Travel with Rick Steves

Adam Gopnik explains why "The Table Comes First in France," and how taking time to eat with joy and appreciation can make every dinnertime into an occasion at your house. Also, guides from Portugal share the highlights of their country's cuisine, from Atlantic seafood, to the hearty stews enjoyed in the mountains.

Hear about why Buenos Aires is one of the world's most popular cities from an American who's made Argentina his home.  Then learn how to fit in with the locals in Spain, where the daily rhythms of life beat differently than they do in the US.  And listeners follow up with Rick about what they've heard in recent episodes of this show.

We'll explore the legacy of the real-life pirates who operated off the Carolina coast in colonial America. Next, a pair of Irishmen clue us in on the various sorts of faery people that some still believe inhabit the Emerald Isle, and we'll learn about the ghost stories of San Francisco.

Get tips for viewing ancient temples, amphitheaters and cities in Greece, Turkey and Egypt through the eyes of the people who lived there long ago. Find out about visiting Tangier on the Moroccan side of the Strait of Gibraltar. We'll also look at vacation options for Turkey's un-touristy Black Sea coast.

In Italy, the journey is always an adventure. Author Tim Parks helps us appreciate how the Italian rail system works, and why it's more than mere transportation. Plus, a pair of tour guides from opposite parts of Italy highlight the differences you'll notice  — and even enjoy — between the north and the south of their country.

Learn about the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia and the serious threats it's facing to its survival. Also, author J Maarten Troost introduces the remote Pacific Island nation of Kiribati and Vanuatu, and we'll learn how people have lived for centuries on a series of coral atolls and on rugged islands that include an active volcano.

Enjoy Stockholm, the Swedish capital, where the locals make it a priority to get outdoors any time of year. We'll also explore the mysteries of the ancient stone circles and prehistoric monuments of England. Hear how taking a sauna is an important part of life in Finland.

Find out how easy it is to cycle almost anywhere in The Netherlands. Also, learn how Paris was a leader in designing attractive plazas and parks that anyone can enjoy like an outdoor living room, whether you live there, or are just planning a visit.

We’ll explore some options for enjoying the climate and culture of Greece — with or without cruise-ship crowds — and get some advice on choosing between Greece’s many islands. We’ll also compare the British and German media with what we’ve come to expect in the US. And listen in as Rick savors the relaxing ritual of taking a coffee break an atmospheric European café.

Hear about how the Bosphorus — the busy shipping canal that separates the European side of Istanbul from Asia — is a sentimental favorite among Turks. We’ll also learn why Croatia’s Adriatic coast tops so many travelers’ “must see” lists, and get inspired to enjoy Impressionist art in and around Paris, where it originated.

Lisa Napoli tells us about the Himalayas and her time helping to start a radio station in Bhutan. Photographer Phil Borges describes how much things have changed on a recent return to rural Tibet and what's threatening its indigenous people.  Also, author Pico Iyer explains the appeal of spending time in some of the world's least likely places for tourism.

Road Food experts Jane and Michael Stern share their favorite comfort food discoveries, including sour cream raisin pie, from road trips across the Midwest. Our panel of European moms returns from France, Sweden and Slovenia to explain how education policies are changing where they live. Also, listeners share fond memories of their travels. 

Hear how you can view ten centuries of architecture along the Coronation Way in Old Town Prague. Find out about the Algarve region of Portugal where the beach, sun and seafood are now the main attraction. Or, try life in an RV the way author Christina Nealson did for five years exploring the back roads of the West.

Find out what's new in Amsterdam, including all the changes at the city's recently renovated art museums. Then hear how Switzerland pulls neighboring European cultures together into a uniquely Swiss identity, and discover the variety of outdoor recreation you can enjoy in Spain, from mountain hiking to ocean kayaking and paddle boarding.

Martin Clunes, star of the Doc Martin TV series, tells us what he discovered while filming a documentary on the far flung outposts and islands that surround Great Britain. Voters in Scotland are considering particular issues as they prepare to vote on whether or not to secede from the United Kingdom. Also, working mothers from Sweden, Slovenia, and France contrast the challenges they face in their countries.