Rick Steves' Europe Video

Cortona, Italy: Rustic and Romantic

06 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Cortona has a history that goes back 2500 years to Etruscan times. It grew to its present size between the 13th and 15th centuries, when it was a colo...

Basque Country: Seaside San Sebastián

30 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Shimmering above its breathtaking bay, elegant and prosperous San Sebastián — or Donostia as locals call their town — is your best home base for ...

Galicia, Spain: Santiago de Compostela

23 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Santiago, the final destination of an ancient pilgrimage route, has long had a powerful and mysterious draw on travelers. Strolling across its squares...

Tallinn, Estonia: Old World Meets New

16 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Tallinn is a mix of east and west. Its Nordic Lutheran culture and language connect it with Scandinavia's Stockholm and Helsinki. But two centuries of...

Stockholm, Sweden: Vasa Warship Museum

09 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Djurgården is Stockholm's lush island fun center and has several of the city's top museums, including the Vasa Museum. This is where the Vasa is hous...

Norway's West: A Sognefjord Safari

02 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Glaciers spent eons carving up western Norway as they worked their way to the sea. Slowly, they gouged u-shaped valleys that later filled with water, ...

Oslo, Norway: Discussing Norway's Social System

23 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

For the people of Oslo, their fjord is a natural wonderland. And it's a beautiful backdrop for Rick to discuss Norway's social system with his Norwegi...

Gibraltar: The Rock

16 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The Rock of Gibraltar stands like a fortress at the gateway to the Mediterranean. With its strategic setting, Gibraltar has an illustrious military hi...

Nerja, Spain: Holiday in the Costa del Sol

09 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Nearly every country from Europe's drizzly north tucks an expatriate community somewhere along the Costa del Sol. Rick's favorite stop is the resort t...

Ljubljana, Slovenia: Happy Hodgepodge

02 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Being the midpoint bewteen the Slavic, Germanic and Italian worlds gives Ljubljana a special spice. This tiny town has only about a quarter-million pe...

Montenegro: Country of Contrasts

26 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

One of Europe's newest and smallest countries, Montenegro is about the size of Connecticut, with well under a million people. It's a country of contra...

Hvar, Croatia: Made for Relaxing

19 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Handy boat connections make the island of Hvar a popular stop off the Dalmatian coast. Activities are low energy. Expertly enjoying this town, seeming...

Basque Country: Bilbao and the Guggenheim Museum

12 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Bilbao has recently been transformed from a gritty steel town to a happening cultural center like no other Spanish city. A modern light rail line conv...

Pamplona, Spain: Running of the Bulls

05 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

For nine days each July, throngs of visitors come to run with the bulls, and a whole lot more, at Pamplona's Festival of San Fermin. For more informat...

Helsinki, Finland: Suomenlinna Island and Fortress

29 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Helsinki's most important sight is Suomenlinna, an island guarding Helsinki's harbor that served as a strategic fortress for three countries: Sweden, ...

Stockholm, Sweden: Cruising the Archipelago

22 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Stockholm's vast archipelago is an amazing playground of literally thousands of islands stretching 80 miles from the city. Catch a ferry with the loca...

Jotunheim, Norway: Home of the Giants

15 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Norway's Jotunheim, or, "home of the giants," is a high plateau that feels like the top of the world. These are northern Europe's highest mountains, s...

Oslo, Norway: Frogner Park

08 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Oslo's vast Frogner Park is a perfect place to share a moment with Norwegian families at play. Strolling here, you feel a positive spirit — both rug...

Tangier, Morocco: Europe Meets Africa

01 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Most visitors to Tangier take a tour, daytripping in from Spain for a predictable series of experiences. But wandering through this delightfully disor...

Granada, Spain: The Exquisite Alhambra

24 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Granada's dominant sight is the Alhambra, the last and greatest Moorish palace. For two centuries, until 1492, Granada reigned as the capital of a dwi...

Piran, Slovenia: Adriatic Resort

17 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Slovenia enjoys a 29-mile stretch of Adriatic seafront, and its best stop is the town of Piran. As with most towns on the Adriatic, Piran was long rul...

Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina: Rebuilt and Healing

10 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Mostar, straddling its beloved river, is the leading city of the southern part of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Its 400-year-old stone bridge was once a symbol ...

Central Croatia: Plitvice Lakes National Park

03 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

One of Europe's top natural wonders is Croatia's Plitvice Lakes National Park. Imagine Niagara Falls sliced and diced and sprinkled over a vast and he...

Dordogne, France: Lascaux's Prehistoric Cave Paintings

27 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

From about 18,000 to 10,000 b.c., long before Stonehenge and the pyramids, back when mammoths and saber-toothed cats still roamed the earth, prehistor...

Bath, England: Neoclassical Royal Crescent and Circus

20 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Bath has long been famous for its hot springs, and it was a popular spa town for the ancient Romans. When revitalized in the 18th century, local archi...

Bacharach, Germany: Castles and Cozy Beds

06 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The historic town of Bacharach makes a fine home base for exploring Germany's Rhine River Valley. Like other towns along the river, Bacharach has a lo...

Cashel, Ireland: The Rock of Cashel

29 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The dramatic Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland's most evocative sites. On this historic rock, you can stroll among the ruins in the footsteps of St. Pa...

Berner Oberland, Switzerland: Hiking in the Alps

22 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In the Alps, get an early start when the peaks are clear. Gondola lifts take you to the high points effortlessly, where level trails are thoughtfully ...

Cefalù, Sicily: Romantic Port Town

15 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Cefalù, dramatically situated on the north coast, is one of Sicily's many romantic port towns. Rick tours the medieval-walled town by Vespa, samples ...

Hebrides, Scotland: The Isles of Iona and Mull

08 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Regardless of the weather, a tour of Iona and Mull offers the best one-day look at dramatic and historic Hebrides Island scenery. After bussing across...

Peloponnese, Greece: Magnificent Monemvasia

01 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Often referred to as the "Gibraltar of Greece," Monemvasia is a virtual showcase of Byzantine, Turkish, and Venetian history dating back to the 13th c...

Budapest, Hungary: Great Market Hall

25 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Budapest's Great Indoor Market Hall is a commotion of produce stands, butcher stalls, peppers and spices. Paprika — a dominant spice in Hungarian cu...

Vienna, Austria: Austria's Greatest Art Collection — The Kunsthistorisches Museum

18 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

At their peak of power in the 1500s, the Habsburg family ruled Austria, Germany, northern Italy, the Netherlands, and even Spain. And Vienna's Kunsthi...

Coimbra, Portugal: Concentrated Culture

11 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Coimbra is Portugal's third-largest city and home to the country's oldest and most prestigious university. Coimbra is a mini-Lisbon: everything good a...

Istanbul, Turkey: Cosmopolitan New Town

04 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

To get a full and balanced appreciation for today's Istanbul, you must leave the old town and explore the lively, more cosmopolitan neighborhoods. Exp...

Barcelona, Spain: A Trip Down the Ramblas

28 Jul 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Barcelona's ever-popular strolling boulevard is the Ramblas. While souvenir shops and crowds of tourists have diluted its former elegance, it still of...

Zürich, Switzerland: Cobbled Streets and Elegant Shops

21 Jul 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Switzerland's biggest city, Zürich, consistently ranks as one of the world's most livable cities. Its lake front is a spring board for romantic walks...

Rome, Italy: An Evening Stroll

14 Jul 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Modern Rome's main street Via Del Corso becomes a pedestrian boulevard late in the day. As the sun goes down, the people come out for their evening pa...

Kraków, Poland: Countryside and the Wieliczka Salt Mine

07 Jul 2010

Contributed by Lukas

After eight centuries of producing salt, the remarkable Wieliczka Salt Mine is busy not with miners, but with tourists. They come to see the sculpture...

The Languedoc, France: Carcassonne — Europe's Ultimate Fortress City

30 Jun 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The Languedoc region's hard-fought past and independent spirit is evident in its old fortifications, fine art, and a culture distinct from the rest of...

