Rick Steves' Europe Video
Episodes
Rick Steves' Europe Preview: The Heart of England
15 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Check your local public television station for this new Rick Steves’ Europe episode! The heartland of England has sights that put the "Great" in Bri...
Burgundy, France: Village Life
10 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
French rural living celebrates simple pleasures. A great way to experience that is to rent a house in the country. At http://www.ricksteves.com, you'l...
Cornwall, England: Tin Mines
03 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The evocative coast of Cornwall, England, is dotted with 19th-century Industrial Age ruins. The iconic smokestacks today are the dramatic remnants of ...
Waterford, Ireland: The Oldest City in Ireland
26 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Waterford is the main city of southeast Ireland, and claims to be the oldest city in the entire country. The Vikings landed here in 850 and establishe...
Madrid, Spain: Remembering the Civil War
19 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Valley of the Fallen, near Madrid, is an immense and powerful underground monument to the victims of Spain's devastating Civil War. Picasso's famo...
Volterra, Italy: Etruscan Haven
12 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Like many popular Tuscan towns, Volterra sits on an Etruscan foundation. Its Etruscan Museum is filled top to bottom with precious artifacts from cent...
Granada, Spain: Reconquista Legacies
05 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Granada, Spain's cathedral facade, built shortly after the Reconquista, declares triumph for the victorious Christian forces. The adjacent Royal Chape...
Cobh, Ireland: History and Heritage
29 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If your ancestors are Irish, chances are they left from Cobh. Of the millions of Irish who emigrated to America, Canada, and Australia, nearly half sa...
London, England: Victoria and Albert Museum
22 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The immense Victoria and Albert Museum is named for the royal couple who did so much to support the many triumphs of their day. It's free to visit, an...
Toledo, Spain: Magnificent Cathedral
15 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Toledo, Spain’s leading Catholic city, has a magnificent cathedral. Shoehorned into the old center, its exterior rises brilliantly above the medieva...
Wittenberg and Wartburg, Germany: Luther Sights
08 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Wittenberg's top sight, the Lutherhaus, is where Martin Luther lived. Today, it's an excellent museum displaying original artifacts. Nearby Wartburg C...
Segovia, Spain: Architectural Beauty
01 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Segovia — a historic town of 55,000 with a rich history and a famous Roman aqueduct — is well worth a visit. Visitors interested in history and ar...
Pienza, Italy: Renaissance Remodel
25 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Pienza is a small town that packs a lot of Renaissance punch. In the 1400s, Pope Pius II of the Piccolomini family decided to remodel his hometown in ...
London, England: Apsley House
18 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Apsley House was the mansion of the Duke of Wellington, who beat Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815. The Duke of Wellington was once the most famous man in ...
Ávila, Spain: Perfectly Preserved
11 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ávila is famous for its perfectly preserved medieval walls. Built in around 1100, its wall is the most complete in all of Spain. At http://www.rickst...
Cornwall, England: Penwith Peninsula
05 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The top charms of Cornwall are gathered in its extreme western tip: the Penwith Peninsula. Those who get out of the car and hike are richly rewarded. ...
Burgundy, France: Château de la Rochepot
27 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Château de la Rochepot is a fine example of Burgundy, France's unspoilt charm. Constructed near the end of the Middle Ages, when castles were built t...
Córdoba, Spain: Andalucían Lifestyle
20 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Córdoba's narrow, flower-bedecked lanes invite exploration. And here, as throughout Andalucía, festivals fill the calendar. At http://www.ricksteves...
Volterra, Italy: Civic History
13 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Italian towns like Volterra were truly city-states — they were fiercely independent and relatively democratic. Visiting as a traveler today, there's...
Kilronan, Ireland: Gaelic Traditions
06 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Aran Islands are a Gaeltacht — an area of Ireland that speaks Gaelic and maintains Ireland's traditional culture. Kilronan (the only real town o...
