Travel with Rick Steves
- Episodes
- 1,089
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Nov 14, 2026
About the podcast
A weekly one-hour conversation with guest experts and callers about travel, cultures, people, and the things we find around the world that give life its extra sparkle. Rick Steves is America's leading authority on travel to Europe and beyond. Host and writer of over a hundred public television travel shows and author of 30 best-selling guidebooks, Rick now brings his passion for exploring and understanding our world to public radio. Related travel information and message boards on www.ricksteves.com
Episodes 1,089
844 Nordic Capitalism; Slovenian Feast
A visit to the Nordic countries is a visit to Europe's most content corner, and for good reason. The head of UC Berkeley's Nordic Center explains what Americans can learn from the region's pragmatic approach to …
Show notes
A visit to the Nordic countries is a visit to Europe's most content corner, and for good reason. The head of UC Berkeley's Nordic Center explains what Americans can learn from the region's pragmatic approach to prosperity, sustainability, and security. And tour guides from Slovenia offer a tantalizing taste of the comfort foods you can savor in their country, where the culinary influences of neighboring lands add variety to the menu.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.725a Crystal Bridges; Route 66 Centennial; Amsterdam by Bike
The director of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art tells us how a small city in Arkansas became home to a major art museum. Then author Rick Antonson describes how motoring west along the legendary …
Show notes
The director of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art tells us how a small city in Arkansas became home to a major art museum. Then author Rick Antonson describes how motoring west along the legendary Route 66 can reveal easily overlooked slices of Middle America. Plus, a Dutch tour guide discusses Amsterdam's reliance on bicycles — and what visitors should know before jumping into the bike lane.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.732a Vampires of Eastern Europe; Supernatural Ireland; Haunted Europe
At a time of year when, according to some cultures, the worlds of the living and the dead come a little closer together, a historian joins us to explain how vampire stories arose from eastern European legends …
Show notes
At a time of year when, according to some cultures, the worlds of the living and the dead come a little closer together, a historian joins us to explain how vampire stories arose from eastern European legends of the "undead." Then Irish writer Fintan O'Toole describes the role of the supernatural in Celtic traditions and in more recent Irish literature. And listeners describe eerie encounters they've experienced while traveling in Europe.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.843 Cheap Eats in Istanbul; Père Lachaise Cemetery; Ghostways
Rick's inimitable Istanbul guide Lale Surmen Aran shares tips for eating well on the cheap in her city, where vendors and inexpensive cafeterias offer great local food amid the vibrant street scene. Then the …
Show notes
Rick's inimitable Istanbul guide Lale Surmen Aran shares tips for eating well on the cheap in her city, where vendors and inexpensive cafeterias offer great local food amid the vibrant street scene. Then the curator of Paris' legendary Père Lachaise Cemetery describes what it's like to live among 70,000 graves, world-famous tombs, and surprising urban wildlife. And author Robert Macfarlane tells us about two of England's most mysterious landscapes.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.842 Poverty Abolitionists; Immortal Irishman
David Beckmann, former president of the anti-hunger organization Bread for the World, explains why global progress in the fight against poverty is faltering and how compassionate Americans can still help turn …
Show notes
David Beckmann, former president of the anti-hunger organization Bread for the World, explains why global progress in the fight against poverty is faltering and how compassionate Americans can still help turn the tide. Plus, author Timothy Egan explains the legacy of one of the most famous Irish American immigrants of the 19th century.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.743a James Patterson: Happens in Vegas; Morocco's Sahara
The most popular storyteller of our time, author James Patterson, shares insights he gained from talking to the people who work behind the scenes to make Las Vegas America's most extravagant tourist mecca. And …
Show notes
The most popular storyteller of our time, author James Patterson, shares insights he gained from talking to the people who work behind the scenes to make Las Vegas America's most extravagant tourist mecca. And a tour guide from Morocco invites us to imagine a very different type of desert experience as he describes sleeping under the dazzling night sky — the same that's guided travelers for millennia — that stretches over North Africa's vast Sahara.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.841 Discovery of Britain; English Cathedrals
A biking Brit explains how easy it is to find evidence of the people from centuries past along the backroads of England and Scotland. And a pair of British tour guides get us ready to visit England's …
Show notes
