Rick Steves' Europe Video
Episodes
Little Europe: Monaco
25 Feb 2009
Contributed by Lukas
On the Mediterranean Sea, basking between the French and Italian Rivieras, the principality of Monaco barely fits on its one square mile of territory....
Norway in a Nutshell: Journey to the Fjords
18 Feb 2009
Contributed by Lukas
"Norway in a Nutshell" is a series of well-organized train, ferry, and bus connections, laying Norway's most beautiful countryside on a scenic platter...
Budapest's Parliament and Thermal Baths
11 Feb 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Hungary's Parliament is enormous, with literally miles of grand halls. Originally housing the sprawling multi-national Habsburg empire, it's now a pal...
Bruges: History and Sweet Surprises
04 Feb 2009
Contributed by Lukas
In the 14th century, Bruges was an economic powerhouse with a population matching London's. When its sea trade dried up in the 16th century the econom...
Istanbul: The Blue Mosque
28 Jan 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Istanbul offers a good opportunity to better understand Islam. Visitors are welcome to visit historic mosques — such as the Blue Mosque, nicknamed b...
Denmark Beyond Copenhagen: Roskilde
21 Jan 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Denmark's roots, both Viking and royal, are on display in Roskilde. This historic capital’s centerpiece is its imposing cathedral, with paintings su...
Copenhagen: Rosenborg Castle
14 Jan 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Copenhagen has lots of idyllic parks. Its most royal is the King's Garden surrounding the Rosenborg Castle, summer residence to Denmark's "big persona...
Greece's Peloponnese: Country Delights
07 Jan 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Settle into the pace of Greek country life in Kardamyli. We visit a shopkeeper serving up chamomile and olives harvested from his backyard: the hills ...
Athens and Side Trips: Hydra
31 Dec 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Only a 90-minute hydrofoil ride from bustling Athens, Hydra is the prettiest of the Greek isles. The community is an easy blend of work-a-day commerce...
The Czech Republic Beyond Prague: A Taste of Olomouc
24 Dec 2008
Contributed by Lukas
The astronomical clock of Olomouc — destroyed by the Nazis in World War II — was rebuilt under Communism in 1953. In good social realist style, yo...
Vienna and the Danube: Melk Abbey
17 Dec 2008
Contributed by Lukas
The Danube River valley is at its romantic best between Melk and Vienna. This stretch is easily explored by bike and boat, and is ornamented with cute...
Switzerland: Fortress Fürigen
10 Dec 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Near Lake Lucerne, visitors interested in Switzerland's secret defenses can tour Fortress Furigen, one of nine forts buried within the mountains. Wand...
Little Europe: Liechtenstein
03 Dec 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Nestled between Switzerland and Austria, the principality of Liechtenstein is defined by the mighty Alps to the east, the baby Rhine River to the west...
Barcelona: Dali's Catalunya
26 Nov 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Catalunya's town of Figueres is home to the trailblazing artist Salvador Dali and the museum that displays his life's work. The nearby fishing village...
The Dordogne: A Taste of Sarlat
19 Nov 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Sarlat is the pedestrian-friendly main town of France's Dordogne River valley. It's just the right size: everything in town is within an easy meander ...
Burgundy's Community of Taize
12 Nov 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Burgundy's Taize community, founded in 1940, welcomes visitors who'd like to spend a few days getting close to God through meditation, singing and sim...
Istanbul's Golden Horn
05 Nov 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Istanbul's Golden Horn offers panaramic views of the Old Town, a chance to see how the fishermen are doing, and plenty of options for a meal, includin...
Denmark's Isle of Aero
29 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
The best way to explore Aero, Denmark's charming 22-mile island, is by bicycle. Aero's 7,000 residents enjoy local produce sold roadside on the honor ...
Copenhagen's Christiania
22 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
In 1971, several hundred squatters took over an abandoned military barracks in Christiania and attempted to create their own utopia. Two generations l...
Greece's Peloponnese: The Sanctuary of Olympia
15 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
For over a thousand years, the Sanctuary of Olympia was primarily a religious place and only open to people during the Olympic games, started here in ...
