Hi from Rick: Europe’s Timeless Cities
Isn't it a delight to revisit a timelessly engaging city…only to discover how much it's changed?
I returned to London earlier this year to update my London guidebook and prepare to film a TV special next year. My takeaway: It's impossible to be truly "up to date" here. London is a perennial work-in-progress; it's changing all the time.
"The City" (the one-square-mile financial center) — once a ramshackle slum of Cockneys, Charles Dickens, and Jack the Ripper — has sprouted a forest of glittering skyscrapers. Twiggy and the Beatles wouldn't recognize a single shop on the "Swinging '60s" artery of Carnaby Street…but they might love how the Millennium Bridge has become a wobbling path of quirky art, with finely painted wads of chewing gum trampled into the walkway.
And yet, London is still, unmistakably, London. The Queen's Guard is now the King's Guard, but tourists atop double-decker buses get the same traveler's kick from their red outfits and splashing spats. The vendors of Borough Market now accept tap-to-pay, but you can still travel the world through their dizzying variety of produce and goods. Some of the Beefeaters may be vegans now, but their razor-sharp wit hasn't dulled a bit. We're still minding the gap on the Underground (including on its new Elizabeth Line) and warm, cozy British pubs still beckon to weary travelers around every corner…with names like the Bishop's Finger, Fat Walrus, Stagger Inn, and — fittingly — the Welcoming Arms.
All of Europe's major cities are unmovable at their core yet forever changing in the margins. Just like London, Paris, Rome, and Istanbul will always boast their major sights and classic bites — they're also adapting to new technologies, trends, and generations. These grand cities are forever works-in-progress…so the best time to visit is always right now.
And that's one reason why our week-long city tours run pretty much year-round. London, Paris, Rome, and Istanbul thrive no matter the month, the weather, or what new change has rippled through town. On each city tour, you'll settle into the same hotel for the entirety of your stay, letting you become a temporary local. Then, with an expert Rick Steves guide at your side, you'll peel back the many layers of each great city, master public transit, and maybe even become a regular at the Welcoming Arms, nodding along with wrinkled natives as they gossip about the changing times.
In this month's Tour News, we'll explore London — and Istanbul — with day-by-day slideshows of our 7-day tours, get to know our favorite local guide in Rome, Francesca Caruso, share raves from recent city-tour alums, and take a whirlwind jaunt through five world-class Paris museums.
Whether you're eyeing a wintertime Parisian getaway or a week of London in the summer, we'd love to welcome you on a Rick Steves city tour — and together, gain an appreciation for how a place that's changing all the time can still remain timeless.
Happy travels,
Rick