portugal. Then NPR's David Greene shares what he learned about everyday working-class Russians from his trips on the Trans-Siberian Railway. And friends from Scotland explain the cultural importance of their neighborhood pubs, and share tips for making yourself feel right a...

Author Terry Tempest Williams describes the various "personalities" of a dozen US national parks, and examines each one's contributions to the American character. Then historian Flannery Burke tells us how Arizona and New Mexico came to embody what we now think of as The Great Southwest. And travel writer Christopher Solomon enjoys getting dusty on a mountain-bike tour across southern Utah. For mo...

Hear about what it's like to celebrate National Day in Liechtenstein, one of the world's smallest — and wealthiest — countries. (Hint: Free beer at the palace!) Then learn the secret to gelato's distinctive smooth texture, and get tips for picking the best gelato shop in any Italian town. And tour guides from Britain tell us why a hike in the wild and windy English moors can be a delig...

Cartoonist Sarah Glidden shares the insights she gained while getting to know the Kurdish people of Turkey, Iraq, and Syria. Then a Dutch "language spotter" recommends interesting foreign words we English speakers might want to borrow. And tour guides from Prague explain how sharing a beer is an important part of the social fabric in the Czech Republic. For more information on Travel with Rick Ste...

Two Scottish tour guides discuss share tips for planning a great Scottish getaway, with specifics on tracking down scenes from the "Outlander" and "Harry Potter" series and where best to explore the ancient haunts of the Celts and Vikings. Then folks from Atlas Obscura, the fascinating online almanac of unusual places, chat with Rick about their favorite quirky spots in Europe. For more informatio...

Author and Seoul-based foreign correspondent Michael Breen discusses how his fellow South Koreans regard their cousins to the north. Then a tour guide from Detroit shares some of the joys of exploring her lively city as it recovers its status as a cultural hub for the Midwest. And hear how peace-loving Slovenians compare themselves to their various, better-known neighbors. For more information on...

French tour guides share tips for enjoying the highlights of the glittering Côte d'Azur, as well as recommendations for elegant day trips from Paris. Plus, author Graham Robb tells us what his bicycle adventure across the French countryside taught him about France's provincial character and history. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program arc...

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 wi...

Author and This American Life contributor Sarah Vowell tells us what she's recently learned about the Americanization of the Hawaiian islands. Then say "Happy 150th birthday" to Canada with one of its top TV personalities, Rick Mercer. Plus, a tour guide from Siena tells us how her adopted neighborhood won last year's Palio horse race — twice. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves...

Tune in as Rick gets tips from frequent traveler Wendy on how to actually enjoy a long-distance flight in coach. Then we'll hear expert advice from Lisbon-based tour guides for enjoying the intimate neighborhoods of Portugal's historic capital. And learn about the mix of European elegance and Latin culture that led architecture critic James Gardner to buy an apartment in Argentina's fascinati...

Hear how the summer solstice is celebrated in Scandinavia, where the official start of summer is a big deal. Then listen in as Italian friends discuss the effects of their country's high unemployment rate — and how Italians are meeting the challenge — before taking listener calls to share tips for a "dolce vita" vacation. And come along as we visit with some Tuscan craftsmen keeping tr...

We start with a close look at how World War I upended the roles of Europe's monarchies, then hear about Agatha Christie's 1922 Grand Tour to promote the British Empire, as told to her grandson. And, just in time for "Bloomsday," a Dublin tour guide takes us on an audio walk past the city's must-see sights for fans of James Joyce's "Ulysses." For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - includ...