Granada, Spain: Albayzín and Alcaicería
30 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Albayzín in Granada is Spain's best old Moorish quarter, with its labyrinthine back lanes and inviting neighborhood squares. The Alcaicería, or ...
Beachy Head, England: English Natural Beauty
23 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters, a series of chalk cliffs, are a stretch of the South Downs Way public walking trail in southeast England. The nearb...
Würzburg, Germany: Residenz
16 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Opulent as a German Versailles, the prince-bishop's Residenz is the main attraction of Würzburg. The palace features several grand frescoes by the Ve...
Dingle, Ireland: Irish Culture
09 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Dingle is so traditionally Irish because it's a Gaeltacht, a region where the Irish culture survives, subsidized by the government. While English is a...
Portsmouth, England: Historic Dockyard
02 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Back when Britain ruled the waves, it did so with its mighty navy, based in Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard. This sprawling museum highlights England's...
Dresden, Germany: Zwinger and Parade of Nobles
25 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Augustus the Strong's royal festival complex, called the Zwinger, is an example of how the king's extravagance made Dresden a European capital of cult...
Dingle Peninsula, Ireland: Great Blasket Island
18 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The story of Great Blasket Island's tiny community — just a ghost town today — gives an insight to the soul of Ireland. Taking a boat ride there i...
Beaune, France: Market Day
11 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
To enjoy any small French town at its vibrant best, it's worth visiting on its market day. And the townscape of Beaune, lassoed within its medieval wa...
Porthcurno, England: Cornwall's Coastal Gem
04 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With its graceful arc and golden sand, the beach at Porthcurno seems to have been imported from some far-away tropical paradise. For some history and ...
Hamburg, Germany: Maritime Metropolis
28 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Heavy damage in World War II devastated the commercial center of Hamburg, Germany. But it's been enthusiastically rebuilt, and, since the reunificatio...
Nürnberg, Germany: National Museum and Albrecht Dürer House
14 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Nürnberg's Germanic National Museum is dedicated to sharing the cultural history of the German-speaking world. Across the river, the Albrecht Dürer ...
Assisi, Italy: Legacy of St. Francis
28 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In 1209, St. Francis established the Franciscan Order in Assisi, Italy. His legacy survives to this day and can be found in chapels and monasteries in...
Stanton, England: Church of St. Michael
21 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Cotswold village churches welcome walkers to pop in and enjoy a thoughtful break. Inside Stanton's Church of St. Michael, you get a sense that this ch...
Cornwall, England: Cornish Pride
14 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Cornwall was part of a "Celtic crescent" that nearly circles England. The Cornish people spoke their own language, which thrived for centuries. Cornwa...
Tuscany, Italy: Farm to Table
07 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In rural Tuscany, you feel an enthusiasm for tradition. The Zanda family raises a rare breed of pigs brought back from the edge of extinction by peopl...
Venice, Italy: Grand Canal Palaces
31 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Because of its former wealth, Venice is a city of palaces, and the most lavish face the Grand Canal. Enjoying the views from a vaporetto is the best w...
Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria: Medieval Capital
24 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Veliko Tarnovo is Bulgaria's medieval capital. The ruins of its fortress are a reminder of the city's importance 800 years ago, and its craft street r...
Florence, Italy: Palazzo Vecchio
17 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Palazzo Vecchio is Florence's City Hall. While the exterior is medieval, Michelangelo's "David" (this one's a replica) seems to welcome you into the R...
Carpathian Mountains, Romania: Peleș Castle
10 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Prickly with over-the-top spires, Romania's Peleș Castle ranks among Europe's finest Romantic Age palaces. It boasts one of the most dazzling late-19...
Verona, Italy: House of Juliet and Castelvecchio
03 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet made Verona, Italy, a popular destination, but a visit to the “House of Juliet” has nothing to do with the fictiona...
