Rick Steves' Europe takes 30,000 Americans through Europe on 1,200 bus tours every year (except this year, of course). It’s a complicated operation with a lot of moving parts — and recently, I enjoyed focusing on one dimension of that vast network: A group that our Tour Operations department simply refers to as “Our Vendors.” Our vendors are the mostly very small businesses that we partner with in Europe to create the Rick Steves tour experience: the carefully chosen guesthouses, small hotels, r

Our new special, Rick Steves' Experiencing Europe, is now available! Join Rick Steves as he shares lessons from a lifetime of European travel so you can learn from his experiences and travel smoother. In this entertaining, information-packed hour, with Europe as your classroom, you’ll learn the essential skills for smart travel from itinerary planning to venturing off the beaten path. Get Rick’s tips on packing light, escaping crowds, avoiding scams and pickpockets, and maximizing your cultural

Season 13 of Rick Steves' Europe kicks off in Reykjavík, a world capital with a small-town feel. In this new episode, we tour the city's endearing sights, get to know the uniquely Icelandic way of life, and take a dip in a thermal pool. Then we side-trip into majestic Icelandic nature: its famous Blue Lagoon; the classic Golden Circle, bubbling geysers, thundering waterfalls, and otherworldly scenery; and Snæfellsnes Peninsula, an "Iceland-in-miniature" loop. Check your local public television s

This week on the Travel with Rick Steves radio show and podcast: The co-author of Rick's Central Europe guidebook and a Ljubljana-based tour guide discuss the charms of Slovenia's laid-back capital. Then a tour guide from Munich shares her insider tips for becoming a temporary Bavarian at Oktoberfest. And a naturalist with a knack for adventure explains why even the creepiest critters deserve a little respect. Find your local station, subscribe to the podcast, or listen online at https://www.ric

This spring, the “Travel with Rick Steves” radio show is celebrating its 20th anniversary! Each week, Rick Steves welcomes guests who bring the far corners of the world into focus, including travel writers like Bill Bryson and Pico Iyer to activists like Arthur Simon and Gloria Steinem—not to mention Rick Steves' Europe tour guides and guidebook researchers. Most of all, though, we’re thrilled to have been joined by you! From Rick and the radio team—Tim, Kas, and Donna—thank you for 20 great yea

Join Rick Steves as he shares the essential skills for smart European travel: itinerary planning, venturing off the beaten path, packing light, avoiding crowds (and thieves), transportation tips, finding hotels and restaurants, and much more. Learn from Rick's experiences — and travel smarter! | Rick Steves' Europe

One of the reasons we travel? To learn. Deepening our understanding of history, art, and culture, we better appreciate those who came before us, and it helps us to better prepare for and contribute to what’s next. In this clip from Rick's "Why We Travel" TV special, we learn how, through travel, we can deepen our understanding of history, gain context and perspective… and become wiser. #RickSteves #KeepOnTravelin #KeepOnTraveling #RickStevesEurope | Rick Steves' Europe