827 The Grand Tour; Touring Today; Sagrada Família 2026

827 The Grand Tour; Touring Today; Sagrada Família 2026

Author: Rick Steves April 4, 2026 Duration: 52:00

The Grand Tour was a rite of passage for the aristocracy, and the adventuresome spirit behind it lives on in modern European itineraries. A longtime travel publisher traces the evolution of this fantastic voyage. Then Rick Steves' Europe guidebook researcher Cameron Hewitt takes a look back on the ways travel has evolved over the past quarter century. And as the Sagrada Família stretches ever closer toward completion, one of the project's architects helps us understand what Gaudí's ambitious creation means to Barcelona and Catalonia.


For an hour each week, the familiar, curious voice of Rick Steves guides you far beyond the standard tourist itinerary. Travel with Rick Steves is less about checking sights off a list and more about the conversations that happen along the way. Rick, America's leading authority on European travel and a seasoned guidebook author, sits down with a fascinating array of guest experts-historians, journalists, chefs, and local insiders-to delve into the heart of a destination. They discuss the layers of culture, history, and daily life that define a place, while callers chime in with their own questions and discoveries from the road. What you'll hear in this podcast is a genuine exploration of how connecting with different cultures and people adds a profound sparkle to our lives. It’s the thoughtful, accessible dialogue you’d have with a well-traveled friend, one who believes that travel is a powerful way to understand our world. Each episode feels like an invitation to look closer, whether the topic is the traditions of a remote village, the evolving cuisine of a bustling capital, or the simple joy found in a shared meal with strangers. This is for anyone who believes the journey itself-the stories, the misunderstandings, the moments of connection-is the real destination.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Travel with Rick Steves
Podcast Episodes
814 Tuesdays at the Louvre; Stone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:00
A Paris-based journalist lets us in on what happens behind closed doors at the city's grandest museum when it shuts to the public each Tuesday. And the last apprentice to be trained in the medieval techniques of masonry…
813 20th-Century France; Finest Hotel in Kabul; Photogenic Scotland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:00
Historian Colin Jones has managed to distill centuries of French history into just 250 pages, and he leads us through significant sights from the mighty nation's recent past. Then a veteran BBC correspondent recalls turb…
811 Slavic Europe; Running with the Bulls; Checking In [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:00
Guidebook researcher Cameron Hewitt opens our eyes to the history, nature, and genuine welcome that await travelers venturing to the Slavic nations of central and eastern Europe. Then a tour guide from Switzerland explai…
809 Women of Pompeii; Lesser-Known Greek Isles; Weird Ireland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:00
Learn about the societal roles and everyday lives of the women of Pompeii. Then get recommendations from a Greek tour guide for some islands that should be on your radar for your next visit. And take a walk on the Emeral…
679a Nordic Roots; Dutch Towns; Bridge to Nicaragua [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:00
Hear how the characters of Nordic mythology can help you better understand the past, and how they influence the epic tales that entertain us today. Discover Dutch towns to explore beyond Amsterdam where you can view tech…
808 See You in the Piazza; Lagers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:00
Bestselling author Frances Mayes comes in from the Tuscan sun to tell us about her favorite uncrowded corners of Italy, away from the crush of the country's top tourist destinations. And a certified beer judge explains w…
807 Islands of Portugal; Easter Island; Endangered Languages [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:00
A Portugal tour guide describes the scenic and culinary rewards that await visitors to the country's mid-Atlantic island getaways. Then a Scotsman who spent over two decades living on Easter Island takes us behind the my…