Travel with Rick Steves
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
670a Weekend in Brussels; The Temporary European; My Town
A Brussels-based tour guide offers his recommendations for making the most of a weekend in the Belgian capital. Then one of Rick's co-authors joins us to explore what it means to become a "temporary local" when traveling, and how it can help you actually relax on your next vacation. And listeners share ideas for enjoying areas they know well, as long-term locals — including Maine's Acadia National Park and the art museums of St. Petersburg, Florida.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
19/07/25•52m 0s
798 France, North vs. South; Streets of Paris; Loire Valley Chateâu Country
A trio of Rick's tour guides banter about the nuances of northern and southern France, from climate and demeanor to food and fashion. Then author Susan Cahill describes how wandering the streets of Paris brings to life the stories of the city's artists, writers, and historical figures. And an expert offers recommendations for enjoying the elegant chateâu country of the Loire Valley.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
12/07/25•52m 0s
797 Kayaking Manhattan; The Wild Mississippi; Happy Travels
Journalist Eliot Stein takes us along on the unique adventure of kayaking the perimeter of Manhattan Island and observes some of the pockets of nature that persist within New York's concrete jungle. Then a midwestern author shares his lifelong passion for the Mississippi River and delves into the recreational, ecological, and spiritual facets of America's mighty waterway. And TV host Samantha Brown tells Rick how she keeps herself from stressing out over what could go wrong in her frequent travels.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
05/07/25•52m 0s
796 Oh Canada!
Two prominent Canadian authors share their perspective on today's strained political relationship between the US and its northern neighbor. They reflect on their country's geography, diversity, strength, and identity, and consider the history and attitudes that make Canada distinct from the US. And of course, they talk a bit of hockey.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
28/06/25•52m 0s
795 Liverpool; Finding Ancient Roman Art; Home Base Hiking in Europe
Find out what makes Liverpool worth at least a day's visit even for those with no interest in Fab Four lore, then hear from renowned classicist Mary Beard about some of the best places outside Italy to see remnants of the ancient Roman empire. And learn why one expert recommends 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.
21/06/25•52m 0s
447b Hungarian Hot Springs; Peru's Boiling River; Padova & the Veneto
Hear how people of all ages enjoy a day at the baths in Budapest, where doctors commonly prescribe a relaxing day at the spa. Then learn about a sacred geothermal river located deep in Amazonian Peru: It's huge, deadly hot, and might contain clues to the origins of life on Earth. And get advice for enjoying the splendor of Padua, located just half an hour from the crowds of Venice, and home to one of Europe's oldest universities.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
14/06/25•52m 0s
794 The New Tourist; Training School for Elephants
Journalist Paige McClanahan examines recent changes in the travel industry and explains how a more conscientious approach to tourism can make it a force for good. And travel writer Sophy Roberts recounts a curious episode in colonial history when the king of Belgium ordered a group of elephants to be sent from India to Congo — and discusses what her own travels taught her about Africa's past and present.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
07/06/25•52m 0s
793 Aegean Turkey; Florence & Tuscany; Denmark Beyond Copenhagen
Expert tour guides share advice for exploring the ancient ruins and seaside villages along Turkey's Aegean coast, the Renaissance wonders of Florence, the sun-drenched Tuscan countryside, and charming Danish towns and islands easily reached on day trips from Copenhagen.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
31/05/25•52m 0s
792 Remember Us; The Greater Journey
We hear how the Dutch continue to remember and honor the servicemen who helped liberate their towns in 1945. And we revisit a conversation with the late historian David McCullough about the influential "Americans in Paris" of the 19th century, who returned home with skills that helped transform life in the US.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
24/05/25•52m 0s
683a English Country Gardens; On Becoming a Gardener; In Praise of Wasting Time
English tour guides share their enthusiasm for enjoying the riot of color and inspiration you'll find in England's best country gardens. Then author Catie Marron explains how she designed and planted a garden as a way to feel a sense of belonging in her new home. And physicist Alan Lightman explains why it's healthy to give yourself a little unstructured time every day just for goofing off.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
17/05/25•52m 0s
791 Scottish Castles; Mars on Earth; Checking In
Scottish tour guides tell us about the most famous castles in a country that's brimming with the imposing structures. Then a Santiago-based American travel writer embarks on a 1,200-mile odyssey through one of the driest places on earth — Chile's Atacama Desert — as he searches for a deeper understanding of his adopted homeland. And listeners call in to share stories and find inspiration for their next travel adventures.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
10/05/25•52m 0s
790 Oneika Raymond's Favorite Destinations; US Aid; A Week in Poland
Journalist Oneika Raymond reveals the top countries where, as a black woman traveling solo, she feels a cultural appreciation and connection. Then the head of Bread for the World describes how the organization's advocacy work has stepped up its efforts in the face of cuts to government aid programs. And tour guides from Poland give us a look at how the country is modernizing, while retaining what makes it uniquely Polish.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
03/05/25•52m 0s
673a Visiting Antarctica; The Journeys of Trees; Italy's Northern Lakes
A travel writer shares how a trip to Antarctica helped him see that continent through the eyes of the early polar explorers. Then a reporter focused on climate change and conservation explains how some North American tree species are migrating to survive the planet's rising temperatures. And two Italy-based tour guides take us to the resort lakes of northern Italy, where the glamour extends beyond the natural scenery.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
26/04/25•52m 0s
789 Easter in Greece; Pillars of Europe; Easter in Andalucía
Learn about the customs that Greeks observe as Orthodox Easter draws near. Then contemplate the massive undertaking of building a cathedral centuries ago and how these monuments to faith and devotion helped shape their locales. And get acquainted with southern Spain's elaborate Semana Santa observances, which fill the streets of Andalucía in the week leading up to Easter.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
19/04/25•52m 0s
788 Spain by Train; Foreign Correspondent; The Lines on Our Maps
Hear from tour guides about Spain's robust high-speed rail network and all the places it can take you. Then hit the road vicariously with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof for a taste of life as a foreign correspondent. And take a closer look at the surprising and fascinating ways in which borders have shaped our world.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
12/04/25•52m 0s
787 Twenty Years; The Vanishing Point; Martin Sheen's Travels
Rick marks 20 years of his radio show by revisiting some memorable guests and what they've taught us about travel. Then author Paul Theroux celebrates his 84th birthday as he contemplates the passage of time in his new short-story collection, "The Vanishing Point." And actor Martin Sheen describes how his experiences filming overseas have come to influence his political activism.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
05/04/25•52m 0s
696a For the Love of Guidebooks; The Gulf; Greatest Art in Europe
Europe brims with world-class art, and we contemplate some of the continent's truly outstanding paintings, sculptures, and historic edifices. Then we learn about the historic and ecological importance of the Gulf of Mexico from a professor in neighboring Florida. And we consider the humble guidebook and what its pages can tell us, both in the moment and long after the trip is done.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
29/03/25•52m 0s
786 Greek Passions; In Love with the Louvre; Balkan Discoveries
A tour guide from Greece delves into the importance of food, family, and traditions in his homeland. Then a Francophile offers advice on how to take on the vast collection of the world's largest — and arguably greatest — museum. And guidebook researcher Cameron Hewitt shares discoveries from his travels in the Balkans, an affordable and rewarding alternative to the tourist crowds of western Europe.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
22/03/25•52m 0s
785 Irish Legacy of W. B. Yeats; 1960s Ireland; Touring Northern Ireland
Two countrymen explore Ireland's reverence for their national poet, W. B. Yeats. Then a Dublin journalist shares what it was like to grow up amid the turbulent societal changes in his city during the 1960s and '70s. And a guide from Belfast tells us why an Emerald Isle itinerary should include a visit to Northern Ireland.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
15/03/25•52m 0s
625a Snowdonia; Outposts; Natural Slovenia
Delve into the remote outposts and refuges across the globe where travelers have stopped along the course of their adventures. Then hear about the highest views in Wales — and how to reach them — and learn about the country's slate mining heritage. And from Alps to caves, vineyards to beehives, catch the buzz of the natural wonders on display in Slovenia.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
08/03/25•52m 0s
784 Rhineland Karneval; WMF 2025 Watch List; Top Alaska Experiences
Look at what's behind Carnival and Mardi Gras celebrations around the world by learning about the festive season's origins and customs in Germany's Rhineland. Then hear what's been added to the World Monuments Fund's latest "watch list" of endangered cultural sites around the world. And get recommendations for must-see experiences in Alaska, along with tips for planning adventures across the Last Frontier.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
01/03/25•52m 0s
783 British Pubs; Why I Love Brittany; Custodians of Wonder
Two English tour guides explain what Brits mean by a "rough and ready" pub and how to find some of the UK's best pub grub. Then a father-and-son tour-guiding duo invite us to fall in love with their favorite corner of France. And BBC journalist Eliot Stein shares insights from his travels in search of the world's oldest disappearing traditions, giving us a peek into what it's like to be the last to carry a cultural torch.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
22/02/25•52m 0s
395b Monet's Passion; The French House; Marrying Into Italy
Listen in as an artist who helped restore Monet's gardens explains why the French painter first created these colorful gardens at his house outside Paris. Then hear how renovating a house on an island off the coast of Brittany can feed your wild side. And find out what happens when you marry an Italian…and your new in-laws live next door. Plus, an adventure cyclist shares the story of a timely romantic surprise that came when he needed it most.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
15/02/25•52m 0s
782 Prague vs. Budapest; What's New in Lisbon
This week we explore three of the most charming — and most popular — of Europe's Old World cities: Two tour guides get cheeky as they make the case for which of their own hometowns — Prague or Budapest — offer the best experiences for visitors with limited time in central Europe. And expert locals catch us up on changes afoot in Lisbon, offering strategies for navigating its more crowded sights so that you can still enjoy an authentic taste of today's Portugal.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
08/02/25•52m 0s
781 Potsdam; Emperor of Rome; On the Hippie Trail
We hear why the city of Potsdam — home to elegant Prussian palaces and parklands, all in quick reach of central Berlin — is worth a day's visit. Then we get a sense of what life was really like for the emperors of ancient Rome, with the help of classicist Mary Beard. And we travel back to 1978 with Rick and his longtime buddy Gene Openshaw as they retrace their post-college adventures along the infamous "Hippie Trail" from Istanbul to Afghanistan to India, all the way to Kathmandu.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
01/02/25•52m 0s
602a How Berlin Remembers; Turkish Delights; Travel to Bhutan
Two German tour guides let us in on the back story behind Berlin's most memorable monuments to their country's turbulent history. Then two Turks tuck into a discussion of the traditional Turkish street eats, comfort foods, and desserts they recommend for a tasty visit to Istanbul. And an American who met — then married — a local artist in Bhutan shares tips for surmounting the logistical hurdles of visiting this remote Himalayan kingdom.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
25/01/25•52m 0s
780 Miami Getaway; Scottish Icons; Robert Burns Night
Travel Channel host Oneika Raymond recommends her favorite Miami neighborhoods to explore on a sunny getaway. Then friends from Scotland discuss the uniquely Scottish cultural icons that reinforce the small nation's strong sense of identity. And just in time for Burns Night, Perthshire-based troubadour Jim Malcolm explains what Robert Burns' poetry means to his compatriots — and sings some favorite Burns tunes.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
18/01/25•52m 0s
779 Bristol; Barcelona; Bruges
Consider three distinctly different styles of historic European cities as we hear how Bristol has transformed itself from an industrial and maritime powerhouse into a creative center for the southwest of England — and how it rewards visitors who set aside at least a day for this city just a half-hour from well-touristed Bath. Then learn from a local about how the Catalan culture of Barcelona sets it apart from the rest of Spain. And discover what visitors have enjoyed for centuries along the cobbled medieval streets of the beautifully Belgian burg of Bruges.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
11/01/25•52m 0s
778 Pura Vida; Morocco's Best Cities; More Travel Pursuits
The author of a guidebook to Costa Rica discusses what the phrase "pura vida" conveys amid the tropical abundance of her adopted Central American eco-paradise. Then a Morocco expert and fellow guidebook writer recommends the best cities for immersing yourself in the Old World atmosphere of Morocco's intimate, car-free medina neighborhoods. And fellow listeners call in to share how their passions and hobbies have provided a framework for memorable overseas travels.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
04/01/25•52m 0s
777 History of the Snowman; Visiting the Vatican; Champagne; Edinburgh New Year's
The "world's leading snowman expert" joins Rick to explore the somewhat dark — and certainly cold — origins of the tradition of building snowmen, and what Frosty and his ilk have come to mean across different societies. Then two Rome-based tour guides unpack some of the cultural treasures crammed into the world's tiniest country, while sharing tips and secrets for a successful visit to Vatican City amid the Jubilee-year pilgrimage that's sure to keep the city packed throughout 2025. And to welcome the new year, two France experts raise a glass to Champagne — both the bubbly and its region of origin — before Scottish tour guides revel in describing the lively New Year's Eve traditions they observe in Edinburgh as "Hogmanay."
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
28/12/24•52m 0s
698a Ready for Christmas Near and Far; Wassailing
Rick gathers some old friends to hear about their childhood Christmases in Spain, Italy, and New Mexico. Then he brings in more friends to describe what you're likely to find this time of year in Austria, Australia, Japan…and Antarctica. Plus, a Brit from Bath explains how the English tradition of wassailing developed as a way to guarantee a good apple harvest — or at least an occasion to enjoy a warm drink with neighbors.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
21/12/24•52m 0s
776 Bulgarian Christmas; What's New in Istanbul; Eight Flavors in the Pantry
Old World traditions — fasting, feasting, incense, and song — make Bulgaria's Christmas season special, and tour guide Stefan Bozadzhiev invites us to imagine it with him. Then an Istanbul guide updates us on the latest big news in Turkey's cultural capital, and a culinary historian inspires us to peruse our spice racks as she discusses the often surprising origins of the eight flavors that unite America's diverse cuisines.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
14/12/24•52m 0s
775 Reopening Notre-Dame; Rue des Martyrs; Other Religions
Ken Follett, author of a monumental series of novels based in medieval Europe, celebrates the much anticipated — and hotly debated — reopening of Paris' Notre-Dame Cathedral five years after its devastating fire. Also, the New York Times' former Paris correspondent Elaine Sciolino tells us what makes her own Paris neighborhood feel like home. And a peace activist from Jerusalem shares a suggestion to help people of different religions get along better.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
07/12/24•52m 0s
774 Spectacular Landscapes; Four Points of the Compass; What's in a Name?
A tour guide from England's scenic Lake District recommends two areas — in Switzerland and Iceland — offering even more stunning landscapes to explore. Then a historian invites us to reconsider how we orient ourselves in time and space as he shares insights he's gained from exploring how we arrived at our modern sense of direction. And a former NPR correspondent discusses what happens when a place gets a new name, and how an altered identity can transform the place itself.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
30/11/24•52m 0s
773 Taste of Holland; French Feasting; Eating Across Spain
Indulge your ears in an audio feast by listening in on delectable discussions of the don't-miss traditional foods of the Netherlands and Spain. Hear about how the French structure their day around meal times, as observed by an Australian chef who's settled in central France. And learn about the special cakes that Norwegians enjoy for the holidays.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
23/11/24•52m 0s
653a Ærø Island Denmark; Emilia-Romagna; Italian View of Sicily
Find out what makes the small Danish island of Ærø a perfectly charming and cozy getaway, which region Italophile Fred Plotkin considers Italy's greatest source of culinary and cultural achievements, and why Sicily is such a favorite with visitors, whether from elsewhere in Italy or abroad.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
16/11/24•52m 0s
772 Michelangelo’s Tomb; What’s New in Dublin; Seeing the Art We Love
Hear about Michelangelo's life-consuming struggle to create the grand papal tomb that was supposed to be his magnum opus, but is largely ignored today. Then get an update on what's new this year in Dublin, where a major renovation at Trinity College's Old Library has turned viewing the Book of Kells, one of Ireland's greatest treasures, into an immersive experience. And join fellow listeners in considering how the thrill of viewing a great work of art in person can be reason enough to plan a trip.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
09/11/24•52m 0s
771 What’s New in Berlin; Reflections on the Peace Corps
Tour guides from Berlin update us on what's new in the German capital, and discuss why they love living in a city so dense with history — and one that seems to be constantly reinventing itself. And a former Peace Corps volunteer reflects on the value of his two-year stint, which had him, right out of college, living and teaching halfway around the world.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
02/11/24•52m 0s
542b Wild West Ghost Towns; Heroes of Ireland; Savage Harvest
American road-trip aficionado Jim Hinckley recommends Old West ghost towns to visit before they fade away. Then Irish singer Cathie Ryan explains — and demonstrates — how Ireland remembers its heroes in song. And journalist Carl Hoffman lets us in on what he's concluded after researching the disappearance of banking scion Michael Rockefeller, who vanished in 1961 while on an art-buying expedition in the jungles of New Guinea.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
26/10/24•52m 0s
770 Sagre Festivals of Italy; Rome Today; Eyewitness in Hungary 1956
Learn about Italy's sagre — traditional country fairs, often centering on the local harvest, that usually feature colorful historical pageantry. Then hear what's new in old Rome as it spiffs up for the coming Jubilee Year celebrations. Then listen in as venerated writer and editor Michael Korda recounts his experiences amid one of the Cold War's most dramatic events: the Hungarian uprising of October 1956.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
19/10/24•52m 0s
695a Belgium Pride; Favorite Gardens; Arctic Trails
A native-born Belgian shares what delights him most about his small, but justifiably proud country. Then an expert in public green spaces recommends some of her favorite gardens around the world — plus the most enticing ones she's yet to visit. And a writer who was raised way off the grid in northwest Alaska alerts us to the increasing threats to the people and wildlife of the Alaskan Arctic.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
12/10/24•52m 0s
769 Asian-American Immigration; Democracy in Europe
A Harvard historian discusses how the impact of the Immigration Act of 1965 continues to reverberate in American society, and in particular what the US gained in becoming far more welcoming to Asian immigrants than ever before. And tour guides from Hungary, Poland, and Portugal update us on some of the profound political issues under debate in their countries, and what we Americans might learn from their experiences.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
05/10/24•52m 0s
768 Pan-American Road Trip; Filming the World’s Backyard; Travel Pursuits
An American memoirist describes what she learned when retracing an epic — and poignant — family road trip all the way from Oregon to the southern tip of South America. Then a film producer recounts some of the exhilarating travels he's turned into spectacular IMAX nature films. And fellow listeners call in to share how their passions and hobbies have provided a framework for memorable overseas travels.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
28/09/24•52m 0s
578b Walking Ljubljana; Munich and Bavaria; Wild Animals
The co-author of Rick's Central Europe guidebook and a Ljubljana-based tour guide discuss the charms of Slovenia's laid-back capital. Then a tour guide from Munich shares her insider tips for becoming a temporary Bavarian at Oktoberfest, and a naturalist with a knack for adventure explains 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.
