Rick Steves' Europe: Audio Walking Tours

A Podcast is a series of audio or video programs covering one topic of information delivered through software such as iTunes. Users can download podcasts over the Internet for playback on mobile devices and personal computers.

What is the difference between podcasts, mp3 downloads, and streaming audio files?

A podcast is simply a series of downloadable audio or video programs delivered to your computer with special software (we recommend iTunes). New "episodes" of a podcast are normally available on a weekly or daily basis. When users "subscribe" to podcasts each new episode that is added will be downloaded for you automatically. Currently, Rick offers 3 types of podcasts: video, radio, and audio tours.

MP3 downloads are audio files, usually contained within .zip folders, that users can download, save directly to any folder on their computer, and listen to whenever they like without having to connect to the internet again. Currently, Rick offers mp3 downloads for his Italy Audio Tours and France Audio Tours only.

Streaming audio files are files users can play directly off a website, without downloading anything. Currently, Rick offers streaming audio files for his archived radio shows only (high-speed internet connection recommended).

What kinds of Podcasts does Rick Steves' offer?

Rick currently offers the following podcasts:

Weekly installments of his radio show, Travel with Rick Steves
Weekly installments of European Video Podcasts
Italy Audio Tours — an enhanced podcast including an audio tour of Italy's best sights with video navigation images (depending on your player) and printable PDF companion maps
France Audio Tours — an enhanced podcast including an audio tour of France's best sights with video navigation images (depending on your player) and printable PDF companion maps

How can I subscribe to a podcast feed on my computer?

The most popular method for subscribing to podcasts is by using Apple iTunes. If you are new to podcasting, get started by downloading the iTunes software to your computer (free, no obligation to purchase anything). After you have installed the software, subscribe to the podcast of your choice by returning to the "Subscribe to our Podcasts" page or by searching for "Rick Steves' Podcasts" in the iTunes music store.

How do I download Rick's Podcasts?

Podcasts are free and you do not need any special equipment, just a computer with speakers and a high speed Internet connection. If you want to take your podcasts on the road with you, transfer them to any MP3 player. Some people copy the shows to CDs to listen in their cars. If you have not yet tried podcasting, we recommend Apple iTunes. To get started, download the iTunes software to your computer (free, no obligation to purchase anything). After you have installed the software, subscribe to our podcast. You can find all our podcasts at www.ricksteves.com/podcast

How do I use iTunes once I have it installed?

If you use iTunes, you can download Rick's podcasts for free. Simply visit Travel with Rick Steves, Rick Steves' Europe Video, Rick Steves' Italy Audio Tours or Rick Steves' France Audio Tours on iTunes to see a list of episodes. Highlight the episode that you want, then click "Get Episode."

How can I transfer files into iTunes?

It is much easier to use iTunes than downloading the files onto a file on your computer, but if the files are already on your computer, you can still transfer them into iTunes by following these steps:

1: If you are transferring audio tour files from onto your itunes you will first need to "unzip" the folder. Windows prompts you to do this automatically once you click on the folder name.

2: Go into iTunes and along the top menu bar select "File" and "add folder to library." Select the unzipped folder containing your audio tours (or in the case of our podcast, the folder containing the audio files) and click "OK." The files will actually appear under "Music" in the left hand navigation. Just sort the columns by "Date Added."

I do not have an iPod — can I still listen to Rick's podcasts?

Yes. You do not need to own an iPod in order to use iTunes or listen to Rick's podcasts. You can download iTunes and subscribe to any of Rick's podcasts, then listen to episodes through your computer, or burn them to a CD and listen to them in your car. You donnot need to have an iPod in order to download iTunes.

You can also download individual audio tour mp3 files at www.ricksteves.com/audiotours. You can listen to the mp3s with your computer, or with the mp3 player of your choice.

How do I transfer the podcast files from iTunes to my iPod?

Create a new playlist and drag and drop the files from either the "podcasts" or "music" tab (in the left had side of iTunes) to that playlist. Now you can transfer the playlist to your iPod.

How do I transfer the podcast files from iTunes to a CD?

Create a new playlist and drag and drop the files from either the "podcasts" or "music" tab (in the left had side of iTunes) to that playlist. Select all the files you want to transfer to a CD and click the "Burn Disc" button at the bottom of your iTunes interface.

