Rick’s Travel Articles
Learn about dozens of destinations in Europe — and beyond — from Rick's weekly travel column and other articles.
Across Europe
- 10 Great Seaside Bars
- 10 Tips for Traveling as a Political Act
- Affordable Europe
- Andorra: Not Lost in the Pyrenees
- Artisan Europe
- The Beauty of Spontaneous Travel
- Behind the Camera on a European TV Shoot
- The Best and Worst of Europe
- Best Places for Kidding Around in Europe
- Biking in Europe's Boonies
- Boning Up on Europe
- Booking It Through Europe: Top Literary Stops
- Carnival: Europe's Wild Rites of Spring
- Child's Play in Europe
- Christmas in Europe
- A Classical Way to See Europe
- Cold in Kyoto and Other Hot Topics
- Collecting Cultural Souvenirs in Europe
- Comfort and Company in Europe's Cafés and Pubs
- Confessions of a Guidebook Writer
- Cruising the Mediterranean on a Budget
- Cruising the Northern European Seas
- Cruising Through the Back Door?
- Culture Shock and Wiggle Room
- Easter in Europe
- Eat, View, Save: Scenic Dining in Europe
- Eating Well in Europe
- Eccentric Europe: Offbeat but On-Target Sights
- Embracing Europe's High-Quality Heritage
- Embracing Europe in Winter
- Encountering Europe's Living History, Face-to-Face
- Engaging Experts Enrich European Experiences
- Enjoying Europe's World-Apart Escapes
- Epiphany in Europe: Sweetness to Share
- Europe Distilled: From Bottled Moonshine to Sunshine
- Europe for the Physically Active Traveler
- Europe in Bloom
- Europe in the Fast Lane
- European Beer Basics
- European Sweet Treats
- Europe's Best Border-Busting Day Trips
- Europe's Best Island Getaways
- Europe's Convents Offer Tranquility — and Treats
- Europe's Crazy Rich Royals and Their Lavish Retreats
- Europe's Emigration Museums: Remembering the Long Goodbye
- Europe's Great Walled Towns
- Europe's Jewish Quarters
- Europe's Oddball Museums Broaden Perspectives
- Europe Shines on Summer Evenings
- Europe's Timeless Traditions: Four Favorites
- Europe's Wall-to-Wall History
- Europe's Wide World of Traditional Sports
- Everyday Europe: Turning Travel Chores into Cultural Gems
- Exploring Europe's Natural Wonders
- Fatal Attraction: Europe's Top Cemeteries
- Feel the Spirit at Europe’s Pilgrimage Sites
- Finding 'Back Doors' in Today's Europe
- Finding Great Art in Europe's Smaller Museums
- Finding Peace in Europe's Overlooked Sights
- First Trip to Europe? What to Expect
- Food Tours: Europe's Moveable Feasts
- Formerly Communist Europe: From Surviving to Thriving
- Go Outside When You're Inside Europe
- Go Underground to Shine a Light on Europe's Past
- Going to the Dogs (and Other Animals) in Europe
- Having Fun with Travel Clichés
- How Travel Pried Open My Hometown Blinders
- In Europe Say Cheese
- In Europe, Shop for Memories (Not Stuff)
- In Studio: Roaming the Homes of Europe's Top Artists
- John Paul II Sights: Visiting the World of a Modern-Day Saint
- Journeys to the Ends of Europe
- The Joy of a First-Time Mediterranean Cruise
- Lesser-Known Bones: Europe’s Offbeat Crypts and Cemeteries
- Little, Little Liechtenstein
- Magic Moments in Europe
- Making Europe's Art Treasures Come Alive
- Making the Most of Your European Cruise
- Malta: A Citadel of Many Cultures in the Middle of the Mediterranean
- A Matter of Taste: Europeans on American Food
- More on Offbeat Europe
- Musical Bridges to European Culture
- My Favorite Beach Hideaways
- Navigating European Airports
- Offbeat Europe
- Open Doors to the Past: Visiting Europe's Time-Warp Homes
- Park Picks: Favorite Green Getaways in Paris, London, and Barcelona
- Peak Experiences in Alpine Europe
- The Plague That Shook Medieval Europe
- Pomp and Consequence: Visiting Europe's 20th-Century Fascist Sites
- Preserving the Past at Europe's Folk Museums
- The Pros and Cons of Cruising in Europe
