Here you can browse through my blog posts prior to February 2022. Currently I'm sharing my travel experiences, candid opinions, and what's on my mind solely on my Facebook page. — Rick
It’s Day 64 of my 100-day trip to Europe, and I’m on the streets of Vienna, making sure my Vienna guidebook readers have the best eating options. And just a couple of blocks from the crowds, there are some amazing opportunities to eat well, memorably, and cheaply.
Information is power, and when it comes to travel, I want my guidebooks to give you lots of muscle.
Great art often hides in less-famous sights — like the Albertina Museum, in a distant wing of Vienna’s Hofburg Palace. Throughout my travels this year, I’ve noticed that huge crowds don’t always gravitate to the most enjoyable sights. If you read your guidebooks, you’ll know about attractions where peace and elegance trump crowds and chaos. Here at the Albertina, I’m enjoying some quality time alone with the creative genius of my favorite artists.
—
Join our traveling community — connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.
Day 62 of my 100-day trip to Europe brought me to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. One hour from Vienna and two hours from Budapest, this city is filled with surprises. Here at Café Kormúth, a cake and a coffee come with an unforgettable setting.
—
Join our traveling community — connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.
As an American, you can simply travel — or you can travel as a political act. When we make a point to learn about the challenges facing other nations, we gain a deeper understanding of the challenges we face at home. And here in Budapest, where I’m kicking off the second half of my 2018 travels, I’ve already picked up the greatest of all souvenirs: a broader perspective.
Like Turkey and Poland, Hungary has a leader who’s derailing their democracy, buoyed by the support of people who live outside of the cities and care about one issue above all others: keeping refugees out. Meanwhile, the concerned citizens of more democratic nations (that are able to keep the issue of migrants in perspective) are watching, recognizing how fragile their freedoms are, and marveling at the fascinating parallels between one society and the next.
In much of Europe these days, one party offers education, progressive taxation, and care for the environment. The other offers tax breaks, fewer regulations, uniformly nationalistic textbooks that rewrite history, and “protection” from migrants. And the people choose.
Join me on the banks of the Danube for a peek at Hungary’s political swing from left to right.
At Rick Steves’ Europe, we have two things in abundance: a passion for providing practical information for better travels, and talented people on our staff. And you’ll see what I mean on the Rick Steves Travel Talks page, where you can watch more than 60 travel classes for free.
Here’s some big news: Our latest free, streaming travel videos are…language classes! If you’ll be traveling to lands where people speak German, French, Italian, or Spanish (or just want to hone your language skills a bit because it’s fun), grab your favorite travel partner, pour yourselves an appropriate beverage, and join us for a fast-moving and instructive hour.
We offer travel classes throughout the year at our Edmonds headquarters, and this is our chance to send our great teachers into your world. Good luck — or perhaps I should say, “Viel Glück…bonne chance…in bocca al lupo…buena suerte!”