21/09/24•52m 0s
767 Eastern European Folklore; Unknown Balkans; Milan
A historian discusses some of the most salient narratives about themselves that eastern Europeans have been passing down through generations of folklore. Then a Bulgarian tour guide lets us in on why the smaller Balkan countries of Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia are emerging as "back-door" destinations. And tour guides from Italy share tips for people-watching among the chic and sleek in Milan's fashionable café scene — and the cocktails to enjoy while doing so.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
14/09/24•52m 0s
766 Endangered European Languages; Black Women Travelers; Beating the Crowds, Part 2
A linguist who studies disappearing languages lets us in on some of Europe's lesser-known lingos and discusses how languages help define cultures. Then travel journalist Oneika Raymond shares some of the insights she's gained as a "serial expat" and why she encourages fellow women of color to explore the world on their own, despite the extra challenges. And listeners offer more strategies for avoiding, or at least managing, crowds when traveling in Europe.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
07/09/24•52m 0s
765 Sicilian Splendors; Off the Rails; Favorite Hot Springs
A longtime Italophile shares the charms and rich culture of Sicily. Then a popular columnist and avowed train buff recounts tales of his rail travels the world over. And a photojournalist takes a deep dive into the ways we soak, swim, and slow down in hot springs.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
31/08/24•52m 0s
697a Sacred Paris; Raising a Family in France; A Place in the World
Author Susan Cahill recommends some of the most magnificent religious architecture to explore in Paris, then an American who married a Frenchman describes her experiences raising three young children in a small town outside Paris. And writer Frances Mayes, who lives in both Tuscany and North Carolina, discusses just what makes a place feel like home.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
24/08/24•52m 0s
764 South Wales; Two Years in Kazakhstan; Global Empty Spaces
Delve into southern Wales and its evocative landscape of castles, pilgrim trails, and coal mines. Then get a rare glimpse into Central Asia's largest country from a former Peace Corps volunteer. And vicariously explore some of our world's remaining desolate places.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
17/08/24•52m 0s
763 Favorite Scottish Walks; Oslo Harbor Front; Beating the Crowds
Get recommendations for enjoying scenic hiking trails in the Scottish countryside. Then learn how Oslo's renovated harbor front has become a popular place to enjoy the city's art, culture, scenery, food, and even saunas. And hear how fellow listeners have been coping with crowds at Europe's major sights.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
10/08/24•52m 0s
762 Athens Day Trips; More Greek Islands; Joanna Lumley in Northern Greece
Tour guides from Athens recommend easy day trips from the capital into the historic Greek countryside, then let us in on some lesser-known island getaways in the Aegean and Ionian seas. Plus, British actress Dame Joanna Lumley shares her favorite highlights from exploring northern Greece for a TV special she filmed there.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
03/08/24•52m 0s
658a Humble American Bragging; Why I Love Madrid; Deep Time Journey
British travel writer Richard Grant discusses the sporting sense of humor he's observed (and appreciated) behind the distinctly American talent for over-the-top bragging. Then tour guides from Madrid let us in on their favorite places to take visitors in the Spanish capital. And we ponder our place in the planet's history with author Robert Macfarlane, who shares insights gained from a decade of investigating, from a perspective of geologic time, humanity's relationship with our landscape.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
27/07/24•52m 0s
761 Nicholas Kristof Chasing Hope; Fabulous Food in Paris
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof has witnessed his share of danger and strife as a foreign correspondent. Listen in as he reflects on his career and helps us look for hope beyond the headlines that bombard us daily. Plus, get a taste of the culinary delights of Paris with a foodie so enamored of France that he moved there from Australia.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
20/07/24•52m 0s
644a Underappreciated Paris Museums; Many Lives of the Louvre; Cote d'Azur
Get ideas for visiting some of Paris' unique, under-appreciated small museums, as well as tips for tackling its massive grande dame, the Louvre — and an author's insights into the former palace's remarkable history. And French tour guides tell us what they love best about the cities along the Mediterranean's sparkling Cote d'Azur.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
13/07/24•52m 0s
760 Sweet Southern Treats; Ben Franklin and Me; Nearby Travels
Get a taste of the hearty, homespun cuisine of the American South from a writer who has documented our nation through the foods we celebrate. Then hear about a man's quest to trace the travels of Ben Franklin — and to uncover the founder's life lessons. And listen in as callers recount meaningful travel experiences close to home in North America.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
06/07/24•52m 0s
529b Newfoundland with Alan Doyle; Rick Mercer's Canada Day; Drink Dat New Orleans
A Newfoundland musician lets us in on the sights he recommends to best enjoy the rugged beauty of his Atlantic island home. Then an award-winning Canadian TV personality shares his own favorite places and things to enjoy across Canada. Plus, a culinary historian raises a glass to New Orleans and unveils how to appreciate the history of America's most "spirited" city through its distinctive cocktails.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
29/06/24•52m 0s
759 Bowen Island, BC; Alaska Beyond the Cruise Ports; Iceland Summer
Hear about the slower pace of life on Bowen Island, just offshore from bustling Vancouver, British Columbia. Then get tips for exploring Alaska beyond its cruise ship ports. And vicariously experience a summer hike across Iceland's dramatic backcountry.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
22/06/24•52m 0s
758 Reasons to Scuba Dive; Italy's Amalfi Coast; England's SW Coast Path
Hear from a scuba diving enthusiast how the scenery beneath the surface can be breathtaking in unexpected ways. Then get tips from a tour guide for enjoying Italy's gorgeous Amalfi Coast in spite of the crowds. And discover how you can enjoy a ramble on one of England's most popular hiking trails, the South West Coast Path.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
15/06/24•52m 0s
757 Portugal's Algarve; Spain's Costa del Sol; Vanishing Traditions of Asia
The Iberian Peninsula takes center stage as tour guides tell us what they like best about the scenic Algarve region of Portugal, and recommend where to find the charming parts of Spain's crowded and touristy Costa del Sol. Plus, futurist Kevin Kelly tells us what traditional aspects of Asia have impressed him the most over fifty years of photo journeys across the continent.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
08/06/24•52m 0s
756 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 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.
01/06/24•52m 0s
755 Soldier Poets of WWI; Village Turkey
Historian, novelist, and legendary editor Michael Korda invites us to look back on World War I through the eyes of its soldier poets, whose works — often composed in the trenches — offer an unusually personal and uncensored perspective on the horrors of "the war to end all wars." And a Turkish tour guide takes listener calls while offering advice for finding a friendly welcome in the rural villages of Turkey, where the main attraction might just be…you.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
25/05/24•52m 0s
754 Central Europe; Norway’s Prosperity; Somali Pirates
Rick and his senior writer discuss why so much of what Americans have long called "Eastern Europe" is better termed "Central Europe," especially with the Cold War now several decades behind us. Then a tour guide from Oslo explains how Norway cleverly uses its oil-industry revenues to maintain a flourishing society. And German-American journalist Michael Scott Moore tells us how he survived nearly three years as a hostage of pirates in Somalia.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
18/05/24•52m 0s
367a Driving in Europe; Getting Around Ireland; Exploring Provence
A pair of tour-bus drivers offer their expert tips on what to expect when navigating the highways of Europe. Then we discuss ideas for exploring two of Europe's most scenic regions: the lush Irish countryside and the floral landscapes and villages of southern France — and pop into a Dublin pub for a wee sing-along.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
11/05/24•52m 0s
753 German Views; Mudlarking the Thames
A German journalist shares some timely thoughts on what his fellow citizens find appealing about America, as well as his insights into the intriguing differences between our two societies. Then a London "mudlarker" who searches the River Thames at low tide for buried objects describes how discarded items can connect us with life in the Victorian era, and even as far back as Roman times.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
04/05/24•52m 0s
752 Amsterdam Canals; The Last Island; Coimbra
A Dutch guide invites us to imagine a day on the water exploring Amsterdam's iconic canals. Then a historian shares what little we know of the elusive Sentinelese — likely the most isolated, least contacted people on earth — and what he learned by traveling to nearby islands in the Bay of Bengal. And a tour guide from Portugal tells us why the venerable university of town of Coimbra is such a delight to explore.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
27/04/24•52m 0s
751 Eyewitness to Climate Change; Endangered Eating; Shakespeare in Stratford and South Sudan
Celebrate Earth Day by considering the ways you can address climate change at home, with practical advice from a scientist who's seen its effects around the world. Then hear from a culinary historian about the crops, farm animals, and agricultural traditions that we risk losing in America. And mark Shakespeare's birthday by learning how his works have played a key role in shaping Africa's newest nation and by getting tips for enjoying a visit to his hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
20/04/24•52m 0s
591a Polynesian Explorers; Northern Greece; Greek to Me
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.
13/04/24•52m 0s
750 Mini Italian Lesson; Geography of Genius; Timbuktu Haircut
We learn some surprisingly useful Italian phrases from one of Italy's most popular newspaper columnists, then consider why certain places have fostered more than their share of world-changing innovations, and hear about Timbuktu's history as an important center for scholarship. Plus, we find out about the thrill of dropping in on a choir practice in small-town Wales.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
06/04/24•52m 0s
749 Totally Eclipsed; Mekong Paddle Pilgrim; Strange Food
A nature filmmaker and self-proclaimed "umbraphile" shares tips for viewing the next total solar eclipse, when the moon will cast its otherworldly shadow on a narrow band across North America on April 8 — and explains why he thinks it’s worth a trek to the totality zone. Then the "Paddle Pilgrim" returns to tell us about the unexpected challenges along his month-long Southeast Asian adventure kayaking down the Mekong River, where he was forced to learn to "linger with the lotus." And Cecily Wong from Atlas Obscura describes some of the strangest potions and fermented foods concocted before the era of refrigeration.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
30/03/24•52m 0s
748 Quirky Oslo; Last Empty Places; Herbal
An American expat in Oslo shares some of the quirks and customs of life in his adopted home. Then, a wilderness and history author recounts what he found exploring four blank spots on the US map. And an ethnobotanist describes the healing properties of different kinds of herbs around the world — some of which might be growing in your own backyard.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
23/03/24•52m 0s
597a Dublin Walk; The Immortal Irishman; Aran Islands
In this all-Irish hour, tour guides describe some of the intriguing sights you'd encounter on a walking tour of Dublin and explain why the rugged Aran Islands, off Ireland's west coast, are such an exciting place to explore Irish traditions. And author Timothy Egan delves into the legacy of 19th-century America's most famous Irish immigrant.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
16/03/24•52m 0s
747 Ireland in 100 Objects; Midlife Michelangelo; Language City New York
A columnist for the Irish Times describes some of the historical objects so cherished by his compatriots that they're considered key to Ireland's national identity, and tells us where you can see them on display. Then we take a closer look at the life of Michelangelo and the midlife mess that threatened to derail him from creating many of the world's most treasured works of art. And we learn about the many languages spoken in New York City that are on the brink of disappearing — and the efforts to preserve their unique vocabulary and sounds.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
09/03/24•52m 0s
746 Goodbye Eastern Europe; The Long Field in Wales
A historian describes how eastern European countries have modernized since the Cold War and examines the kinds of challenges they face today. And an American-born artist and creative writing teacher shares the joy she feels in being "Welsh by choice."
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
02/03/24•52m 0s
641a Finding Europe in America; Cruise Ship Nightmare; Iceland Backcountry
Get ideas and tips from TV host Samantha Brown for finding little corners of Europe in the New World, then hear an author's dramatic firsthand account of a near catastrophe on a cruise ship caught powerless in a freak winter storm off the coast of Norway. And a tour guide takes us to the wild, windy, and wonder-inspiring backcountry of Iceland.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
24/02/24•52m 0s
745 Orkney Living; Walkable European Cities; Nomads of Europe
Hear what it's like to live on one of the windswept Orkney Islands off the northern tip of Scotland, where people have lived since before recorded history. Then learn how redesigned traffic patterns 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. Plus, a historian examines the underappreciated role of nomadic societies and 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.
17/02/24•52m 0s
744 Falling for Saturn; Heart of Martin Sheen; Florentine Favorites
Astronomer Philip Plait — who fell in love with Saturn after first viewing the gas giant, with its mesmerizing rings and moons, through a telescope as a child — shares some of the amazing discoveries we've made about the planet in recent years. Then actor Martin Sheen describes how his travels in the developing world have opened his eyes, and his heart, to the needs of others. And a Florence-based tour guide and culinary expert lets us in on where to find the best food in her adopted home.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
10/02/24•52m 0s
743 Happens in Vegas; Morocco's Sahara
The most popular storyteller of our time, author James Patterson, shares insights from the people who work behind the scenes to turn Las Vegas into America's ultimate fantasy destination. And a Morocco-based tour guide recommends letting yourself be amazed by the night sky in the Sahara Desert, a view that's guided travelers for millennia.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
03/02/24•52m 0s
742 Sharks; Beyond Havana; Pompeii
A deep-sea diving instructor from Australia explains why he's not afraid of sharks — well, most of them. Then a Cuba travel expert looks at the places and experiences you can explore beyond Havana, as well the rules that govern travel to Cuba for US travelers. And a guide from Italy helps us step into a day in the first century, frozen in time, at the ruins of Pompeii on the slope of Mount Vesuvius.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
27/01/24•52m 0s
595a The Story of Spanish; First Timer's Spain
Hear the unlikely story of how Spanish grew from a Latin dialect in northern Iberia to become one of the world's most important and widely spoken languages. Then get tips for enjoying your first trip to Spain, and for getting the most out of a visit to the Prado's massive art collection in Madrid.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
20/01/24•52m 0s
741 Visiting Vienna; Visiting Bosnia; Athens Acropolis
Get tips for enjoying elegant, easily navigated Vienna, Austria's capital and the epicenter of a once-mighty empire. Then hear a Bosnian describe what his country, a generation after its infamous war, has to teach us about getting along with our neighbors — and why the nation is now blossoming as a travel destination. And get acquainted with the fascinating ancient structures atop Athens' Acropolis.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
13/01/24•52m 0s
740 Cruising the Nile; Paradise on Earth; Lost Pianos of Siberia
A tour specialist from Cairo explains how you can cruise through five thousand years of history on the Nile River in Egypt. Author Pico Iyer suggests paradise on earth might be in some of the most unexpected places. He tells us about his sojourns from the Himalayas to Sri Lanka to experience what South Asia had to show him. And hear how Sophy Roberts searched for the historic "lost pianos of Siberia," and what she actually found.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
06/01/24•52m 0s
739 Travel Like a Diplomat; Making a Difference; German Pop
Get some travel advice from the former U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria, who recommends his favorite vacation getaways in the Balkans. Then listen in as a climate scientist describes the efforts that have worked — and some that haven't — in combatting the pollution that causes climate change…and what you can do now to make a difference. And hear how Germany's pop music has evolved to reflect a half century of intense cultural transformation.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
30/12/23•52m 0s
738 Christmastime in Bavaria, Croatia, Sweden, Rome, Sardinia, Costa Rica, Amsterdam
Brighten your holidays with an international perspective on Christmas celebrations: Learn about Europe's Old World holiday traditions, and meet some of Santa's cousins, as some of Rick's friends drop by to discuss the sometimes sublime, often quirky ways they observe the season in Bavaria, Sardinia, Croatia, Stockholm, Amsterdam, and Rome. And get a taste of a tropical Christmas in Costa Rica.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
23/12/23•52m 0s
587a Cod in Portugal; Eating in Naples; Dingle Bells; Christmas Travels
Hear about why cod is so popular among the Portuguese — especially at this time of year — and get a taste of the culinary treats to try in and around Naples. Then find out how the Irish gear up for the holidays, and what listeners enjoy about traveling overseas during the Christmas season.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
16/12/23•52m 0s
737 A History of Modern Ireland; Following Caesar
A columnist for the Irish Times discusses the dramatic recent changes in public opinion and attitude in Republic of Ireland, and how he's seen it become a modern, progressive nation over his lifetime. And a journalist from Utah tells us how to find some of the roadways the ancient Romans built to connect outposts of their empire — all the way to Istanbul.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
09/12/23•52m 0s
736 The Swiss; Sightseer's Guide to the Solar System; Winter in Anchorage
A former US ambassador to Switzerland shares her insights into what makes the Swiss tick — and what their society gets right. Then an astronomer helps us imagine what sort of views we'd enjoy if we could travel to planets in our solar system. And a guidebook author from Anchorage tells us why south-central Alaska can be a fun place for a winter visit.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
02/12/23•52m 0s
630a Portugal's Art and Architecture; Breakfast With Polygamists; Jack London's Yukon
Tour guides from Lisbon paint audio pictures of the vivid art that colors the streets of Portugal, then a journalist and former diplomat tells of how curiosity led him to meet with healers in the jungles of Nicaragua and Belize. And travel writer Richard Grant explains how a particularly bitter Yukon winter in Dawson City inspired Jack London to write one of his most famous tales of the North. Plus, Rick's in-house art expert gives us a close-up appreciation of Leonardo's Mona Lisa.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
25/11/23•52m 0s
735 American Thanksgiving; Feeding the World; Tom Miller; German Sausages
A culinary historian tells us what's traditionally been on the Thanksgiving table over the years. The head of the World Food Program USA updates us on the work that goes into feeding the world's most impoverished communities. Also, we remember Tucson-based travel writer Tom Miller. And we get a taste of the variety of sausages people enjoy year-round in Germany.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
18/11/23•52m 0s
734 Saving Europe's Art; Overlooked Cuisines of Italy; Belgian Treats
Hear about the risks and heroism it took to protect Europe's art treasures during World War II. Then vicariously eat your way through four of Italy's lesser-known regions — where specialties include elaborate seafood stews, spreadable salamis, and some of the world's best sheep's-milk cheeses — with Italian-food expert Fred Plotkin. And listen in as two Belgians discuss the hearty comfort food of their homeland.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
11/11/23•52m 0s
733 Walls Around the World; Tourism in Spain; Tecumseh
A Jerusalem-raised Palestinian tour operator explains how he works to reconcile divided communities — in his home country, and far beyond. Then two Spanish tour guides consider what makes their country one of the world's most popular destinations among tourists, and what they want visitors to experience there. And a historian discusses the legacy of Shawnee chief Tecumseh, and why, in the early years of the US, he was so admired even by the settlers he opposed.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
04/11/23•52m 0s
732 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 of the "un-dead." 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.