A biking Brit explains how easy it is to find evidence of the people from centuries past along the backroads of England and Scotland. And a pair of British tour guides get us ready to visit England's magnificent and historically important cathedrals, from Canterbury to York Minster.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.745a Orkney Living; Walkable Cities; Nomads of Europe
Hear what it's like to live on one of the windswept Orkney Islands, off the northernmost tip of Scotland, where people have made a home since prehistoric times. Then learn how redesigned urban centers in Europe …
Show notes
Hear what it's like to live on one of the windswept Orkney Islands, off the northernmost tip of Scotland, where people have made a home since prehistoric times. Then learn how redesigned urban centers in Europe have had a positive impact on quality of life — and get ideas for making your own city a more enjoyable place to be outdoors. And consider some of the world's most fascinating nomadic societies, from their often underappreciated role in history to their struggles in the modern world.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.840 Paul Theroux's Great Canadian Road Trip; Korean Nunchi
Paul Theroux hits the road from Newfoundland to Vancouver, chasing his own family history and seeking out the stories of people across Canada's vast, diverse landscape. And journalist Euny Hong explains a …
Show notes
Paul Theroux hits the road from Newfoundland to Vancouver, chasing his own family history and seeking out the stories of people across Canada's vast, diverse landscape. And journalist Euny Hong explains a Korean system of nonverbal social skills, sharing how it can help in your travels — and in your life.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.756a Resurrecting Roman Rubble; Plovdiv Bulgaria; European Travel Serendipity
A self-described "Rome nerd" helps us picture what it was like to live in the Roman Empire and explains how much we can learn about the era from its now 2,000-year-old rubble. Then a tour guide from Bulgaria …
Show notes
A self-described "Rome nerd" helps us picture what it was like to live in the Roman Empire and explains how much we can learn about the era from its now 2,000-year-old rubble. Then a tour guide from Bulgaria sings the praises of its cultural capital, Plovdiv — one of the oldest cities in Europe, possibly in the whole world. And listeners share serendipitous stories from their European travels.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.839 Circumambulating with Nicos; South Pacific Islands
A Cypriot businessman-turned-philosopher connects the act of travel with the larger journey of our lives, and shares how revisiting places we've been before can help us to see them — and ourselves — in a new …
Show notes
A Cypriot businessman-turned-philosopher connects the act of travel with the larger journey of our lives, and shares how revisiting places we've been before can help us to see them — and ourselves — in a new light. Plus, a cultural historian based on Easter Island recommends ways to experience the diverse cultures of the far-flung nations of the south seas.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.746a Goodbye Eastern Europe; The Long Field in Wales
A historian helps us re-envision Europe's eastern half, from the Baltics to the Balkans, with a lively account of how most of the region's countries have modernized since the Cold War, and of the challenges …
Show notes
A historian helps us re-envision Europe's eastern half, from the Baltics to the Balkans, with a lively account of how most of the region's countries have modernized since the Cold War, and of the challenges they face today. And an American-born artist and creative-writing teacher shares her joy of being "Welsh by choice," telling us of Welsh words that describe feelings we don't easily express in English.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.838 Music Lover's Guide to North America; Loving the Opera
A writing duo shares the sights that have a place in our music history, from museums and festivals to lesser-known locales to make the heart sing. And opera expert and self-described "pleasure activist" Fred …
Show notes
A writing duo shares the sights that have a place in our music history, from museums and festivals to lesser-known locales to make the heart sing. And opera expert and self-described "pleasure activist" Fred Plotkin shows us how to open our senses and plug into the excitement at some of his favorite opera venues in Europe.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.837 America Obscura; This Land Is Your Land
Pulitzer Prize winner Beverly Gage explains how a road trip to the places where history happened can renew your faith in American progress, without ignoring an honest assessment of the nation's past. And the …
Show notes
Pulitzer Prize winner Beverly Gage explains how a road trip to the places where history happened can renew your faith in American progress, without ignoring an honest assessment of the nation's past. And the good folks from Atlas Obscura share some of their favorite quirky and unique American roadside attractions.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.524a First Time in Italy; Duck Season in Gascony
Hear from two Roman tour guides about what to expect on a first-time trip to Italy, and how to make it the adventure of a lifetime. Then get a taste of life in France's rural southwest as author David McAninch …
