If you're a passionate traveler who craves an authentic and educational experience, you'll want to grab this invaluable (free) resource I have been using for years in my travels—the Rick Steves Audio Europe app, curated by the seasoned traveler Rick Steves himself!
Let me just tell you that this app has revolutionized the way I explore new destinations. When I've landed in a new city, I don't have to waste time trying to figure out what there is to see and do. I can be standing in the center of Paris, for instance, and just open this app, scroll through the tour offerings, and see what my old buddy Rick has in store for me. It truly is one of the biggest time savers (and money savers) I use in my travels. With this app, I've toured solo the streets of Berlin, taken a food and cultural tour of Madrid, and checked out the highlights of some of Europe's best museums—all with the famous Rick Steves speaking in my ear, giving me all his best travel advice for free!
By using his guides, you too can utilize your time more efficiently in each city (and site) you visit. I'm a huge fan of these tours and have used them throughout all of my European travels for years! I recommend them without any hesitation.
Why Rick Steves Audio Tours?
1. Expert Guidance: Rick Steves' 4+ decades of travel experience and comprehensive knowledge come to life in these audio tours. His engaging commentary is like having a highly knowledgeable friend by your side, sharing captivating insights, historical context, and fascinating stories about the places you visit. From Rome's Colosseum to the bustling streets of Paris, the Rick Steves app is an essential companion for anyone looking to enrich their travel adventures.
2. Flexibility: Unlike rigid guided tours with strict schedules, Rick Steves audio tours offer the freedom to explore at your own pace. Take your time at breathtaking viewpoints, pause for photos, or enjoy a leisurely coffee at a charming café—all without worrying about keeping up with a group. I'm not a huge fan of group tours, but I do enjoy the information I learn from tour guides. This app gives me a private tour from one of the best tour guides you can ever imagine—-and I know I've mentioned this before, but I'll say it again. It's all for free!
3. Diverse Destinations: Whether you're interested in iconic landmarks or hidden gems, Rick Steves has an audio tour to match your preferences. From iconic European cities to off-the-beaten-path discoveries, his catalog covers a wide range of destinations, ensuring you can tailor your experience to your interests.
What I like, too is that the app often offers multiple tours within large cities. Take Rome for instance. He has walking tours of many neighborhoods, of specific sites (like the Colosseum and the Parthenon) and even museums. It's so much more efficient to listen to the tours as you're walking around rather than stumbling about as you attempt to thumb through the pages of a guidebook.
How to Use Rick Steves Audio Tours
1. Download the App: Begin by downloading the Rick Steves Audio Europe app from your device's app store. I have an android, so I get mine from the Google play store. If you have an iphone, you'll get yours from the apple store.
2. Select Your Tour: Once you've downloaded the app, take some time to explore the its extensive selection of audio tours and interviews and choose the one that matches your destination or interests. TOP TIP: Download your chosen tour for offline use, ensuring accessibility even in areas with limited connectivity.
I often will download the interviews about my destinations and listen to them before I leave on my trip. That way I'll be more informed about the history, culture, and sightseeing opportunities well in advance of arrival.
3. Put on Your Headphones: Once you're in the location and ready to start your audio tour, simply plug in your headphones or slip in your bluetooth earbuds, press play, and let Rick Steves' friendly voice guide you through your chosen city or site. You'll discover that his commentary provides valuable context, historical background, and practical advice. If you need him to repeat anything, just use the handy 20-second rewind button.
4. Follow the Map: Each audio tour comes with a companion map that pinpoints key locations mentioned in the tour. This visual aid ensures you won't miss any must-see sights. It will also help you get a bird's eye view of what your tour will entail, what stops you'll be seeing, and the total walking distance of your tour.
5. Engage with Locals: Solo travel offers the unique opportunity to connect with locals. Rick encourages you to strike up conversations, seek recommendations, and immerse yourself in the local culture, adding a personal touch to your adventure.
On the free Rick Steves tour I took in Madrid, for instance, in several places he gives advice on different food items to try in various cafes or delis. He quite literally tells you, "Go into the Museo del Jamon, walk up to the counter, tell the person working there that you want to order a jamon croissant." He even instructed on the correct way to ask for said food item in Spanish! I felt like I was truly having an experience that only a local would know about. I didn't expect to get a food tour along with my walking tour, and it certainly made my very first trip to Madrid so much more memorable!
Pro Tip
Realize that the app is divided up into two different types of audio recordings. As shown in the picture below, if there is a little walking man next to the title, this is a walking tour. If there is a microphone, that is an interview pulled from one of his podcasts (full podcasts can be listened to here, on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts).
Wrap Up
With the power of Rick Steves audio tours at your fingertips, your next journey promises to be an educational and immersive experience. Bid adieu to rigid tour schedules (and the hefty price tag those cost) and say hello to personalized exploration in each city you visit. Download the app, grab your headphones, and embark on your next voyage with Rick Steves.
Bon voyage, and as like Rick Steves always says "Happy Travels!"
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Rick Steves Audio Europe app?
The Rick Steves Audio Europe app is a mobile application curated by renowned travel expert Rick Steves. It provides a collection of audio tours and interviews that serve as invaluable travel companions, offering insightful commentary, historical context, and practical advice for exploring various destinations in Europe.
2. How can the app enhance my solo travel experience?
For solo travelers, the Rick Steves app is a game-changer. It offers expert guidance that makes you feel like you have a knowledgeable friend by your side throughout your journey. With Rick's friendly voice in your ear, you can confidently navigate iconic landmarks and hidden gems, engage with local culture, and make the most of your solo adventures.
3. Are there any advantages to using audio tours over traditional guided tours?
Absolutely! Rick Steves' audio tours offer flexibility, allowing you to explore at your own pace. You can pause to take photos, enjoy a coffee at a charming café, or linger at breathtaking viewpoints without the constraints of a group tour. Plus, these audio tours cover a diverse range of destinations, so you can tailor your experience to your interests.