28/10/23•52m 0s
731 Hiking Iceland; Disappearing Asia; England Journeys & Slang
A creative-writing professor discusses Icelandic mythology, as told in the Viking-inspired sagas — and how a summer backpacking trek around the island nation helped him understand the role these tales play in Iceland's modern-day culture. Then futurist and Wired founder Kevin Kelly looks back on his journeys to document, over nearly 50 years, many of the traditions and features now quickly vanishing across Asia. And experts share advice for fall travels to England's gardens and stone circles, and for understanding British slang.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
21/10/23•52m 0s
619a Paprika; Silver Sword and Stone; Galicia
Tour guides from Hungary discuss their country's love of paprika and set us straight on what makes for good goulash. Then the literary director of the Library of Congress and bicultural author Marie Arana examines the cultural divide between the US and Latin America, and explains its thousand-year-old historical roots. And we learn why the lesser-known region of Galicia, in Spain's northwest corner, is where Spaniards go to escape from heat (and tourist crowds).
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
14/10/23•52m 0s
730 Wandering Indonesia; Italian Lessons; Czech Towns
Get a sneak peek at some of the surprises you might encounter when exploring one or more of Indonesia's 13,000 islands. Then hear from a journalist about how his fellow Italians pulled together — with a uniquely Italian spirit — to cope with the earliest days of the Covid pandemic. And pick up tips for visiting some of the Czech Republic's most intriguing historic locations beyond Prague.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
07/10/23•52m 0s
729 A Pilot's View; Cuba 2023; Traveling Again, Part 2
Commercial pilot and very frequent flier Mark Vanhoenacker shares stories from his many brief excursions to cities around the world. Then Cuba travel expert Christopher P. Baker discusses how the island has been faring since the pandemic shut down its tourism industry and relays the latest on government requirements for Americans interested in visiting. And Rick hears from more listeners who've been resuming — and adjusting — their international adventures post-pandemic.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
30/09/23•52m 0s
728 Beyond New Orleans; View from Germany; Traveling Again, Part 1
Take a look at the historical attractions of southeast Louisiana that are easy day trips from New Orleans. Listen in to a German journalist comparing how his fellow Germans approach contemporary political and social issues versus the polarizing ways many Americans react to hot-button issues. Plus, hear listeners share tales of how they've been able to get back to traveling again since pandemic restrictions were lifted.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
23/09/23•52m 0s
610a London Layover; Tower of London; London Day Trips
Get tips for making the most of a long layover in Heathrow Airport with a quick visit into central London. Then meet the Tower of London's "Ravenmaster": the Yeoman Warder tasked with guarding a thousand years of British history. And hear about several celebrated spots in the English countryside that you can enjoy as fun, easy day trips from London.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
16/09/23•52m 0s
727 Enjoying Venice; History of Rome in 12 Buildings; Michelangelo's Rome
Two local guides working in Venice recommend their favorite ways to find serenity in the "most serene" of cities, despite its often overwhelming tourist crowds. Then Rick chats with author Phillip Barlag about a dozen buildings and plazas in Rome that offer particularly fascinating insights into the city's rich history. And author Angela Nickerson helps us imagine Rome during the Renaissance, when it was the setting for many of Michelangelo's masterpieces.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
09/09/23•52m 0s
726 Orkney Vikings; Favorite American Cities; Chopin's Piano
Consider your options for encountering the thousand-year-old culture of the Vikings on a visit to Scotland's Orkney Islands. Then listen in as a frequent domestic traveler explains why he believes that visiting all 50 states is a worthy endeavor for all Americans — not merely for fun but as a powerful way to overcome political division. And hear about Frédéric Chopin's struggles with a clunky piano on a Spanish island, where he still managed to compose pieces that changed how the world listens to music.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
02/09/23•52m 0s
725 Crystal Bridges; Route 66 Kicks; Amsterdam By Bike
The director of the new 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.
26/08/23•52m 0s
724 Tangier; Costa Rica's Pura Vida; Lingo of Europe
Guidebook authors from Morocco and Costa Rica explain why Tangier serves as a handy entry point into Morocco, discuss the meaning of "pura vida" in the tropical abundance of Costa Rica — and tell their story of an overseas trip that led them to fall in love and make a new life for themselves. And a Dutch linguist advocates for learning more about the evolution of Europe's languages as a fun way for travelers to deepen their cultural experiences.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
19/08/23•52m 0s
366b Correspondent in India; World of Madhur Jaffrey; Chaos, Italian Style
BBC reporter Nick Bryant gives us a personal look at India as he discusses what he learned about its society while he was stationed in New Delhi. Then Indian-born actress Madhur Jaffrey shares childhood memories from the last days of British colonialism. Plus, friends from Italy tell Rick how they cope with their country's everyday chaos and offer tips for handling surprises you may encounter on your Italian travels.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
12/08/23•52m 0s
723 Fragile Countries; Hiking with Children; Exploring Romania
A journalist explains why she travels to countries that most people would have a good reason to avoid. Then an alpine guide discusses why she enjoys exploring Europe's historic hiking trails with her young children in tow. And a tour guide discusses what he enjoys most about Romania's less-traveled Old World scene.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
05/08/23•52m 0s
722 Mid-American Feast; Ambassador's Guide to Switzerland; Diver's Guide to the World
A creative-writing instructor with an appetite for American comfort food describes some of his favorite quintessentially Midwestern dishes, and a former US ambassador lets us in on some of Switzerland's most enjoyable urban festivals and experiences. Then diving experts invite us to imagine the beauty of the underwater world as they explain what motivates them to explore beneath — and above — the surface of warm- and cold-water destinations around the world.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
29/07/23•52m 0s
260b Western Whitewater Adventures; A Readers Grand Tour; Tapas in Spain
Find out how a camping trip down the Colorado River can be a life-altering experience. Hear about Nancy Pearl's favorite books for armchair adventures. Also, learn the protocol to order and enjoy the local specialties in Spain's tapas bars.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
22/07/23•52m 0s
721 The French; Hidden Gardens in Paris
The authors of "The Bonjour Effect" explain how many of the problems foreigners encounter in France are a disconnect with how the French expect you to communicate. Author Susan Cahill reveals some of her favorite garden spots in Paris and get a whiff of its colorful history.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
15/07/23•52m 0s
720 Ceramic Arts of Portugal; Poland 2023; Nomads
Learn how colorful ceramic tiles have long been an important part of the scene in Portugal. Get recommendations from Cameron Hewitt, Rick's senior researcher, on elegant and soulful Polish cities, some of Europe's best-kept secrets. Hear from Author Anthony Sattin about how nomads have have shaped civilization over the centuries.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
08/07/23•52m 0s
719 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. 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.
01/07/23•52m 0s
616a Zagreb; Natchez; Leave Only Footprints
Hear how Croatia's capital city Zagreb is a hidden gem of Central Europe, a respite from the tourist crowds of other more-famous cities. Listen in as author Richard Grant tells us why Natchez is called the quirkiest town in Mississippi. Plus, find out from TV reporter Conor Knighton about visiting each one of the U.S. National Parks in a year.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
24/06/23•52m 0s
718 Pastas You Should Know; In Sardinia; Gelato
Italian food expert Fred Plotkin describes some of the unusual varieties of pasta that you can find in Italy — and the reason behind their different shapes. Historian Jeff Biggers explores the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, where sites dating back to the Bronze Age are found across the island. And tour guides from Tuscany and Sicily bring us the scoop on how to find the best gelato in Italy.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
17/06/23•52m 0s
717 Bill Bryson At Home; Pico Iyer In Search of Paradise; Walkable Cities
Author Bill Bryson describes how buying an old house in England has made him appreciate how dramatically domestic life has changed in just a few generations. Then writer Pico Iyer explains why visiting difficult destinations can shed light on where — or what — "paradise" might be. And urban planner Jeff Speck celebrates some of the North American cities that are catching up with their European cousins in designing pedestrian-friendly streetscapes.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
10/06/23•52m 0s
716 Roman England; Ottoman Turkey; Crossing Boundaries
Join us as we travel back in time to Roman England to consider what remains today from 400 years of Roman rule in Britain. Then hear about the most spectacular sites in Turkey to revel in the rich 600-year history of the Ottoman Empire. And listen in as a Palestinian raised in Jerusalem shares his hard-earned lessons for getting past polarization within one's own divided society.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
03/06/23•52m 0s
612a Inland West Coast Roadtrips; Making Scottish Music; Oddball English Festivals
Get tips for discovering the delightful bits of Americana that await along the scenic inland back roads of California and the Pacific Northwest. Then listen in on a special in-studio concert with folk musicians Jim and Susie Malcolm as they explore the musical traditions of Scotland. And hear about some of the quirkier festivals you can visit in England.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
27/05/23•52m 0s
715 San Juan Islands; Martin Sheen’s Travels; Imagine a City
Hear about the "personalities" that differentiate the biggest of the San Juan Islands, which cluster in the northwest corner of Washington State. Then listen in as actor Martin Sheen describes how his experiences filming overseas have come to influence his political activism. And get a professional intercontinental pilot's perspective on travel and lifelong wanderlust.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
20/05/23•52m 0s
714 Uniquely Georgian; Amsterdam 2023; Puzzle of Polynesia
Hear about the natural beauty and rich culture that await visitors in the Republic of Georgia, where Europe meets Asia. Then get an update on the travel scene in Amsterdam, where recent regulations attempt to minimize the impact of "nuisance tourists," and a renovated riverfront has become a pleasant place to escape the often crowded city center. And learn how early Polynesian navigators managed to populate the most far-flung islands on earth.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
13/05/23•52m 0s
713 The Way of Saint James; Rewilding Europe
Actors Martin Sheen and his son Emilio Estevez relive their experience filming a movie about walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain, and describe how a pilgrimage hike with strangers can be an effective antidote to years of pandemic isolation. Plus ecologist and filmmaker Chris Morgan tells us about recent successes in reintroducing certain wildlife species to wilderness areas in Europe.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
06/05/23•52m 0s
410b Marrying an American; Flatlands; Sightseeing Communist History
Hear what kind of cross-cultural issues emerge when Europeans marry Americans, then listen in as we discuss the allure of a road trip around America's Great Plains, where unobstructed views make the sky seem closer. And get tips on the best places to visit in Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic for a sense of life behind the Iron Curtain, now a generation in the past.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
29/04/23•52m 0s
712 Party of Trees; Vanishing Asia; Living with Caribou
Journalist Zach Saint George describes the slow-motion migration of several North American tree species seeking to evade environmental threats. Then Wired founder Kevin Kelly lets us in on a massive photography project to document traditions disappearing across a quickly modernizing Asia. And writer Seth Kantner explains what he loves about living off the land near the Arctic Circle, in the wide-open spaces of northwest Alaska.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
22/04/23•52m 0s
711 Greek Godmother; Favorite Athens Neighborhoods; Appreciating Islam; Tibetan Prayer Flags
Hear about the importance of extended family in Greece, where the honor of being named a godmother comes with real responsibilities, and learn about some of Athens' most interesting neighborhoods — many of which are enjoying an exciting new vitality. Then listen in as an Arab-American Peace Corps veteran describes what he's come to admire about the Islamic religion of many of his friends. And consider the meaning of Tibetan prayer flags, and hear how to properly display them.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
15/04/23•52m 0s
710 Saints of Italy; Pilgrim Trails; Holy Bones
Get to know some of the most notable of Italy's many patron saints, and why they remain important to so many. Then hear what journalist Tim Egan spent his time contemplating on his walk along the medieval Via Francigena — the pilgrimage path from Canterbury to Rome. And learn about the role of relics in many religious traditions, and why, for centuries, millions of faithful have journeyed for a first-hand encounter with them.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
08/04/23•52m 0s
709 America’s Favorite City Parks; Europe’s Great Trails; Egypt 2023
Learn about the thoughtful design behind America's elegant city parks of the 19th century, which continue to provide green space for millions of urban dwellers, then get some tips for exploring Europe on one of its long-distance hiking trails. And hear about the massive archaeology museum, built to display a vast collection of ancient Egyptian riches, that's set to open in Giza later this year.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
01/04/23•52m 0s
607a Bridges and Little Museums of Paris; Burgundy
We'll take an up-close look at some of Paris' most beautiful bridges as well as its most intriguing specialty museums and galleries, where you can escape the crowds — and are sure to discover something new in this always-surprising city. Then we'll head south to savor the relaxingly rural, yet assuredly sophisticated charms of Burgundy.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
25/03/23•52m 0s
708 Favorite Tours in Ireland; Celtic Middle Earth; Ireland’s South Coast
Hear about how a locally operated tour can add depth and conviviality to your next trip to the Emerald Isle, then learn about the sophisticated ways ancient Celts mapped out their pre-Roman world. And get tips for exploring scenic West Cork — an untamed alternative to the tourist-trodden Ring of Kerry — and other highlights of Ireland's south coast.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
18/03/23•52m 0s
707 Islands of Britain; Italy for Food Lovers; Flavors of Florence
English actor Martin Clunes recommends some of his favorite smaller British isles among the many he visited while filming a travel documentary. Then Rick checks in with Italian-food expert Fred Plotkin to celebrate the completion of their new guide to Italy's regional cuisine. And a Florence-based tour guide lets us in on her favorite food and wine shops for showing off her city's culinary delights.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
11/03/23•52m 0s
706 Budapest Riverwalk; Megalithic Orkney; Travel Kindness
We'll take an audio stroll along the Danube waterfront in elegant, Old World Budapest, then contemplate the prehistoric stones that stand amid the stark beauty of Scotland's remote Orkney Islands. And listeners share their most memorable instances of a stranger's kindness changing an overseas trip for the better.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
04/03/23•52m 0s
515a Artists of Spain; Being Welsh; Being Bosnian
We look at the top sites where you can experience firsthand the groundbreaking contributions of Spain's greatest artists. Then tour guides from Wales and Bosnia share the facets of their nationalities that mean most to them — such as the Welsh fortitude for enduring the blustery climate that produces such beautiful landscapes, and Bosnians' knack for using humor to defuse the thornier aspects of life in the Balkans.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
25/02/23•52m 0s
705 Basque and Balkan Carnival; Sicilians; World Lit
Hear how ancient pagan traditions spice up carnival season in the Basque Country and the Balkans — two regions that celebrate the days preceding Ash Wednesday with raucous festivals. Then get two Sicilians' take on what sets Sicily's island culture apart from the rest of Italy. And consider your next armchair journey as Harvard professor David Damrosch recommends authors whose works can transport you to China, Japan, Iran, Brazil, and sub-Saharan Africa.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
18/02/23•52m 0s
704 Casanova's Venice; China 2023
Historian Laurence Bergreen takes us to 18th-century Venice — the time of Casanova, when this "Most Serene Republic" had become the Sin City of Europe. And the head of the Young China Group think tank lets us in on what he wishes Americans knew about today's China and what he expects to see as it emerges from the pandemic, and explains the key challenges it's facing in our changing world.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
11/02/23•52m 0s
703 Yucatan Holiday; Ambassador to Switzerland; Finding Atlantis
Author Mark Adams reveals four possible Mediterranean locations where the legendary lost city of Atlantis could have been. The former U-S Ambassador to Switzerland tells us what it's like representing American interests in a country known for its neutrality. Plus, a longtime resident of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula describes what to look for when you venture out beyond Cancun.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
04/02/23•52m 0s
582a Istria; Wee County Louth; Tides
Explore two of Europe's less-crowded scenic peninsulas! Rick visits with local tour guides from Pula, on Croatia's Istrian Peninsula, and from Ireland's Cooley Peninsula, an hour north of Dublin in County Louth. Plus marine conservationist Jonathan White explains what he's discovered about the power of the 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.