- Rambling Through the Ruins of Europe's Castles
- Romantic Europe: Places in the Heart
- Scenery Out the Window: Three of Europe's Most Spectacular Journeys
- Sightseeing at Dawn
- Sightseeing Skills for the Ancient World
- Soaking It Up in Europe's Best Spas
- Sobering Sites of Nazi Europe
- Souvenir Shopping in Europe? Lighten Up
- Strange Food: Europe's Offbeat Delicacies
- Sunset Boulevards: Europe's Top Evening Views
- Take the Stairs for Europe's Most Insightful Views
- Taking Your Taste Buds on a European Tour
- Three Flags Over Europe
- Thrill-Seeking in Europe
- Thriving in Europe's Most Expensive Cities
- Time Traveling at Europe's Open-Air Museums
- Top 10 European Tourist Traps
- Top Travel Mistakes — and How to Avoid Them
- Torture Museums in Europe
- Traveling Against the Crowd in Europe
- Turning European Meals into Memories
- The Ugly Tourist (and How Not to Be One)
- Visiting Europe's Great Libraries
- Visiting Europe's Top University Sights
- War Rooms: Europe's Military Museums
- When to Splurge in Europe
- When in Europe, Succumb to Soccer Fever
- The Zen of Travel Journaling
Austria
Planning
- Austria: Recommended Itinerary
- Austria Rail Passes and Train Tips
- Austria: Recommended Books and Movies
- Guidebook Updates for Austria
- Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in Austria
- When to Go to Austria
Danube Valley
Hallstatt
Salzburg
Tirol
Vienna
- Café Chitchat and Chocolate Cake: Sensing the Soul of Vienna
- The Habsburg Splendor of Vienna
- My Favorite Vienna
- Sunday Morning, Vienna-Style
- Tasting High Culture in Vienna
- Touched by History: Meeting a Witness to WWI Assassination
- Vibrant Vienna: Thematic Sights Make It a Class Act
- Vienna's Monument Against War and Fascism
Belgium
- Artsy, Urban Antwerp
- Belgian Beer Basics
- Belgium's Incredible Edibles
- Bruges: Pickled in Gothic
- Brussels: Where Political Power Meets Good Living
- Brussels: The Would-Be Capital of Europe
- Tips for Chocoholics in Brussels and Bruges
- Underappreciated Belgium Packs Plenty of Surprises
- A Walk Through Ghent
Planning
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
- Croatia's Coastal Delights
- Croatia's Past Lives on in Modern-Day Split
- Croatia's Stunning Plitvice Lakes
- Idyllic Istria
- Wandering Dubrovnik's City Walls
Planning
Czech Republic
- The Cobbled Charms of Český Krumlov
- Czech Byways: A Visit to Třeboň and Třebíč
- Czeching Out Prague's Top Day Trips
- Europe's Overlooked Roma People
- History Lives On in Prague's Castle Quarter
- Olomouc Layers Communist Heritage with Czech Charm and Cheese
- Sobering Sites of Nazi Europe
- Taking a Break in Everyday Prague
- A Walk Across Prague
- Yellow Lampposts and Czech Fly Paper
Planning
Denmark
- Aarhus: Denmark's Second City
- An Ærø-Dynamic Danish Bike Ride
- Cathedrals, Vikings, and Castles: A Perfect Day Trip from Copenhagen
- Copenhagen's Christiania: No Cars, Corporations, or 'Dead Fish'
- Denmark: Cute, Costly, Contented
- The Easy Streets of Copenhagen
- Walking with Hans Christian Andersen
- Wrecks, Rafts, and Replicas: Scandinavia's Remarkable Maritime Museums
Planning
England
- Celebrating a Happy Christmas in England
- England's Castles and Manors Have a Story to Tell
- Go Left, Young Man: Driving in Great Britain and Ireland
- Harry Potter Filming Locations in Britain
- In Britain, the Kids Are Alright
- The King's English: Brilliant and Baffling
- O'er the Ramparts: Castles in Great Britain
- Offbeat Britain
- Pondering Britain's Stone Circles
Bath & Nearby
- Anglican Ritual, Snuff, and Meatloaf in Bath
- Bath's Easy Urban Delights
- Bristol: Suddenly Sassy
- Glastonbury and Wells: England's Mythic Market Towns
Cotswolds, Oxford & Stratford
- Finding the Quirkier Side of the Cotswolds
- England's Cute and Cozy Cotswolds
- Oxford vs. Cambridge: England's Rival College Towns
