9 Quick Questions for Rick Steves

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.

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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].

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.

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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.