Travel with Rick Steves

We'll take an audio stroll along the bustling banks of the Danube as it flows through the scenic heart of Budapest. Then we'll hear from some Brits about what motivated them to vote for or against leaving the European Union, and about what makes them fearful — or optimistic — for the years ahead.

A Sicilian tour guide lays out the essentials for exploring his distinctive sun-drenched island. Then a prominent Italian archaeologist discusses Venice's population decline, which continues even as crowds of tourists and cruise-ship passengers overwhelm Italy's most beloved city. And we'll get all the gritty details on the side of 18th-century Venice described so vividly by that infamous libertine, Casanova.

Discover the rewards of being a "road-trip pilgrim," as explained by author Dan Austin. Then journalist Elizabeth Becker describes how China's mandatory Golden Week holidays have boosted the worldwide travel industry, and how China's investments in tourism are paying off. And a panel of Europeans discuss how the recent rise of populist politics is playing out across the European Union.

British author Tim Parks explains why the Italian rail system, which he depends on daily, means more to him than a mere means of transportation. Then a pair of tour guides from opposite ends of Italy highlight the regional differences that make travel in Italy such an enjoyable study in contrasts.

Travel writer Dave Fox discusses everyday life as an American in Saigon, then British actor David Suchet explains why this year's 500-year anniversary of the Protestant Reformation is so important — and why London is the world's best city for theater. Plus, listeners get Rick's advice for making the most of their European travel plans for 2017.

Two Americans who've made their living in Cuba shed light on the influence Americans have there, then author Ken Ilgunas describes the 1700-mile trek he made on foot from Alberta to Texas in hopes of getting a local perspective on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.

Learn how eating like a Greek could be an ideal way to improve your diet in the new year. Then listen in as consumer-travel advocate Christopher Elliott explains why travel insurance isn't always a good deal, and author Patricia Schultz recommends a thousand places you should plan to see in the US, plus her top picks for places to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday.

Authors David Sedaris and Patricia Schultz encourage making travel plans in the new year. Chris Santella recommends getting outdoors for an adrenaline kick heli-skiing in Alaska or a civilized game of golf on the coast of Ireland. Plus, Nate Johnson stirs up our curiosity about urban wildlife from the birds we take for granted to the plants we never noticed.

Friends from Madrid, Rome, London, and Lisbon tell us how they celebrate the yuletide holidays. We'll also hear about small-town festivities in Holland, Austria, Northern Ireland, and Bulgaria.

Writers Jane and Michael Stern discuss wintertime comfort food served in America's roadside restaurants, then food and 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 we'll hear how locals get into the Christmas spirit in Prague.

Montreal-based authors of "The Bonjour Effect" discuss the unwritten rules of conversation in France, and the communication hurdles visitors face — even those who speak perfect French. Then reporter Peter Costantini shares updates from Nicaragua, where he's been investigating problems behind the country's bid to build a canal to rival Panama's.

Get into the holiday spirit by hearing about Germany's many outdoor Christmas markets, then listen in as Rick's son Andy Steves describes what kind of low-cost weekend adventures young travelers are looking for in Europe. Plus, find out why Seoul's nightlife and pop culture are attracting a worldwide crowd to South Korea, and experience the "hard sell" at a street market in Cairo.

Learn about how Roman and prehistoric worlds are within reach just beneath Britain's surface. Then hear Commander Chris Hadfield describe what he's captured in his photos of our planet, taken from 250 miles away. And listeners share highlights of their travels in Israel and Palestine.

Two tour guides from Budapest tell us about Hungary's spicy culinary traditions, then author Marjorie R. Williams shares tips for finding exceptional seasonal produce — and great souvenirs — in the south of France. And policy analyst David Rieff joins Rick to discuss which efforts are proving the most effective in the push to reduce hunger and malnutrition around the world.

A leading international expert on terrorism, Loretta Napoleoni, tells us what she's learned about ISIS and their battlegrounds in the Middle East. Also, retired war reporter Martin Fletcher discusses his novel about what might have happened differently in Bosnia in the 1990s.

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.

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. Then a pair of Irishmen clue us in to the lore of the "faery people," who some still believe inhabit the Emerald Isle. And we'll learn about ghost sightings in San Francisco, and the stories that come with them.

One of Australia's leading actors tells us what it means to explore the post-war 1950s and what she loves best about living in Sydney today. Also, a transcontinental pilot returns to further explore the marvels of jet travel. Plus, tour guides from Berlin explain why Germans love a good sausage no matter the time of day.