Athens' Ancient Acropolis and Agora
08 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Crowned by the mighty Parthenon temple, the Acropolis rises above modern Athens; a lasting testament to Greece's glorious golden age. The Acropolis wa...
The Czech Republic Beyond Prague: Konopiste
01 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
30 miles south of Prague is Konopiste, the lavish residence of the arch duke Franz Ferdinand, heir of the Habsburg throne. While waiting his turn to b...
Vienna and the Danube: Schonbrunn Palace
24 Sep 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Among Europe's grandiose palaces, only Schonbrunn rivals Versailles, with over 1,400 rooms in the Baroque and Rococo style. In room after luxurious ro...
Lausanne, Switzerland: Olympic Spirit
17 Sep 2008
Contributed by Lukas
The real charm of Lausanne lies in its charming lakefront. From local office workers to roller bladers strutting their stuff, the promenade is a great...
San Marino
10 Sep 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Located just a few miles inland from the Adriatic coast, the Republic of San Marino brags it's the world's oldest and smallest republic. It's remained...
Gaudi's Barcelona
03 Sep 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Barcelona's Eixample neighborhood is an architectural showcase for residents and tourists alike. Buildings adorned with, and inspired by Modernisma, C...
The Dordogne: Relaxing River
27 Aug 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Six centuries ago, the Dordogne River separated warring England and France during the Hundred Year's War. Today, tourists float along the lazy Dordogn...
Barging in Burgundy
20 Aug 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Burgundy, like much of France, is laced with canals just made for spending lazy afternoons gliding by pastoral scenes. From small captain-it-yourself ...
The Netherlands: Working Windmills
30 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
300 years ago, half of what we know as The Netherlands was under water. Slowly, the former seabed was reclaimed and the Dutch went to work drying the ...
Slovenia: Ljubljana
23 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Sitting on the sunny side of the Alps, Slovenia feels almost Tyrolean. In Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital and largest city with over 300,000 people, fes...
Bulgaria: Plovdiv
16 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
In the mid nineteenth century, Bulgaria underwent a cultural revival. Bulgaria's new-found wealth led to ornate buildings complete with fine furnishin...
North Wales: Country of Poetry
09 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
While visitors to Wales are greeted with bi-lingual signs and English-speaking locals, the Welsh language and culture remain alive and vibrant through...
Scotland's Loch Ness
02 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Made up of 3 lakes spanning more than 20 miles in length, the Caledonian Canal slices Scotland in half, and provides a shipping route through, rather ...
Helsinki
25 Jun 2008
Contributed by Lukas
In 1812, after Russia won Finland in a battle against Sweden, the capital moved to Helsinki. Just over 100 years later, Finland gained independence fr...
Egypt's Great Pyramids
18 Jun 2008
Contributed by Lukas
The only surviving wonder of the ancient world, Egypt's pyramid of Cheops takes up 13 acres of land, and overlooks the neighboring pyramids belonging ...
Jerusalem's Temple Mount
11 Jun 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Jerusalem's most important site to those of the Jewish faith, Temple Mount operates as an open-air synagogue. The Western wall of Judaism's most sacre...
Day Trip to Tangier
04 Jun 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Spending a day in Tangier might not be the ideal way to experience Morocco, but at just an hour's crossing by boat from Spain it makes for a day full ...
Austria's Ehrenburg Ruins
28 May 2008
Contributed by Lukas
13th Century Ehrenburg castle was located strategically along the Via Claudia Augusta, a thoroughfare which connected Venice to Germany by way of the ...
Switzerland's Jungfrau Region
21 May 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Tourists and adventurers alike flock to Switzerland's ultimate perch - the Jungfraujoch. At 11,000 feet, the station sits between two of the region's ...
Copenhagen, Denmark: Royalty, Resistance, and a Mermaid
07 May 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Copenhagen offers a peek at Denmark's Royal Family, an up-close look at the Danish underground resistance, and a photo-op with one of the most famous ...
Oslo
23 Apr 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Lined with some of the city's finest sights, Oslo's Karl Johans gate boulevard is an easily-navigable pedestrian zone made for people-watching and tou...
