Rails, Ales & Old Towns: The Europe Travel Podcast
DON’T GO TO EUROPE ... without listening to this podcast. Writer and lover of European travel Scott Hartbeck takes you on a grand tour of the continent, celebrating all the great things to eat, drink, and do while you’re there. Expect plenty of travel tips and inspiration as Scott explores a wide range of European destinations—from the iconic to the underrated—alongside local experts and globetrotting friends. Scott has been going to Europe for nearly 20 years and, in addition to collecting an abundance of stories and insider advice, has developed a true passion for all the fun little things that make the European travel experience so special. Follow @railsalesoldtowns on Instagram & Facebook for European travel inspiration between episodes.
Episodes
Scott is joined by longtime friend Stu Wilson, whom he met while traveling in Europe. Scott and Stu recall the eventful night in Vienna when they became pals before Stu paints a picture of his recent trip to Naples, Italy. Stu dishes out tips on visiting Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius and places where he enjoyed pizza in the city. (The discussion of Naples begins around the 15:00 mark.)
Scott is joined by Matt Floret, the founder of Food Lover Tour, to talk about all the great things to eat, drink, and do in Barcelona, Spain. Matt serves up his personal recommendations of restaurants, bars, and places to avoid the crowds and also suggests some lesser-known things to do in the city.
Show notes and links to all places discussed can be found here: https://www.railsalesoldtowns.com/ep21.
Follow @railsalesoldtowns on ...
Scott is joined by Judy Yorke, author of Crowded Platforms and Window Seats, to discuss the fantastic family Interrail (Eurail) trip that inspired her book. In addition, they chat at length about the all-around magic of European rail travel, and Judy dishes out advice for families looking to follow in her footsteps.
Show notes & links to all places discussed can be found here: https://www.railsalesoldtowns.com/ep20.
Scott is joined by Joel Hedman, a Stockholm tour guide and beer judge to talk about what makes his hometown such a great place to visit. Joel recommends his favorite beer bars in the city (with an emphasis on the cool Södermalm neighborhood) before talking about post-drink snacks and all the other great things to do in Stockholm, like visiting famous sights like the Vasa Museum & offbeat attractions, taking day trips to the loc...
Scott is joined by Lukáš Vondra, founder of Prague Beer Guides, to talk about the beer culture in the Czech capital and some of the best off-the-beaten-path things to do and see in the city. Lukáš also talks about what it's like guiding visitors around Prague, recommends some of his favorite pubs and tells us what food to eat while drinking Czech pilsner.
Show notes & links to pubs and places discussed can be found here: https...
Scott welcomes back longtime friend, world traveler & former travel writer Adam Seper for a full account of his recent trip to Croatia. Adam and his family visited multiple islands in addition to Plitvice Lakes National Park, and on the show, Adam offers up some advice you'll want to know if you're considering a trip to Croatia.
Show notes & links to places discussed can be found here: https://www.railsalesoldtowns.com/ep17...
Scott is joined by travel writer Rory Moulton to talk about The Luberon Loop, which is his custom guide to walking one of France's most wonderful regions. Show notes & links to places discussed can be found here: https://www.railsalesoldtowns.com/ep16.
Follow @railsalesoldtowns on Instagram & Facebook for more Europe trip inspiration.
Rail is by far the best way to see Europe, and the best way to experience Europe by rail is with a Eurail pass (Interrail pass). In this episode, Scott is joined by Hugo Van Vondelen from Eurail to discuss what makes the legendary rail pass unique while sharing plenty of tips and tales of riding the rails.
Show notes & links to places discussed can be found here: https://railsalesoldtowns.com/ep15
Follow @railsalesoldtowns on ...
Scott chats with Franz Hofer, an expert on German beer culture, about the charm of the beer gardens in Germany's Bavaria region and why they are so much more than just a place to have a beer. Franz gives a quick history lesson of these heavenly al fresco drinking spots before serving up tips on some of the best beer gardens to see during your next trip.
Show notes & links to all beer gardens discussed can be found here: https:...
