Travel with Rick Steves

Hear how people in Sweden, Croatia, Wales, and Scotland welcome in the new year, then learn how Spanish wines are making a splash — and get tips for pairing up its major varietals. And listen in as an Australian photojournalist describes how his expeditions in Central Asia led him to new insights on Alexander the Great. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode desc...

In Europe, Santa Claus has some rather interesting relatives. Get acquainted with such characters as Baba Noel, Grandfather Frost, Saint Nicholas, Krampus, and even Samichlaus and Schmutzli. Listen in as friends from Madrid, Rome, London, and Lisbon tell us about their cities’ Christmas traditions, then hear how the holidays are celebrated in Bulgaria, the Swiss and Austrian Alps, and in the...

Look at the world in a whole new light: Hear about a view that's "out of this world" as astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield describes the photos he took of Mother Earth from 250 miles away, and what they revealed. We also explore how the Roman and pre-historic worlds are within reach when you dig a little beneath the surface in Britain. And listeners share the highlights of their travels in the Hol...

Experience vicarious time travel as actress Joanna Lumley describes the memorable connections she made at the iconic sites of ancient Greece, then hear about some of the holiday traditions that get the season underway in the Netherlands and Sweden. Plus we’ll discuss how easy it is to enjoy the grandeur of great churches all over Europe, no matter what your beliefs. For more information...

Find out how to make traveling abroad into a favorite family pastime, as two moms share their tips, and enthusiasm, for overseas travel with kids. Then hear how listeners have enjoyed exploring places like Iceland and Austria during the winter months. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Adam Gopnik explains why "The Table Comes First in France," and how taking time to eat with joy and appreciation can make every dinnertime into an occasion at your house. Also, guides from Portugal share the highlights of their country's cuisine, from Atlantic seafood, to the hearty stews enjoyed in the mountains. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, pr...

Hear how the light and color of the Caribbean inspired a dazzling photo book by novelist Ferenc Máté – who, having sailed to the West Indies island of St. Vincent, liked the gentle island life style so much he didn't want to leave. Then we'll explore options for touring the Hebrides, the isles off Scotland’s west coast. Plus, author Sarah Turnbull explains how she ad...

Learn how recent upgrades have helped turn Oklahoma City into a "big-league city."  And hear what people are talking about in Honolulu, and how this city’s cultural offerings can enhance any trip to Hawaii. Plus, author Wallace J. Nichols explains how being near water really can benefit your state of mind, even if it just means taking a long bath now and then. For more information on Tr...

Hear about why Buenos Aires is one of the world’s most popular cities from an American who's made Argentina his home.  Then learn how to fit in with the locals in Spain, where the daily rhythms of life beat differently than they do in the US.  And listeners follow up with Rick about what they've heard in recent episodes of this show. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves...

We'll explore the legacy of the real-life pirates who operated off the Carolina coast in colonial America. Next, a pair of Irishmen clue us in on the various sorts of faery people that some still believe inhabit the Emerald Isle, and we'll learn about the ghost stories of San Francisco. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related d...

Get tips for viewing ancient temples, amphitheaters and cities in Greece, Turkey and Egypt through the eyes of the people who lived there long ago. Find out about visiting Tangier on the Moroccan side of the Strait of Gibraltar. We'll also look at vacation options for Turkey's un-touristy Black Sea coast. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program arc...

In Italy, the journey is always an adventure. Author Tim Parks helps us appreciate how the Italian rail system works, and why it's more than mere transportation. Plus, a pair of tour guides from opposite parts of Italy highlight the differences you'll notice — and even enjoy — between the north and the south of their country. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including...

Learn about the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia and the serious threats it's facing to its survival. Also, author J Maarten Troost introduces the remote Pacific Island nations of Kiribati and Vanuatu, and we'll learn how people have lived for centuries on a series of coral atolls and on rugged islands that include an active volcano. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - i...

A guide shows us how to enjoy the Swedish capital al fresco, where the locals make it a priority to get outdoors, any time of year. We'll also explore the mysteries of the ancient stone circles and prehistoric monuments of England.  And we'll hear how taking a sauna is an important part of life in Finland. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, progr...

Find out how easy it is to cycle almost anywhere in The Netherlands. Also, learn how Paris was a leader in designing attractive plazas and parks that anyone can enjoy like an outdoor living room, whether you live there, or are just planning a visit. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

We'll explore some options for enjoying the climate and culture of Greece — with or without cruise-ship crowds — and get some advice on choosing between Greece’s many islands. We'll also compare the British and German media with what we've come to expect in the US. And listen in as Rick savors the relaxing ritual of taking a coffee break an atmospheric European café. For m...

Hear about how the Bosphorus — the busy shipping canal that separates the European side of Istanbul from Asia — is a sentimental favorite among Turks. We’ll also learn why Croatia’s Adriatic coast tops so many travelers’ “must see” lists, and get inspired to enjoy Impressionist art in and around Paris, where it originated. For more information on Travel wi...

Lisa Napoli tells us about the Himalayas and her time helping to start a radio station in Bhutan. Photographer Phil Borges describes how much things have changed on a recent return to rural Tibet and what's threatening its indigenous people.  Also, author Pico Iyer explains the appeal of spending time in some of the world's least likely places for tourism. For more information on Travel with...

Road Food experts Jane and Michael Stern share their favorite comfort food discoveries, including sour cream raisin pie, from road trips across the Midwest. Our panel of European moms returns from France, Sweden and Slovenia to explain how education policies are changing where they live. Also, listeners share fond memories of their travels. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - includi...

Hear how you can view ten centuries of architecture along the Coronation Way in Old Town Prague. Find out about the Algarve region of Portugal where the beach, sun and seafood are now the main attraction. Or, try life in an RV the way author Christina Nealson did for five years exploring the back roads of the West. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, p...

Find out what's new in Amsterdam, including all the changes at the city's recently renovated art museums. Then hear how Switzerland pulls neighboring European cultures together into a uniquely Swiss identity, and discover the variety of outdoor recreation you can enjoy in Spain, from mountain hiking to ocean kayaking and paddle boarding. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including...

Martin Clunes, star of the Doc Martin TV series, tells us what he discovered while filming a documentary on the far flung outposts and islands that surround Great Britain. Voters in Scotland are considering particular issues as they prepare to vote on whether or not to secede from the United Kingdom. Also, working mothers from Sweden, Slovenia, and France contrast the challenges they face in their...

Italian food expert, Fred Plotkin, takes us wide-eyed visitors deeper into the culture of enjoying a good meal in Italy. Jamie Blair Gould, a tour guide from Lucca, helps listeners assemble the ingredients for the perfect Tuscan picnic. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Hear why Albania ranks high for seasoned travelers on the list of places to discover as it emerges from decades of isolation. Get tips for enjoying the arts and comforts of Vienna where every day is like a Sunday afternoon. Find out what the freedom to relocate within the European Union feels like.  Rick also recounts his first unescorted trip to Europe out of high school in the summer of &nb...

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...