- Playing Around in Shakespeare's Stratford
Northern England
- Blackpool: Britain's Coney Island
- From Walls to Islands, Northern England's Past Comes Alive
- Great Scares in Great Britain
- Nature Rules in England's Lake District
- York: A Time Travel Experience into Old England
- York's Magnificent Minster
London
- Beachcombing in London
- Budget Tips for Enjoying London
- Evenings in London: Something for Everyone
- Inside Westminster Abbey, the Religious Heart of England
- Kidding Around London and Paris
- London: Britain's Pub Hub
- London Looks East to the Future
- Park Picks: Favorite Green Getaways in Paris, London, and Barcelona
- Southwark Sights: Offbeat Stops Along London's South Bank
- Taming London in a Week
- Winter in London: Chilly Weather, Warm Memories
Southern England Beyond London
- Brighton and the South Downs: Fun, Sun, and Chalky Walks
- Oxford vs. Cambridge: England's Rival College Towns
- Rugged, Quaint Cornwall
- Salty and Modern Portsmouth
Planning
- England: Recommended Books and Movies
- England: Recommended Itinerary
- Great Britain Rail Passes and Train Tips
- Great Britain: Recommended Itinerary
- Guidebook Updates for England
- London: Recommended Books and Movies
- London: Recommended Itinerary
- Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in England
- When to Go to Great Britain
Estonia
Planning
Finland
- The Highlights of Happening Helsinki
- Living It Up on the Stockholm–Helsinki Overnight Boat
- A Sauna in Helsinki: 'I wash you twice. Relax'
Planning
France
- Bastille Day: France's Party for the People
- Christmas in France
- Eating in France
- France for First Timers
- France's Enduring Gothic Cathedrals
- France's Serene Abbeys
- Market Day in France: Shop, Savor, Slow Down
- A Picasso Pilgrimage
- Sobering Sites of Nazi Europe
- A Three-Hour Joyride in a French Restaurant
- Understanding French Culture
Alsace
Burgundy
Dordogne
- France's Dordogne: Caves, Canoes, and Culture
- Go Underground to Shine a Light on Europe's Past
- Oradour-sur-Glane, France's Ghost-Town Memorial to a WWII Massacre
- Well-Fed Geese in France's Dordogne
French Alps
French Basque Country
French Riviera
- Basking in the French Riviera's Lively, Luminous Art
- Europe's Top Chagall Sights
- The French Riviera: Beyond the Beaches
- Nice: Laid-Back Capital of the French Riviera
- Savoring Joie de Vivre on the French Riviera
Languedoc-Roussillon
- Charming Collioure: A Splash of Catalan Culture in France
- Europe's Great Walled Towns
- Languedoc: France's Hidden Corner
- Roman Treasures in Nîmes
Loire
- Amboise's Loire Delights and Leonardo da Vinci Sights
- Chartres Cathedral: The Age of Faith in Stone and Stained Glass
- France's Loire: Valley of a Thousand Châteaux
Lyon
Normandy & Brittany
- Doing Brittany's Dinan
- France's D-Day Beaches: A Powerful Memorial
- Savoring Normandy's Hospitality
- Stunning Mont St-Michel Inspires
- Utah, France: Visiting the Other American D-Day Beach
Paris
- The Artistic Draw of France
- The Back Streets of Bohemian Montmartre
- Circling in on Paris' Arc de Triomphe
- The Eiffel Tower: Top Tips for Visitors
- Finding Village Charm Along Paris' Market Streets
- How to Picnic Shop Like a Parisian
- Kidding Around London and Paris
- Learning Le Métro: Basic Tips for Paris' Underground Arteries
- Lessons from a Paris Wine-Tasting
- A Look at the 'Victory of Samothrace'…and How Turkey Gave France the Finger
- Monet's Gardens in Giverny
- Paris: A Playground for the Imagination
- Paris' Riverside Bouquinistes
- Paris When It Sizzles
- Park Picks: Favorite Green Getaways in Paris, London, and Barcelona
- Powerful Music in Paris' St. Sulpice
- Promenading on Paris' Champs-Elysées
- A Romantic Afternoon in Paris
- A Royal Treat: Château-Hopping near Paris
- Shopping Parisian-Style
- Ten Tips for a Very Parisian Christmas