Celebrate Spain's National Day with us as we learn about recent improvements to the country's high-speed passenger trains and freeways, then listen in as tour guides from Madrid, Sevilla, and Navarre answer questions and recommend memorable side trips from the capital. And hear why, in the south of Spain, it always feels like there's a party breaking out just around the corner.

Learn how tourism as we know it was invented by middle-class, Victorian-era English travelers seeking a pleasure trip in the Swiss Alps. Then listen in as a painter describes how peering into the eyes of savanna wildlife on an "artist's safari" deepened his appreciation for Africa's creatures. And join us as we examine the emotional benefits of travel, which start even before you've left home — and last well after you return.

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 after it was built, and learn about the courageous subjects of filmmaker Holly Morris' "Adventure Divas" documentary series.

A tour guide from Sofia discusses how Bulgaria's changed since it joined the EU, professional foodie Fred Plotkin explains why coffee varies across Europe, and writer Elaine Sciolino reveals what she learned about the public and private sides of Iran since living in Tehran as a New York Times correspondent. Plus, hear why patron saints are so important to Italian culture.

Hear how author Terry Tempest Williams finds beauty in a broken world through the people she's met in her travels to Italy and Rwanda. Also, Phil Borges reveals what he's learned from photographing indigenous people around the world, and playwright Peter Wortsman tells us why he loves the ever-evolving nature of Berlin.

Rick interviews ecologist Chris Morgan who says that saving the habitat for bears can save the planet for the rest of us. Get a taste of what wildlife photographer Marty Essen encountered from the Arctic Refuge to the Florida Everglades. Author Juan Villoro explains why soccer is as important as religion and shares an insider's perspective on life in today's Mexico City.

Learn why the Great Barrier Reef — one of Earth's greatest natural wonders — is facing serious threats to its survival. Then author J. Maarten Troost introduces us to the remote Pacific island nations of Kiribati and Vanuatu, whose people have lived for centuries on a series of coral atolls and rugged volcanic islands. And we'll get a first-hand report on traditional life in Papua New Guinea.

Rick shares notes on visiting Havana with Cuban travel expert Christopher P. Baker, then filmmaker Ken Burns discusses his documentary series celebrating the National Park Service's centennial. And Smithsonian historian Brent D. Glass recommends places to visit that make American history really come alive. 

As Ireland gears up for another All-Ireland Championship, find out how Gaelic sports reflect a distinctly Irish identity. Hear what it's like for an American travel writer to live in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Also, listeners recall some of their favorite travel memories from Ireland, Italy, Croatia, and Montenegro.

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.

Learn about the best places to visit in Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic to get a feel for what Communist-era life was like behind the Iron Curtain, now a quarter century in the past. Join us as we explore the allure of a flatlands road trip, where the unobstructed view makes the sky seem closer. And hear what kind of cross-cultural issues emerge when Europeans marry Americans.

Actress Joanna Lumley details her trip of a lifetime: a 4,000-mile trek up the Nile River all the way to its source, the swampy highlands of Rwanda. We'll hear how the river's personality varies over its course — past Cairo and Luxor, through Sudan and Lake Victoria — and about the sights she saw and people she met along the way. Plus, listeners share surprises they encountered on their own memorable adventures around the world.

Learn about the important role lighthouses played in the 19th century, and which are the most interesting to visit in the US and France. Then hear a tour guide from Wales explain the pride that comes from belonging to this distinctive corner of Great Britain, with its own language and traditions. And listen in as Rick visits England's Stanway House estate, a somewhat eccentric version of Downton Abbey that opens for visitors in the summer. 

Historian David McCullough introduces us to some of the most influential "Americans in Paris" of the 19th century, who returned home to apply the lessons they’d learned in the City of Light — thereby helping transform a young United States. Also, tour guides from France celebrate Bastille Day with us, and New York Times correspondent Elaine Sciolino tells us what makes her own neighborhood in Paris feel like home.

Art-history scholar and tour guide Anna Piperato tells us how Siena’s high-spirited Palio horse race is a high point of the Tuscan summertime. Then author Richard Grant shares road-trip recommendations for a blues-inspired pilgrimage to the Mississippi Delta, and historian Erika Lee discusses how newcomers from Asia are making an impact on the US.  

