Rick, just back from his annual vacation in the Alps, reports on his journey hiking the Alta Via trail from Cortina, Italy. With gorgeous photos, fresh-from-the-rucksack experiences, and piles of practical tips, Rick showcases why Alpine hiking has become his and his partner Shelley’s yearly getaway. After the hike, Rick includes the fun he had actually vacationing (and not updating his guidebook for a change) in Venice and the Cinque Terre. Plus, we relive the party the mayor of Lake Como’s Varenna threw for their favorite American travel writer. BYO Italian wine and don’t miss this fun edition of MNT!
– Rick’s Lecture Notes: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sjg5yybsabbsfpgw5jvx1/Rick-s-North-Italy-Lecture-Notes.pdf?rlkey=5tphk40v44p9m3ktxdtxzxquv&st=wfglp20n&dl=0
– Venice Guide Michael Broderick: https://www.venicescapes.org
– Venice Guide Igor Scomparin: https://www.tourleadervenice.com
– Outdoor Recreation Tour Operator Macs Adventure: https://www.macsadventure.com
– Cinque Terre eBike Company EbikeIn: https://www.ebikein-cinqueterre.it
– Wine Tasting at Cinque Terre Winery Eroico Vino: https://www.eroico-wine.com
– Wine Tasting with Cinque Terre Sommelier Yvonne Riccobaldi: https://apiedecampu5terre.wordpress.com/
– Hotel Pasquale in the Cinque Terre: https://www.hotelpasquale.it
– Hotel Villa Steno in the Cinque Terre: https://www.villasteno.com
– Rick’s “Austrian and Italian Alps” TV Episode: https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/austrian-and-italian-alps
– Rick’s MNT Trip Report on Hiking Around Mont Blanc: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/travel-classes/monday-night-travel/2021-trip-report
– Outside Magazine Article on Rick’s Love of Long-Distance Hiking: https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/rick-steves-hiking/
– Rick Steves Italy Tours: https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy
– Rick Steves Italy Guidebook: https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/italy-guidebook
– “Italy for Food Lovers” Book: https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/italy-for-food-lovers
– Follow Rick on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ricksteves
– Follow Rick on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ricksteves.bsky.social
– Follow Rick Steves’ Europe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ricksteveseurope/
– Check Out Rick Steves’ Europe on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ricksteveseurope
– Upcoming Monday Night Travel Events: http://www.ricksteves.com/mnt
– Upcoming Tours 101 Information Sessions: https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/101
#mondaynighttravel #ricksteves #italy
13 Comments
slideshow and talk from rick
Thanks Rick!
I'm glad that you had a chance to get a real vacation, not a working trip! I'm on my boat in the Edmonds marina, and will walk uptown this week to see your new ceiling.
Looks like a terrific trip. I am 64 and need to lose weight before I can do the hiking. I am taking a cruise out of Rome in October, next year.
Ben Green I took Rick Steves tour 21 day Best Europe in 2017 with you as an apprentice back then. Good to see you again in this video.
So happy to see Rick, Shelly and their friends enjoying a great hiking vacation. My husband and I spent the first two weeks of September on a Rick Steves "My Way" hiking tour in five Alpine countries. Early September is a great time to travel because so many people have gone back to school and work, you hit a nice lull. One of our stops was in the glorious town of Kastelruth. The cool, sunny day that we spent hiking in the Alpe di Siusi was one of the best days of my entire life. Everywhere you looked, jaw-dropping beauty. Our tour director, Axel, an avid hiker, gave us great advice about the best routes to take and reccomend useful huking apps. We normally take city vacations in Europe, this was our very first hiking trip, but it won't be our last. You get all of the European food and wine, plus you can get away from the crowds and be by yourselves in splendid nature. The Rick Steves Alpine route is so well curated, it gives you the best combination of authentic local vibes in quaint villiages and stunning mountain scenery. It was an absolutely marvelous holiday. Thank you to everyone on the RS Europe team!
So many people say not to bother with a gondola ride in Venice as it’s ‘touristy’, but we found being at water level was eye opening. Our 3rd generation gondolier showed us houses where the original first floor was gone, or just housing boats due to the rising water and climate change.
I’m taking a glass of red wine with you Rick. I can vouch that the Rick Steve’s App audio tours are the best. I explored Rome in a more fun and intimate way than if I had walked on my own. We even wound up at the BEST pizza spot in Rome because of the tour’s route. 🍕 😂 I can’t recommend it enough.
The area between Monte Crocione and Monte Genroso, in the mountains between Lake Como and Lake Lugano offers great hiking and spectacular views of both lakes. Rifugio Alpe di Colonno, Agriturismo Le Radici, Rifugio Alpino Boffalora and the town of Pigra are great places to get a good meal and a warm bed.
Glad I got to meet you in Varenna, Mr. Ambassador. It was a fun night.
Hi , I would recommend you to visiting Penang Island and Seberang Perai ( Penang Mainland ) . Because , it has a lot of the mysterious tourists attractions are waiting for you . 😊
🟢 Hello from Bucharest, Romania – a big underrated city in Europe:)
24:45 I did let out a sad laugh at Rick’s phrasing of this
Not the UsA. You need to blame China, India. You just want to hate our President like a spoiled brat. I expected more from you, Rick.