Show notes
Hear from two Roman tour guides about what to expect on a first-time trip to Italy, and how to make it the adventure of a lifetime. Then get a taste of life in France's rural southwest as author David McAninch explains how spending the better part of a year in Gascony taught his American family to slow down and savor their time together.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.836 Van Morrison's Belfast; Roma in Europe; Classic European Hikes
A Belfast-based tour guide points out the places where native son Van Morrison found inspiration for his music and poetry. Then a Romani author tells us about the variety of communities within her culture, both …
Show notes
A Belfast-based tour guide points out the places where native son Van Morrison found inspiration for his music and poetry. Then a Romani author tells us about the variety of communities within her culture, both on the continent and in the US. And an adventure traveler shares some of his favorite scenic hikes in Europe.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.628a Amtrakistan; Astronaut's View; Renaissance Florence
Hear why one writer chooses to invest the time in crossing America by train instead of hopping a quick flight. Then discover what taking high-definition photos of Earth from space revealed to a veteran …
Show notes
Hear why one writer chooses to invest the time in crossing America by train instead of hopping a quick flight. Then discover what taking high-definition photos of Earth from space revealed to a veteran astronaut. And get inspired to view the Renaissance treasures of Florence.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.835 Appreciating Stonework; Italy's Dolomites; Rediscovering Route 66
A master stonemason considers the great sites of Europe and shares what these enduring structures can teach us about permanence, craft, and human ambition. Then an Italian tour guide sheds light on the …
Show notes
A master stonemason considers the great sites of Europe and shares what these enduring structures can teach us about permanence, craft, and human ambition. Then an Italian tour guide sheds light on the Dolomites, the spectacular setting where Italian, German, and Ladin traditions meet. Plus, an aficionado of American road trips tells us about efforts to revitalize historic Route 66 as a national heritage trail.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.681a French Impressionism; Perfect Week in Paris; Appreciating the Louvre
Celebrate Bastille Day with French guides. They'll explain the impressionist techniques perfected in the early 20th century, provide insider advice for designing the perfect Parisian itinerary, and help tackle …
Show notes
Celebrate Bastille Day with French guides. They'll explain the impressionist techniques perfected in the early 20th century, provide insider advice for designing the perfect Parisian itinerary, and help tackle the immense collection at the Louvre.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.834 An Apple a Day; Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; The Wright Brothers
A chef and cookbook author takes a look at idioms that are shared across diverse languages. Then the head of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum updates us on what's happening this summer at Cleveland's top …
Show notes
A chef and cookbook author takes a look at idioms that are shared across diverse languages. Then the head of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum updates us on what's happening this summer at Cleveland's top attraction. And the late historian David McCullough reflects on the Wright brothers and how their dream changed the world.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.719a Rocky Mountaineer; Gulf Islands BC; Global Perspective; Piecing Together America
Hear about making family memories in western Canada along the historic Rocky Mountaineer train line. Explore the Gulf Islands in the Salish Sea. Learn more about confronting culture clashes in overseas travels …
Show notes
Hear about making family memories in western Canada along the historic Rocky Mountaineer train line. Explore the Gulf Islands in the Salish Sea. Learn more about confronting culture clashes in overseas travels. And discover the best local crafts in each of the 50 states.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.701a The US Civil Rights Trail; Wild Arctic Svalbard
Hear how the US Civil Rights Trail, with 100 stops across 14 states, was organized to help all Americans get an up-close look at the movement to dismantle Jim Crow laws across the South. And listen in as …
Show notes
Hear how the US Civil Rights Trail, with 100 stops across 14 states, was organized to help all Americans get an up-close look at the movement to dismantle Jim Crow laws across the South. And listen in as ecologist Chris Morgan describes changes he's observed on Norway's Svalbard archipelago — halfway between the mainland and the North Pole — which indicate how our warming climate is a threat to life in the Arctic.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.833 Americans in Europe; Venetian Lagoon
Three American-born tour guides who have settled in Europe tell us what it's like to make a new home in a foreign country. Then, a lifelong resident of Italy's Veneto region helps us explore the Venice Lagoon …
Show notes
