I am an avid podcast listener, and as a travel blogger and travel podcaster myself, audio is one of the ways I stay curious about the world and the tourism industry. I am always listening to shows that unpack how travel works, share honest stories from the road, or explore the cultural and social side of moving through different places.
Whether you travel often or just like learning about the world from your couch, podcasts are an easy way to step outside your routine and hear new perspectives.
From thoughtful conversations with solo women travelers to insights from tourism experts, this roundup of travel podcasts mixes storytelling, humour, and practical advice. These shows will keep you informed about travel and tourism, and might spark ideas for where you want to go next!
- 15 Travel Podcasts For Travel Tips and Inspiration
- 1. Curious Tourism: Responsible Travel Podcast
- 2. The Thoughtful Travel Podcast
- 3. Travel With Rick Steves
- 4. Winging It Travel Podcast
- 5. Women Who Travel | Condé Nast Traveller
- 6. Travel In 10 Podcast
- 7. Zero To Travel
- 8. The Atlas Obscura Podcast
- 9. Travel With Meaning
- 10. Travel Tales Podcast
- 11. Peak Travel
- 12. JUMP with Traveling Jackie
- 13. Armchair Explorer
- 14. Amateur Traveler
- 15. The Frommer’s Travel Show
- Travel Podcasts to Add to Your Listening List
15 Travel Podcasts For Travel Tips and Inspiration
Plug in your headphones, settle in, and start listening. Below are some of the best travel podcasts, along with a standout episode from each one to help you get started.
1. Curious Tourism: Responsible Travel Podcast
What does it take to make travel better for people and the planet? On Curious Tourism, travel writer Erin Hynes (that’s me!) and podcast producer, Kattie Laur chat with guests as they explore their curiosities around what truly makes travel and tourism responsible.
The goal of this show is to cover both the pros and cons of tourism. Every episode features a travel expert or thought leader to unpack important topics, like accessibility in the tourism industry, why a passport is a privilege, and why we shouldn’t gatekeep the outdoors.
Every episode introduces unique and underrepresented perspectives, and provides the tools and information travelers need to travel the world in a mindful way.
Start listening: Should We Gatekeep the Outdoors?
2. The Thoughtful Travel Podcast
I know the host of this show, Amanda Kendle, personally. In fact, I’ve had her on my podcast, Curious Tourism, twice!
Amanda launched The Thoughtful Travel Podcast in March 2016. In every episode she interviews her fellow travel addicts about their travel experiences, and digs up some of their best stories.
Episodes touch on interesting (and thoughtful!) topics like using foreign languages, meeting the locals, getting lost, and what we learn from our travels. The show’s topics, stories, and guests are highly relatable and every episode leaves you with at least one helpful takeaway.
Start listening: What Does Thoughtful Travel Mean?
3. Travel With Rick Steves
This is a long-running travel podcast that features an iconic travel personality: Rick Steves. Rick is a leading authority on travel to Europe and beyond. He’s the host and writer of over a hundred public television travel shows and has authored 30 best-selling guidebooks.
Travel With Rick Steves is a public radio show turned podcast. It’s where Rick shares his passion for exploring and understanding our beautiful world to your earbuds.
In every weekly episode, he chats with guest experts and callers about travel, cultures, people, and more. Rick’s talent for compelling conversation and descriptive writing comes through in this podcast – listen in for wonderful stories and fantastic travel advice.
Start listening: What’s New in Venice; The Senior Nomads Come Home; Food Tours in Europe
4. Winging It Travel Podcast
On Winging It Travel podcast, well-traveled host James Hammond has discussions with a wide range of guests about all things travel. The show follows a conversational format and covers topics like what it’s like to travel without a strict itinerary, and how to have a cultural experience.
This anecdotal and informative podcast is for backpackers, travelers, or for anyone who is interested in traveling in the future. Winging It has a casual vibe that makes you feel like you’re right there in the room with friends, and hearing their stories first-hand.
Start listening: Traveling With Erin Hynes (yes, I’ve been a guest on this show!)
5. Women Who Travel | Condé Nast Traveller
On Women Who Travel, Condé Nast Traveler editor Lale Arikoglu highlights the stories of women in travel. In every episode, Lale chats with a woman-identifying guest about their travels around the world.
In listening to Women Who Travel, you’ll be inspired by women travelers’ ideas and experiences. Discover the magic of island life in Scandinavia, hear about how two best friends are eating their way around the world, and learn the story of a woman who traveled to Barcelona to freeze her eggs.
Start listening: A Life-Changing Move to Rural Thailand
6. Travel In 10 Podcast
Travel In 10 is hosted by David Brodie and Tim Johnson, and it does exactly what the name promises. Episodes are short, usually between 10 and 15 minutes, and focus on practical travel ideas like interesting places to go, standout hotels, food spots, festivals, and simple tips you can actually use.
Both hosts have spent years traveling, and Tim brings a travel writer’s perspective to the conversations. What really sets this podcast apart is how efficient it is. There is no filler, no long intros, just clear recommendations and context. It is also one of the earliest travel podcasts, which shows in how confident and polished the format feels.
Start listening: Exploring Parisian Markets, Jazz Clubs & Boutique Hotels
7. Zero To Travel
The Zero To Travel Podcast is a long-running travel podcast packed with diverse perspectives, travel inspiration, and practical advice for everyone from travel newbies to long-time nomads.
In every episode, travel expert Jason Moore chats with guests about their experiences. They share actionable advice and key resources, and discuss topics like; starting and running an online business from anywhere, how to plan your next career break, budget travel strategies, digital nomad life, and more.