28/01/23•52m 0s
702 Touring Bath; Joy of Travel Writing; Ghost Dance in Berlin
Soak in the history and the splendor of Bath, where Georgian architecture and mineral waters make it one of England's most attractive cities. Get a behind-the-scenes look at what happens when a travel writer researches guidebooks. And hear how Peter Wortsman's Jewish heritage forces him to grapple with some powerful ghosts from the past in Berlin.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
21/01/23•52m 0s
701 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 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.
14/01/23•52m 0s
700 Pleasures of Mexico City; Why We Travel; Classical Music in Europe
A tour guide from Mexico City describes some of the most pleasant surprises he enjoys sharing about his adopted home. Then the author of the "Thousand Places to See Before You Die" series explains why culture shock can be the highlight of your next overseas vacation. And a young orchestra conductor describes some of his favorite European venues for enjoying a classical-music concert.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
07/01/23•52m 0s
699 New Year's Traditions; New Orleans Originals; David McCullough Tribute
Consider new ideas for greeting the new year by learning about some of the unusual traditions — and a few superstitions — with which Swedes, Croats, Scots, and the Welsh celebrate this time of year. Then hear about the multicultural food and music that enliven the streets of New Orleans' neighborhoods. And join us as we remember the late historian David McCullough with a look back at his examination of how the Wright Brothers changed the way we see the world.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
31/12/22•52m 0s
548b German Christmas Markets; Christmas in Madrid, Sicily, Ireland, Hebrides
We'll hear how the traditional Christmas markets of Germanic Europe set the mood for the season. And we'll learn about Christmastime events that bring everybody out on the streets of Madrid and Dingle, and cozy holiday celebrations in homes on Sicily and Scotland's Hebrides.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
24/12/22•52m 0s
698 Ready for Christmas Near and Far; Wassailing
In the first of two holiday-themed shows, Rick's guests recall their childhood Christmases in the Netherlands, Italy, and New Mexico. Then more friends join us to describe what you're likely to find this time of year in Austria, Australia, Japan...and Antarctica. Plus, we'll hear about how the English tradition of "wassailing" developed as a way to guarantee a good apple harvest — or at least an occasion to enjoy a warm drink with neighbors.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
17/12/22•52m 0s
697 Sacred Paris; Raising a Family in France; A Place in the World
Author Susan Cahill recommends some of the most magnificent religious architecture to explore in Paris, then an American who married a Frenchman describes her experiences raising three young children in a small town outside Paris. And writer Frances Mayes, who lives in both Tuscany and North Carolina, discusses just what makes a place feel like home.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
10/12/22•52m 0s
696 For the Love of Guidebooks; The Gulf; Greatest Art In Europe
We look at the must-see paintings, sculptures and historic edifices across Europe. University of Florida professor Jack E. Davis notes the many roles the Gulf of Mexico has played over the years, and why it's important to understand its ecology. And we'll look at the role of guidebooks, and what can make one worth reading, a hundred years after it's been published.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
03/12/22•52m 0s
695 Belgium Pride; Favorite Gardens; Arctic Trails
A native-born Belgian shares what delights him most about his small, but justifiably proud country. Then author Catie Marron recommends some of her favorite gardens around the world — plus the most enticing ones she's yet to visit. And author Seth Kantner, who was raised way off the grid in northwest Alaska, alerts us to the increasing threats to the people and wildlife of the Alaskan Arctic.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
26/11/22•52m 0s
584a My Town; Lidia's Flavors of Italy; Wine Educator
Listeners tell us what makes their hometowns feel special, then the host of the TV show Lidia's Italy describes the remarkable diversity among the regional cuisines of Italy — and how each naturally features whatever's particularly delicious from a given area. Then a Madrid-based wine expert shares tips for food pairings and fully enjoying what you're drinking.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
19/11/22•52m 0s
694 Highlands of Scotland; Art of Spain; Sweet Home Alabama
Get expert advice for planning a trip to the majestic Scottish Highlands. Then hear about some of Spain's most influential artists, from El Greco to the modern day. And discover what's making Alabama an increasingly popular destination for international visitors.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
12/11/22•52m 0s
453a Rome Neighborhoods; Crazy Rides; Ex-Yugoslavia
Get tips for how to "do as the Romans do" in Rome's modern-day neighborhoods. Hear about the travel writer Will Hide's latest crazy rides, from cycling across the hills of Rwanda to driving what might be the world's "most dangerous road" up from Delhi into the Himalayas. Plus listen in as guides from Slovenia and Bosnia take listener calls to help plan fun trips to the countries of the former Yugoslavia.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
05/11/22•52m 0s
693 Dracula’s Romania; Spooky New Orleans; Mary Morris in India
Uncover the truth behind Count Dracula in Romania. Find out where the most haunted house is located in New Orleans, and what's behind local customs such as voodoo and jazz funerals. Plus, hear how the cities of India surprised author Mary Morris when she traveled there to view tigers in the wild.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
29/10/22•52m 0s
586a Travel Writers Travels; Autumn Light in Japan; Swedish Values
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 does. And guides from Sweden tell us how to keep expenses in check, to enjoy Scandinavia the way the locals do.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
22/10/22•52m 0s
692 Making the Art of Europe; 20 Years of Ireland; Experiencing Austria
Get a taste of Austria beyond the usual tourist sites in Vienna and Salzburg, where farmstays and festivals can make you want to wear lederhosen for a day. Rick's right-hand man on all things Ireland shares what he's liked most about researching guidebooks and leading tours in the Emerald Isle for the last 20 years. And Rick's TV producer shares tales from behind the scenes on their two-year-long filming project on the greatest art in Europe.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
15/10/22•52m 0s
691 Climate Change Watch; The Art of Rome; Seeing the Ancient World
Learn to see Rome — the way the ancient Romans did — as the opulent and innovative city that gave Europe a common culture. Look closer at the even more-ancient worlds of the Greeks and Egyptians, and what their antiquities can tell us about their lives. And find out what's being done to protect important cultural sites today from the ravages of the world's changing climate.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
08/10/22•52m 0s
690 Hamburg; The Art of Europe; Extreme Sports
Find out why Germany's "second city," the industrial northern port of Hamburg, is a favorite getaway among Germans. Then get the inside scoop on Rick's new TV series, which explores the backstories of Europe's greatest artworks. And consider what drives some death-defying athletes to go all-in for "extreme sports."
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
01/10/22•52m 0s
578a Walking Ljubljana; Munich and Bavaria; Wild Animals
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 shares tips for becoming a temporary Bavarian at Oktoberfest — which is back on after a two-year pandemic hiatus. And an adventure traveler explains 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.
24/09/22•52m 0s
689 Ambassador to Bulgaria; Senior Nomads 2022; Himalaya Hike
Diplomat and former ambassador Eric Rubin gives us a look at how the foreign service works on behalf of American interests in Bulgaria. Then "Senior Nomads" Michael and Debbie Campbell update us on their pandemic-era global travels. And artist and author Sylvia Verange reflects on her hiking journey across the Himalaya Mountains and how it's affected her life in the decades since.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
17/09/22•52m 0s
688 Maeve Higgins’ County Cork; Southwest England; Glasgow Cool
Humorist Maeve Higgins recommends places to visit in her home turf of Ireland's County Cork. Then tour guides from southwest England share their expert advice on where best to enjoy the coastal beauty of Cornwall and Devon — and the tourist traps to avoid. And guides from Scotland describe what makes Glasgow such a cool city to explore.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
10/09/22•52m 0s
687 More California Day Trips; Olmsted Bicentennial; Celebrating Eastern Europe
Travel writer Chris Baker returns with more ideas for fun day trips from LA and San Francisco, including his home base of Palm Springs. Then historian Laurence Cotton joins us to celebrate the 200th birthday of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, whose parks and civic projects have given so many American cities a lasting natural legacy. And a Rick Steves guidebook co-author describes the colorful variety travelers can enjoy among the countries of central and eastern Europe.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
03/09/22•52m 0s
579a Kerouac’s Firewatch; Erosion; USA National Parks
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.
27/08/22•52m 0s
686 New Orleans by Foot; The Orchestra Conductor
Tour guides from New Orleans examine the historical, musical, and culinary elements that make their city one of the most exceptional places anywhere in North America. They also share their top recommendations for exploring the city and discuss the merits of a pay-what-you-like model for city walking tours. And an associate conductor with the Seattle Symphony gives us a view from the conductor's podium while describing some of his favorite US venues for reveling in live classical-music performances.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
20/08/22•52m 0s
685 Joanna Lumley’s Nile Adventure; Samantha Brown’s Happy Travels
Actress Joanna Lumley details her 4,000-mile trek up the Nile River to the river's fabled source in Rwanda. Joanna shares what she learned from people she met while filming a documentary about the trip, and describes her ride to the pyramids on one very fine camel. And TV host Samantha Brown tells Rick how she keeps herself from stressing out over what could go wrong in her frequent travels.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
13/08/22•52m 0s
684 Obscure Museums; Peloponnesian and Mythical Greece
Rick checks in with Dylan Thuras from Atlas Obscura to discuss a few of their favorite small, sometimes eccentric museums around the world. Then author Peter Fiennes describes some of the real sites where Greek myths were set, and how they can speak to us today. And two historian tour guides share some of their top reasons to visit the Peloponnese, the giant peninsula just an hour's drive south of Athens.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
06/08/22•52m 0s
683 English Country Gardens; On Becoming a Gardener; In Praise of Wasting Time
English tour guides share their enthusiasm for enjoying the riot of color and inspiration you'll find in England's best country gardens. Then author Catie Marron explains how she designed and planted a garden as a way to feel a sense of belonging in her new home. And physicist Alan Lightman explains why it's healthy to give yourself a little unstructured time every day just for goofing off.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
30/07/22•52m 0s
480b Turn Right at Machu Picchu; Lafayette in the USA; Scotch
Author Mark Adams shares what he learned about Incan history while trekking to Machu Picchu. Then author Sarah Vowell explains how Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette helped unify Americans after the contentious presidential election of 1824. And Rick checks in with tour guides from Edinburgh to get tips on visiting Scotland's whisky distilleries.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
23/07/22•52m 0s
682 Europe by the Book; Berlin Day Trips; Mexico City 2022
Enjoy some of the best-ever writing on life in far-away places with a recommended reading list from a Harvard professor of comparative literature. Then get tips on the historic towns and royal retreats that are easily enjoyed as day trips from Berlin. And hear about daily life in Mexico City in 2022 from an American expat — and why he considers his new home the "capital of the 21st century."
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
16/07/22•52m 0s
681 French Impressionism; Perfect Week in Paris; First Timer’s 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 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.
09/07/22•52m 0s
680 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. Chris Baker recommends itineraries for scenic road trips and sites to explore across California. Plus, Jack Davis 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.
02/07/22•52m 0s
529a Newfoundland Tour; Canada Day; Drink Dat New Orleans
Explore what Canada has to offer! Newfoundland's Alan Doyle recommends sights to enjoy the rugged beauty of his Atlantic island home. Comedian and author Rick Mercer shares some of his favorite places to enjoy across Canada. Plus, raise a glass to New Orleans as Elizabeth Pearce unveils how to appreciate the history of America's most "spirited city" through the kinds of cocktails it serves.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
25/06/22•52m 0s
679 Nordic Roots; Dutch Towns; Bridge to Nicaragua
Hear how the characters of Nordic mythology can help you better understand the past, and how they influence the epic tales that entertain us today. Discover Dutch towns to explore beyond Amsterdam where you can view technological marvels as well as medieval charm. Also, find out how tourism in Nicaragua is trying to rebound from multiple setbacks, one rural homestay at a time.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
18/06/22•52m 0s
567a Hokkaido; Arctic Solitaire; Bloomsday in Dublin
Get tips from an American-Japanese author for experiencing the rugged allure of Japan's northern island of Hokkaido. Then hear from a nature photographer what it's like to spend a summer boating up Hudson Bay in search of polar bears. And learn all about how Dubliners celebrate Bloomsday — good fun even if you still haven't finished Ulysses.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
11/06/22•52m 0s
678 Hiking in England; British Footnotes; High Tea in London
Two English tour guides discuss a time-honored way to enjoy the British countryside: "rambling" along Britain's well-marked system of hiking trails. Then author Peter Fiennes describes his cross-country journeys in the footsteps of great British writers, and what his travels revealed about how much the UK has changed in recent years. And Rick learns about the rightfully revered tradition of afternoon tea — and the best places to make it an occasion in London.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
04/06/22•52m 0s
201b Beer In Europe, Irreverent Curiosity
Get in a festive mood as Rick invites a few of his friends to compare the beer styles of Europe, and the cultures that go with them. Also, writer David Farley tells us about an eccentric hill town not far from Rome. It's home to a generation of bohemian residents, and one of the strangest mysteries in Italy — a centuries-old relic the Vatican would rather not talk about.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
28/05/22•52m 0s
677 Parisians; Heart of Italy; The Scent Trail
Author Graham Robb describes a few of the extraordinary historical characters of Paris. Then vintner and tour guide Cecilia Bottai shares tips for planning a getaway to the relaxed "green heart" of central Italy. And author Celia Lyttelton tells us how she traveled the world to find the ingredients for making her very own custom perfume.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
21/05/22•52m 0s
676 Birth of Korean Cool; Perfect Week in Portugal
Journalist Euny Hong explains how South Korea has made itself not only an economic powerhouse but a pop-culture superpower. And tour guides from Portugal join Rick to share recommendations for planning a week's getaway to Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, and the colorful, historic towns in between.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
14/05/22•52m 0s
675 Appalachian Music Trails; Loire Valley Chateaux; Achtung Baby
British travel writer Will Hide recounts his journeys along the back roads of Appalachia, where country music first arose from the melodies and instruments of immigrants from the British Isles. Then tour guides from France share tips on exploring the Loire Valley's many magnificent châteaux. And author Sara Zaske reveals what she learned from the German style of parenting while raising her young American children in Berlin.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
07/05/22•52m 0s
674 Driving in Ireland; Women Who Wander; Primed for Prague
Guidebook co-author Pat O'Connor delves into the details of driving in Ireland, where renting a car can be worth the extra expense when it gives you the flexibility to explore the countryside on your own schedule. Then author Mary Morris explains why she prefers to go solo to connect with other people in her travels, and how she ensures her safety. And tour guides from Prague offer tips for enjoying the beauty of the Czech capital.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
30/04/22•52m 0s
673 Visiting Antarctica; Journeys of Trees; Italy's Northern Lakes
Travel writer Julian Sancton tells us how a trip to Antarctica helped him see that continent through the eyes of the early polar explorers. Then science reporter Zach St. George explains how some North American tree species are migrating to survive a warming climate. And two Italy-based tour guides take us to the resort lakes of northern Italy, where outdoor sports and celebrities compete with the scenery for visitors' attention.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
23/04/22•52m 0s
519a Saints of Ireland and France; David Suchet Steps of St. Peter
Get acquainted with some of the most popular French and Italian saints, and learn why they remain important to their countrymen. Plus, actor David Suchet shares what he discovered while making a documentary about the life and times of St. Peter, and the first-century world he inhabited in Galilee.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
16/04/22•52m 0s
672 Paddle Boldly; Hape Kerkeling's Camino; Sacred New Mexico
Kayaker Dave Ellingson tells us how he learned to savor the unexpected on a paddling adventure in Minnesota. Then German comedian Hape Kerkeling relives his hike on the famed Camino de Santiago in Spain, where he learned something new every day. And adventurer Christina Nealson recommends places in New Mexico to get in touch with both the indigenous and Spanish colonial heritage of the desert Southwest.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
09/04/22•52m 0s
671 Three-Hour Louvre; Friend in Foreign Service; Summer of '73
Get an expert's tips for enjoying the best of the Louvre's gigantic trove of treasures on a short visit. Then hear about what you can expect from US embassy and consulate staff, should you need their assistance while traveling, from the President of the American Foreign Service Association. And listen in as Rick recalls his first unchaperoned backpacking trip to Europe, right out of high school, in the summer of 1973.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
02/04/22•52m 0s
670 Weekend in Brussels; The Temporary European; My Town
A Brussels-based tour guide offers his recommendations for making the most of a weekend in the Belgian capital. Then one of Rick's co-authors joins us to explore what it means to become a "temporary local" when traveling, and how it can help you actually relax on your next vacation. And listeners share ideas for enjoying areas they know well, as long-term locals — including Maine's Acadia National Park and the art museums of St. Petersburg, Florida.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
26/03/22•52m 0s
669 Maeve Higgins Loves You; Kinsale Ireland
Irish-born comedian and writer Maeve Higgins shares what she's observed about the US after a decade of living in New York City, and Irish tour guide Barry Moloney explains why his hometown of Kinsale, on the scenic south coast of County Cork, is so popular among visitors.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
19/03/22•52m 0s
557a Speaking in Irish; On the Wind; Irish Craic
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 musician Kieran O'Hare explains why he finds Irish bagpipes more pleasing than the better-known Scottish ones, and plays a few traditional tunes on the Irish tin whistle. And eavesdrop on a pair of Irishmen from opposite ends of the island as they share a beer and a little banter with Rick.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