Kenmare, Ireland: The Ring of Kerry

23 Jun 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The eternal beauty of the Irish landscape is most breath-taking with a sweep around the Ring of Kerry. And a great jumping-off point for this tour is ...

Munich, Germany: The Old Center and Viktualienmarkt

16 Jun 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Munich is considered Germany's most livable city. While packed with history, it's also this country's Hollywood and Silicone Valley, all rolled into o...

Travel Skills: Staying Healthy

09 Jun 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Being on vacation can be exhausting. Get plenty of sleep, eat healthy, drink lots of water and juice, and pace yourself. If you do get sick, a good fi...

Trebon, Czech Republic: Fish Ponds and Peat Spas

19 May 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Centuries ago lake-builders of Trebon employed ingenious techniques to transform flooding marshland into a clever combination of lakes, oak-lined dike...

Athens, Greece: The Tranquil Anafiotika Neighborhood

12 May 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Hike to the top of the Plaka and explore the charming "village" of Anafiotika, built in the 19th century by people from the tiny Cycladic island of An...

Denmark Beyond Copenhagen: Legoland and Aarhus

05 May 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Rick visits Scandinavia's top kids' sight: Legoland. Then it's on to Denmark's second-largest city — Aarhus — which bustles with a lively port, an...

West Turkey: The Ancient City of Ephesus

28 Apr 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Rick resurrects some Ephesian rubble with Mehlika Seval, who wrote THE guidebook on one of Turkey's greatest ancient sites — Ephesus. For more infor...

Budapest: The Communist All-Stars of Statue Park

21 Apr 2010

Contributed by Lukas

When regimes fall, so do their monuments. Budapest saved its souvenirs of totalitarianism and shows them off here, at Statue Park. For more informatio...

Venice Side-Trips: Verona

07 Apr 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The mainland surrounding Venice — the Veneto — is one of the overlooked corners of Italy. If you like Italy but don't need world-class sights, the...

Salzburg, Austria: Sampling Schnapps on Getreidegasse

31 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Old Salzburg's busy and colorful main drag was, and still is, Getreidegasse. Amidst all the tourists and chain outlets, you'll find purely local hango...

Burgundy: The Wine of the Cote d'Or

24 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Burgundy is a big part of why France is famous for wine. The rolling hills of the Côte d'Or are blanketed by lovingly tended vineyards which, to the ...

Vienna's Wine Gardens: Heurigen

17 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The uniquely Viennese institution of Heurige is two things: a young wine, and a place to drink it. Long ago, when the Habsburg Emperors let Vienna's v...

Luzern, Switzerland: Picture-Perfect

10 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Since the Romantic era in the 19th century, Luzern has been a regular stop on the "Grand Tour" route of Europe. Its inviting lake front includes a mod...

North Wales: Caernarfon Castle

03 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Caernarfon was the most expensive castle an English king ever built, and one of few to achieve architecture, art and defensibility at the same time. F...

Side Trip: Barcelona to Montserrat

24 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

An hour inland from Barcelona, the heart of Catalyuna beckons with the impenetrable monastery of Montserrat. For more information on the Rick Steves' ...

Istanbul's Grand Bazaar

17 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In many ways Istanbul's Grand Bazaar remains much as it was centuries ago: enchanting and perplexing visitors with its mazelike network of more than 4...

Dordogne, France: Perfectly Medieval Beynac

10 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The feudal village of Beynac is a perfectly preserved medieval village, with the Dordogne River at its doorstep. In villages like this, there's nothin...

Naples' Archaeological Museum

03 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

For lovers of antiquity, the National Museum of Archaeology by itself makes Naples a worthwhile stop. The city's one essential museum visit offers the...

Rural Egypt and the Nile

27 Jan 2010

Contributed by Lukas

A ten-minute bike ride takes Rick beyond the famous sights of Egypt into a timeless village untouched by tourism. For more information on the Rick Ste...

Czech Republic: Bohemia and the Time-Warp Town of Cesky Krumlov

22 Jan 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The enchanting town of Cesky Krumlov — buried in the hills of Bohemia, lassoed by its river and dominated by its castle — feels lost in a time war...