- Tracking Napoleon's Rise and Fall in Paris
- Winter in Paris: A Cool Time to Go Local
Provence
- Avignon: A Medieval Town with a Youthful Attitude
- Hill Towns of the Luberon
- The Magic of Aix-en-Provence
- Picnicking in Provence
- Seeing Provence Through Van Gogh's Eyes
- Tasting the Wines of Provence
- Tips for R&R in a Rural Rental
- Under the Roman Sun in Provence
Reims & Verdun
Planning
- France Rail Passes and Train Tips
- France: Recommended Books and Movies
- France: Recommended Itinerary
- Guidebook Updates for France
- Paris: When to Go
- Paris: Recommended Books and Movies
- Planning Your Time in Paris
- Provence & the French Riviera Itinerary
- Provence & the French Riviera: Recommended Books and Movies
- Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in France
- When to Go to France
Germany
Planning
- Germany Rail Passes and Train Tips
- Germany: Recommended Books and Movies
- Germany: Recommended Itinerary
- Guidebook Updates for Germany
- Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in Germany
- When to Go to Germany
Bavaria
- The Bavarian Background of Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest
- Become a Bavarian at Oktoberfest
- The Castles of Mad King Ludwig II
- The Character — and Characters — of Rothenburg
- Cobbles and Castles in the Bavarian Alps
- Dachau and a 'Grüss Gott' Shop
- Germany's Fairy-Tale Dream Town: Rothenburg
- Munich: Germany's Biggest Village
- Munich Madness: Oktoberfest and Beer Halls
- Munich's Revival
- Neuschwanstein and Ehrenberg: A Tale of Two Castles
- Nürnberg's Christmas Market: Nutcracker Sweet
- Pondering German History in Nürnberg
- Rising to the Top of Germany at the Zugspitze
- Wunderbares Würzburg
Berlin
- Berlin Escapes: Three Easy Day Trips
- Berlin in the 21st Century
- Berlin Looks to the Future, Remembers Its Past
- Berlin Then and Now
- In Search of Communist Berlin
- Seeing History Unfold at Berlin's Reichstag
- Unter den Linden: Berlin's Grand Boulevard
Black Forest
- Discovering the Romance of Germany's Black Forest
- Naked and Relaxed in Baden-Baden
- Taking Time to Unwind in the Black Forest
Dresden, Leipzig & Lutherland
- Erfurt: Simple, Unspoiled Germany
- Great Sights and New Insights in Dresden
- Leipzig: How One City Tore Down the Iron Curtain
- Vibrant, Historic Dresden Is Worth a Detour
- Visiting Germany's Lutherland
Frankfurt
Hamburg
Rhine & Mosel Valleys
- Cologne: Germany's Mix of Perfume, Chocolate — and God
- Germany's Tranquil, Romantic Mosel Valley
- Historic Trier on the Mosel River
- Memories of War in Bacharach
- The Rhine River: Raging with History
- Scenery Out the Window: Three of Europe's Most Spectacular Journeys
- A Turret-Studded Meander Along the Rhine
Greece
Athens
- Athens: Enhancing the Old with the New
- History Comes Alive in Modern Athens
- Sampling Athens' Spicier Sectors
Delphi
Greek Islands
- Crete's Samaria Gorge
- Finding Peace Among the Crowds on Mykonos
- Greek Island-Hopping Basics
- Hydra: Greece's Carfree Island Idyll
- My Favorite Beach Hideaways
- Santorini: Behind the Beauty
Peloponnese
- Exploring Greece's Ancient Past: Delphi, Epidavros, and Mycenae
- The Peloponnese: Greece's Unspoiled Escape
Planning
Hungary
- Budapest: City of Paradox
- Enjoying the Bohemian Vibe of Budapest's Ruin Pubs
- Enchanting Eger
- Europe's Overlooked Roma People
- Soak in Opulence at Budapest's Thermal Baths
Planning
Iceland
- 10 Ways Iceland Can Kill You
- Iceland: A Hot Destination
- Iceland in 24 Hours
- Iceland's Steamiest Geothermal Sights
- Iceland's Volcanoes
- Experiencing Iceland's Raw Beauty
- Pool Rules: Tips for Visiting Iceland's Thermal Swimming Pools
- Warming Up to Iceland
Planning
Ireland
- Go Left, Young Man: Driving in Great Britain and Ireland
- Ireland's Culinary Delights
- Lovely Day for a Guinness!