Scott is joined by Neil Robinson, comedian and co-founder of canal boat tour company Those Dam Boat Guys to talk about why Amsterdam is such a special place. Neil gives his local advice for visiting, including tips on waterside bars, under-the-radar attractions and food to try in the city.
Show notes & links to places discussed can be found here: http://www.railsalesoldtowns.com/ep13.
Follow @railsalesoldtowns on Instagram &am...
Scott is joined by travel writer Joana Taborda to talk about the fun of exploring her home country of Portugal by rail and to discuss some of her favorite Portuguese travel destinations. Then, Joana shares some tips for making the most of your time in Lisbon, including advice on craft breweries, scenic overlooks and the best month to visit.
Show notes & links to places discussed can be found here: http://www.railsalesoldtowns....
Scott is joined by Gábor Bánfalvi from Taste Hungary for a fun dive into the Hungarian wine scene. After a whirlwind tour of some of Hungary's best wine regions and grapes, Gábor gives some personal tips for experiencing the capital Budapest.
Show notes & links to places discussed can be found here: http://www.railsalesoldtowns.com/ep11.
Follow @railsalesoldtowns on Instagram & Facebook for more Europe trip inspiration.
Scott is joined by Stu Stuart (founder of Belgian Beer Me! Tours) to talk about why underrated Belgium is such a sensational European destination. Stu shares personal Belgium travel tips, including advice on beer cafes in Bruges & frites in Ghent, and stories from his years of leading beer pilgrims on tours across Belgium.
Show notes & links to places discussed can be found here: http://www.railsalesoldtowns.com/ep10.
Scott is joined by Kenny Dunn, founder of Eating Europe food tours, for a food-focused chat about Rome featuring plenty of personal recommendations and advice on pizza, coffee and late-night bites. Kenny also suggests some of his favorite lesser-known things to see and do in the city.
Show notes & links to places discussed can be found here: http://www.railsalesoldtowns.com/ep9.
Scott talks with Claudia Neumann (Director of Corporate Communications at Visit Cologne) during the lead-up to the city's famous Carnival celebrations about why Cologne might just be Germany's most underrated big city.
Show notes & links to places discussed can be found here: http://www.railsalesoldtowns.com/ep8.
Follow @railsalesoldtowns on Instagram & Facebook for more Europe trip inspiration.
Learn how to discover a different side of Venice and leave the crowds behind. First, Scott speaks with Lucrezia Della Sala of Secret Venice Tours for a run-down of ways to see the local side of the city (including tips on food & drink). Then, Elena Almansi of Row Venice joins the show to talk about what it's like teaching visitors the art of traditional Venetian rowing.
Scott is joined by longtime friend Chris Kramer for a full recount & review of his recent trip to Greece, an adventure that included stops in Athens, The Peloponnese, Crete and Santorini.
Show notes & links to places discussed can be found here: http://www.railsalesoldtowns.com/ep6.
Follow @railsalesoldtowns on Instagram & Facebook for more Europe trip inspiration.
Scott and co-founder of Vacations By Rail Todd Powell talk about the many reasons why traveling Europe by train is such a magnificent experience. Todd chooses his dream European trip.
Show notes & links to places discussed can be found here: http://www.railsalesoldtowns.com/ep5.
Follow @railsalesoldtowns on Instagram & Facebook for more Europe trip inspiration.
Whet your appetite for a trip to Seville. Scott chats with Baptiste Rogé of Food Lover Tour in Andalucia about all that makes this Spanish city so special, which includes a generous helping of great Seville food & drink. Baptiste chooses his dream European trip.
Show notes & links to places discussed can be found here: http://www.railsalesoldtowns.com/ep4.
Follow @railsalesoldtowns on Instagram & Facebook for more Eur...
Get to know a true hidden gem in Europe: Graz, Austria. Scott is joined by Sigrid Alber, a tour guide who has been showing travelers around her city for over 30 years. Sigrid chooses her dream trip to Europe.
Show notes can be found here: http://www.railsalesoldtowns.com/ep3
Follow @railsalesoldtowns on Instagram & Facebook for more Europe trip inspiration.
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