Travel with Rick Steves

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.

A Cypriot businessman-turned-philosopher connects the act of travel with the larger journey of our lives, and shares how revisiting places we've been before can help us to see them — and ourselves — in a new light. Plus, a cultural historian based on Easter Island recommends ways to experience the diverse cultures of the far-flung nations of the south seas.

A historian helps us re-envision Europe's eastern half, from the Baltics to the Balkans, with a lively account of how most of the region's countries have modernized since the Cold War, and of the challenges they face today. And an American-born artist and creative-writing teacher shares her joy of being "Welsh by choice," telling us of Welsh words that describe feelings we don't easily express in English.

A writing duo shares the sights that have a place in our music history, from museums and festivals to lesser-known locales to make the heart sing. And opera expert and self-described "pleasure activist" Fred Plotkin shows us how to open our senses and plug into the excitement at some of his favorite opera venues in Europe.

Pulitzer Prize winner Beverly Gage explains how a road trip to the places where history happened can renew your faith in American progress, without ignoring an honest assessment of the nation's past. And the good folks from Atlas Obscura share some of their favorite quirky and unique American roadside attractions.

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.

A Belfast-based tour guide points out the places where native son Van Morrison found inspiration for his music and poetry. Then a Romani author tells us about the variety of communities within her culture, both on the continent and in the US. And an adventure traveler shares some of his favorite scenic hikes in Europe.

Hear why one writer chooses to invest the time in crossing America by train instead of hopping a quick flight. Then discover what taking high-definition photos of Earth from space revealed to a veteran astronaut. And get inspired to view the Renaissance treasures of Florence.

A master stonemason considers the great sites of Europe and shares what these enduring structures can teach us about permanence, craft, and human ambition. Then an Italian tour guide sheds light on the Dolomites, the spectacular setting where Italian, German, and Ladin traditions meet. Plus, an aficionado of American road trips tells us about efforts to revitalize historic Route 66 as a national heritage trail.

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.

A chef and cookbook author takes a look at idioms that are shared across diverse languages. Then the head of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum updates us on what's happening this summer at Cleveland's top attraction. And the late historian David McCullough reflects on the Wright brothers and how their dream changed the world.

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.

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.

Three American-born tour guides who have settled in Europe tell us what it's like to make a new home in a foreign country. Then, a lifelong resident of Italy's Veneto region helps us explore the Venice Lagoon as an ever-changing ecosystem shaped by climate change, local history, and the distinct cultures of its islands.

Join us for a special hour with American author and environmental activist Terry Tempest Williams as she invites us to consider the interconnectedness of the natural world, and discusses what we gain from recognizing and engaging with all that's around us — including a heightened appreciation of the good in our world.

A pair of tour guides from Greece tell us how the island of Crete offers a natural experience unlike any other. Then travel writer Mark Adams describes his 3,000-mile voyage along the coasts of Alaska to follow what the Harriman Expedition saw in 1899. And a Dutch biologist explains how urban evolution is happening faster than we used to think all over the world.

New York Times reporter John Branch tells us how one family in southern Utah keeps a cowboy tradition alive at rodeos across the West. Then an award-winning travel journalist recommends itineraries for scenic road trips and sites to explore across California. And an environmental history scholar pays tribute to the American bald eagle, whose recovery from the brink of extinction is an environmental success story that can inspire everyone.

An Athenian theater director discusses drama's role as a building block of civil society since ancient times, and recommends some Greek destinations that are especially fascinating for the theatrically inclined. Then a pair of tour guides offer their picks for lesser-known Greek islands that promise a break from the bustle and expense of tourist centers such as Mykonos and Santorini. And an outdoor enthusiast lets us in on the wisdom of finding a good home base to unlace your boots on a multi-day European hiking trip.

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.