Thracian Plain, Bulgaria: Valley of the Roses
27 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The Thracian Plain, defined by Bulgaria's two major mountain ranges, was a busy funnel of trade throughout ancient times. This region is also called t...
Siena, Italy: Grand Gothic Cathedral
20 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Siena's 13th-century Gothic cathedral, with its striped tower, is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and covered with art. A highlight is the church's Picco...
Sevilla, Spain: Barrio de Santa Cruz
13 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Sevilla, Spain's Santa Cruz neighborhood comes with a timeless beauty. Explore, wandering among lanes too narrow for cars, whitewashed houses corralli...
Venice, Italy: Accademia Gallery
06 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
To get a sense of how Venice was in earlier times, head to the Accademia Gallery, the best museum for Venetian Renaissance painting. The Venetian love...
Loire, France: Royal Retreats
29 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The Loire River, gliding gently east to west, separating northern from southern France, has come to define this popular tourist region. The value of t...
Rome, Italy: National Museum
22 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
A visit to Rome's National Museum at the Palazzo Massimo helps humanize the ancient Roman empire. The museum's collection tells the empire's story thr...
Tuscany, Italy: Agriturismo Farm Stay
15 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Tuscany's countryside is dotted with elegant, aristocratic homes that augment their farming income by renting rooms to travelers. At Villa Belvedere, ...
Transylvania, Romania: Sighișoara
08 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Sighișoara, perhaps the most popular tourist town in all of Romania, is a delightful German town settled by German craftsmen in the 12th century. Wit...
Sevilla, Spain: Home of Flamenco
01 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Spaniards consider the region of Andalucía to be the home of flamenco. While impromptu flamenco still erupts spontaneously in Old World bars, most tr...
Venice, Italy: Romantic Canalside Dining
25 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Rick and Venetian friends enjoy a fresh, local seafood dinner at I Figli delle Stelle Ristorante on the island of Giudecca. From this peaceful canalsi...
Bucharest, Romania: Winds of Change
18 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Nicolae Ceaușescu took power in Romania in 1965, and through his 24-year dictatorship his ego ballooned. The culmination of his master plan was an im...
Munich, Germany: Alte Pinakothek
11 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Munich's Alte Pinakothek — or "old painting gallery" — shows off Bavaria's best collection of European masterpieces from the 14th through the 18th...
Rome, Italy: Victor Emmanuel Monument
04 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In 1870 Rome became the capital of a newly united modern state of Italy. Shortly after that, the thunderous Victor Emmanuel Monument was built to hono...
Paris, France: Cluny Museum
27 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The Cluny Museum in Paris, France, has a rich collection of medieval art offers a rare peek into that mysterious age. Its centerpiece is a 15th-centur...
Siena, Italy: Timeless Magic
20 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The back streets of Siena have changed little since the days of the Renaissance. Make a point to get away from the crowds and enjoy a quiet moment wit...
Amsterdam, Netherlands: Dutch Resistance Museum
13 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Amsterdam's Dutch Resistance Museum takes you behind the scenes during the Nazi occupation, and tells how the Dutch fought back. The suffering was hor...
Vernazza, Italy: Hillside Vineyards
06 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Italy's Cinque Terre takes great pride in its white wine. Traditional farming techniques are complemented with modern know-how, as the delicate vines ...
Plovdiv, Bulgaria: Mousetrap District
30 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Just steps away from the Old Town in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, is the vibrant and fun-loving corner of town called the "Mousetrap." Newly revitalized, this a...
Florence, Italy: Medici Sights
23 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Florence, Italy, was the epicenter of the Renaissance, the cultural explosion that propelled Europe out of the Middle Ages and into an economic, intel...
Frankfurt, Germany: Old and New
16 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Frankfurt, Germany, is full of contrasts. The skyscrapers of Frankfurt's banking district tower above and beyond its fine 100-year-old facades, reflec...