12/03/22•52m 0s
668 Ancient Ohio Trail; Endangered Places 2022; Atlas Obscura Curiosities
Learn about the Ancient Ohio Trail and its cluster of mysterious geometric earthworks left behind by pre-Columbian "mound builder" cultures. Then find out which cultural treasures — architecture, landscapes, townscapes — have been added to the World Monuments Fund's most recent list of endangered sites. And hear about some of the more curious places and things held dear by people around the world.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
05/03/22•52m 0s
667 R. L. Stevenson South Seas; Around the World in 80 Books; Why Wales
Author J. Maarten Troost recounts his journeys sailing the South Pacific in the wake of Robert Louis Stevenson, and the contentment and sobriety he found along the way. Then Harvard professor David Damrosch describes the globe-spanning route he charted during the pandemic...via some of the world's most eye-opening works of literature, both classic and contemporary — and recommends some of his favorites. Plus a Welsh historian and guide gives us a good peek at the magical landscapes and attractions of his homeland.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
26/02/22•52m 0s
547a Gaudí's Sagrada Família; Globally Curious
An expert on Antoni Gaudí reveals what the Modernista architect had envisioned for Barcelona's magnificent Sagrada Família church, and shares updates on the work to complete what Gaudí started 135 years ago. And travel writer Seth Kugel makes the case for letting serendipity play a role in your trip's itinerary.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
19/02/22•52m 0s
666 Unter den Linden; Touring the Thames; A Heart for Public Art
A pair of German tour guides take us on a vicarious stroll down Unter den Linden, the famed tree-lined boulevard running through the heart of Berlin, and describe what it reveals about their country's history. A British writer and avid "mudlarker" explains why low tide on the River Thames often brings pieces of that city's past to the surface. And an artist with a passion for street art tells us how she helped brighten up a couple of working-class neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
12/02/22•52m 0s
665 Surprises from Boring Places; Sidecountry; Dakar, Senegal
We consider how visiting second- and third-tier destinations — places some might dismiss as "boring" — can lead to the most rewarding travel experiences. And two New York Times journalists take us on a pair of journeys: first to the world of offbeat — and often mortally dangerous — athletic achievements, and then to the Atlantic-seaside attractions of Dakar, Senegal's lively capital.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
05/02/22•52m 0s
664 Tblisi; Bruges; Milan
A young "digital nomad" tells us why Tblisi, in the Republic of Georgia, makes an ideal home base for working abroad. Then a Belgian tour guide describes what visitors enjoy most when exploring the medieval town center of Bruges. And tour guides from Italy share tips for people-watching among the high-fashion café society of Milan — and the cocktails to enjoy while doing so.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
29/01/22•52m 0s
574a American Hawaii; Aloha Rodeo; Surfing Groundswell
Historian Sarah Vowell revisits how the Hawaiian Islands became an American territory in the 19th century, then journalist David Wolman tells us how three cowboys from Hawaii's Big Island redefined the American West when they competed at the world's greatest rodeo championship. And writer Michael Scott Moore explores how surfing spread from Polynesia to the rest of the world.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
22/01/22•52m 0s
663 The MLK Trail; Afghanistan Ski Challenge; Favorite Travel Memories
The president of the social-justice nonprofit Sojourners joins Rick to discuss places you can visit to better appreciate the life and civil-rights accomplishments of Martin Luther King, Jr. Travel writer Tim Neville describes how a homegrown ski slope had brought a bit of joy — at least for a few years — to the young people of Bamyan, Afghanistan. And listeners share their favorite travel memories as they anticipate embarking on new adventures before too long.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
15/01/22•52m 0s
662 Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail; When I Return to London; South of England
We hear from a young traveler who, having graduated from college amid the pandemic, used the opportunity to set out on an epic hike from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific Crest Trail. Then Rick and the author of the "Frommer's London" guidebook share what makes them eager to return to London, and what post-pandemic changes they expect to see there. And a pair of British tour guides recommend important historical sites to explore in the south of England.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
08/01/22•52m 0s
661 Auld Lang Syne; Paris Sommelier; Gastro Obscura New Year's; Waters of Rome
Two Scottish friends explain the Scots-dialect lyrics to "Auld Lang Syne," and a Parisian sommelier shares his expert tips for selecting — and enjoying — French wines. Then an author with Atlas Obscura describes some of the unusual things people eat and drink to ring in the New Year in different parts of the world. And two experts on Roman history discuss the ornate fountains sprinkled around the Eternal City.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
01/01/22•52m 0s
427b Even More European Christmas Traditions
Learn about holiday traditions observed in France, Norway, Greece, London, the Spanish Basque Country, and small-town Italy. From festively decorated Greek boats to dishes of fresh oysters and fermented trout, and Santas who live not on the North Pole but on a farm or in the woods, Christmas is a little different across the pond.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
25/12/21•52m 0s
508b Another European Christmas
Hear about what Europeans are looking forward to at this time of year, from Saint Nicholas Day through Boxing Day, in Germany, England, Belgium, Hungary, Portugal, and the Czech Republic — perhaps it's some of grandma's special potato salad to go with the fish stew and figgy pudding!
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
18/12/21•52m 0s
660 A Theroux Traveler; Why We Travel; Winter in Paris; Dingle Bells
Rick talks with author Paul Theroux about the advantages of traveling solo, and swaps some travel-writing tricks, then TV host Samantha Brown joins us to describe how the pandemic has affected her love of exploratory travel. We'll also hear what's special about Paris in winter, and how the people of Dingle celebrate the Irish tradition of Wren's Day on December 26.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
11/12/21•52m 0s
659 Lyon; Building a Beloved Community; Influential Iceland
A pair of French tour guides tell us why Lyon is one of their favorite places in France. Then the president of the social-justice nonprofit Sojourners describes how the example set by Martin Luther King, Jr., inspires his work within religious communities in America. And a journalist from Iceland points out his country's surprising degree of influence on the world stage.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
04/12/21•52m 0s
546a Greek Godmother; Lidia's American Dream; Promised Land
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 family. Then TV chef Lidia Bastianich shares the story of her family's flight from Yugoslavia, and the successful family business they were able to start in America. And former NBC Middle East correspondent Martin Fletcher explains how his latest novel, set in Israel during its early years as a modern state, evokes the extraordinary drama of Israeli life in that era.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
27/11/21•52m 0s
658 Humble American Bragging; Why I Love Madrid; Deep Time Journey
British travel writer Richard Grant discusses the sporting sense of humor he's observed (and appreciated) behind the distinctly American talent for over-the-top bragging. Then tour guides from Madrid let us in on their favorite places to take visitors in the Spanish capital. And we ponder our place in the planet's history with author Robert Macfarlane, who shares insights gained from a decade of investigating, from a perspective of geologic time, humanity's relationship with our landscape.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
20/11/21•52m 0s
657 Perillo Family Italy; Soul of South Korea; Visiting Europe Now
Tour operator Steve Perillo describes his family's connection to a scenic town near Naples, and why he's so eager to return. Then travel writer Chaney Kwak explains why Seoul is an ideal introduction to traveling in Asia, and recommends a relaxing island counterpoint to the bustling Korean capital. And Rick and his frequent collaborator Cameron Hewitt fill us in on what they encountered on their first European trips since the pandemic began.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
13/11/21•52m 0s
656 On Travel Writing; Antarctic Madhouse; Enchantress of Florence
Join Rick on a dip into the deeper end of travel literature as he talks with travel essayist Pico Iyer about writing from the heart, then with author Julian Sanction, who recounts the gripping story of a polar expedition stuck in Antarctic ice over 100 years ago. And Salman Rushdie takes us back 500 years to describe some of the key figures of Renaissance Italy and Moghul India.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
06/11/21•52m 0s
581a Recoleta Cemetery; Spooky Atlas Obscura; Near the Exit
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.
30/10/21•52m 0s
655 SF East Bay; A Week in London; Climate Crucible
Roman Mars, host of the podcast "99 Percent Invisible," describes some of his favorite examples of clever design from his home turf in Oakland and Berkeley. Then two tour guides from London team up with Rick to recommend an ideal sightseeing week in the British capital. And poet and essayist Lisa Wells shares the insights — and optimism — she gained from interviewing a geographically and ideologically wide range of people battling climate change by improving their own communities.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
23/10/21•52m 0s
654 Best of Bulgaria; Traveling with Disabilities; Chasing the Sun
Two tour guides from Sofia explain why Bulgaria is one of Europe's most underrated travel destinations (hint: it has a long, fascinating history — and bargain prices). Author Francine Falk-Allen shares know-how and insights for traveling with a physical disability. And author Richard Cohen describes the varied ways human cultures have long celebrated — and feared — our life-giving nearby star.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
16/10/21•52m 0s
538a Why I Love Berlin; Italian Coffee Bars
Three tour guides from Berlin suggest sights to see and experiences to enjoy in Germany's vibrant, changing capital. And to celebrate Oktoberfest season, a tour guide from Munich explains why beer gardens are so important to Bavarian culture. Then two guides from Italy walk us through the typical Italian's daily visit to a coffee bar, and share tips on how to order your espresso like a true Italian.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
09/10/21•52m 0s
653 Ærø Island Denmark; Emilia-Romagna; Italian View of Sicily
Find out what makes the small Danish island of Ærø a perfectly charming and cozy getaway, which region Italophile Fred Plotkin considers Italy's greatest source of culinary and cultural achievements, and why the large island of Sicily is such a favorite with visitors, whether from elsewhere in Italy or abroad.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
02/10/21•52m 0s
652 Gastro Obscura; Disney World Update; Memory Lane
A writer with Atlas Obscura describes some of the world's most unusual foods — and extraordinary places to eat them. Then the author of Frommer's guide to Orlando shares tips for visiting Disney World, which has introduced big changes to its reservations system just in time for its 50th anniversary. And listeners share some of the travel memories that have helped keep their spirits up amid pandemic-delayed travel plans.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
25/09/21•52m 0s
651 Inner Hebrides; Soul of the Family Tree; Ancient Ireland
Scottish tour guides share their best advice for a spirit-boosting trip to the enchanting isles of Scotland's Inner Hebrides. Then author Lori Erickson invites us to gain a deeper understanding of our own family histories as she describes what she discovered about her Norwegian ancestors — and the realization that her day-to-day life remains influenced by a certain Viking energy. And tour guides from Ireland let us in on their favorite places to connect with the culture of the ancient Celts.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
18/09/21•52m 0s
495a National Parks Dinner Party; The Great Southwest; Crazy Utah Bike Ride
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 more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
11/09/21•52m 0s
650 Silver Linings; Basque Cities; English Villages
Travel writer Don George shares the reflections that have helped him get through the pandemic with a positive outlook. Then tour guides from the border-straddling Basque Country of Spain and France lend insights on their home turf, plus advice for enjoying it. And a pair of British guides describe a few of their favorite historic villages in the west of England, where the traditions of its scenic countryside are alive and well.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
04/09/21•52m 0s
649 Bowen Island, BC; Arctic Wisdom; Warsaw
Listen in as a University of British Columbia professor describes the woodsy charm of Bowen Island, just offshore from Vancouver, and a nature photographer shares what he's learned from decades of working amid the often-surprising light of the Alaskan Arctic. Then hear how Poland's capital city has shaken off its difficult 20th-century history to become a vibrant 21st-century metropolis that's well worth exploring.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
28/08/21•52m 0s
580a Villages of Tuscany; Megafauna
American-born tour guides who've settled in Tuscany explain 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.
21/08/21•52m 0s
648 Becoming a Digital Nomad; Window Seat; Spirit of the Grand Canyon
Get tips on becoming a "digital nomad" from an American who relocated to the Republic of Georgia. Then consider ideas for taking a deeper look at the US as a geologist shares advice on making the most of the view from your next domestic flight, and an Arizona novelist describes how the overwhelming beauty of the Grand Canyon inspires her writing.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
14/08/21•52m 0s
647 Algarve Coast; Fijian Customs; What Pandemic Showed Me
Find out what makes the coastline of southern Portugal's Algarve region an ideal destination for family vacations. And learn about some of Fiji's most interesting customs as a guidebook author describes how the indigenous population of this South Pacific island nation has maintained its cultural identity. Plus listeners share tales of how the pandemic has impacted their lives and travels.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
07/08/21•52m 0s
646 Daughter of Peru; Married to Bhutan; Barcelona Guide
Journalist and author Marie Arana describes her cross-cultural experience of growing up in both Peru and the US, and another author, Linda Leaming — one of very few Americans to ever live in the Himalayan nation of Bhutan — shares her experiences of teaching in and marrying into Bhutanese culture. Plus Spanish tour guide Jorge Román joins Rick to discuss what made Barcelona a booming tourism destination before the pandemic, and offers suggestions for visiting the city's less touristy attractions.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
31/07/21•52m 0s
645 Romantic Rhine; Indian Ocean Journeys; Where I'm Going
A pair of seasoned tour guides discuss the romantic allure of Germany's Rhine Valley, and author David Mould recounts his journeys in the Indian Ocean region while sharing what he's loved most from his time in India, Bangladesh, and Madagascar. Plus, with some restrictions on international travel winding down, listeners tell us where they're most eager to venture next.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
24/07/21•52m 0s
556a Flamenco Fan; Four Seasons in Lesotho; Faux Pas
A flamenco enthusiast from Sweden explains her lifelong passion for the fiery dance traditions of southern Spain. Then writer Will McGrath tells us what he learned from his neighbors while living in southern Africa's small mountainous nation of Lesotho. And Rick checks in with listeners to hear how the mistakes they've made as travelers became openings to connect with local culture.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
17/07/21•52m 0s
644 Underappreciated Paris Museums; Many Lives of the Louvre; Cote D'Azur
Get ideas for visiting some of Paris' unique, under-appreciated small museums, as well as tips for tackling its massive grande dame, the Louvre — and an author's insights into the former palace's remarkable history. And French tour guides tell us what they love best about the cities along the Mediterranean's sparkling Cote d'Azur.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
10/07/21•52m 0s
643 Pandemic Road Trip; Corona Wanderlust; American Surprises
Esteemed travel writer Paul Theroux recounts his cross-country adventure driving from Cape Cod to southern California amid a pandemic, and Don George of National Geographic Traveler describes how he's dealt with wanderlust while staying close to home. Then Laurence Brown of YouTube series Lost in the Pond shares a few of the surprises he's found since moving to America from England.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
03/07/21•52m 0s
569a Best National Park Experiences; Northland; San Francisco Day Trips
Writer Porter Fox tells us what he discovered when he followed the US-Canada border from Maine to Washington State. Then writer and photographer Becky Lomax shares her favorite national park experiences. And guidebook author Kimberley Lovato recommends day trip options for enjoying beaches, redwood groves, and wineries within easy reach of San Francisco.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
26/06/21•52m 0s
642 Turkish Market; Tour Industry; Inclusivity
After learning why a midday stop at the public market is always a good idea in Turkey, get an insider's look at how the tour industry is rebuilding itself as Rick and the head of Perillo Tours compare notes on what the road to normalcy looks like for their companies. And New York Times travel writer Tariro Mzezewa examines what "inclusivity" really means for African-American travelers.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
19/06/21•52m 0s
641 Finding Europe in America; Cruise Ship Nightmare; Iceland Backcountry
Get ideas and tips from TV host Samantha Brown for finding little corners of Europe in the New World, then hear an author's dramatic firsthand account of a near catastrophe on a cruise ship caught powerless in a freak winter storm off the coast of Norway. And a tour guide takes us to the wild, windy, and wonder-inspiring backcountry of Iceland.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
12/06/21•52m 0s
640 Invisible City; Under the Wave at Waimea
There's an invisible layer to the city where you live. It's meant to make your life easier, but is easy to overlook. Roman Mars of the podcast "99% Invisible" helps us examine how our urban environments are designed. And author Paul Theroux tells us how he explores getting older and the surfing culture near his home on Oahu's North Shore in his latest novel, "Under the Wave at Waimea."
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
05/06/21•52m 0s
554a Why I Love Rome; Garden Lust; Mountain Switzerland
There's something about the city of Rome that lets you know you get to be part of its incredible history. On the next Travel with Rick Steves, we'll hear how the locals love their city, even with all its flaws. The author of "Garden Lust" tells us about his favorite contemporary botanical gardens around the world. And we get advice for hiking and touring in the Swiss Alps.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
29/05/21•52m 0s
639 Mid-American Feast; All the Way to the Tigers; Feedback
Enjoy a picnic of comfort foods from the American Midwest, as Matthew Gavin Frank describes a few of his favorites. Author Mary Morris tells us what she discovered on a challenging winter trip to central India, when she decided to travel "All the Way to the Tigers." And listeners share recommendations and feedback with Rick from what they've heard on recent episodes of the show.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
22/05/21•52m 0s
638 Sailing in Oslo; Underland; Beyond Amsterdam
There's a largely unknown world to explore, right beneath your feet. Author Robert Macfarlane tells us what he finds intriguing about the "Underland." Plus, hop aboard for a sail to Oslo. And Dutch tour guides help us plan a trip to the Netherlands, where they recommend Haarlem, cycling to the sea, and other attractions beyond the usual sights in Amsterdam.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
15/05/21•52m 0s
286b 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 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.
