• 2025-travel-festival

Register for The 2025 Travel Festival — January 13-23, 2025

Europe is always changing. And, while the fundamentals of good travel are perennial, it's smart to be prepared for what's new in 2025. That's where the Rick Steves' Europe 2025 Travel Festival comes in! This eight-night virtual series is designed to help Europe-bound travelers anticipate the trends and challenges they might encounter on the road in the year ahead.

To kick things off, Rick sets the stage by reliving his early travels "on the hippie trail" and sharing how those experiences gave rise to our travel philosophy. From there, a host of Rick Steves' Europe travel experts explore how Europe is always evolving and how smart travelers can best navigate those changes, from skirting tourist crowds to beating the heat to planning ahead for brand-new entry requirements. Plus, our staffers share their favorite villages and second cities across Europe's lesser-known, relatively untrampled destinations that can inject extra cultural flavor (with fewer crowds) into any itinerary.

It's all free, and you can sign up for any (or all) of these timely sessions using the links below. Join us to ensure you're packing along the best information available on your next European adventure.

hippie-trail-event

Monday, January 13: On the Hippie Trail with Rick Steves

6:00 p.m. PT / 9:00 p.m. ET | REGISTER

In the 1970s, the ultimate trip for any backpacker was the storied "Hippie Trail" from Istanbul to Kathmandu. As a 23-year-old, Rick made the trek, and like a travel writer in training, he documented it all. Leaping off a moving train in Yugoslavia, getting lost in Lahore, getting high for the first time in Herat, battling leeches in Pokhara, making the scene on Freak Street in Kathmandu…it's all in Rick's 60,000-word journal, which is now his newest book. To celebrate the release of On the Hippie Trail, stow away with Rick as he shares photos and tells tales from his trip of a lifetime.

ricks-travel-philosophy

Tuesday, January 14: Europe Through the Back Door: Travel Skills and Philosophy with Rick Steves

6:00 p.m. PT / 9:00 p.m. ET | REGISTER

Join Rick Steves as he teaches the skills he employs to make the most of every mile, minute, and dollar on his European adventures — creating an efficient itinerary, eating and sleeping well, avoiding crowds, packing smartly, and more. Beyond these fundamental skills, Rick also shares his travel philosophy of how the more understanding you bring to your sightseeing, the more you'll get out of it and how meeting people carbonates your experience. As Rick says, "Fear is for those who don't get out very much," and this presentation is sure to turn anyone's travel anxieties into travel excitement.

2025-travel-trends

Wednesday, January 15: 2025 Travel Trends and Challenges with Cameron Hewitt and Robyn Stencil

6:00 p.m. PT / 9:00 p.m. ET | REGISTER

Heading to Europe in 2025? Two of Rick Steves' Europe's top travelers share their fresh-from-the-rucksack stories and tips about what every traveler should know. Together, Cameron and Robyn cut through new red tape (such as "visa waiver" programs in the UK and EU), tap into new technologies, and uncover "new" destinations offering alternatives to the crowd-clogged biggies. Plus, they explore the importance of planning around "overtourism" (and new anti-crowd measures, such as tourist limits and "access fees"), preparing for soaring temperatures and other extreme weather, and much more.

europes-second-cities

Thursday, January 16: Europe's Top 10 Second Cities with the Monday Night Travel Team

6:00 p.m. PT / 9:00 p.m. ET | REGISTER

While Europe's marquee cities demand a visit, smart travelers seeking authentic experiences also add a few "second cities" to their itineraries. While lacking bucket-list sights, Europe's second cities enjoy a creative edge, a strong civic spirit, a Rust Belt toughness, fun-loving eateries…and far fewer crowds. Together with the hosts of Monday Night Travel, we count down ten of Europe's best second cities—from harborfront Hamburg to passionate Glasgow and from seaside Split to tasty Naples. Find out how these and other great second cities perfectly complement the famous biggies on any itinerary.

inauguration-show

Monday, January 20: Inauguration Day Special: European Travel in the Age of Trump with Cameron Hewitt

6:00 p.m. PT / 9:00 p.m. ET | REGISTER

The inauguration of Donald Trump heralds a new age of traveling in Europe. The new administration's policies will have a huge impact overseas, and Europeans are likely to have pointed concerns and questions for us American travelers. With help from a variety of European experts, we gain an international perspective on the second "Age of Trump," consider how it might affect Europe, and share tips on how to travel as good global citizens in all political seasons.

villages-of-europe

Tuesday, January 21: Village Europe with Lisa Friend

6:00 p.m. PT / 9:00 p.m. ET | REGISTER

Many of Europe's best sights are hidden beyond its big cities. With over 25 years of European travel experience, travel expert Lisa Friend knows that many travelers' "wow" moments occur not at famous museums and landmarks, but in small, slower-paced places where people are friendly, culture is deep, and timed-entry reservations are nonexistent. On this tour of Europe’s small-town, big-charm destinations, Lisa guides us from Ireland's winsome Dingle to the historic hamlets of Normandy and explores a variety of villages that will tempt foodies, hikers, music lovers, and history buffs alike.

itaky-this-or-that

Wednesday, January 22: Italy: This or That? with Robyn Stencil

6:00 p.m. PT / 9:00 p.m. ET | REGISTER

From the Cinque Terre's harbors to Venice's canals and from Florence's David to Rome's Colosseum, Italy offers enough places to visit, sights to see — and meals to eat! — to fill a lifetime of travel. So, how do you decide what to include on your finite itinerary and what to save for another time? Join Tour Program Manager Robyn Stencil as she shares her candid takes on Italy's top attractions and their unexpected alternatives. From Rome's Catacombs of Priscilla to the Amalfi Coast's Minori, join us for a comparative look at Italy's incomparable sights before you plan your next trip!

rick-steves-tours

Thursday, January 23: Rick Steves' Europe Tours: How and Why They're So Dang Good

6:00 p.m. PT / 9:00 p.m. ET | REGISTER

Each year, 30,000 travelers trust a Rick Steves' Europe tour to make their European travel dreams come true — many of whom have taken a dozen or more of our tours. Join Rick as he shares the story of his tour program, how it evolved, and what makes a Rick Steves tour unique. He explains his philosophy — fifty years in the making — of training the best guides, building the best itineraries, and giving his travelers the best possible experience. Whether considering a tour or just planning a DIY adventure, join us for this fun and fascinating hour.