The founder of a food-tour company tells us in delicious detail about some of his favorite eats to enjoy on the streets of Rome. Then a British tour guide shares how to take in London's historic core as well as its changing landscape on a visit to the boroughs of The City and Westminster. And a tour guide from Lisbon illuminates the contrasts between Portugal's bustling cities and the more traditional way of life that persists in the countryside.

One of Rick's longtime cohorts shares her road-tested advice on what you need — and don't need — to put in your suitcase for a successful overseas trip. Then a brother-and-sister pair of Swedish tour guides share their picks for places to explore beyond Stockholm, from easy day trips to coastal wilderness adventures. Plus, listeners chat with Rick about what made their recent travels feel special.

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.

A tour guide from Orvieto explains why his Umbrian hill-town home is well worth a stop on your Italy itinerary. Then a rail enthusiast looks at train travel in Europe and beyond and considers how — and why — the US set off upon a different track. And a British journalist takes us along as she rides the rails on a lively journey across India.

The Grand Tour was a rite of passage for the aristocracy, and the adventuresome spirit behind it lives on in modern European itineraries. A longtime travel publisher traces the evolution of this fantastic voyage. Then Rick Steves' Europe guidebook researcher Cameron Hewitt takes a look back on the ways travel has evolved over the past quarter century. And as the Sagrada Família stretches ever closer toward completion, one of the project's architects helps us understand what Gaudí's ambitious creation means to Barcelona and Catalonia.

Debbie and Michael Campbell, aka the "Senior Nomads," offer listeners their expert advice on traveling full-time during retirement. And tour guides from Britain, Poland, and Germany reflect on how politics and media shape public conversation about current events within their own and neighboring nations.

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.

Tour guides from the north and south of Ireland let us in on their picks for sights and experiences that will make a first trip to the Emerald Isle a memorable one. Plus, an Irish American singer explains the importance of music to the Irish and how the island's history is found in its folk ballads and songs.

Get tips for experiencing what remains of Aztec culture in modern-day Mexico City. Then hear about what recent excavations in Pompeii are revealing about first-century life in the Roman Empire. And join a historian in considering how the cultures of France's many neighboring countries have long shaped and enriched its identity.

Rick engages a panel of European tour-guide friends to find out how they're responding to recent changes in the political relationship between their countries and the US, and to discuss the home-grown populist pressures that have been gaining followers in Europe. Plus sculptor Richard Rhodes recommends European destinations with especially impressive stonework — from famous buildings to little-known sites that have endured through the ages.

Estonia's medieval charm, beautifully preserved naturescapes, and Baltic culture are cultivating a burgeoning tourism scene. Bradt guidebook author and Estonian authority Neil Taylor lets us in on the abundant appeal of the former Soviet republic. And a certified Cicerone — that's "craft beer expert" — takes us on a tour of European suds and helps us tap into the best pints across the continent.

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.

An Easter Island-based travel writer and lecturer lets us in on what life is like on the cruise-ship circuit. Then journalist Lyse Doucet recounts her career as the BBC's chief international correspondent and delves into the issues her profession grapples with today.

Bradt guidebook author Joshua Zukas, who focuses exclusively on Vietnam, shares why he enjoys challenging misconceptions about his adopted home. And a writer who has spent his life captivated by the mighty Mississippi River takes us on a virtual tour of America's great waterway, from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.

One of Rick's tour guides opens our eyes to the idyllic "Swiss Riviera" that borders Lake Geneva. Then a British journalist and safari expert takes us into Africa, sharing the best ways to find authentic safari experiences. And a hiking-and-biking tour operator tells us how to escape the crowds of Europe's grand cities by spending a few days hitting the trail.

Find out why Germany's "second city," the industrial northern port of Hamburg, is a first-choice getaway for many of the country's residents. Then get the inside scoop on Rick's "Art of Europe" TV miniseries, which explores the backstories of the continent's greatest artworks. And consider what drives some death-defying athletes to go all-in for "extreme sports."

