Rick Steves

Romantic lakeside dining in Varenna.

Rick Steves’ Europe: Lago di Como: Where Italians honeymoon

It’s one of several beautiful lakes in Italy’s northern Alpine region, a tourism mecca for centuries.

Romantic lakeside dining in Varenna.
As a boy (right), I met an eyewitness (left) to the start of World War I.

Rick Steves’ Europe: Living history enlivens your travels

Seeking out the stories of people to learn and broaden our worldviews is a mark of genuinely good travel.

As a boy (right), I met an eyewitness (left) to the start of World War I.
To explore both the country and the barn, think of the cheese course as a tour of France.

The French restaurant is like ‘a spa for your taste buds’

Rick Steves’ meal costs him about $60. He considers it $20 for nourishment and $40 for three hours of bliss.

To explore both the country and the barn, think of the cheese course as a tour of France.
Évora’s main square.

Rick Steves’ Europe: Finding Esperanza in Portugal’s Evora

the bleak interior of Portugal, where cork seems to be the dominant industry. The rolling hills are… Continue reading

Évora’s main square.
Guzelyurt (which means “beautiful land”) is a Turkish town that has changed little over the centuries.

Turkish town of Guzelyurt literally means ‘beautiful land’

While few visitors would consider it particularly beautiful, that’s how the 3,700 Turks who call it home see it.

Guzelyurt (which means “beautiful land”) is a Turkish town that has changed little over the centuries.
The passeggiata, Italy’s ritual evening promenade.

Rick Steves: In Italy, hand gestures can say as much as words

One of the best ways to observe Italians communicating — and to communicate with them — is to participate in the passeggiata.

The passeggiata, Italy’s ritual evening promenade.
St. Sulpice’s organ, powering worship with music.

Rick Steves’ Europe: Paris’ grand organ rings out on Sundays

Organists from around the world come to Paris just to hear St. Sulpice’s 6,600-pipe organ.

St. Sulpice’s organ, powering worship with music.
The Capuchin Crypt in Rome.

Bone envy: From Paris’ Catacombs to Capuchin Crypt in Rome

In Europe, you’ll find that many of these human skeletons — even long after death — still have something to say.

The Capuchin Crypt in Rome.
The Dolomites, ideal for hiking … or thinking about hiking.

Rick Steves on the Italian Alps and lounging in the Dolomites

Stop at the Alpe di Siusi for quintessential views, easy accessibility, a variety of walks and hikes, and a charming nearby village.

The Dolomites, ideal for hiking … or thinking about hiking.
Yellow lampposts brighten a street in Trebon.

Rick Steves takes a sticky Czech mud bath in Trebon

After the dousing in hot brown peat muck and a massage, it’s off to the bar to drink excellent Czech beer.

Yellow lampposts brighten a street in Trebon.
In Dingle town, when the sun goes down, traditional music fills the pubs.

Ireland’s Dingle Peninsula: The next parish over is Boston

Fishing once dominated the island’s westernmost point, but tourists and movie-makers are well onto the region now.

In Dingle town, when the sun goes down, traditional music fills the pubs.
Coffeeshops in Amsterdam sell marijuana.

Rick Steves’ Europe: Dutch Tolerance: Red lights and pot shops

Amsterdam is a laboratory of progressive living, bottled inside Europe’s finest 17th-century city. Like Venice, this city is a patchwork quilt of elegant architecture and… Continue reading

Coffeeshops in Amsterdam sell marijuana.
The night watchman signals “All’s well.”

Rothenburg’s night watchman a dangerous job in medieval times

The 15th-century German man would sing the ‘all’s well’ tune at the top of the hour through the night.

The night watchman signals “All’s well.”
At cicchetti bars, you can assemble a meal.

Don’t worry about getting lost on a Venice’s cicchetti crawl

Rick Steve’s favorite meal is what he calls “The Stand-Up Progressive Venetian Pub-Crawl Dinner.”

At cicchetti bars, you can assemble a meal.
Mostar and its famous bridge, rebuilt after the war.

Mending bridges in Mostar, a killing zone during ’90s civil war

For Rick Steves, it’s chilling to think that the city’s friendly people were killing each other not so long ago.

Mostar and its famous bridge, rebuilt after the war.
Colmar, a French town with German flair.

Rick Steves on how France and Germany mix it up with Alsace

The hard-fought land on the conflicted border of Europe’s two leading powers is a combination of cultures.

Colmar, a French town with German flair.
Stonehenge, a celestial calendar marking the seasons for 4,000 years.

How Britain’s mysteries inspired Rick Steves to be a travel writer

An experience in 1978 kicked off his fascination with the nation’s countless, inscrutable ancient ruins.

Stonehenge, a celestial calendar marking the seasons for 4,000 years.
The heretic Giordano Bruno stands on the spot where he was burned.

Rick Steves: A perfect cafe and a romantic breeze in Rome

Perhaps the best way to describe this quintessential Roman moment is “bella.”

The heretic Giordano Bruno stands on the spot where he was burned.
Andalucía celebrates life with soul and with passion.

Rick Steves on Andalusians’ twin passions: religion and partying

After dining on the exquisite local cuisine, head outdoors for an all-night revel on the streets.

Andalucía celebrates life with soul and with passion.
A coppersmith in Montepulciano, Italy.

Rick Steves: Support artisans of Europe — before its too late

It’s worth considering how the future will look when economic scale and efficiency trump artisan values.

A coppersmith in Montepulciano, Italy.