- Pubs: Ireland's Watering Holes
- The Spellbinding Music of the Irish Soul
- The Tale of Michael Fagan: He Came in Through the Bedroom Window
- Tidy and Tiny: Top Towns of Coastal Ireland
Dublin & Nearby
- Boyne Valley: A Dazzling Dublin Day Trip
- Dublin: Big-City Sights and Small-Town Smiles
- Dublin's Urban Thrills
- Pubs, Parades, and St. Patrick's Day in Dublin
- A Short Walk Through Ireland's Long History
- South of Dublin Highlights: Gardens, Monastic Ruins, and Studs
Northern Ireland
South Coast
West Coast
- The Dingle Peninsula: Pure Ireland
- Ireland's Aran Islands: Bleak and Beautiful
- Ireland's Entertaining Ring of Kerry
- My Favorite Beach Hideaways
Planning
Italy
- Communicating in Italy
- Europe's Convents Offer Tranquility — and Treats
- Impressions of Italy
- In Early-Evening Italy, Campari Is King
- Italian Sports
- Limoncello: When Life Gives You Lemons…
- Rural Italy's Enduring Easter Traditions
- Tuning In to Tasty Italy
- Understanding 'Football' in Italy
- Why I Love Eating in Italy
Cinque Terre & the Italian Riviera
- Cinque Terre Cuisine 101
- The Enchanting Cinque Terre: Fiat-Free Italy
- How to Avoid Crowds in the Cinque Terre
- Italy's Cinque Terre: Views to Die For
- Italy's Riviera: Beyond the Cinque Terre
- Stepping Back in Vernazza
Northern Italy
- Austria Meets Italy in Bicultural Bolzano
- Historic Hits in Mod Milan
- Nature and Romance in Italy's Lakes District
- Sauerkraut — and Yodlers to Boot — in Italy's Alpine Village of Kastelruth
- Stretching Out in the Italian Alps
Rome
- Ancient Rome: The Things That Were Caesar's
- Easter in Rome
- A Walk Through Rome's Living Culture
- A Peek into Ancient Rome at Ostia Antica
- Rome: A Romantic Breeze
- Rome After Dark
- Rome: Recommended Books and Movies
- Rome: Recommended Itinerary
- Rome's Inspiring Baroque Sights
- Rome's Jewish Legacy
- Swept Away in Rome
- There's No Place like Rome for the Holidays
- Time Travel on Rome's Ancient Appian Way
- Tivoli: Still Rome's Great Escape, 2,000 Years Later
- When to Go to Rome
Sicily
- Celebrating Sicily: Italy at Its Most Extreme
- Discovering Sicily's Layers of Culture
- My Favorite Beach Hideaways
- Sicilian Surprises in Palermo
- Sicily's Spicy, Slice-of-Life Street Scenes
- Sicily's Tastiest Treats
Southern Italy
- Italy's Alluring Amalfi Coast
- Naples: Italy in Your Face
- Pompeii: Italy's Frozen-in-Time Roman City
- Positano Stroll: A Peek Behind the Chic
- Romantic Sorrento and the Isle of Capri
Tuscany
- Agriturismi: Italy's Countryside Escapes
- Bella Tuscany: 'Here Begins Prosciutto'
- Experiencing Italy's Renaissance in Person
- Florence: The Cultural Capital of Europe
- Florence Discoveries
- Florence for Foodies
- Florence: Recommended Itinerary
- Florence & Tuscany: Recommended Books and Movies
- Florence's Accademia: The Temple of David
- Italy Connoisseurs Choose Leisurely Lucca
- Lean In to Pisa
- Making Museum Reservations in Florence
- Siena's Palio: 500 Years of History in 90 Seconds
- Siena: Italy's Medieval Heart and Soul
- Street Finds in Florence
- Swatting Wasps in Florence
- Tuscany for Beginners
- Tuscany: Recommended Itinerary
- Tuscany's Heavenly Wines
- Tuscany's Powerful, Towerful San Gimignano
- Visiting Vesuvius and Pompeii