Lisbon, Portugal: Belem District

13 Jan 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Rick visits Lisbon's Belém District, a stately pincushion of important sights, including one of Europe's top coach museums. For more information on t...

Oświęcim, Poland: Auschwitz

06 Jan 2010

Contributed by Lukas

From 1941 until 1945, the unassuming regional capital of Oświęcim was the home of Auschwitz, the biggest, most notorious concentration camp in the N...

Greece's Peloponnese: Nafplion

30 Dec 2009

Contributed by Lukas

The city of Nafplion — one of Greece's prettiest towns — is the perfect base for exploring the northeast corner of the Peloponnesian Peninsula. Fo...

Best of the Alps: Gimmelwald

23 Dec 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Unlike neighboring resort towns, Switzerland's Gimmelwald remains a vital community of families — locally owned and proud of it. For more informatio...

Bulgaria: A Na Gosti Dinner

16 Dec 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Bulgaria's ultimate cultural treat is "na gosti" — an elaborate dinner served to guests, heavy on the peppers and homemade brandy. For more informat...

Amsterdam: Pickled Herring in Haarlem

02 Dec 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Rick visits a herring stand to learn the Rotterdam and Amsterdam styles of eating this healthy and delicious pickled fish. For more information on the...

Edinburgh: Contemporary Scottish Cuisine

25 Nov 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Rick's guide treats him to a French-influenced Scottish meal. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descript...

Highlights of Paris: Lunching on the Seine

18 Nov 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Rick's guide takes him through an iconic Parisian afternoon, topped off with a "cliche" Parisian lunch. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europ...

Naples: The Birthplace of Pizza

11 Nov 2009

Contributed by Lukas

In Naples, pausing at any street corner gives you the chance to enjoy a vivid slice of Neapolitan life, and the perfect pizza. For more information on...

Salzburg, Austria: Hohensalzburg Fortress and Mönchsberg

04 Nov 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Hohensalzburg Fortress towers over the Salzach River, dominating Salzburg's skyline as one of Europe's mightiest castles. Through the forest, Mönchsb...

Alps of France and Switzerland: Alpine Thrills in Chamonix

28 Oct 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Chamonix makes a great homebase for cable cars rides, day-hikes, glacier cave strolls, and Swiss-infused French cuisine. For more information on the R...

The Cinque Terre: Riomaggiore and Monterosso al Mare

21 Oct 2009

Contributed by Lukas

We visit two of the "five lands" along Italy's Mediterranean coast: Riomaggiore — a cozy collection of homes nestled in a valley, and Monterosso —...

Highlights of Castile: Toledo

14 Oct 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Toledo is so well-preserved and packed with cultural wonder that the entire city has been declared a national monument. It's an ideal place to savor t...

The Appenzell Region: Traditional Switzerland

07 Oct 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Maintaining its folk culture, Appenzell delights travelers as one of Switzerland's most traditional regions. For more information on the Rick Steves' ...

Alps of France and Switzerland: Mont Blanc and the Aiguille du Midi Gondola

30 Sep 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Experience breathtaking views of Mount Blanc in the French Alps and take a gondola ride over the border to the Italian side. For more information on t...

The Making of Rick Steves' Europe: Scrubbing the Script

23 Sep 2009

Contributed by Lukas

The dynamic process of watching a script take shape includes a final scrubbing to ensure that every word earns its keep and bountiful footage exists t...

The Making of Rick Steves' Europe: Appreciating the Art

16 Sep 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Rick and the film crew describe the challenges and rewards of filming great art masterpieces. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV serie...

The Making of Rick Steves' Europe: Adapting to Conditions

09 Sep 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Rick and the film crew stay organized yet open to change while filming in Europe. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — includ...

The Making of Rick Steves' Europe: Keeping Up With Rick

02 Sep 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Rick's film crew describes how hard it is to keep up with Rick's intense work pace. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — incl...

The Making of Rick Steves' Europe: A Collaborative Process

26 Aug 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Rick explains that he is the tour guide and his film crew are the artists, working as a collaborative team to make good television. For more informati...