I have iTunes — can I download selected podcast episodes only?

Yes. There are two ways to do this.

1. If you would like to download only specific episodes of your choice, do not "subscribe" to the entire podcast, but rather, in iTunes, browse the episode description and click on the "Get Episode" button that appears next to the episode you would like to download.

2. If you are already subscribing to a podcast in iTunes, you can change your preferences by going to "Edit" then "Preferences." Select the "Podcast" tab in the preferences window and you will see your options.

Remember, you can always stream past radio programs live from your computer (which does not involve downloading a file) anytime at www.ricksteves.com/radio/archive.htm.

How do I view the video podcast on my iPod?

You must have an iPod capable of playing video in order to enjoy our video podcast. If your iPod is capable of playing video, once you download our European Video podcasts or our Italy or France Audio tours, you will see the video or art play on the screen of your iPod when you select a video or audio tour for playback.

How do I Use Rick Steves' Podcasts once I download them using iTunes?

Once the audio tours are on your computer, you can listen to them using iTunes by double clicking on the episode you would like to hear. Most travelers will use iTunes to put the audio tours on an iPod, but you can also burn them onto a CD and listen to them in your car, or on a CD player at home.

How can I get past episodes or archived shows?

You can get any past episode of Rick's Radio, Video, or Audio Tour podcasts through itunes by following these steps:

1. Open iTunes and click on "Music Store" in the source menu (left side of the page)

2. In the Music Store, click on Podcasts (third link down on the left side, under the heading "Inside the Music Store")

3. Type "Rick Steves' Podcasts" in the Search bar (an empty text box on the left side of the page with a magnifying glass icon) and hit enter

4. Click on the podcast image button for the podcast you wish to find past episodes for.

5. After you click on the image, you will see all of Rick's shows, from the most recent to the oldest. You can scroll all the way to the right and click on "Get Episode" for any programs you would like to add into your iTunes podcast folder.

How do I play the podcast on my iPod?

To take the Rick Steves' podcasts along with you to Europe, simply put them on your iPod (download them from iTunes, described above, and sync your iPod up to your computer). Once you've transferred the audio tours to your iPod, you can access them from the iPod's main menu by selecting "Music," then "Podcasts." Choose the podcast and episode you'd like to hear.

If you are listening to one of Rick's audio tours, when the tour begins you'll hear Rick describing the history of each work of art or attraction, while co-hosts Kate Fleming and Joan Robinson help you navigate to the next stop. As the tour plays, you'll see small photos of what's being described. At the bottom of the screen, you'll also notice a "timeline" for the entire Audio Tour, broken into chapters — each one describing a different stop on the tour, and each one illustrated by a different image. At any time, you can skip to the next stop by pressing the right/forward arrow, and you can go back to the previous stop by pressing the left/back arrow. Pressing the play/pause button temporarily stops or re-starts the commentary.

The center button on your iPod — right in the middle of the click wheel — can be pressed to toggle through various displays. If you press it once, you'll see a subtitle just above the timeline noting where you are in the tour; when you see this subtitle, you can rotate the click wheel to move quickly forward and backward within the audio tour. If you press the center button twice in rapid succession, you'll see a larger version of the image illustrating the commentary. If you press the button three times in a row, you'll see more written details about the tour — including the cost, opening hours, and location of the museum being described. If you press it a fourth time, you'll go back to the main screen.

How can I use the Audio Tour Companion Maps?

For best results, Rick's audio tours should be used hand-in-hand with his guidebooks (which include important details and maps covering each sight). But if you prefer, you can download a PDF companion map for each audio tour (described above; available on this website and on iTunes). Once the PDF file is on your computer, simply open it, print your map, and take it along.

How can I power my iPod in Europe?

Check to make sure the charger that came with your iPod is dual voltage, which is indicated by the number range "110-220" appearing somewhere on the charger itself. If it is dual voltage, you will only need a plug adapter, which we sell in our online Travel Store.

The content of Rick Steves' Italy and France Audio Tours is excerpted from his European guidebooks, co-authored by Rick Steves, Steve Smith, and Gene Openshaw. Rick's books are published by Avalon Travel Publishing in Berkeley, CA. Rick's audio tour production work was done by Cedar House Audio in Seattle, WA.