Rotterdam, Netherlands: Europe's Largest Port
09 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Rotterdam's immense port is a reminder of the Dutch knack for international trade. Located where the Rhine River meets the ocean, the port handles 35,...
Dresden, Germany: Enlivened Neustadt
02 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The rebirth of Dresden, Germany, is evident everywhere. The lively district called Neustadt, or the "New Town," has emerged as the city's trendy peopl...
Anatolia, Turkey: Aphrodisias
26 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The ancient city of Aphrodisias, in western Turkey, is a relatively recent excavation. The more they dig the more many archaeologists believe that Ana...
Hoorn, Netherlands: Holland's Golden Age
19 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Hoorn, Netherlands, was one of six trading cities that joined forces to create the Dutch East India Company. At the Westfries Museum, you feel the pri...
Frankfurt, Germany: Market Hall and Medieval Square
12 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Frankfurt's Kleinmarkthalle is a delightful neighborhood favorite. Just around the corner is Römerberg, Frankfurt's old main square, lined with half-...
Paestum, Italy: Ancient Greek Temples
05 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Paestum, just south of Italy's Amalfi Coast, was founded by Greeks in the sixth century B.C. Visitors to Paestum can see the remains of three impressi...
Leipzig, Germany: Monument to the Battle of the Nations
28 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The gigantic monument outside Leipzig, Germany, commemorates the pivotal "Battle of the Nations," which involved forces all over Europe. It feels re...
Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria: Battle Monuments
21 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Bulgaria's Balkan Mountains are home to several sites that serve as reminders of Bulgaria's history. Shipka Pass and Shipka Church honors the sacrific...
Ürgüp, Turkey: Market Day
14 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In the town of Ürgüp, Turkey, the market day gives travelers a chance to appreciate the culture. Wherever you travel, exploring a vibrant scene like...
Leipzig, Germany: 20th-Century History
07 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In Leipzig, several sights offer travelers a fascinating look at Germany's 20th-century history. Visit the Contemporary History Forum and Stasi Museum...
Assisi, Italy: Home of St. Francis
31 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
A visit to Assisi, Italy, shows that Francis' message of universal love has a broad and timeless appeal. To enjoy Assisi at its peaceful best, see it ...
Nürnberg, Germany: Medieval Marvel
24 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Nürnberg was one of Germany's — in fact Europe's — leading cities 500 years ago, and was an industrial marvel. The scenic remnants of its hard me...
Transylvania, Romania: The Roma People
17 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Of Romania's many people, one group in particular has struggled to fit in: the Roma. Also known as "Gypsies," the Roma originated in India and were no...
Glastonbury, England: Tor and Abbey
10 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Glastonbury, England is considered the birthplace of Christianity in England and the burial site of the legendary King Arthur. A variety of travelers ...
Tuscany, Italy: Chianti Wine and Crete Senesi Regions
03 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Tuscany's Chianti wine region, with its rugged hills and farmland, charms visitors with a slower, more rustic lifestyle. South of Chianti is a region ...
Dresden, Germany: Green Vault and Armory
26 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Dresden's Historic Green Vault (in the Royal Palace) contains a glittering Baroque treasure collection that's a must-see. The adjacent Royal Armory fi...
Plovdiv, Bulgaria: Delightful Art and Architecture
19 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Plovdiv's atmospheric Old Town is a showcase of delightful buildings from the 1800s during the Bulgarian National Revival. Nearby is a museum celebrat...
Amsterdam, Netherlands: Bike Culture
12 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
One of the joys of visiting Amsterdam is simply being in the swirl of healthy, busy, biking Dutch. Don't forget to look up past the bikers to observe ...
Romania: Faces of the People
05 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The cultural heritage of Romania is many-faceted, and appreciating the diversity of the 20 million people who make up this country enriches your exper...
Somerset, England: Cider Farm
29 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The countryside around Wells, England, is great for growing apples and you can visit farms that brew the authentic hard cider — known around here as...