08/05/21•52m 0s
637 Versailles; Reporting from West Africa; Orthodox Easter Traditions
New York Times correspondent Dionne Searcey tells us about her work as the paper's West Africa bureau chief, where her team's reporting on the women kidnapped by Boko Haram won them a Pulitzer. Learn how the palace of Versailles was built to impress — and still does so for visitors today. And hear about the elaborate traditions of Bulgaria and Greece for Orthodox Easter.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
01/05/21•52m 0s
636 Athens Neighborhoods; Digital Nomads; Venice Lagoon
An American "digital nomad" tells us how he's figured out how to work from home, overseas in the Republic of Georgia. Guides from Athens tell us how their city became a cleaner, more attractive metropolis for exploring ancient and modern Greece after they spiffed up for the 2004 Olympics. And we wade into the issues behind the flooding that often threatens Venice.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
24/04/21•52m 0s
635 The Habsburgs; Lost in the Pond; Arabic Friends
Laurence Brown explores a few of the memos that must have gotten "lost in the pond" between the US and Britain. Zora O'Neill tells us how studying the Arabic language might not prepare you for talking to everyday people in today's Arab world. And hear how the most important royal family in Europe earned their titles the old fashioned way — by marrying into them.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
17/04/21•52m 0s
482a Sevilla April Fair; Walking England; City Squares
A tour guide from Sevilla explains how the annual April Fair will animate her city again when the pandemic is finished. Guides from England share their favorite places to enjoy your own piece of the English countryside, on any of the hundreds of walking trails in Britain. And we explore how public squares can make all the difference in how a great city defines itself.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
10/04/21•52m 0s
634 Holy Land Easter; Mudlarking; Higher Tides
A London "mudlarker" who searches the River Thames at low tide for buried objects describes how discarded items can connect us with life in the Victorian era, and even as far back as Roman times. Plus, hear what high tides threaten to bring to coastal communities around the world, and celebrate Easter at sites mentioned in the Bible.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
03/04/21•52m 0s
633 Granada; Mount Ararat; Colombia's Rio Magdalena
Guides from Spain highlight the historical treasures you can find in Granada today, including the impressive Islamic art of its Alhambra palace. Rick Antonson tells us how he climbed to the top of Mount Ararat in Turkey and about its significance to nearby Armenians. And anthropologist Wade Davis explains how the flow of the Rio Magdalena helps define today's nation of Colombia.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
27/03/21•52m 0s
318a Springtime in Basque Country; Irish Song
You'll find one of the oldest cultures in Europe along the Atlantic coast of Spain and France. We'll explore Basque Country with two guides who have deep family roots in the region. We'll also visit the island of Innishmore in Ireland's Aran Islands. And we'll extend our St. Patrick's Day observance by hearing how nearly every town in Ireland comes with its own special song.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
20/03/21•52m 0s
632 Galway; A Week in Ireland; Brittany
We'll help you start your travel plans for when the pandemic is behind us with an all-Celtic hour. Tour guides from Ireland offer insider advice for visiting Galway and the west of Ireland, and for planning a week's itinerary to the Emerald Isle. We'll also pop over to the Celtic corner of France to hear what makes Brittany a special destination to visit.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
13/03/21•52m 0s
631 The Ravenmaster; Future Travel; Tour Business in 2021
A Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London explains why a British legend about ravens is being put to the test. A New York Times reporter tells us how people are hoping to travel safely again. The head of Perillo Tours describes how his company dealt with the loss of business over the past year. And Rick reveals how he got the notion to become a travel writer more than 40 years ago on the moors of England.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
06/03/21•52m 0s
630 Portugal's Art and Architecture; Breakfast With Polygamists; Jack London's Yukon
Travel writer Dave Seminara tells us how curiosity led him to meet with healers in the jungles of Nicaragua and Belize. Plus, Richard Grant tells us how a Yukon winter in Dawson City inspired Jack London to become a writer; tour guides from Lisbon point out the art that colors the streets of Portugal; and we get a close-up appreciation of Leonardo's Mona Lisa.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
27/02/21•52m 0s
534a Crete; Alaska's Tip of the Iceberg; Darwin Comes to Town
A Dutch biologist explains how urban evolution is happening faster than we used to think all over the world. Plus, 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 we'll hear how the Greek island of Crete offers a natural experience unlike any other.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
20/02/21•52m 0s
629 Loving French Cheese; More Cities of China; Carnival in Venice & Rhineland
While this year's Mardi Gras parties were called off because of the pandemic, we'll bring you a virtual celebration of Carnival — a social safety valve for letting off steam since the Middle Ages in Venice and Cologne. We'll also explore more of China's booming megacities with the head of the Young China Group and enjoy the local artisan cheeses you can find all over France.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
13/02/21•52m 0s
628 Amtrakistan; Astronaut's View; Renaissance Florence
Find out what taking high-definition photos of Earth through the windows of the International Space Station revealed to astronaut Chris Hadfield. Hear why writer Eric Weiner prefers spending four days on Amtrak over a cross-country flight. 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.
06/02/21•52m 0s
627 Guanajuato & Querétaro; Patricia Schultz Places to See; Where I Really Want to Go
With a global pandemic playing havoc with travel plans, we can take refuge in our fondest travel memories and look at places to go next. We'll explore what the picturesque cities of central Mexico have to offer. And the author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die recommends some of her favorite destinations. Plus, listeners share where they hope to visit once it's safe to travel overseas again.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
30/01/21•52m 0s
626 Unraveling America; Spanish Civil War Sites; Photogenic Scotland
A Canadian observer of America's malaise offers what he calls an "intervention" to his friends in the USA. Plus, we'll explore Spain's civil war with a pair of Spanish tour guides whose families still feel the after-effects of the Franco era decades later. And we make time to find beauty in the Gothic stained-glass marvel of Saint-Chappelle in Paris and the photogenic landscapes of Scotland.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
23/01/21•52m 0s
550a Expats in Italy; Maeve in America
American ex-pats tell us why they chose to make a new home for themselves in Italy — and how they make it work. And Irish comedian Maeve Higgins explains what it's been like moving to New York from a small town in County Cork and getting accustomed to American ways. She also tells us about the stories of fellow immigrants that she has gotten to know.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
16/01/21•52m 0s
625 Snowdonia; Outposts; Natural Slovenia
British travel writer Dan Richards explores the historic outposts and refuges you can visit that are scattered among some of the most dramatic scenery on earth. Plus, local guides tell us about the outdoor possibilities in their home turf, from Wales' highest views at Snowdonia National Park to the surprises you'll find in the elaborate underground caves of Slovenia.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
09/01/21•52m 0s
624 Greek Mythology Sites; National Parks Year; Travel Memories
Guides from Greece tell us about the significant places you can visit to better understand the world of the ancient Greeks. Journalist Conor Knighton describes how he made an epic New Year's resolution happen by visiting all of America's National Parks in 12 months. And listeners share their standout travel memories, as we await the chance to explore the world again.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
02/01/21•52m 0s
549a Searching for Stars; Stoked My Spirit; Champagne
MIT Professor Alan Lightman tells us how a little time alone with the night sky in Maine illuminated his awareness of the universe, and his place in it. Also, listeners share travel experiences that really "stoked their spirit." And we get ready to welcome in the new year with a toast to Champagne, and the region in France where the bubbly comes from.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
26/12/20•52m 0s
548a German Christmas Markets; Christmas Memories Madrid, Sicily, Ireland, Hebrides
Brighten your socially distanced holidays by looking at the extra observances our friends in Europe normally celebrate this time of year. Listen in as Rick's friends from Germany, Spain, Sicily, Ireland, and Scotland tell us how they have traditionally enjoyed the holidays where they live.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
19/12/20•52m 0s
623 Christmas in Holland, Santa Fe, Venice; Wassailing; Holiday Travels
Take a virtual vacation to spice up this year's stay-at-home holidays: We'll hear about the festive customs people in Holland, Venice, Santa Fe, and England have for celebrating the Christmas season, and listeners tell us where they'd like to travel again in December.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
12/12/20•52m 0s
622 UK Royals; Lost Pianos of Siberia; Action in the Piazza
"Have you got a piano?" Sophy Roberts tells us how that simple question warmed her up to the people of Siberia on a search for historic pianos in the Russian Far East. Plus, find out how you can get close to the sites and treasures of the British royal family. And author Frances Mayes explains how piazzas play a vital role in the life of Italian towns and cities — and shares her personal favorites.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
05/12/20•52m 0s
621 Italian Wine and Music; Nomadland USA
Jessica Bruder, author of the book that the new movie "Nomadland" is based on, tells us how she learned firsthand how thousands of older Americans survive on seasonal temp work while living in RVs. We'll also hear about the wines Italians prefer and the songs that get requested the most in Italy. Plus, Rick describes the "bella chaos" he's enjoyed when strolling the streets of Naples.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
28/11/20•52m 0s
544a Bulgarian Feast; Gascony Gastronomy; Italian Olive Oil
Find out how living in the crosshairs of cultural battlelines in the Balkans has made Bulgaria one of Europe's most interesting places to eat. Food writer David McAninch reveals what makes the food traditions of Gascony different from the rest of France. And tour guides from southern Italy tell us what Italians expect in a good olive oil.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
21/11/20•52m 0s
620 Frankfurt; Ghostways; Where I Really Want to Go
We look beyond the dazzling skyscrapers of Frankfurt to find the city's street-level charms, with the help of a friendly pair of German tour guides. Author Robert Macfarlane tells us about two of England's most mysterious landscapes, in Dorset and Suffolk, which he finds himself drawn to. And Rick checks with more listeners on how they're coping with this year's canceled travel plans.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
14/11/20•52m 0s
619 Paprika; Silver Sword and Stone; Galicia
Tour guides from Hungary set us straight on their country's love of paprika and what a good goulash is supposed to be. Author Marie Arana looks at how a thousand years of history can help explain the differences between the countries of Latin America and the US. And we'll explore why Galicia — a lesser-known corner of Spain — is where Spaniards like to escape from the heat and the crowds.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
07/11/20•52m 0s
382b Pirates of the Carolinas; Faeries of Ireland; Ghosts of San Francisco
Just in time for Halloween and All Souls Day, we'll explore the legacy of the real-life pirates who operated off the Carolina coast of colonial America. A pair of Irishmen clue us in to their country's traditions about the different orders of faery people that some believe inhabit Ireland. And we'll learn about ghost sightings in San Francisco and the stories that come with them.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
31/10/20•52m 0s
618 Medellin; Traveling with Gloria Steinem and David McCullough
Rick compares notes with travel writer Dave Seminara on Medellín, Colombia, as the "City of Eternal Spring" tries to shake off its former reputation for cartel violence and promote itself as a safe and family-friendly destination. Plus, we relive two of our favorite interviews, hearing how important travel has been to the work of writer and activist Gloria Steinem and historian David McCullough.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
24/10/20•52m 0s
617 Dutch Masters; Where I Want to Go; Bird Brains
Find out what the art of the Dutch Masters can reveal about the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century, and why Holland and Belgium were so different from the rest of Europe. Learn about the intelligence and personalities of different bird species around the world, and what they might teach us about what it means to be human. Plus listeners share where they want to go next, after their travel plans have been postponed by this year's global shutdowns.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
17/10/20•52m 0s
542a Wild West Ghost Towns; Heroes of Ireland; Savage Harvest
Author Jim Hinckley recommends Old West ghost towns you can still visit, before they fade away. Irish singer Cathie Ryan shares how Ireland remembers its heroes in the lyrics of traditional songs. And journalist Carl Hoffman tells us what he learned about the disappearance of Michael Rockefeller, who vanished in 1961 while on an art-buying expedition in the jungles of New Guinea.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
10/10/20•52m 0s
616 Zagreb; Natchez; Leave Only Footprints
Learn why Croatia's capital, Zagreb, is a hidden gem for visitors to eastern central Europe, where tourist crowds have never been a problem. Author Richard Grant tells us why Natchez is called the quirkiest town in Mississippi, and what its slave-owning history can teach America today. And reporter Conor Knighton tells us what he learned after spending a year exploring every US national park.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
03/10/20•52m 0s
615 Places to Fly Fish; Monsoon Postcards; Copenhagen
Get inspired to fly-fish in some of the world's most beautiful waters; hear what challenges people overcome every day in the countries that border the Indian Ocean; and get ready to enjoy yourself in convivial Copenhagen.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
26/09/20•52m 0s
614 Bulgarian Festivals; Paul Theroux Travels; Checking In
Travel writer Paul Theroux shares what he looks for when he travels — experiences that turn into best-selling books and take readers on adventures around the world. We'll also hear how festivals in Bulgaria celebrate the nation's history, folk culture, and the changing seasons. And listeners tell us where they hope to be able to travel next, when the pandemic is under control.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
19/09/20•52m 0s
523a Language Vacations; Ex-Pat Mexico City; YOLO Los Angeles
An American ex-pat tells us why he's made Mexico City his home for the past 25 years and how the Mexican capital is becoming a magnet for people from around the Americas. We'll also look at the fun things you can do only in Los Angeles, when the city gets back to its own version of normal again. And a language buff recommends the benefits of studying a new language overseas.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
12/09/20•52m 0s
613 Lockdown in Honolulu and Edmonds; Santorini; Blue Mind
Rick tells us what it's like to spend his first summer at home in decades. We get an update on how Honolulu is faring without tourist crowds. We'll hear what the Greeks like best about their most popular vacation island, Santorini. And a marine biologist explains how being near the water — even if it's just in a bowl on the table — can help reduce stress and ease your state of mind.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
05/09/20•52m 0s
612 Inland West Coast Roadtrips; Making Scottish Music; Oddball English Festivals
Explore the traditions of Scotland in a special studio concert with folk musicians Jim and Susie Malcolm. We'll also look at some of the quirkier festivals you can find in England. And we'll get you ready to cruise the inland back roads of California and the Pacific Northwest, in search of farm stands, scenic parks, and gentle touches of Americana.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
29/08/20•52m 0s
444a Urban Australia; Epic Family Road Trip; Nordic Cousins
Get an inside look at the mostly friendly rivalry between Sweden and Norway (naturally, it comes with a few old jokes). We'll also meet the traveling Elliott family, who visited Rick in the middle of a pre-Covid, cross-country road trip; they have tips for making a long road trip work for the whole family. And we'll explore Australia's urbanized east coast, from Melbourne to Brisbane.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
22/08/20•52m 0s
611 Pico in Lockdown; Socrates Express; Fiji
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.
15/08/20•52m 0s
610 London Layover; Tower of London; Day Trips
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.
08/08/20•52m 0s
609 Locked Down in Switzerland and Belgium; Reykjavík Day Trips; Mongol Derby
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.
01/08/20•52m 0s
511a Open Phones: Travel Plans; Buffy Sainte-Marie; The Yellow Envelope
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.
25/07/20•52m 0s
608 Checking on Friends in New York and Italy; Lessons From Nature
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.
18/07/20•52m 0s
607 Romantic Bridges and Little Museums of Paris; Burgundy
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.
11/07/20•52m 0s
606 Aniakchak; Here Lies America; Ballpark Boys
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.
04/07/20•52m 0s
605 Vancouver Tourism; Buffalo Hometown Pride; Bosnia
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.
27/06/20•52m 0s
510a Megalopolis; Copenhagen's Christiania; Teenagers in Europe
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.
20/06/20•52m 0s
604 West Coast Roadtrip; Southern Eats; Travel Kindness
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.
13/06/20•52m 0s
603 Millennial Netherlands; Walking Edinburgh; Week in Andalucía
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.
06/06/20•52m 0s
488a Enjoy Your Seat; Lisbon Neighborhoods; Buenos Aires Bio
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.
30/05/20•52m 0s
602 How Berlin Remembers; Turkish Delights; Travel to Bhutan
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.
23/05/20•52m 0s
601 Looking for Rome; The End of Ice; Earth Day
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.
16/05/20•52m 0s
598 Europe Day Hikes; Orlando 2020; Swiss Cities
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.
09/05/20•52m 0s
600 Notre Dame Fire; Pilgrim Trails; Holy Rover
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.
02/05/20•52m 0s
505a Gili Islands; All-Season Australia; Unforgettable Travels
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.
25/04/20•52m 0s
575a Europe Hiking; Exploring Athens; Grooviest Gardens
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.
18/04/20•52m 0s
481a Saints of Spain; David Suchet — Footsteps of St. Paul; Michelangelo In Florence
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.
11/04/20•52m 0s
599 Weekend in Eger; China 2020; Open Phones
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.
04/04/20•52m 0s
521a Berner Oberland; T.T. Williams' Utah; The Philippines
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.
28/03/20•52m 0s
451a Lighthouses; Being Welsh; Stanway House
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.
21/03/20•52m 0s
597 Dublin Walk; Immortal Irishman; Aran Islands
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.
14/03/20•52m 0s
596 San Miguel de Allende; Frances Mayes A Tavola; Scottish Nationalism; Olympic Flame
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.
07/03/20•52m 0s
595 The Story of Spanish; First Timer's Spain
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.
29/02/20•52m 0s
594 Basque Carnaval; Venice Sinking; Ghosts in Papua New Guinea
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.
