Travel with Rick Steves

Get a fresh look at Cuba and Ireland: Hear from a motorcycle-tour guide about how Americans can now legally visit Cuba, then learn about the sophisticated celestial-based geometry the ancient Celts used to organize their world. Listen in as a pair of Irishmen share a beer and a little banter with Rick for Saint Patrick's Day.

This week, we'll learn about the pre-Inca sites of the northern Peru cloud forest, where the tourist crowds of Cuzco are hundreds of miles away. Also, a radio journalist describes what it was like to be embedded with the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he got to observe the day to day lives of soldiers in the green zone, and guides from Spain explain how the southern region of Andalucía is a soulful home to many of the time-honored traditions of Spain.

Hear about the threats to iconic places in the United States that the World Monuments Fund has added to its latest "watch list" of endangered places. Guides from Wales and Ireland share their favorite highlights of the Irish Sea that unites the Celtic lands of Britain and Ireland. Also, get a wee taste of Irish storytelling prowess.

Meet an urban explorer who tells us why his favorite part of Paris is underground, and how he gets to enjoy a view of the Manhattan skyline from the top of the Brooklyn Bridge. We'll also hear how a street artist brings color and panache to people around the world. Also, soon-to-be travelers ask Rick for advice on upcoming trips to Europe.

Guides from Stockholm and Istanbul recommend getting back to nature in the Swedish countryside, and share tips for enjoying a night on the town in Istanbul and Rick checks in with listeners who have questions on dealing with medical problems while visiting Europe.

Guides from Greece and Egypt share tips for sightseeing the historical highlights of the eastern Mediterranean. Plus, guides from southern Italy and Morocco take listener calls with ideas for exploring the local color of the "instep" of southeast Italy, and for going deep into Morocco.

Learn about a few of the many traditional cheeses that go with the seasons in France. Two authors tell us about the culture shock that comes with marrying a Frenchman and living in Paris. Also, an American clothing designer tells us how he awakened a part of himself, by returning to West Africa, where his parents were born. 

The heroic efforts of Allied troops known as The Monuments Men are about to be depicted in a major motion picture. Hear how the film's co-author and producer was inspired to tell their story, and how the effort to recover important works of art stolen by the Nazis in World War Two continues today as a work in progress. Plus, the star of the Doc Martin TV series tells us what it's like to film the show in a fishing village on the coast of Cornwall.

There's a lot you can understand about Italy by observing how they operate their rail lines. Author and long-time Verona resident Tim Parks lets us in on the Italian way of doing things. Guides from the scenic Amalfi Coast take listener calls and share highlights of their corner of Italy, from Positano to the isle of Capri.

Hear about holiday traditions in Wales, Hungary, Sicily, Scotland, and even Santa Fe where locals have unique ways to light up the season. Hear how scientists at a research station in Antarctica make merry. Plus listeners share some of their favorite Christmas memories from holiday travels.

In the Loire Valley in central France, dozens of historic estates are ready to impress you with everything from elaborate gardens and architecture to authentic displays of medieval hunting and defense techniques. Plus, two guides recommend the sites in Brittany where even the rocks can show you a good time. Also, Leslie Carroll digs up juicy backstories on Europe's ruling families, and their "notorious royal marriages."

Italian food expert Fred Plotkin delves into the local dessert specialties of Italy, and tells us where you can find the best gelato in the entire country. A guide from Sicily advises us how not to upset the "food police" when eating your pasta. Also, we'll get an overview of the dozens of neighborhood food markets you can shop at in Paris.

Hear how J. Maarten Troost found contentment and sobriety, sailing in the wake of Robert Louis Stevenson among the South Sea islands. Journalist Lisa Napoli describes the pressures to modernize and connect with the outside world that are changing the Himalayan country of Bhutan. Also, tour guide Asa Danielsson from Stockholm explains how a strong sense of ethics and fairness shapes the social order in Sweden.

A genuinely "down to earth" astronaut tells us what it's like living and working on the International Space Station. Colonel Cady Coleman explains how zero gravity changes the everyday things you do, and how circling planet Earth every 90-minutes will change your outlook on life. Plus, listeners share tales of their own unforgettable treks and travels, back on mother Earth.

An expert on travel to Cuba explains how their society is changing under Raul Castro's policies, and how Americans can legally get around the embargo on travel to Cuba. Also, we look into the attractions of back-roads touring in Quebec, and hear about Germany's extensive network of hiking trails.

Your travels can open up your taste buds to entirely new adventures. Guides from Paris and the Basque Country in Spain introduce us to their local food traditions. Fred Plotkin serves up another helping of appreciation for the cuisines of Italy, and how to make every bite a celebration, Italian style.

Hear how Terry Tempest Williams found beauty in a broken world in Italy and where you'd least expect it, in Rwanda. Phil Borges tells us what he's learned from photographing indigenous people around the world. Also, Peter Wortsman returns with insights into why he loves the ever-evolving nature of Germany's capital city, Berlin.

Get better acquainted with Southeast Asia and Ireland through the eyes of its artists. We'll explore how understanding the stories behind paintings, and knowing the role of important architectural sites, can help frame your appreciation for anyplace you visit.