Majesty of Madrid: Side-trip to El Escorial

19 Aug 2009

Contributed by Lukas

El Escorial is more than an impressive palace for a divine monarch. It's packed with art and history — offering an evocative trip back to Spain's mo...

London: A Soho Dinner Crawl

12 Aug 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Rick and his producer go on a dinner crawl through London's Soho, sampling Japanese sushi, Belgian mussels and oodles of noodles. For more information...

Caesar's Rome: Capitoline Museum

05 Aug 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Rick strolls through Rome's Capitoline Museum, highlighting a selection of sculpture, mosaics, and the idealized beauty of the Capitoline Venus. For m...

Padova, Italy: A Haven in Veneto

22 Jul 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Padova's old town, even when crowded with today's students, is a colonnaded time-tunnel experience. And Padova's museums and churches hold their own i...

South Ireland's Wicklow Mountains

15 Jul 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Ten miles south of Dublin, Ireland's Wicklow Mountains offer nature lovers some of Ireland's richest scenery and refuge from the hustle and bustle of ...

Munich: Hofbräuhaus

08 Jul 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Munich is Germany's beer capitol, and the Hofbräuhaus is its ultimate beer hall. It comes complete with rivers of beer, cheap food, boisterous atmosp...

Travel Skills: Eating with the Locals

01 Jul 2009

Contributed by Lukas

When in Europe, seek out restaurants filled with locals and order your meal with a spirit of adventure. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europ...

Travel Skills: Driving in Europe

24 Jun 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Renting a car in Europe is a breeze; cars get great milage, distances are short, and roads are in excellent conditions. For more information on the Ri...

Travel Skills: Getting Cash

10 Jun 2009

Contributed by Lukas

While credit cards are widely accepted throughout Europe, smart travelers use hard cash. ATMs are everywhere and offer great rates 24 hours a day. For...

Sicily's Villa del Casale

20 May 2009

Contributed by Lukas

In about 300 A.D., Emperor Maximilian built the imperial Roman villa of Casale — an obscenely lavish country escape — covering it wall-to-wall in ...

Eastern Turkey: Erzurum's Oil Wrestling

13 May 2009

Contributed by Lukas

For 1500 years, the fortress town of Erzurum has stood like a breakwater, holding back wave after wave of armies from the East. Today, young Turks ski...

London's British Museum

06 May 2009

Contributed by Lukas

At the peak of its empire, England collected art and artifacts as fast as it collected colonies. The British Museum is the showcase for those extraord...

Rome's Catacombs and Appian Way

29 Apr 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Rome's San Callisto catacombs housed early Christian heroes later recognized as martyrs and saints as early as the 3rd century. Along with the catacom...

Helsinki's Lutheran Cathedral and the Church in the Rock

22 Apr 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Helsinki's sky-lit copper dome of the Church in the Rock and pure, clean, neoclassical Lutheran cathedral offer unique architectural treats while deli...

Little Europe: Andorra

15 Apr 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Just little more than a generation ago, Andorra morphed from a rough-and-tumble smugglers' haven to a high tech, high altitude shoppers' haven, with p...

Santorini's Black Sand Beaches and Romantic Sunsets

08 Apr 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Boasting the best sunbathing and swimming on the island, Santorini's black sand beach also reminds visitors of the island's once-volcanic history. For...

West Turkey: Konya and the Whirling Dervishes

25 Mar 2009

Contributed by Lukas

For people living in more modern cities, Konya is a bit conservative. This city is one of the oldest in the world, with settlements dating back 5000 y...

Little Europe: Vatican City

18 Mar 2009

Contributed by Lukas

The Vatican is home to the most glorious church in all Christendom, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Vatican Museum, which displays some of the greatest ...

Outside Oslo

11 Mar 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Oslo is surrounded by a vast forest dotted with little lakes, idyllic huts, joggers, bikers, and sun-worshippers. Family values are taken seriously he...

Central Turkey: Cappadocia

04 Mar 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Cappadocia is rightly known as that bizarre and fascinating bit of Central Turkey, noted for its centuries-old customs, and its unusual terrain. For m...