- Volterra and San Gimignano: Two Sides of Northern Tuscany
- Volterra: Tuscany's Top Hill Town
- When to Go to Tuscany
Umbria & Nearby
- Finding Peace and Faith in Assisi
- Italy's Civita di Bagnoregio: Jewel on the Hill
- Orvieto — What an Italian Hill Town Should Be
- The Spirit of St. Francis Is Alive in Assisi
- Urbino: Fit for a Duke
Venice & Nearby
- Barefoot in Venice
- Bring Home a Bit of Venetian History
- Crawling Through Venice's Cicchetti Pubs
- Despite Changes, Venice Still Charms
- The Gondolas of Venice
- Is Venice Sinking?
- Italy's Ravenna: Once Powerful, Still Glorious
- Once the Sun Goes Down, Venice Shines
- Playful Padua
- Venetian Day Trips: Gems of the Veneto
- Venice: Recommended Books and Movies
- Venice: Recommended Itinerary
- Verona Is for Lovers
- Vicenza: Palladian Paradise
- When to Go to Venice
Planning
Montenegro
Netherlands
- Amsterdam's Dance of Crass and Class
- Amsterdam's Eye-Opening Red Light District
- Appreciating Dutch Clichés
- 'Coffeeshops': Amsterdam's Hazy, Dazy Cafés
- A Dutch Day Trip to Waterland
- Going Dutch…in Holland's Polder Country
- Highlights of Haarlem
- Holland: It's All So…Dutch
- Holland's Open-Air Folk Museums: A Treat for All Five Senses
- Rotterdam: Europe's Showcase of Bold Modernity
- Sensory Amsterdam
- Sobering Sites of Nazi Europe
- Testing Europe's Cultural Waters in Haarlem
Planning
Norway
- Awash in Maritime Heritage and Salty Charm, Bergen Beckons
- Fjordside Balestrand
- Futuristic Oslo
- How Travel Pried Open My Hometown Blinders
- Norway's Fjord Country Blends Serenity with Grandeur
- Norway's Scenic Wonders, in a Nutshell
- Norwegian Christmas: A Festival of Light in Darkness
- Peacefully Progressive Oslo
- Scenery Out the Window: Three of Europe's Most Spectacular Journeys
- Steep, Deep Western Norway: From Peaks to Port
- Svalbard Bound: A Trip to Norway's Far North
- Wrecks, Rafts, and Replicas: Scandinavia's Remarkable Maritime Museums
Planning
Poland
- Historic, Heroic Gdańsk
- John Paul II Sights: Visiting the World of a Modern-Day Saint
- Kraków: The Heart and Soul of Poland
- Nostalgia in a Polish Milk Bar
- Sobering Sites of Nazi Europe
- Warsaw Reborn
Planning
Portugal
- The Algarve, Portugal's Sunny South Coast
- Evolving Lisbon
- Exploring Colorful Coimbra
- Fado: The Lisbon Blues
- Finding Foodie Bliss in Lisbon
- Lisbon's Gold Still Shines
- Peeling Back Layers of History in Évora
- Porto: Portugal's Salty 'Second City'
- Portugal: One Foot in the Past and One in the Future
- Portugal's Aristocratic Getaways
- Portugal's Rural Alentejo: Authentic and Proud
- Putting the Port in Portugal
- Savoring the Scenery — and Port — of Portugal's Douro Valley
- Seaside Traditions in Portugal's Nazaré
- Slowing Down in Sleepy Salema
- Tranquil Tomar: A Break from Portugal's Tourist Tumult
- A Trip to the Bullfight: Two Bulls Are Plenty
- Witnessing the Power of Faith in Fátima, Portugal
Planning
Romania
Russia
Scotland
- Go Left, Young Man: Driving in Great Britain and Ireland
- Great Scares in Great Britain
- O'er the Ramparts: Castles in Great Britain
- Scotland's Independent Streak
- Strange Food: Europe's Offbeat Delicacies
- The Queen's English: Brilliant and Baffling
- Where Was Harry Potter Filmed?