22/02/20•52m 0s
395a Monet's Passion; The French House; Marrying Into Italy
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.
15/02/20•52m 0s
593 Low Country Showdown; The Seine; German Style
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.
08/02/20•52m 0s
592 Insider's Amalfi; Korean Nunchi; Feedback
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.
01/02/20•52m 0s
506a World of Atlas Obscura; Scottish Hebrides; Saudade in Portugal
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.
25/01/20•52m 0s
591 Polynesian Explorers; Northern Greece; Greek to Me
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.
18/01/20•52m 0s
590 Heart of Haiti; Arctic Refuge
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.
11/01/20•52m 0s
589 Paul Theroux's Mexico Journey; Ukraine for Tourists
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.
04/01/20•52m 0s
588 Travel Mode; Amsterdam Manners; Family Travel Plans
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.
28/12/19•52m 0s
508a Another European Christmas
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.
21/12/19•52m 0s
587 Cod in Portugal; Eating in Naples; Christmas Travels
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.
14/12/19•52m 0s
586 Travel Writers Travels; Autumn Light in Japan; Swedish Values
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.
07/12/19•52m 0s
585 Pilgrim Trails of Italy; Wayfinding
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.
30/11/19•52m 0s
584 My Town; Lidia's Flavors of Italy; Wine Expert
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.
23/11/19•52m 0s
503a The Nez Perce War; American Nomads
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.
16/11/19•52m 0s
583 Provence; Germany This Year; Gdańsk
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.
09/11/19•52m 0s
582 Istria; Wee County Louth; Tides
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.
02/11/19•52m 0s
581 Recoleta Cemetery; Spooky Atlas Obscura; Near the Exit
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.
26/10/19•52m 0s
461a Dracula's Romania; Discriminating London Guide; Travel Kindnesses
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.
19/10/19•52m 0s
580 Villages of Tuscany; Megafauna
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.
12/10/19•52m 0s
579 Kerouac's Firewatch; Erosion; USA National Parks
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.
05/10/19•52m 0s
490a Travel Tech; Story of China; Take Your Child to Europe
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.
28/09/19•52m 0s
578 Walking Ljubljana; Munich and Bavaria; Wild Animals
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.
21/09/19•52m 0s
577 Magellan 500; Mexico City Neighborhoods; Ask Rick
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.
14/09/19•52m 0s
576 Budget Travelers; Beginner's Guide to Japan; Ireland Today
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.
07/09/19•52m 0s
493a Rolling Blackouts; Language to Lend; Czech Beer
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 Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
31/08/19•52m 0s
575 Europe Hiking; Exploring Athens; Grooviest Gardens
Author Cassandra Overby relays expert tips for exploring Europe's long-distance hiking trails. Then Greek tour guides discuss what's new in Athens' neighborhoods. And botanist Christopher Wood digs into 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.
24/08/19•52m 0s
574 American Hawaii; Aloha Rodeo; Surfing Groundswell
Historian Sarah Vowell revisits how the Hawaiian Islands became an American territory in the 19th century, then journalist David Wolman tells us how three cowboys from Hawaii's Big Island redefined the American West when they competed at the world's greatest rodeo championship. And writer Michael Scott Moore explores how surfing spread from Polynesia to the rest of the world.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
17/08/19•52m 0s
494a Liechtenstein Day; Gelato; The English Moors
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 delightfully uncrowded way to escape into nature.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
10/08/19•52m 0s
573 Taste of Sicily; Cycling the Silk Road; Turkey 2019
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 along the old Silk Road, from Turkey to Tibet. And Turkish tour guides give an update on tourism in Istanbul.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
03/08/19•52m 0s
572 Swiss Differences; EU Challenges; Elegant Hungary
Tour guides from across Europe discuss the European Union — and why Switzerland stands apart from its neighbors by not being an EU member. Plus, tour guides from Budapest recommend what to look for when you visit Hungary.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
27/07/19•52m 0s
571 Pluto; One Giant Leap; Astronaut's View
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 us about their probe's fly-by of Pluto earlier this year. And astronaut Chris Hadfield describes the views of Earth from the International Space Station.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
20/07/19•52m 0s
570 The French; Paris Nightlife
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 knowing how the French expect you to communicate with them. Now that their book has been translated into French, they tell us how their work has been received in France. And Rick shares tips for enjoying the Paris nightlife with two younger-generation tour guides, including his son, Andy!
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
13/07/19•52m 0s
476a American Women's History Sites; Diana Nyad; Wilderness Healing
Brent Glass, former director of the National Museum of American History, recommends places you can visit to commemorate the women who changed American history. Then endurance swimmer Diana Nyad tells us how she set a world record when she swam from Havana to Key West. And naturalist Gary Ferguson describes how the fierce nature of the wilderness can be a setting for both tragedy and healing.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
06/07/19•52m 0s
569 National Park Experiences; Northland; San Francisco Day Trips
Writer Porter Fox tells us what he discovered when he followed the US-Canada border from Maine to Washington State. Then, writer and photographer Becky Lomax shares her favorite National Park experiences. And guidebook author Kimberley Lovato recommends day trip options for enjoying beaches, redwood groves, and wineries within easy reach of San Francisco.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
29/06/19•52m 0s
568 Italy 2019; Today's Israel
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. Then journalist Martin Fletcher tells us about living in Israel as well as the political pressures that will prevent a resolution to Israeli-Palestinian tensions from happening anytime soon.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
22/06/19•52m 0s
567 Hokkaido; Arctic Solitaire; Bloomsday in Dublin
Get tips from an American-Japanese author for experiencing the rugged allure of Japan's northern island of Hokkaido. Then hear from a nature photographer what it's like to spend a summer boating up Hudson Bay in search of polar bears. And learn all about how Dubliners celebrate Bloomsday — good fun even if you still haven't finished Ulysses.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
15/06/19•52m 0s
480a Turn Right at Machu Picchu; Sarah Vowell-Lafayette; Scotch
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. Then author and radio commentator Sarah Vowell explains how Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette helped unify Americans after the contentious presidential election of 1824. And Rick checks in with tour guides from Edinburgh to get tips on visiting Scotland's whisky distilleries.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
08/06/19•52m 0s
566 Atlas Obscura for Kids; D-Day Sites; Lisbon 2019
The co-founder of Atlas Obscura, the online almanac of unusual places, recommends destinations sure to fascinate curious kids. Then a military historian from Normandy offers insights and advice for visiting the beaches where, 75 years ago this week, D-Day turned the tide of World War II. And tour guides from Lisbon share tips for enjoying Portugal's vibrant capital city.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
01/06/19•52m 0s
565 'Greatest Treasure Hunt'; 100 Things to Do in San Francisco
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 in World War II, and describes the work of the team who took heroic steps to protect Europe's art treasures from wartime damage and Nazi theft. Then a guidebook author shares tips for enjoying the rainbow of attractions, flavors, and summer festivals that make San Francisco a perpetually exciting place to visit.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
25/05/19•52m 0s
564 Paddle Pilgrim Norway; Spain 2019; In Praise of Wasting Time
A memoirist describes the challenges and delights of kayaking Norway's spectacular fjords, then tour guides from Madrid share tips for planning a memorable trip to Spain. And author Alan Lightman discusses the value of unplugging as a way of better understanding and appreciating the world around us.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
18/05/19•52m 0s
325b Desert Wisdom of Terry Tempest Williams; Sahara by Motorbike
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 Utah wilderness she calls home. Then a tour guide from Italy describes how he likes to get away from it all: on a motorbike across the vast Sahara desert.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
11/05/19•52m 0s
563 Tides; New Horizons Beyond Pluto; London Gardens
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 beyond Pluto. Then learn about the world's craziest tidal action, and the "celestial dance" that causes it, from a marine conservationist. And hear from English tour guides about their favorite experiences in London’s many inviting parks and gardens.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
04/05/19•52m 0s
562 Walking Amsterdam; European Hiking Trails; Ask Rick
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 author of "Explore Europe on Foot" makes the case for exploring Europe via its long-distance hiking trails — at your own pace and away from the crowds. And listeners get Rick's advice on their summer vacation plans.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
27/04/19•52m 0s
561 Green Oslo; English Cathedrals; Slovenian Cuisine
Find out why Oslo has proudly been declared 2019's "European Green Capital." Then hear all about England's most beautiful and historically important cathedrals, from Canterbury's to the York Minster. And get a taste of the comfort foods you can savor in Slovenia, where the culinary influences of neighboring countries 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.
20/04/19•52m 0s
560 Enjoying National Parks; France 2019; Puzzle of Polynesia
As National Parks Week approaches, a guidebook author joins us to share ideas for exploring America’s 59 national parks. Then tour guides to France help listeners plan their summer voyages, with advice for marking the 75th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, and enjoying a "babymoon" in Paris. Plus, the author of "Sea People" tells the fascinating story of how Polynesians came to populate the most far-flung islands on earth.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
13/04/19•52m 0s
559 Dutch Climate Change Strategies; Nina Khrushcheva In Putin's Footsteps
We'll hear some of the ways the Netherlands — a country that can’t afford time to argue about climate change — is protecting its citizens from steadily rising seas. Then international-affairs professor Nina Khrushcheva, great-granddaughter of Nikita Khrushchev, tells us what she learned about her motherland when she traveled to towns in all eleven of its time zones, with a focus on understanding the Russian heartland’s strong support for Vladimir Putin.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
06/04/19•52m 0s
413a Folk Music of Italy; Swiss Watching; Weekend in Wales
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 like to live in Switzerland — and explains why the Swiss are deliberately different from the rest of their European neighbors. And one of the top Welsh tour guides shares pointers for fun things to explore on a weekend in Wales.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
30/03/19•52m 0s
558 See You in the Piazza; Populism in My Country
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 we'll get a personal take on the current political scene in Hungary, Poland, and Turkey, where conservative populism has changed and challenged these countries' democratic structures.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
23/03/19•52m 0s
557 Speaking in Irish; On the Wind; Irish Craic
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 musician Kieran O'Hare explains why he finds Irish bagpipes more pleasing than the better-known Scottish ones, and plays a few traditional tunes on the Irish tin whistle. And eavesdrop on a pair of Irishmen from opposite ends of the island as they share a beer and a little banter with Rick.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
16/03/19•52m 0s
556 Flamenco Fan; Four Seasons in Lesotho; Faux Pas
A flamenco enthusiast from Sweden explains her lifelong passion for the fiery dance traditions of southern Spain. Then writer Will McGrath tells us what he learned from his neighbors while living in southern Africa's small mountainous nation of Lesotho. And Rick checks in with listeners to hear how the mistakes they've made as travelers became openings to connect with local culture.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
09/03/19•52m 0s
555 First Timer's Brazil; What Brexit Means to Me; Guatemala Solutions
Travel writer Seth Kugel offers tips for first-time visitors to Brazil, then a team of European tour guides share their personal — and diverging — takes on the Brexit conundrum. And two leaders of an anti-poverty nonprofit explain their innovative approach for combating systemic poverty among farmers in Guatemala.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
02/03/19•52m 0s
360a Joanna Lumley's Travels; Holy Toledo; Good Night and God Bless
British actress and global traveler Joanna Lumley tells Rick why her family is revered in Bhutan, then Spanish tour guides describe the highlights of their country's spiritual capital, Toledo. Plus, guidebook author Trish Clark shares tips for finding an affordable room and a good breakfast in Europe's convents and monasteries.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
23/02/19•52m 0s
458a Adventure Divas; Norse Mythology; Acropolis
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 civilized democracy 2,500 years since it was built, and learn about the courageous subjects of filmmaker Holly Morris' "Adventure Divas" documentary series.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
16/02/19•52m 0s
554 Why I Love Rome; Garden Lust; Mountain Switzerland
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 Christopher Woods tells us about his favorite contemporary botanical gardens around the world. And listen in for advice on visiting Switzerland and hiking in the Alps.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
09/02/19•52m 0s
553 Curry Nation; Young China
Actress and cookbook author Madhur Jaffrey explains why clichés about British food are out of date — thanks mainly to the influence from immigrants. And the founder of the Young China Global Group explains what he's discovered about China's millennials — and about how their expectations for the future are changing China, and the world.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
02/02/19•52m 0s
552 London on a Budget; Why Not Russia; Somali Pirates
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 media have a blind spot about travel to Russia. He tells us why he finds it an affordable and friendly country. Plus, guides from London share budget travel tips to help you enjoy their expensive city.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
26/01/19•52m 0s
551 Cappadocia; Scottish Troubadour; Northern Ireland Identity
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. Then, just ahead of Burns Night, Scottish folk singer Jim Malcolm shares some of the poetry that adds depth to the traditional music of Scotland. And tour guides from Northern Ireland describe how their fellow countrymen have largely overcome sectarian strife, and discuss the questions that linger as the UK prepares to leave the EU.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
19/01/19•52m 0s
417a Scandinavian Smackdown; Green Book Road Trips
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 sometimes not-so-subtle differences that help give each country its distinct identity. Then listen in for the story of the US travel guide from the mid-20th century that helped African Americans find a welcome on the road.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
12/01/19•52m 0s
550 Expats in Italy; Maeve in America
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 comedian Maeve Higgins describes her adjustment to American ways after moving to New York from a small town in County Cork.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
05/01/19•52m 0s
549 Searching for Stars; Stoked My Spirit; Champagne
Novelist and MIT physics professor Alan Lightman describes how a little time alone with Maine's night sky illuminated his awareness of the universe, and his place in it. Then listeners share stories of inspiring travel experiences, before we welcome the new year with a toast to Champagne — both the bubbly and its French region of origin.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
29/12/18•52m 0s
548 German Christmas Markets; Christmas in Madrid, Sicily, Ireland, Hebrides
We'll look at what makes the cozy Christmas markets of Germanic Europe so treasured. Then we'll hear about special Christmastime traditions from around Europe, including Spain, Sicily, Ireland, and Scotland's Hebrides Islands.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
22/12/18•52m 0s
467a Holiday Roadfood; Best Chocolate in Europe; Holiday Travels; Prague Christmas
Food writers Jane and Michael Stern discuss wintertime comfort grub served in America's roadside restaurants, then culinary-culture expert Fred Plotkin explores the various kinds of chocolate available across Europe. And listeners share the experiences that made their Christmas vacations in Europe really special — plus a tour guide from Prague describes the traditions that at the heart of a cozy Czech Christmas.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
15/12/18•52m 0s
547 Gaudí's Sagrada Família; Globally Curious
An expert on Antoni Gaudí reveals what the Modernista architect had envisioned for Barcelona's magnificent Sagrada Família church, and shares updates on the work to complete what Gaudí started 135 years ago. And travel writer Seth Kugel makes the case for letting serendipity play a role in your trip's itinerary.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
08/12/18•52m 0s
546 Greek Godmother; Lidia's American Dream; Promised Land
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 family. Then TV chef Lidia Bastianich shares the story of her family's flight from Yugoslavia, and the successful family business they were able to start in America. And former NBC Middle East correspondent Martin Fletcher explains how his latest novel, set in Israel during its early years as a modern state, evokes the extraordinary drama of Israeli life in that era.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
01/12/18•52m 0s
545 Optimism in Armenia; Finding Chopin's Piano
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Peter Balakian describes the new positive spirit he encountered during his recent travels in Armenia, whose citizens have earned good reason to feel upbeat about their future. And composer Paul Kildea explains how Frederic Chopin's sublime 24 Preludes — written on a clunky mini-piano in an abandoned monastery in the middle of the Mediterranean — changed how the world hears music.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
24/11/18•52m 0s
544 Bulgarian Feast; Gascony Gastronomy; Italian Olive Oil
Find out what made Bulgaria one of Europe's most interesting places to eat. Food writer David McAninch reveals what makes the culinary traditions of Gascony tastier than in the rest of France. Plus, discover what Italians expect in a good olive oil.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
17/11/18•52m 0s
423a Back Door Balkans; World War I Sites; Kraków
Get insider advice for enjoying the less-visited corners of the Balkan Peninsula, from Bosnia's atmospheric mosques to Montenegro's scenic coast. And as we mark the centennial of the "Great War," hear about the most compelling places in Europe to learn about American soldiers' contributions to World War I. Plus, listen in as tour guides share their tips for enjoying Kraków, the cultural and spiritual capital of Poland.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
10/11/18•52m 0s
543 Cities for Solo Travelers; Achtung Baby; Open Phones
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 Baby" tells us of her family's relocation to Berlin, and what she learned about Germans' hands-off approach to child rearing. And listeners share their travel plans and experiences for trips to Turkey, Hungary, and Sicily.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
03/11/18•52m 0s
542 Ghost Towns of the West; Heroes of Ireland; Savage Harvest
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 its heroes through the lyrics of traditional songs. And journalist Carl Hoffman shares his deeply researched take on the mysterious disappearance of banking scion Michael Rockefeller in the jungles of New Guinea.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
27/10/18•52m 0s
541 Greek Theatre; Shakespeare in Swahililand; Iceland Airwaves
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 an English lit expert from Cambridge explains how the works of Shakespeare have been embraced in East Africa. And a radio DJ tells us about an Icelandic music festival that features an amazing amount of home-grown talent.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
