9 Quick Questions for Rick Steves

European travel expert shares some tricks of the trade

rick steves wearing blue shirt against light blue background

Zachary Scott/New York Times Magazine (used with permission via Rick Steves' Europe)

Jennifer Bradley Franklin,

AARP

Published July 14, 2023

Rick Steves is synonymous with European travel. The 68-year-old has made about 100 trips to the continent since he began his travel business in 1976. He’s written dozens of guidebooks with insider tips, offers advice on a weekly radio show and hosts a public TV show — and more than 30,000 people book small group tours through his company each year. The best part? He still travels just for fun.

What was the first international trip you ever took? And did you catch the travel bug right away?

young rick steves wearing backpack outdoors with trees behind him

Steves, seen here in 1978, caught the travelling bug as a teen on a trip to Europe with his family.

Rick Steves' Europe

The first time I ever went to Europe, I was with my mom and dad going to see the piano factories in Germany and visiting relatives in Norway [in 1969]. My dad was a piano tuner in Seattle, and he decided to import pianos. [I was 14 years old] and I didn't want to go to Europe. I wanted to stay with my friends. I got over there and … Wow. [There was] different candy, different [soda] pop. I could gamble … it was a wonderland. A couple of years later, I decided I didn’t need my parents for this. I could go on my own. Ever since then, I’ve spent 100 days a year in Europe. At first just for kicks, and now as a travel teacher.

When did you first go on your own?

In ’73, the year I graduated from high school. I just took off with my best buddy from school. We just slummed around Europe for 10 weeks. That was the best trip of my life.

What are your hobbies?

I like to play the piano. I like photography. I like to play ping-pong. I like to play backgammon, and I like to play pétanque. I love to eat out, and I love history. For me, history isn’t just storytelling. History gives my travels — and my life — context. Those are my hobbies, and they all kind of carbonate my travels.

Did you consider a career in music?

I was a piano teacher. That’s the only other job I’ve ever had. I had a recital hall in my little town here [in Edmonds, Washington], and slowly I used it for a lecture hall where I could share tips about traveling. I had to decide when I was 25 years old, Am I going to be a piano teacher, or am I going to be a travel writer? I let my [piano] students go, putting my recital hall into use as a lecture hall. Now I’m still working on that same street, doing the same thing, but I’ve got 100 people on my staff that are talented, passionate and mission-driven. I get to jump at every opportunity I can to inspire people to travel thoughtfully.

Is music still a big part of your life?

[In June] I was in Boston with the Boston Pops, and I got to be on stage introducing eight pieces as what I call “Europe: A Symphonic Journey.” I do that all over the country. I can’t help you save money on the Uffizi Gallery [in Florence, Italy], but I can help you get triple the value out of your admission ticket by knowing a little bit of context. What you bring to your sightseeing enhances what you get out of it. The same is true for music appreciation.

Post-COVID travel is back with a vengeance. What is your top advice for navigating it?

The big question is crowds. Americans have a herd mentality. When it comes to travel, a lot of crowdsourced information is worth knowing about, but it’s not worth dictating where you go. You can take away the top, most crowded places in Europe, and it is still a wonderful continent. We’re gonna go to the places that are famous — Anne Frank’s house, the Eiffel Tower. Then you’ve got to know how to minimize the crowds, and that means knowing when to go when the crowds are not there [early in the morning or late in the evening]. During the pandemic, [venues] learned to monitor crowds by having people book things in advance and have timed entries. Now many of the major sites in Europe are keeping their timed entry requirements. In 2023, the smart traveler is going to know what should be booked in advance.

European travel can be exhausting. What can help people feel their best when they’re away from home?

The most grueling thing about European travel is the heat and crowds of summer. I like to travel during the shoulder season [when it’s cooler]. In Europe, they say there’s no bad weather, just inappropriate clothing, so dress for bad weather. And, for me, I always want a quiet room to get a good night’s sleep. A lot of Europeans think they’re doing you a favor by giving you a room in the front so you get the view, but Europe is noisy at night. I want to room high up and in the back [of a hotel].

rick steves holding rick steves switzerland guide outside, in between buildings

Steves typically spends 100 days a year in Europe, and offers expert travel advice for visiting cities such as Bern, Switzerland, which offers museums, a lively market square and delightful river scenery.

Rick Steves' Europe

You started your business nearly 50 years ago. What are some things that have gotten better along the way?

When I started traveling, I had no appreciation of good food. Now, I really love eating, and I see cuisine as a gateway to the culture. I don’t like to eat at the Michelin star level. But there’s a Michelin rating called Bib Gourmand. It is right on for me, with no pretense, just a focus on great food. Also, over time, there’s just practical improvements in Europe that make you use your time so much smarter. It used to take eight hours to get from London to Paris. Now you’ve got nonstop, 100-mile-an-hour trains with 10 trains a day. It’s two and a half hours from Big Ben to the Eiffel Tower.

What is one thing that you miss most about Europe when you’re not there?

Oh, I miss the energy in the streets. When I’m in Europe, I marvel at how much positive, exciting neighborhood energy is in the streets. When I’m at home, it’s parking lots, cars dominating the streets and automatic garage door openers that make sure people don’t know who’s at home. Europe has dense populations in the cities. You’ve got shops on the ground floor, people living upstairs, pedestrian-only streets, people eating outside. I just love that.

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Jennifer Bradley Franklin is an Atlanta-based journalist, editor and author who has contributed to the Wall Street Journal, Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, People magazine, USA Today and others. She's an avid traveler, ballroom dancer and is more than a little coffee obsessed. Read more of her work at jenniferbradleyfranklin.com.