The waters of Rome can provide you with a refreshing way to explore the ancient capitol of the world. Hear how sailing the dangerous waters around Canada's Vancouver Island sets the scene for the first of the Dugger mystery novels from Ferenc Máté. Also, we explore getting some serious fresh air and exercise, in the great outdoors of France.

Hear how two travelers immersed themselves in Croatia and its neighbors. Plus, guides from Italy share the highlights of northern Italy, from Milan to Lake Como, and they recommend less-crowded small towns and lakes, where German and Swiss influences add a distinctive texture from the rest of Italy.

Expert guides from southern England chat with Rick and take listener calls about their favorite parts of rural Britain. They'll recommend where to enjoy off-the-beaten-path pastoral landscapes, complete with thatched roof cottages, abbeys and castles, coastal lookouts, and even wild ponies.

Explore sites that pay homage to some of the icons of rock and roll. Get a heartfelt taste of music traditions in Ireland where a homecoming theme invites visitors this year. Also, explore how the Great Plains can get you in touch with Native American and pioneer history, the natural world, and a few curiosities along the way.

See how attending a performance at one of Europe's great concert venues can add to your enjoyment of classical music. A guide from Portugal introduces us to some of the high points away from Lisbon. Also, travel writer Don George shares stories of life-changing food adventures around the world.

France offers visitors a great deal of variety including the vineyards and elegant castles and mansions in the Loire Valley. Hear how the pre-historic stone formations on the hillsides of Brittany provide a link to unknown peoples from long ago.

We'll explore the historical riches of Potsdam, Germany, and we'll hear how Athens, Greece has grown into a visitor-friendly destination, complete with a new Acropolis museum. We'll also get a dispatch from adventure cyclist Willie Weir from his favorite square in Madrid, and we'll open the phones for your nominations for a favorite city to explore.

Get inspired to take a classic American road trip along the Lincoln Trail, from Springfield, Illinois to Gettysburg and the Potomac. We'll also hear about the special travel guide that African-Americans relied on in the mid-20th century to find a welcome on the road. Plus, TV travel host Samantha Brown shares how to enjoy your next long flight overseas.

Rick interviews a guide to the street markets of Paris, where souvenir shopping can be a destination in itself. Hear how the beer in Belgium is so good, it's worth a special trip. Also, learn about the mysteries and history you can find in the caves of Slovenia.

Guides specializing in eastern and central Europe highlight the charms of Kraków, Poznań, Warsaw, and Gdańsk, where the prices can be as friendly as the people. Also, Fred Plotkin explains how this is a really big anniversary year for opera. He recommends performances celebrating the birthdays of Wagner, Verdi, and Benjamin Britten.

Naturalist Terry Tempest Williams tells us why her dedication to the rugged beauty of the Utah wilderness where she lives requires her to speak out on its behalf. Also, a tour guide from Italy describes how he gets away from it all, riding a motorbike across the vast expanses of the Sahara desert in North Africa.

Discover how you can enjoy Mexico and the Netherlands like you're one of the family. The authors of The People's Guide to Mexico recommend how to make your next trip south of the border extra-fun and culturally-rewarding. Also, Rick looks into family-friendly cultural treats that you can enjoy in the Netherlands, including Europe's guilty TV pleasure, the annual Eurovision Song Contest.

Rick learns about tourism in the Palestinian Territories on the West Bank of the Jordan. Also, the host of The Amazing Race, Phil Keoghan, describes how a near-death experience at age 19 convinced him to make his travel fantasies come true. He tells us how leaving "No Opportunity Wasted" can add a lot of memorable adventures to your life.

A lot of Stockholm's charm comes from how much land and waterfront is dedicated to parks and public access. We'll also explore the mysteries of the ancient stone circles and prehistoric monuments of England. In addition, we'll hear how taking a sauna is an important part of life in Finland.

Five years in France showed Adam Gopnik and his family why the rituals associated with mealtime are often as important to the French as their recipes. Also, two guides from Portugal share the highlights of their country’s cuisine from Atlantic seafood, to the hearty dishes enjoyed in the inland mountains.

Moses Gates is an urban explorer who tells us why his favorite part of Paris is underground, and how he gets to enjoy his favorite view of the Manhattan skyline from the top of the Brooklyn Bridge. Street artist, Nicolina, brings color and panache to people around the world. Also, soon-to-be travelers ask Rick for advice on upcoming trips to Europe.

Travel writer Jeff Greenwald makes a point to return to Nepal every year and describes how long-held customs are challenged by modern pressures and political turmoil. He also points out what’s timeless about the Himalayan culture that draws him back year after year. Also, we take a close-up look at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome to understand what went into making it the most impressive church in the world with tips for making it a high point of your life's travels.

An expert who advises American travelers on how to best use the passenger rail lines in Europe offers tips for when rail passes are a bargain, and how they work. Also, Jane and Michael Stern discuss trends in hometown "comfort food" restaurants in America, including a few eateries where the local atmosphere made their day. Also, listeners check in with travel reports on what made their trips extra-special when they visited France, Spain, Poland, and Italy.