Three American-born tour guides who have settled in Europe tell us what it's like to make a new home in a foreign country. Then, a lifelong resident of Italy's Veneto region helps us explore the Venice Lagoon as an ever-changing ecosystem shaped by climate change, local history, and the distinct cultures of its islands.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.832 Terry Tempest Williams: The Glorians
Join us for a special hour with American author and environmental activist Terry Tempest Williams as she invites us to consider the interconnectedness of the natural world, and discusses what we gain from …
Show notes
Join us for a special hour with American author and environmental activist Terry Tempest Williams as she invites us to consider the interconnectedness of the natural world, and discusses what we gain from recognizing and engaging with all that's around us — including a heightened appreciation of the good in our world.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.534b Crete; Alaska's Tip of the Iceberg; Darwin Comes to Town
A pair of tour guides from Greece tell us how the island of Crete offers a natural experience unlike any other. Then travel writer Mark Adams describes his 3,000-mile voyage along the coasts of Alaska to follow …
Show notes
A pair of tour guides from Greece tell us how the island of Crete offers a natural experience unlike any other. Then travel writer Mark Adams describes his 3,000-mile voyage along the coasts of Alaska to follow what the Harriman Expedition saw in 1899. And a Dutch biologist explains how urban evolution is happening faster than we used to think all over the world.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.680a The Last Cowboys; Perfect Day California; American Bald Eagle
New York Times reporter John Branch tells us how one family in southern Utah keeps a cowboy tradition alive at rodeos across the West. Then an award-winning travel journalist recommends itineraries for scenic …
Show notes
New York Times reporter John Branch tells us how one family in southern Utah keeps a cowboy tradition alive at rodeos across the West. Then an award-winning travel journalist recommends itineraries for scenic road trips and sites to explore across California. And an environmental history scholar pays tribute to the American bald eagle, whose recovery from the brink of extinction is an environmental success story that can inspire everyone.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.831 Greek Theatre; Beyond Santorini; Home Base Hiking in Europe
An Athenian theater director discusses drama's role as a building block of civil society since ancient times, and recommends some Greek destinations that are especially fascinating for the theatrically …
Show notes
An Athenian theater director discusses drama's role as a building block of civil society since ancient times, and recommends some Greek destinations that are especially fascinating for the theatrically inclined. Then a pair of tour guides offer their picks for lesser-known Greek islands that promise a break from the bustle and expense of tourist centers such as Mykonos and Santorini. And an outdoor enthusiast lets us in on the wisdom of finding a good home base to unlace your boots on a multi-day European hiking trip.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.286c Mother's Day; Sweet Home Croatia; An American Mother in Paris
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 American who married a Frenchman tells us what it’s like …
Show notes
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 American who married a Frenchman tells us what it’s like raising a child in Paris. We go on a sentimental family trip to San Francisco, and hear how mamma is center stage in Sicily. Plus Rick pays tribute to his late mother, who influenced him to become a traveler.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.830 Bite of Rome; Heart of London; Spirit of Portugal
The founder of a food-tour company tells us in delicious detail about some of his favorite eats to enjoy on the streets of Rome. Then a British tour guide shares how to take in London's historic core as well as …
Show notes
The founder of a food-tour company tells us in delicious detail about some of his favorite eats to enjoy on the streets of Rome. Then a British tour guide shares how to take in London's historic core as well as its changing landscape on a visit to the boroughs of The City and Westminster. And a tour guide from Lisbon illuminates the contrasts between Portugal's bustling cities and the more traditional way of life that persists in the countryside.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.829 Packing Light; Sweden Beyond Stockholm; Check-In
One of Rick's longtime cohorts shares her road-tested advice on what you need — and don't need — to put in your suitcase for a successful overseas trip. Then a brother-and-sister pair of Swedish tour guides …
Show notes
One of Rick's longtime cohorts shares her road-tested advice on what you need — and don't need — to put in your suitcase for a successful overseas trip. Then a brother-and-sister pair of Swedish tour guides share their picks for places to explore beyond Stockholm, from easy day trips to coastal wilderness adventures. Plus, listeners chat with Rick about what made their recent travels feel special.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
These are the latest 40 of 1,089 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
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