Planning
- Great Britain: Recommended Itinerary
- Great Britain Rail Passes and Train Tips
- Guidebook Updates for Scotland
- Scotland: Recommended Books and Movies
- Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in Scotland
- When to Go to Great Britain
Edinburgh, Glasgow & St. Andrews
- Beyond the Royal Mile: Edinburgh's Exciting Second-Tier Sights
- An Edinburgh Ramble
- Edinburgh's Royal Mile
- Glasgow Surprises with Art, Design, and Culture
- St. Andrews: Hit the Links, Books, and Beach
Scottish Highlands and Islands
Slovakia
- Bratislava: Slovakia's Capital Makes a Remarkable Comeback
- Europe's Overlooked Roma People
- Slovakia's Struggles…and Successes
Planning
Slovenia
- Go Underground to Shine a Light on Europe's Past
- Lake Bled: Exploring Slovenia's Romantic Alpine Retreat
- Ljubljana: An Underrated Gem in the Heart of Europe
Planning
- Croatia, Slovenia & Bosnia-Herzegovina: Recommended Books and Movies
- Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina & Montenegro: Recommended Itinerary
- Eastern-Central Europe: Recommended Itinerary
- Guidebook Updates for Slovenia
- Slovenia Rail Passes and Train Tips
- Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in Slovenia
- When to Go to Croatia & Slovenia
Spain
- Eating in Spain: Sustenance for the Soul
- Europe's Convents Offer Tranquility — and Treats
- Pickles, Nuns, and Bullfights: España
- Sangria: Bloody Good Spanish Punch
- Spain's Tasty Tapas
- Spanish History Set in Stone
- A Trip to the Bullfight: Two Bulls Are Plenty
Andalucía
- The Allure of Córdoba
- Andalucía's Big Three: Granada, Córdoba, and Sevilla
- Andalucía's Hill Towns: Steeped in the Soul of Spain
- Gibraltar: A Bite of Britain in Spain
- Granada's Sacromonte Hillside: Steeped in Roma Tradition
- Parties and Processions in Andalucía
- Sevilla: A Perpetual Fiesta
- Sevilla's April Fair: Spain's Sparkling Spring Spectacle
- Sevilla's Favorite Virgin
- Strolling Córdoba's Back Streets
- Taking in the Splendor of Granada
- Tarifa: Spain's Southernmost Port
Barcelona
- Barcelona: Recommended Books and Movies
- Barcelona: Recommended Itinerary
- Barcelona: Vibrant and Spirited
- Beyond Barcelona: Montserrat, Figueres, and Sitges
- Indulge in Barcelona’s Visual Feast
- Park Picks: Favorite Green Getaways in Paris, London, and Barcelona
Camino de Santiago
- A Medieval Pilgrimage in Modern Times
- O Cebreiro: Blast to the Past in Spain’s Galicia
- Pamplona's Running of the Bulls
- Saints and Sustenance in Santiago de Compostela
Madrid
- A Blitz Tour of Madrid
- The Good Ship Segovia
- Madrid's Outdoor Delights
- Marvels Beyond Madrid: Four Easy Day Trips
Salamanca
Spanish Basque Country
- The Basque Country: Europe's Premium Blend
- The Best of the Basque Country
- Pamplona's Running of the Bulls
- San Sebastián: Gateway to the Basque Country
Toledo
Planning
Sweden
- Cycling Through Stockholm
- Living It Up on the Stockholm–Helsinki Overnight Boat
- Relaxing in Stockholm's Idyllic Archipelago
- Sightseeing — and Coffee Sipping — in Super, Sleek Stockholm
- Stockholm's Delightful, Diverse Day Trips
