Travel podcasts that will make you want to pack your bags

Sometimes, the best journey begins with a pair of headphones. Whether you're counting down to your next vacation or simply dreaming of distant places from your desk, a great travel podcast can take you across continents with stories, insider tips, and local perspectives.

From hidden destinations and cultural deep dives to practical travel advice and inspiring conversations, these six podcasts deserve a spot in every travel lover's playlist.

1. The Atlas Obscura Podcast

If you're drawn to places that rarely make it into conventional guidebooks, ‘The Atlas Obscura Podcast’ is an easy recommendation. Hosted by Atlas Obscura co-founder ‘Dylan Thuras’, the daily show cast bite-sized episodes typically around 15 to 20 minutes that looks around the fascinating corners of the world.

Rather than focusing on famous landmarks, the podcast uncovers unusual architecture, historical sites, geographical oddities, and local stories. One standout episode explores London's Barbican, examining not just its Brutalist architecture but also its role as one of the city's increasingly rare "third places" where communities gather beyond home and work.

Start with: The Last Wild Apple Groves

2. Armchair Explorer

If you're looking for stories that make you feel as though you're actually there, ‘Armchair Explorer’ is exactly that. Hosted by award-winning travel writer Aaron Millar, the podcast combines immersive storytelling with cinematic sound design to take listeners into some of the world's most extraordinary places. Episodes include Amazon expeditions and African safaris to remote Indigenous communities, with people and cultures behind each destination.

Start with: Kayaking the Amazon

3. Travel With Rick Steves

For anyone planning a European getaway, few voices are as trusted as Rick Steves. His long-running travel shows destination advice with conversations featuring historians, tour guides, journalists, and locals who know their cities inside out.

While Europe remains its primary focus, the podcast is really about traveling with curiosity. Steves encourages listeners to skip tourist traps, embrace public transport, experience destinations like locals, and see culture shock as part of the adventure rather than something to avoid.

Start with: Bite of Rome; Heart of London; Spirit of Portugal

4. Extra Pack of Peanuts

‘Extra Pack of Peanuts’ are practical advices. Hosted by traveller Travis Sherry, the show covers everything from budget travel and airline miles to destination guides, travel hacking and long-term travel strategies. Through conversations with experienced travellers and industry experts, each episode brings useful tips that can help you travel smarter, whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a round-the-world adventure.

Start with: Best Travel Experiences of the Year

5. Amateur Traveler

Think of ‘Amateur Traveler’ as an audio guidebook with personality. Hosted by travel journalist Chris Christensen, each episode explores a single destination through conversations with local experts, historians, and experienced travelers.

The show balances iconic cities such as Paris, Dublin, and New York with lesser-known destinations, offering both practical itineraries and cultural context. With more than 1,000 episodes in its archive, chances are you'll find an episode dedicated to almost anywhere you're planning to visit even remote places like Yemen's ecologically unique island of Socotra.

Start with: Travel to Umbria in Italy

6. Deviate With Rolf Potts

Travel isn't always about checking destinations off a list, and that's exactly the philosophy behind ‘Deviate’. Writer and essayist Rolf Potts, known for championing long-term "vagabonding," uses the podcast to explore how travel can reshape the way we think about time, curiosity, and everyday life.

Rather than offering detailed itineraries, the conversations are reflective and free-flowing, encouraging listeners to embrace exploration as a mindset instead of simply a vacation.

Start with: Time Is Your Truest Form of Wealth (and Travel Helps You Embrace Your Riches)

7. The Travel Diaries

Hosted by London-based journalist Holly Rubenstein, ‘The Travel Diaries’ takes a more personal approach. Each guest from actors and musicians to chefs and athletes shares their life through seven memorable travel chapters.

Listeners hear stories about first childhood holidays, favorite hidden gems, unforgettable adventures, and even travel disasters. The podcast also features occasional "Destination Special" episodes where multiple guests celebrate a single destination through their own experiences.

Start with: Sir Michael Palin Returns

8. Zero to Travel

If you've ever wondered what it takes to make travel more than just an annual holiday, ‘Zero to Travel’ is the practical advice for turning that dream into reality. Host Jason Moore explores topics ranging from the digital nomad lifestyle to budget travel, sustainability, solo adventures, road trips, and travel hacking.

Even if full-time travel isn't on your agenda, the podcast provides useful planning tips and destination recommendations that can help any traveler get more from their next trip.

Start with: Top 15 U.S. National Park Hikes (or explore its episodes on budgeting and digital nomad life).

Compiled by Liya Shanawas