The best travel journalism has the ability to transport you to a new place, whether or not you’ve actually visited. These six podcasts offer a mix of evocative travelogues, practical tips and expert recommendations for destinations across the globe. They’re worth the listen, whether you’re jetting off or staying put this summer.
‘The Atlas Obscura Podcast’
This daily show tells short stories about awe-inspiring, but often overlooked, places. Most episodes run just 15 to 20 minutes long, but deliver immersive explorations of places and phenomena that may not appear in your average travel guides, including geographical oddities, offbeat architecture and sculptures, and historically significant sites. Hosted by Dylan Thuras, who co-founded the travel platform Atlas Obscura, the podcast features a rotating group of reporters who bring each location to life. One recent episode focused on The Barbican in London, a sprawling and singular complex that combines a residential development with Europe’s largest performing arts center. Alongside the history and cultural significance of the complex, the episode unpacks its importance as the kind of “third place” that’s becoming more and more scarce.
Starter episode: “The Last Wild Apple Groves”
‘Travel With Rick Steves’
This series has been on the air in some form for more than 20 years, originally debuting as a syndicated radio show in 2005. A typical episode will feature two or three conversations between the veteran travel writer Rick Steves and local experts who might be tour guides, historians, reporters, or expatriates who’ve made a life abroad. Although the show deals mainly with European destinations, Steves is big on encouraging travelers to step out of their comfort zones, and his advice emphasizes living like a local as much as possible by avoiding tourist traps, taking public transportation and approaching culture shock with curiosity rather than discomfort.
Starter episode: “Bite of Rome; Heart of London; Spirit of Portugal”
‘Amateur Traveler’
Each episode of “Amateur Traveler” is like a guidebook in audio form, offering advice, tips and cultural insights on a specific place. Chris Christensen, a travel journalist, interviews local experts, historians and fellow travelers to get their recommendations and suggested itineraries. Some episodes focus on popular urban destinations like Paris, Dublin and New York — and how to find hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path recommendations — while others offer primers on how to travel to far-flung destinations like the remote, ecologically unique Yemeni island, Socotra. The show just released its 1000th episode, which gives an indication of how extensive its archive is — whatever place you’re curious about, there’s almost guaranteed to be an installment to match.
Starter episode: “Travel to Umbria in Italy”
‘Deviate With Rolf Potts’
The writer and essayist Rolf Potts is a proponent of long-term travel, and much of his writing concentrates on how to make extended stretches of “vagabonding” accessible to anyone, both financially and logistically. Although travel is a central theme of this podcast, “Deviate” is less about tips or itineraries and more about broadening your worldview, embracing curiosity and fostering a spirit of exploration in daily life, not just on the road. As the title suggests, the conversations Potts shares with guests are unstructured and sometimes meandering, but reliably thoughtful and inspiring.
Starter episode: “Time is your truest form of wealth (and travel helps you embrace your riches)”
‘The Travel Diaries’
In this weekly interview show, high-profile guests delve into their personal travel history with Holly Rubenstein, a London-based journalist. Each episode is structured around seven specific “chapters” of travel, which are designed to elicit inspiring and intimate reflections. Among the topics: one’s earliest childhood memory of travel, favorite hidden gem and worst travel experience. The diverse lineup of guests includes actors, musicians, broadcasters, chefs and endurance athletes. There are also occasional “Destination Special” episodes, in which multiple guests share their memories of a particularly beloved place.
Starter episode: “Sir Michael Palin Returns”
‘Zero to Travel’
Americans’ interest in the “digital nomad” lifestyle has spiked over the past few years, but the seductive prospect of being permanently remote comes with potential pitfalls. On “Zero To Travel,” Jason Moore, the host, and his guests share tips on how to build a life in which pursuing wanderlust is the main goal, rather than an occasional add-on. For more traditional vacationers, there’s still plenty of practical advice to be had on subjects like budgeting and travel hacking, sustainability, solo versus group travel, road tripping and recommendation roundups like the top 15 U.S. National Park hikes.
Starter episode: “Turn Travel Into A Lifestyle With Goats On The Road”
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