Siena, Italy: Passeggiata and Aperitivo
22 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The Italian ritual of the early evening stroll is called the "passeggiata." After cruising through the stony streets with friends and family, enjoy an...
Villandry, France: Château Gardens
15 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Château de Villandry is home to Rick's favorite gardens in France's Loire. The grounds are arranged in elaborate geometric patterns and immaculately ...
Hamburg, Germany: Trendy Neighborhoods
08 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
While the remains of WWII-era bunkers serve as wartime reminders in Hamburg, Germany, the remnants are incorporated into today’s contemporary scene....
Dartmoor, England: Wild Horses and Stone Circles
01 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
One of England's most popular national parks, Dartmoor is one of the few truly wild places left in this densely populated country. A visit to Dartmoor...
Brighton, England: Royal Pavilion and Pier
22 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Brighton is south England's Coney Island, and Brighton Pier is the place to go for a fix of junk food and dizzying rides. Just a couple blocks down is...
Wells, England: Medieval Center and Cathedral
15 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The wonderfully preserved city of Wells, England, is dominated by its glorious Gothic cathedral. The city's charming center is surrounded by medieval ...
Siena, Italy: Piazza del Campo
08 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Siena, Italy's great central piazza is Il Campo. The historic junction of Siena's various neighborhoods, or "contrade," it fans out from City Hall as ...
Montepulciano, Italy: Tuscan Vino and Views
01 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The Tuscan hill town of Montepulciano, Italy, is a wine-producing capital with an independent spirit. In Montepulciano, you can enjoy medieval archite...
Maramureș, Romania: Traditional Farm Life
25 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
At the fringe of Romania, tucked next to the Ukrainian border, is the country's most isolated region: Maramureș. Maramureș is a fiercely traditional...
Sofia, Bulgaria: Layers of History and Diversity
18 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Because of Bulgaria's strategic position, Sofia sits on layers of history. From ancient Greeks and Romans to fearsome Slavic warriors, from Ottoman pa...
Frankfurt, Germany: Banking Hub
11 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Cosmopolitan Frankfurt — nicknamed "Bankfurt" — is a trading hub of a united Europe, home to the European Central Bank, and a center for global co...
Dresden, Germany: Reconstructed and Rewarding
04 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In February of 1945, after the city was bombed in the last months of World War II, Dresden's beloved Frauenkirche ("Church of Our Lady") collapsed. Th...
Erfurt, Germany: Fairy-Tale Town on the Luther Trail
28 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Martin Luther went to law school in Erfurt, Germany, and today, this half-timbered medieval town remains an charming destination that Luther himself w...
Cornwall, England: St Michael's Mount and Penzance
21 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Once a Benedictine monastery, St. Michael's Mount was later a fortified castle, and eventually a stately home. Nearby is Penzance — a blue-collar tr...
Rick Steves' Europe Preview: England's Cornwall
16 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Check your local public television station for this new Rick Steves’ Europe episode! The far southwest of England is a world unto itself, with a per...
Dover, England: Historic Castle and White Cliffs
14 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The White Cliffs of Dover overlook the English Channel. Sitting atop those cliffs is the impressive Dover Castle — the site of England's primary def...
Rick Steves' Europe Preview: Southeast England
09 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Check your local public television station for this new Rick Steves’ Europe episode! Arcing along the southeast coast of England, we’ll travel fro...
Cotswolds, England: Village Charm
07 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
As with many fairy-tale regions in Europe, the present-day beauty of England's Cotswolds was the result of an economic disaster — in this case, the ...
Rick Steves' Europe Preview: West England
02 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Check your local public television station for this new Rick Steves’ Europe episode! The quintessence of charming England is the “West Country”:...
Siena, Italy: Palio Horse Race
30 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Each July and August, the entire city of Siena, Italy, readies itself for its big Palio horse race. During the race, life stops for the frantic three ...