20/10/18•52m 0s
460a More Skyfaring; Marta Dusseldorp's Australia; Wieners
A transcontinental pilot discusses the marvels of jet travel, then Australian actor Marta Dusseldorp describes her favorite Down Under destinations, and shares insights she's gained from starring in a TV series about the postwar 1950s. Plus, tour guides from Berlin explain the German love of a good sausage, at any time of year…and any time of day.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
13/10/18•52m 0s
540 Living Abroad in Japan; TV Fan's Britain
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 guides from England about scenic filming locations you can visit in Britain.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
06/10/18•52m 0s
539 Travel Portraits — Phil Borges, Annie Leibovitz; Photogenic Sicily
Filmmaker and documentary photographer Phil Borges explains what's behind his remarkable photos of people in different traditional societies of central Asia. Then portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz lets us in on how she documents the worlds of her famous subjects, and shares stories of the road trips that've brought her closer to great American artists. And tour guides to Sicily take listener calls to swap tips on enjoying the traditions of Italy's liveliest island.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
29/09/18•52m 0s
421a Monet's Garden Passion; Ireland's Ring of Kerry; The Carry Home
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 take us to the scenic highlights of the popular Ring of Kerry peninsula. And nature writer Gary Ferguson reveals how cultivating a relationship with the natural world helps us better understand life's mystery and beauty.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
22/09/18•52m 0s
538 Why I Love Berlin; Italian Coffee Bars
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 this year's Oktoberfest, a tour guide from Munich joins us to explain why beer gardens are so important to their culture. Then two guides from Italy walk us through the typical Italian's daily visit to a coffee bar, and share tips on how to order your espresso like a true Italian.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
15/09/18•52m 0s
537 Caesar Shuffle; More Michael Wood's China; Pleasure Activist
Roman tour guide Francesca Caruso recommends places to explore in the Eternal City that give you a particularly vivid feel for its centuries of history. Then historian Michael Wood describes how China's updated infrastructure makes it easy to reach his favorite sights in this fascinating country. And author Fred Plotkin discusses how you can eat and travel well when you engage your surroundings with an eye toward pure enjoyment.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
08/09/18•52m 0s
536 Isle of Skye; Cross-Country Kayak; Van Morrison's Belfast
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 length of both the Mississippi River and New York's waterways, from Buffalo to the Statue of Liberty. And join in on an audio Moondance along Belfast's "Van Morrison Trail," which connects the spots made famous by the music of the city's beloved hometown boy.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
01/09/18•52m 0s
452a Slow Train to Switzerland; Artists Safari; Joys of Travel
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 emotional benefits of travel that last well after you return home. Plus, a painter shares how going on an artist's safari has deepened his love of African wildlife.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
25/08/18•52m 0s
535 Pan-American Road Trip; Souvenirs; Open Phones
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 the value of souvenirs with travel writer Rolf Potts, who shares insights on the origins of the travel-gift industry. And reminisce with fellow listeners who’ve called in to share the travel memories evoked by recent episodes of the show.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
18/08/18•52m 0s
534 Crete; Alaska's Tip of the Iceberg; Darwin Comes to Town
Hear how Crete offers travelers a uniquely fascinating Greek island experience. Then travel writer Mark Adams describes his 3,000-mile voyage along the coasts of Alaska in the path of the Harriman Expedition of 1899. And a Dutch biologist explains how urban evolution around the world is happening faster than we used to think.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
11/08/18•52m 0s
533 Holiday in Iraqi Kurdistan; Traveling Solo; Croatia's Greatest Hits
Tim Neville discusses why you'd enjoy vacationing in northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. Travel writer Stephanie Rosenbloom explores the advantages of traveling solo and how to do it without feeling all alone. And tour guides from the Balkans recommend their favorite places to explore along the coast of Croatia.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
04/08/18•52m 0s
532 England's Overlooked Cities; Lake District; Cozy Cotswolds
British tour guides discuss their favorite overlooked cities to visit, beyond London. Plus, we learn what guides from the Cumbrian Lake District and the Cotswolds love about living in rural England, including recommendations for connecting with the regions' sometimes-eccentric folk culture and its literary giants.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
28/07/18•52m 0s
434a New Northwest Passage; Dispatches from Mississippi; Serendipity
Kathleen Winter tells us what her voyage into the Northwest Passage taught her about the world. Richard Grant left the bustle of Manhattan to buy an old farmhouse in the Mississippi Delta. Plus, listeners share tales of memorable stories from the people they've met overseas.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
21/07/18•52m 0s
531 Flaneur in Paris; Misunderstood Parisian; Alsace
Hear about the charms of France's Alsace region from local tour guides. A Parisian guide explains how visitors' expectations lead to misunderstandings and faux pas. Plus, Fred Plotkin shares how you might find the best croissant you've ever tasted in Paris.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
14/07/18•52m 0s
530 More Florida; Rediscovering Route 66; Sarah Vowell Assassination Vacation
Tampa Bay Times columnist Craig Pittman explains how Florida's massive tourism industry impacts the state's residents. Plus, the author of a guide to Route 66 tells us about efforts to revitalize the historic 24-hundred mile highway as a national heritage trail. Also, author Sarah Vowell tells us what she learned when she visited sites associated with assassinated American presidents.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
07/07/18•52m 0s
529 Touring Newfoundland; Rick Mercer's Canada Day; Drink Dat New Orleans
Newfoundland actor and musician Alan Doyle recommends sights to best enjoy the rugged beauty of his island home in the Atlantic. And Canadian TV personality Rick Mercer shares his favorite places and things to do across Canada this summer. Plus, culinary historian Elizabeth Pearce raises a glass to New Orleans for its tri-centennial, and unveils tips for enjoying America's most "spirited" city through its distinctive cocktails.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
30/06/18•52m 0s
447a Hungarian Hot Springs; Peru's Boiling River; Padua
Hear how people of all ages enjoy a day at the baths in Budapest, where doctors commonly prescribe a relaxing day at the spa. Then learn about a sacred geothermal river located deep in Amazonian Peru: It's huge, deadly hot, and might contain clues to the origins of life on Earth. And get advice for enjoying the splendor of Padua, located just half an hour from the crowds of Venice, and home to one of Europe's oldest universities.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
23/06/18•52m 0s
528 Basque Country Surprises; Prague Art and Architecture; Open Phones
Journalist and former diplomat Dave Seminara vividly describes the unusual sports and traditions you might encounter in the Basque Country. Then a Czech tour guide and a guidebook writer join us to share insights and tips for appreciating Prague's innovative and fascinating art and architecture — and we enjoy a mini-concert from the Prague Castle Orchestra, a popular trio of street musicians. Plus, listeners share their travel plans and favorite memories.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
16/06/18•52m 0s
527 Modern Vikings; Belgians; Bulgarians
Join us as tour guides from Norway, Belgium, and Bulgaria share insider perspectives on their countries. Listen in as they describe the hot-button issues that animate their countrymen's conversations, and explain what makes their countries so special — and why so many residents of smaller nations often feel such big national pride.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
09/06/18•52m 0s
526 Travel Tech Tips; DJ in Iceland; Dingle in Ireland
A New York Times travel writer shares tips for apps that can help you make the most of your next overseas trip, then a Seattle DJ describes how Iceland has exploded as a hotbed of creativity — and why he makes a point of visiting once a year. And a lifelong resident of the Dingle Peninsula makes a persuasive case that his home turf is the most beautiful corner of Ireland.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
02/06/18•52m 0s
525 Day in New York; NYC High Line; Germany 2018
Get tips from guidebook author Pauline Frommer on how to make the most of a New York City stopover, and hear how the city's High Line greenway has become one of its best places to stroll and people-watch. Then listen in as tour guides from Berlin share their recommendations for the most enjoyable special events taking place across Germany this year.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
26/05/18•52m 0s
462a Indigenous Arctic and Andes; Overbooked
A bestselling author of a book on the Northwest Passage describes how the Inuit of Canada and Greenland are responding to modern challenges posed by changes to the Arctic environment. Then we delve with a filmmaker into the pre-Columbian world of the Incas, and ponder what untold stories the Andes Mountains may still hold. Plus, a well-traveled journalist joins us to consider the impact of recent growth in the global travel industry, wherein a billion people a year now cross international borders in search of something new.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
19/05/18•52m 0s
524 First Timers 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 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.
12/05/18•52m 0s
523 Language Vacations; Expat Mexico City; YOLO Los Angeles
Get recommendations from a language buff for learning a new tongue overseas, then listen in as an American expat explains why he's called Mexico City home for the past 25 years — and why the Mexican capital is becoming a magnet for many others from around the Americas. Plus, hear from the author of a new guidebook about fun ways to experience the creative spirit of Los Angeles.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
05/05/18•52m 0s
522 Scotland Itineraries; Nafplio
Tour guides from Scotland recommend their favorite Caledonian experiences, from elegant Edinburgh to clan castles in the Highlands, and even budget getaways for backpackers. Then a pair of world travelers explain why they’ve settled down in Greece’s Nafplio, the picturesque Peloponnesian town that’s a getaway for big-city Athenians, a jumping-off point for history-rich sights nearby, and delightful in its own right.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
28/04/18•52m 0s
521 Berner Oberland; T.T. Williams' Utah; The Philippines
Hear about the variety of spectacular Alpine views any visitor can enjoy in and above Switzerland's Lauterbrunnen Valley, as described by a tour guide who's mapped the region's hiking trails. Then listen in as author Terry Tempest Williams explains how she purchased oil leases near her home in the Utah desert — not to drill, but in hopes of combatting the recent rollback of protections for US national monuments. And learn why travel writer Kiki Deere counts the Philippines among her favorite countries to visit.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
21/04/18•52m 0s
426a American Lighthouses; Skyfaring; Favorite Travels; Longbow
Learn about some of America's most interesting lighthouses to visit — or even slumber in. Then hear from an experienced pilot about why the view from a 747 never gets old. And listen in as we consider the longbow's influence on the balance of power in medieval Europe.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
14/04/18•52m 0s
520 Saigon's Bui Vien Street; Spain 2018
An expat living in Saigon describes the bustle of Ho Chi Minh City’s famous Bui Vien Street, and explains why this backpacker district has recently become a weekend destination for local families. Then tour guides from Spain share updates and travel tips for the land of tapas and toreadors.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
07/04/18•52m 0s
519 Saints of France and Ireland; David Suchet in the Footsteps of St. Peter
Get acquainted with some of the most popular French and Italian saints, and learn why they remain important to their countrymen. Plus, actor David Suchet shares what he discovered while making a documentary about the life and times of St. Peter, and the first-century world he inhabited in Galilee.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
31/03/18•52m 0s
351a Italy On and Off the Rails; Romantic Amalfi Coast
Author Tim Parks, a long-time resident of Verona, shares his observations about Italy’s railway system, and what it can tell us about the Italian mindset. And two tour guides from the Amalfi Coast take listener calls while exploring the highlights of their scenic southern corner of Italy, from Positano to the isle of Capri.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
24/03/18•52m 0s
518 First Timer's Ireland; Alan Doyle's Newfoundland
Three tour guides from Ireland share their recommendations for the sights and experiences travelers shouldn’t miss on a first-time visit to their home turf — from fun things to see and do in busy Dublin, to tips for exploring the windswept byways of the Kerry coast. And musician and actor Alan Doyle helps us to understand his native Newfoundland by discussing how his perspective continues to be shaped by his Irish Catholic childhood in a small fishing town.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
17/03/18•52m 0s
517 The EU from Brussels; Solo Women Travelers; Teresa Bruce
Rick gets a perspective on current issues the European Union is facing, from a geo-political friend in Brussels. Three women travel guides to Europe describe what it requires for women to feel comfortable traveling solo. Plus, author Teresa Bruce describes retracing a road trip from Oregon to Bolivia down the Pan American Highway.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
10/03/18•52m 0s
516 London 2018; Last Wild Men of Borneo
Hear from Londoners about what's afoot in their city right now, and the don't-miss experiences for anyone looking to make the most of a visit to the British capital this year. Then author Carl Hoffman tells what he discovered about two modern-day adventurers who befriended an indigenous tribe in Borneo: One of them got rich selling tribal art — and the other disappeared.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
03/03/18•52m 0s
515 Artists of Spain; Being Welsh; Being Bosnian
We look at the top sites where you can experience firsthand the groundbreaking contributions of Spain's greatest artists. Then tour guides from Wales and Bosnia share the facets of their nationalities that mean most to them — such as the Welsh fortitude for enduring the blustery climate that produces such beautiful landscapes, and Bosnians' knack for using humor to defuse the thornier aspects of life in the Balkans.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
24/02/18•52m 0s
420a Music of Spain; Space Station Living; Canine-American Road Trip
Tune into the traditional music of Spain and find out where to catch the best flamenco shows in Madrid. Then listen in as astronaut Chris Hadfield describes daily life aboard the International Space Station, and lets us in on how you get used to doing everything — and we mean everything — in zero gravity. And hear what a cross-country road trip showed a man and his dog about America's canine culture, and what they learned about each other.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
17/02/18•52m 0s
514 Casanova's Venice; Florida This Year; Caribbean Island People
Historian Laurence Bergreen takes us to 18th-century Venice, at a time when Casanova called it home. Then journalist Craig Pittman updates us on what Florida is like for vacationers in 2018, and lets us in on local scuttlebutt. And geographer Joshua Jelly-Schapiro reminds us that the Caribbean’s cultural influence extends far beyond hosting cruise ships and beach vacations.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
10/02/18•52m 0s
513 Fred Plotkin's Culinary Capitals; The New Koreans
Find out what six cities food maven Fred Plotkin considers to be the world's best places to experience edible ecstasy. Then get an update on today's "New Koreans" from journalist Michael Breen, whose recent book describes the rapid changes afoot in South Korea since its emergence as a worldwide economic and cultural force.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
03/02/18•52m 0s
512 Shakespeare in South Sudan; Africa 54; Normandy
We check in with author and long-distance walker Francis Tapon after his five-year journey to all 54 countries in Africa. And we hear how a widespread love of Shakespeare played a key role in shaping Africa's newest nation, South Sudan. Plus, tour guides from France offer tips for exploring the countryside of Normandy, including the monuments to WWII battles fought there.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
27/01/18•52m 0s
392a Ireland's W. B. Yeats; Scotland's Robert Burns; Agatha Christie's England
We consider the importance of poet W.B. Yeats to the Irish soul, and discuss real-life English destinations that let you experience the world of Agatha Christie's mysteries. And just in time for Burns Night, Scottish troubadour Jim Malcolm explains what Robert Burns' poetry means to the Scots, and sings some favorite Burns tunes.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
20/01/18•52m 0s
511 Travel Plans; Buffy Sainte-Marie; The Yellow Envelope
Singer Buffy Sainte-Marie discusses her new album of activist "Medicine Songs" and what they have to say about our place in today's world. Then author Kim Dinan tells the story of how she quit her job, sold her stuff, and set off on a three-year round-the-world adventure — inspired, in part, by a certain yellow envelope. And listeners converse with Rick about the special concerns involved in traveling to politically sensitive countries.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
13/01/18•52m 0s
510 Megalopolis; Copenhagen's Christiania; Teenagers in Europe
An Italian scholar of architecture compares the scope of today's mega-cities with the more human scale of Venice. And we'll hear what a pair of documentary producers noticed when they interviewed residents of Christiania, a communal society tucked into the middle of downtown Copenhagen. Plus, 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.
06/01/18•52m 0s
509 Slavic Firewater; “Bears in the Streets”; Places to Drink Beer; Edinburgh New Year’s Eve
Pour a festive glass as we learn about the strong, often homemade liquors that lend zest to celebrations across central and eastern Europe. Then hear where to find some of the world's best beer, from the author of "50 Places to Drink Beer Before You Die." And join the party as friends from Edinburgh offer a wee taste of the Scottish capital's year-end Hogmanay festivities. Plus, author and former Moscow resident Lisa Dickey tells us how the people of Russia are coping with a changing world.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
30/12/17•52m 0s
427a More European Christmas Traditions
Learn about holiday traditions observed in France, Norway, Greece, London, the Spanish Basque Country, and small-town Italy. From festively decorated Greek boats to dishes of fresh oysters and fermented trout, and Santas who live not on the North Pole but on a farm or in the woods, Christmas is a little different across the pond.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
23/12/17•52m 0s
508 Another European Christmas
Hear about what Europeans are looking forward to at this time of year, from Saint Nicholas Day through Boxing Day, in Germany, England, Belgium, Hungary, Portugal, and the Czech Republic — perhaps it's some of grandma's special potato salad to go with the fish stew and figgy pudding!
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
16/12/17•52m 0s
507 American Eclipse; Newgrange Solstice; The Hour of Land
We hear of the true awesomeness of experiencing a total solar eclipse, from the one that swept across the American West in 1878 to the one that drew crowds to the totality's path in the US in August 2017. And we'll also learn what it's like to take part in a winter solstice ritual from inside Ireland's ancient tomb at Newgrange. Plus, author and conservationist Terry Tempest Williams describes breathtaking moments in America's national parks, and why it's critical to protect them from the forces that divide Americans today.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
09/12/17•52m 0s
506 Atlas Obscura; Scottish Hebrides; Saudade in Portugal
Hear about some of the world's most remarkable — and creepiest — traditions. Then discover the timeless character of the Hebrides — an island group off Scotland's northwest coast where you're more likely to overhear Gaelic than English. And enjoy a sampling of Portugal's beloved fado music: sad songs that make everyone feel better.
For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
02/12/17•52m 0s
425a Jamón; Scandinavian Cuisine; A Tavola in Italy; 'Life from Scratch'
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 archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
25/11/17•52m 0s