Two Dutch tour guides help us get the picture on what's new on Amsterdam's eclectic exhibit scene. Then a Blue Badge guide lets us in on where to go in London to see the exciting ways the venerable city is reinventing itself. And a journalist delves into the inexact science of borders and ponders the complicated relationship between physical geography and national identity.

A budget-minded travel blogger shares timely tips for keeping costs down — so that you can keep your travel dreams alive. Then a British journalist with a passion for rail travel enthuses about the special magic of the sleeper train. And an American writer based in Chile tells us what he loves about living in South America.

Celebrate Norwegian roots in America as we mark the 200th anniversary of a major wave of immigration to the US from the Scandinavian nation. Then join an expert of the offbeat as he delves into some of the more curious places and things held dear by people around the world. And listen in as callers share their favorite travel memories of the year behind us. Plus, learn from Scottish tour guides about Edinburgh's lively New Year's Eve traditions of Hogmanay.

Christmas is a little different across the pond — where Santas dwell on farms or in the woods, festively decorated boats stand in for sleighs, and fermented trout is a must-try treat. Learn about holiday traditions observed in France, Norway, Greece, London, the Spanish Basque Country, and small-town Italy, as a slate of Rick's guides share their customs and memories of this festive season.

Hear a Francophile's recommendations for some of the most magnificent religious architecture to explore in Paris. Then vicariously experience a winter solstice ritual from inside an ancient tomb in Ireland, and warm up to the custom that's central to life in Finland: the sauna. Plus, kick off the Christmas season with local holiday traditions from Tallinn, Rome, and Venice.

A Paris-based journalist lets us in on what happens behind closed doors at the city's grandest museum when it shuts to the public each Tuesday. And the last apprentice to be trained in the medieval techniques of masonry in Tuscany reveals how ancient secrets help to turn stone into masterpieces of art and architecture.

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.

Historian Colin Jones has managed to distill centuries of French history into just 250 pages, and he leads us through significant sights from the mighty nation's recent past. Then a veteran BBC correspondent recalls turbulent times in 1980s Afghanistan and the hotel that still stands as a symbol of the country's resilient people. And a photographer from Scotland's Hebrides describes his ongoing quest to capture the moods, light, and breathtaking beauty of his homeland.

One of Rick's favorite Venice tour guides lets us in on changes afoot in Italy's city of dreams. Then the tireless Senior Nomads share lessons from a dozen years on the road as they unpack their suitcases and settle down for good. And a gastronomic guide invites us to dig into the best bites from across the continent.

Guidebook researcher Cameron Hewitt opens our eyes to the history, nature, and genuine welcome that await travelers venturing to the Slavic nations of central and eastern Europe. Then a tour guide from Switzerland explains what compels him to run with the bulls in Pamplona each summer, as he's done for five decades. And listeners chat with Rick about their latest European travel discoveries.

Hear how Gothic literature uses scary stories and the supernatural to explore human nature. Then learn about the origins and traditions of Mexico's annual celebration of departed loved ones. And get a New Orleans tour guide's take on the uniquely spiritual culture of her city as well as some of its most haunted sights.

Learn about the societal roles and everyday lives of the women of Pompeii. Then get recommendations from a Greek tour guide for some islands that should be on your radar for your next visit. And take a walk on the Emerald Isle's weird side with a local collector of all things offbeat, outlandish, and delightfully Irish.

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.

Bestselling author Frances Mayes comes in from the Tuscan sun to tell us about her favorite uncrowded corners of Italy, away from the crush of the country's top tourist destinations. And a certified beer judge explains what makes lager the world's most popular style of the ubiquitous beverage.

A Portugal tour guide describes the scenic and culinary rewards that await visitors to the country's mid-Atlantic island getaways. Then a Scotsman who spent over two decades living on Easter Island takes us behind the mysteries of its famous stone figures and shares what daily life is like in the remote outpost. And a New York linguist reminds us of the benefits of preserving our world's diverse dialects.