Lower Manhattan: Wall Street to the World Trade Center
110 min · 3.5 km · easy
Rick Steves Audio Europe and Roamer are both self-guided audio tour apps, but they cover different ground. Rick Steves Audio Europe is free and trusted, with walking tours and travel interviews for more than 70 European cities, all in his familiar single voice, but it covers Europe only. Roamer covers cities across the Americas and Europe, uses GPS to trigger narration automatically as you walk, and is free to start with a low per-tour or pass price. In Europe, the two can happily coexist. Outside Europe, Roamer is the option.
Short answer: pick Rick Steves Audio Europe if you are visiting one of its 70-plus European cities and like his single trusted voice, because it is free. Pick Roamer if you want a city outside Europe, a specific neighborhood or theme, or GPS that plays each stop automatically. Every Roamer tour is free to begin (the introduction and first stop play in full, and every later stop plays a short preview before you decide), then $4.99 for one tour or a pass ($12.99 for 7 days, $19.99 for 30 days). Start free at roamer.travel/explore.
Roamer vs Rick Steves Audio Europe at a glance
| Roamer | Rick Steves Audio Europe | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free to start; $4.99 per tour, passes $12.99 or $19.99 | Free |
| Coverage | 100+ cities across 35 countries, Americas and Europe | 70+ European cities |
| Region | Global | Europe only |
| GPS triggering | Yes, automatic at each stop | Download tracks, play manually |
| Voice | Curated house style | Rick Steves' single voice |
| Offline | Yes | Yes |
When to use Rick Steves Audio Europe
Hear a stop from this walk
African Burial Ground: The Ground Under the City
If you are visiting a major European city that Rick Steves covers, and you enjoy his warm, opinionated style, his app is free and genuinely good. It is a natural companion to his guidebooks and public television work, and the price is unbeatable.
When to use Roamer
Use Roamer when you want something Rick Steves does not offer: a city outside Europe, a specific neighborhood or theme, or GPS that plays each stop automatically so you are not tapping your phone. Roamer covers cities across the Americas and Europe, every tour is free to start, and a 30-day pass covering everything is $19.99. Browse the tours to see what is covered.
The bottom line
In Europe, Rick Steves Audio Europe is a superb free starting point, and you can use Roamer alongside it for neighborhoods and themes he does not cover. Anywhere else, Roamer is your self-guided option. For the wider field, see the best self-guided walking tour apps.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Rick Steves Audio Europe free?
- Yes. Rick Steves Audio Europe is a free app with self-guided walking tours and interviews for more than 70 European cities. It covers Europe only.
- How is Roamer different from Rick Steves Audio Europe?
- Roamer covers cities across the Americas and Europe, not just Europe, and uses GPS to trigger narration automatically. It is free to start, then $4.99 per tour or $19.99 for a 30-day pass. Rick Steves is free but Europe-only.
- Which should I use in Europe?
- If Rick Steves covers your European city and you like his style, it is free and excellent. If you want a specific neighborhood, a different theme, or a city outside his list, check Roamer.