Zero To Travel covers a range of topics that will inspire you in an easy-listening format. Jason is a pleasure to listen to and does a great job of summarizing helpful and actionable takeaways from every episode.
Start listening: How to Live Your Best Travel Life
8. The Atlas Obscura Podcast
Atlas Obscura co-founder and host Dylan Thuras takes listeners on an audio journey to discover new and hidden places that could be on the other side of the world, or nearby in their own backyard.
In every 15-minute episode, Dylan interviews journalists and experts to hear the stories and history that makes places around the world so special.
From the Pigeon Towers of Iran to New York City’s black oyster king, every episode will introduce you to an interesting person, story, place, or cultural practice.
Start listening: The Village Where Every Person’s Name Is a Song
9. Travel With Meaning
This show is hosted by Mike Schibel, founder of the website Travel With Meaning. In every episode, Mike chats with a guest about how travel has impacted their life.
You’ll hear from people of all walks of life, including artists, entertainers, athletes, entrepreneurs, CEO’s, travel experts. Learn how a lawyer became a full-time travel blogger, learn about a platform inspiring individuals of all sizes to explore the globe, and hear from CEOs who’s businesses were inspired by their travels.
Start listening: Beauty Beyond Borders: Shalini Vadhera’s Inspirational Story
10. Travel Tales Podcast
Hosted by comedian and TV host Mike Siegel, this travel podcast will get you laughing! Mike Siegel sits down with a mix of people, including comedians, actors, writers, producers, and travel professionals, to dig into the joys (and nightmares) of travel.
Every episode is a light-hearted discussion that will leave you feeling inspired to get back out into the world. Having published over 350 episodes, there’s a huge backlog of travel tales that you can binge, as well two new episodes released every month.
Start listening: Christina Johnston
11. Peak Travel
Peak Travel is a podcast that examines the problems created by tourism through the eyes of locals. Every episode of this show asks us to question our travel choices through a more nuanced lens.
Peak Travel has covered issues around overtourism in Barcelona, displacement of locals in Mexico City, and why Hawaii doesn’t want any more tourists to visit.
This show uses on-location sound from around the world to tell important stories about the $1.9 trillion travel industry and its impact on people and the planet.
What I love most about it is that these stories aren’t designed to make anyone feel guilty about their travels. Instead, it’s meant to encourage us all to be more conscious of how we travel.
Start listening: The Porters of Machu Picchu
12. JUMP with Traveling Jackie
Hosted by travel blogger Jackie Nourse, JUMP is your invitation to adventure. In every episode of this long-running travel podcast, you’ll hear a mix of guest stories, solo episodes, and the occasional raw and personal account of travel.
Learn about the impacts of alternative tourism in Baja California Sur, hear advice for studying and teaching abroad, and discover all the benefits of going on a group trip. Ultimately, Jackie’s goal is to motivate you to move and get out and see the world.
Start listening: Sustainability and Rewilding in the Real Patagonia
13. Armchair Explorer
Aaron Millar hosts this podcast which tells the stories of the world’s greatest adventurers. Each episode is done in a documentary style set to music and cinematic effects which makes for an immersive experience!
This is a unique listen because the sound design really transports you to the place being discussed. This show will inspire you to connect deeply with the outdoors, adventure, travel, and culture.
Start listening: Rowing Solo Across the Atlantic While Recovering from Brain Surgery
14. Amateur Traveler
The Amateur Traveler is a popular travel podcast hosted by Chris Christensen. The show focuses on travel destinations around the world, and the best places to travel to.
Each episode features interviews with travelers and location experts, providing tips, cultural insights, and personal experiences. Whether you’re planning your next trip or exploring new destinations vicariously, the show covers a wide range of locations and themes.
You’ll learn important things like, what to put on your Chicago hot dog when you visit the Windy City, and how to go swimming with whales in Tonga. And with a backlog of over 900 episodes, you’ll have plenty of old episodes to binge when you dive into this one!
Start listening: Sailing the Caribbean on the Windstar Star Breeze
15. The Frommer’s Travel Show
Frommer’s Travel Show is required listening if you care about travel media. The Frommer name has long been part of shaping how people travel. Arthur Frommer’s guidebooks in the 1950s started a legacy that carries through to this podcast.
Hosted by Pauline Frommer, the podcast focuses on what is actually happening in travel right now. Episodes cover everything from shifting travel trends and practical ways to save money, to thoughtful conversations about culture, media, and how we experience places.
With hundreds of episodes and guests that include well-known TV hosts, writers, and journalists from major publications, this is a podcast I dip into when I want context, and a clearer understanding of how the travel world is evolving.
Start listening: Tours for People Who Don’t Want to Be “Tourists”, Plus a Deep Dive Into the Spiritual Life of Japan
Travel Podcasts to Add to Your Listening List
If you’re eager to fuel your wanderlust, learn how to deep travel, gain practical travel tips, and learn why we all should be pivoting to sustainable tourism, these podcasts are for you.
If you’re curious about responsible travel, Curious Tourism offers thought-provoking discussions on how to travel mindfully, while The Thoughtful Travel Podcast dives into the important lessons learned through global experiences. And if laughter is what you’re after, Travel Tales Podcast mixes humor with adventure, reminding us of the joys (and occasional mishaps) that make travel so memorable.
Whether you’re planning your next trip or just daydreaming about the world, these podcasts provide a perfect blend of inspiration, education, and entertainment. So, plug in, get inspired, and let these travel stories take you on a journey—one episode at a time.
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