Rick Steves

Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public TV and radio, and organizes European tours. This article was adapted from his new book, For the Love of Europe. You can email Rick at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook. ©2026 Rick Steves. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Rick Steves’ Europe: Tips for Beating the Heat in Europe

Visit the cooler destinations during the summer months and save the hot destinations for winter months.

Travel June 2, 2026
Rick Steves’ Europe: A Taste of Wales in Spunky Cardiff

Most travelers planning a trip to Britain don’t realize you can hop a train in London and, in ...

Travel May 26, 2026
Rick Steves’ Europe: Natural Poetry in Italy’s Lakes District

Though just an hour north of Milan, Italy's Lake District feels a world away from the business and ...

Travel May 19, 2026
Rick Steves’ Europe: Europe’s Animal Shows and Experiences

Throughout Europe, you’ll find vivid and memorable animal demonstrations and experiences.

Travel May 12, 2026
Belgian Cuisine: The Sweet, the Savory, and the Sudsy

Wedged between Germany, France, and the Netherlands, Belgium often gets lost in the mix.

Travel May 6, 2026
Lyon Brings Memorable Bites—but No Taste of Mass Tourism

Lyon provides an elegant French urban scene—all with no hint of crass tourism.

Travel April 28, 2026
Europe’s Love for Soccer—and the World Cup

For most of the globe, the World Cup is as big as it gets—and Europe is no different.

Travel April 21, 2026
Lake Bled: Exploring Slovenia’s Romantic Alpine Retreat

No visit to Lake Bled is complete without a trip to its steeple-capped island, which nudges the lake's ...

Travel April 14, 2026
Tracing History, Heritage, and Hardship at Europe’s Emigration Museums

Europe has many excellent 'Ellis Islands in reverse'—museums at the places where millions said goodbye to the land ...

Travel April 7, 2026
Rick Steves’ Europe: Remembering Easter in Italy

It’s impressive to me that, even in the 21st century, sacred traditions—rich with symbolism—still thrive in Europe’s more ...

Travel April 1, 2026
Rick Steves’ Europe: Stopping Over in Iceland

If you thrill to the idea of an Iceland stopover, consider this whirlwind itinerary.

Travel March 26, 2026
Rick Steves’ Europe: Finding Serendipity in Romania’s Countryside

In Romania, you'll find that rather than famous sights, it's the happy and unpredictable serendipity that leaves you ...

Travel March 10, 2026
Rick Steves’ Europe: Hill Town-Hopping in Andalucía

With a string of whitewashed hill towns, sunny skies, vibrant festivals, and tempting tapas, Andalucía is the soul ...

Travel March 3, 2026
For Your Trip: Oxford or Cambridge?

Cambridge and Oxford have been in a centuries-long competition as England’s top two universities.

Travel February 24, 2026
Rick Steves’ Europe: Visiting Germany’s Lutherland

See the spaces where Martin Luther made his imprint in history.

Travel February 17, 2026
Sweden Beyond Stockholm: Exploring Glass Country

You can’t say you’ve seen Sweden if you’ve only been to Stockholm.

Travel February 10, 2026
Strasbourg: City of Bicultural Streets

With delightful big-city energy and a name that means “city of streets,” Strasbourg is the ultimate crossroads.

Travel February 3, 2026
Rick Steves’ Europe: Ireland’s Tidy Towns of Kinsale, Kenmare, and Dingle

There’s something delightful about small-town Ireland, where the people’s connection to their heritage and to their town is ...

Travel January 27, 2026
Rick Steves’ Europe: Thought-Provoking Sights at Europe’s Great Universities

In Europe, universities can be essential sightseeing, as some are home to great architectural, artistic, and cultural treasures.

Travel January 20, 2026
Rick Steves’ Europe: Car-Free and Care-Free on Hydra

This is the kind of place that makes you want to buy a bottle of ouzo and toss ...

Travel January 13, 2026
Rick Steves’ Europe: Falling in Love With the Matterhorn

Zermatt is a tiny-but-touristy town of roughly 6,000 people nestled at the dead-end of a long valley in ...

Travel January 6, 2026
Rick Steves’ Europe: Edinburgh’s Royal Mile

As Edinburgh grew, it spilled downhill along the sloping ridge that became the Royal Mile.

Travel December 30, 2025
Epiphany in Europe: Stretching the Season

Advent (stretching four Sundays before Christmas) starts things off, as people begin to anticipate the arrival (or advent) ...

Travel December 23, 2025
Rick Steves’ Europe: Celebrating Christmas in Germany

Bavaria and Tirol—two traditional regions of Germany and Austria—are rich in Christmas traditions.

Travel December 16, 2025
Tivoli: For 2,000 Years, Rome’s Great Escape

Tivoli has been a popular retreat since ancient times.

Travel December 9, 2025
Rick Steves’ Europe: Oslo, Where Norway’s Nature, History, and Culture Mix It Up

A local once explained that Oslo is nicknamed “Tiger City.”

Travel December 2, 2025
Rick Steves’ Europe: The Sips and Sounds of a Greek Taverna

When Greeks really want to show hospitality, the drinking shifts from ouzo to its wilder cousin, tsipouro.

Travel November 25, 2025