Rick Steves Europe

Rick Steves' Europe is a family-owned travel company built around the belief that European travel is both intellectually enriching and deeply personal. Founded by Rick Steves in the early 1990s, it has grown from a single guidebook series into a full-service travel resource reaching millions of travelers each year. Headquartered in Edmonds, Washington, the team of writers, researchers, and tour guides shares a practical, culturally curious philosophy of travel.

The Europe Through the Back Door guidebook series is the company's cornerstone, emphasizing independent travel, neighborhood exploration, and meaningful encounters with locals. Complementing the books, Rick Steves' Europe offers small-group guided tours across dozens of countries, with expert pacing, hidden-gem itineraries, and like-minded travelers. Tours range from themed city weekends to multi-country Grand Europe circuits, all built around the same idea: pack light, relax, and say "yes" to new experiences.

More recently, the company has expanded into audio and digital learning with Rick Steves Audio Europe, a subscription library of self-guided walking tours and museum commentaries available via mobile app. It also produces the public television series Rick Steves' Europe, bringing European art, history, and culture into American living rooms. Through every channel, the mission remains consistent: to make European travel accessible, respectful, and transformative for ordinary people.