Rick Steves's Blog, page 15

On both sides of the Atlantic, the Rick Steves Europe team is doing their part by staying home. And our European guides continue to be in touch with the home office, offering insightful slices of life from quarantine. As great guides, they can hardly miss a teachable moment and grab every opportunity to share insights from their respective cultures.

Heres our weekly roundup of what weve been hearing from our guides during the coronavirus pandemic:

Our man-on-the-street in Oslo, Pål Bjarne...

Self-isolating here in my home, Ive been thinking about how, around the world, people have different ways to relax. The Czechs? They enjoy submerging themselves in a mucky peat brine. I consider this the strangest bath I have ever taken.

With so many of us stuck at home for the foreseeable future, I believe a daily dose of travel dreaming can actually be good medicine. Heres another one of my favorite travel memories a reminder of whats waiting for you in Europe at the other end of this...

In Europes tourist towns, the best social moments combust after a long day of work, and after the guests say good night.

With so many of us stuck at home for the foreseeable future, I believe a daily dose of travel dreaming can actually be good medicine. Heres another one of my favorite travel memories a reminder of whats waiting for you in Europe at the other end of this crisis.

After hours in an Irish pub in Galway, the door is locked and the musicians play on. On the Italian Riviera, the...

I miss hiking through the vineyards up to the scenic cemeteries high above the Cinque Terre looking down over Italys heavenly, traffic-free Riviera.

With so many of us stuck at home for the foreseeable future, I believe a daily dose of travel dreaming can actually be good medicine. Heres another one of my favorite travel memories a reminder of whats waiting for you in Europe at the other end of this crisis.

Vernazzas strollable breakwater creates a little harbor, rare on this rugged...

Through this pandemic, its been fascinating to observe how different countries are handling the crisis. Ive been impressed by Norways approach, which shouldnt surprise me. Oslo has always had its act together.

With so many of us stuck at home for the foreseeable future, I believe a daily dose of travel dreaming can actually be good medicine. Heres another one of my favorite travel memories a reminder of whats waiting for you in Europe at the other end of this crisis.

Ive been visiting Oslo...

Today, I was supposed to be landing in Istanbul kicking off a weeks-long guidebook research trip through Europe. Instead, Im home, doing my part to slow the spread of the coronavirusand dreaming of my next trip to one of Europes greatest cities. Heres a story from a previous trip to Istanbul, a few years ago. I imagine that when I get back there, itll be all the same, all over again.

With so many of us stuck at home for the foreseeable future, I believe a daily dose of travel dreaming...

With home-quarantine and self-isolation efforts ramping up on both sides of the Atlantic, we continue to hear from many of our European guides. Here are a few highlights from this week:

Everyones trying to stay positive and cheer each other up. David Tordi, who we heard from a few weeks ago, did a live concert with his neighbor for his entire neighborhood in Orvieto, and live-streamed it on Facebook:

THE TORDENELLAS LIVE!

Posted by David Tordi on Wednesday, April 8, 2020

And were all...

In my travels, I love to connect with people  including ones who actually lived through the local history and make it real for me. I cant wait to get back to Europe and have more of these unforgettable experiences.  

Travel dreams are immune to any virus. And, with  so many of us stuck at home,  I believe a daily dose of travel dreaming can  actually be  good medicine. Heres another one of my favorite travel memories  a reminder of whats waiting for you in Europe  at  the other end of this...

In my travels, I love to connect with people  including ones who actually lived through the local history and make it real for me. I cant wait to get back to Europe and have more of these unforgettable experiences.  

Travel dreams are immune to any virus. And, with so many of us stuck at home, I believe a daily dose of travel dreaming can actually be good medicine. Heres another one of my favorite travel memories  a reminder of whats waiting for you in Europe at the other end of this crisis. ...

I was a piano teacher before I was a travel teacher. And I find a special spirit in Estonia, where the people celebrate their cultural identity by singing. 

Travel dreams are immune to any virus. And, with  so many of us stuck at home,  I believe a daily dose of travel dreaming can  actually be  good medicine. Heres another one of my favorite travel memories  a reminder of whats waiting for you in Europe  at  the other end of this crisis.  

In Tallinn, my guide Mati suggests that we visit...