NPR correspondent Eric Weiner tells us why Canada's one of his favorite summer road-trip destinations. Then author Simon Winchester discusses the growing importance of the Pacific Rim nations, and why the Chinese navy is making some of its neighbors nervous. And tour guides from Slovenia share tips for planning a relaxing getaway to their small country "on the sunny side of the Alps."

Explore the heritage of the South Carolina Low Country, home to resorts, historical centers, and plenty of rice and seafood. Discover how you can stay high in the Andes with an indigenous family, right on the lake where Incas believe life began. Learn how Latinos in the United States are gaining influence — and what politicians need to understand to earn their vote.

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 of 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 Padova, located just half an hour from the crowds of Venice, and home to one of Europe's oldest universities.

The producer of "Bear Trek" talks about the bears and wolves that still live in Romania, Scotland, and the Alps, and discusses efforts to "re-wild" the open spaces of Europe. Then tour guides take calls to help listeners plan summer vacations to far-flung corners of Greece and France.

Author Paul Theroux shares the insights he gleaned about America from the people he met in the small towns and backroads of the Deep South. Then history professor Mark D. Van Ells returns with more suggestions for visiting places that honor the sacrifices of Allied troops in World War I.

Tour guides from Paris and the Spanish Basque Country share recommendations for enjoying their local cuisine, and food writer Fred Plotkin helps us appreciate the culinary traditions of Italy, where every bite can be a celebration.

Get an inside look at the mostly friendly rivalries between Sweden and Norway. Then hear from a family midway through their epic drive across North America, who stop by to share tips for making a long road trip fun for everyone. And listen in as we explore Australia's urbanized east coast and venture into the rural heart of the country-music scene Down Under.

Find out how Berlin uses its monuments to teach new generations to remember the city's turbulent history. Then get insider tips for planning a getaway to Spain, and learn about the rural "sagre" festivals celebrated in the Italian countryside.

Hear about some of the customs that Greeks observe in the days leading up to Orthodox Easter. Then British tour guides recommend places to visit in the north and east of England that do well to lift travelers' spirits. And meet Juan Villoro, one of Mexico's most respected writers, who tells us how Mexicans view their country's current issues, and their relationship with the US.

Find out about a group of grandmothers who are defying the odds by living in Chernobyl. Then learn how environmental problems in India are making us rethink how we tackle the challenges of climate change while feeding a growing population. And hear how one woman retraced the journey her grandfather once took in order to survive the Armenian genocide.

Hear how you can view 10 centuries of architecture when you walk along the Coronation Way in Old Town Prague. Then learn about Portugal's sunny Algarve coast, once believed to be the end of the world. And perhaps get inspired to try life on the road by author Christina Nealson, who describes her RV-fueled explorations of the back roads of the American West.

An expert updates Rick Steves on the practicalities of American travel to Cuba and how increased demand is affecting tourism there. Also, screenwriter Kim MacQuarrie tells us about the notorious bandits and revolutionaries whose lives he researched in South America and whose larger-than-life legacies still resonate in the Andes.

Adventure traveler Hilary Bradt tells us why Madagascar is her favorite place in the world to explore. Then guides from Scotland share sightseeing advice for Edinburgh, with tips for day trips into the Scottish countryside. And historian David McCullough tells us how in-person visits to America's historical sites has influenced his writing and enriched his life.

Hear why patron saints are so important to Siena, then get tips from guides in Rome for navigating the crowds during the Vatican's 2016 Jubilee Year observance. And listen in as author Miles J. Unger explains how the masterpieces of Michelangelo can take us into his Renaissance world.

Hear what two Americans learned about a different way of life after immersing themselves in everyday life in the Balkans, including Croatia. Then listen in as we explore the highlights of northern Italy, from Milan and Lake Como to small Alpine towns where Germanic influences add an intriguingly un-Italian touch.

Linguist Gaston Dorren tells us how languages reveal the personalities and history of the lands in which we travel. We'll also learn how the once-banned Irish language has reclaimed its role at the heart of Irish identity, then listen in as guides from Ireland help travelers prepare for their next trips to the Emerald Isle.

Journalist and epidemiologist Elizabeth Pisani tells us how easy it is to connect with people while traveling in Indonesia — a surprising, engaging nation of more than 13,000 islands. We'll also hear about how Europe's refugee situation is being viewed in France, Germany, and Italy. And we'll catch up on current issues for debate among Spaniards, who continue to grapple with immigration demand while trying to rebuild a struggling economy.