- Stockholm's Noble Past and Present
- Sweden's Glass Country Sparkles
- Uppsala: Sweden's Ancient Capital and Top College Town
- Wrecks, Rafts, and Replicas: Scandinavia's Remarkable Maritime Museums
Planning
Switzerland
- Above Gimmelwald, in Search of Edelweiss
- Bern, Switzerland's Classy Yet Fun Capital
- 'Cheese Sharing' in the Berner Oberland
- Christmas in the Swiss Alps Glistens with Tradition
- Falling in Love with the Matterhorn
- Flying with Fritz in Switzerland
- Gimmelwald: The Swiss Alps in Your Lap
- Going Back in Time in Switzerland's Appenzell
- Lake Geneva: Switzerland's Riviera
- Luzern's Swiss Mix of Delights
- Obeying the Power of the Alps in Switzerland's Lauterbrunnen Valley
- Off the Beaten Track in Switzerland
- Scenery Out the Window: Three of Europe's Most Spectacular Journeys
- Swiss Bliss on a Berner Oberland Hike
- Switzerland's High Cow Culture
- Switzerland's Urban Charms
- What's Cooking in Switzerland
Planning
Turkey
- Getting Your Buzz with Turkish Coffee
- Güzelyurt: Turkey's 'Beautiful Land'
- Impressions of Eastern Turkey
- Istanbul Déjà Vu
- Istanbul's Old Soul Lives On in the Grand Bazaar
- The Many Layers of Istanbul
- Praying and Partying in Istanbul at Ramadan
- Turkey Beyond Istanbul
- Turkish Village Insights
- Turning My Lens on Istanbul
- Why Atatürk Matters
Planning
Wales
- Conwy's Charms
- Fierce Castles in Friendly North Wales
- Go Left, Young Man: Driving in Great Britain and Ireland
- Harry Potter Filming Locations in Britain
- In Britain, the Kids Are Alright
- O'er the Ramparts: Castles in Great Britain
- Offbeat Britain
- Singing the Praises of Welsh Choirs
- A Small Welsh Town with a Big Welsh Name
- Welsh Magic
- Welsh Revival: Cardiff Sheds Rust-Belt Past for Glossy Future
Planning
Rick’s Travels Beyond Europe
Central America
- Costa Rica: Where Even a Workaholic Could Be on Vacation
- El Salvador: Lunch in the Barrio, Dinner at the Mall
- El Salvador: Patriots and Poverty
- The Nature of Travel in Costa Rica
- Nicaragua: Pure Joy in a Humble Land
- Nicaragua's Wheel of Fortune
- Reality for a Tourist South of Our Border
- Vacationing South of the Border
Banana-ology: Rick's visits to El Salvador and Nicaragua (1988, 1991, and 2005):
- Rick's 2005 Journal — Resurrection in El Salvador
- Rick's 1991 Journal — El Salvador Trip Notes
- Rick's 1988 Journal — 12 Days in Central America
Cuba
Blog posts from Rick's 2015/2016 Cuba visit:
- Communism in Cuba
- Cuban Accommodations
- A Cuban Reality Tour
- Eating in Cuba
- Money in Cuba
- See more of Rick's blog posts about Cuba
Egypt & Morocco
- Morocco: Plunge Deep
- The New Tangier Is No Tijuana
- Rick Steves' Egypt
- Tangier: Marveling at Morocco's Cultural Kaleidoscope
- The Treasures of Luxor, Egypt
Holy Land
- Bethlehem's Mix of Christians and Muslims
- Fabled Jerusalem
- The Intensity of Hebron, in Palestine
- A Pilgrimage to the Sea of Galilee
- Why Visit Israel?
Iran
- In Iran: No Credit Cards, Alcohol…or Urinals
- Iran: The Politics of People
- Landing in Tehran
- Rick's Iran Travel Journal