Hiking the Cinque Terre
16 Apr 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Much enjoyed by visitors, the five villages of the Cinque Terre are connected by a series of scenic trails. What some fans of the region don't know is...
Stockholm
09 Apr 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Built in the early 20th Century as a romantic tip-of-the-hat to Sweden's past, Stockholm's city hall is an impressive mix of eight million bricks, and...
Amsterdam's Easygoing Hedonism
02 Apr 2008
Contributed by Lukas
In the 13th Century, engineers built a dam on the Amstel River and the community which gathered there would be named for the Amstel Dam, or what we kn...
Highlights of Prague
26 Mar 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Commissioned in the 14th Century by the Holy Roman Emperor, the Charles Bridge in Prague offers one of the most pleasant 500-yard strolls in Europe. A...
Germany's Castle-studded Rhine
12 Mar 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Since ancient times, the Rhine has been one of the world's busiest rivers and major trading routes. Robber-baron castles placed strategically along th...
Dubrovnik: Pearl of the Adriatic
27 Feb 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Five hundred years ago, Dubrovnik was a major power with the third biggest navy in the Mediterranean. Today, Dubrovnik is the pearl of the Adriatic, j...
Rothenburg
13 Feb 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Rothenburg once one of Germany's largest cities with a population of 6,000 residents, is today a charming tourist destination. For great views and a g...
Nice: The Riviera's Big City
30 Jan 2008
Contributed by Lukas
With its sea-front promenade, fine museums and sunny coastline, Nice is the enjoyable, big-city highlight of the Riviera. Much loved for its blues sea...
Paris: Icons of the City
16 Jan 2008
Contributed by Lukas
The Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral top tourists' lists as the great icons of Paris. Built in 1889 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Fre...
Germany's Black Forest
02 Jan 2008
Contributed by Lukas
The Black Forest is a hit with holiday goers, city folk, and families. Fresh air, great views, and wide-open spaces attract travelers looking for a br...
Arles: Crossroads in Provence
05 Dec 2007
Contributed by Lukas
With its strategic bridge over the Rhone River, Arles was a key stop on Roman road from Italy to Spain. By the 1700s, Arles became a sleepy town of li...
Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle
28 Nov 2007
Contributed by Lukas
At the foothills of the Alps, King Ludwig of Bavaria's fairy-tale castles attracts thousands of tourists each day. 'Mad King' Ludwig built the castle ...
Paris' Musee d'Orsay
21 Nov 2007
Contributed by Lukas
The Orsay Gallery, famous for its much-loved collection of Impressionist masterpieces, fills a magnificent building once used as a train station with ...
Madrid's Tapas Tango
14 Nov 2007
Contributed by Lukas
A moveable feast awaits travelers in Madrid where dinners become a tapas tango. When it comes to variety, Madrid is Spain's tapas capital. Munching, d...
Warsaw's Heroes
07 Nov 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Before the war, Warsaw's old town square was one of the most happening spots in central Europe. By 1945, nearly two-thirds of the Warsaw's pre-war pop...
The Backstreets of Lisbon
31 Oct 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Lisbon's Alfama tumbles from the castle to the river and dates back over a thousand years to Moorish times. Surviving the great Lisbon earthquake of 1...
French Riviera: Villefranche and Villa Ephrussi
24 Oct 2007
Contributed by Lukas
The snug port of Villefranche, in spite of luxury yachts glistening in its bay, offers travelers an easy-going slice of small-town Mediterranean life ...
El Greco in Toledo
17 Oct 2007
Contributed by Lukas
No painter before or since has captured the mystery of the spiritual world like the painter El Greco. His unique style of painting developed in Toledo...
Provence: Cotes du Rhone
10 Oct 2007
Contributed by Lukas
The sunny Cotes du Rhone region of France has tempted travelers with its wines practically since it was settled in 600b.c. by the Greeks. Today, famil...
London: Cruising the Thames to the Tower
03 Oct 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Many of London's top sights front the river Thames, which has become a transportation thoroughfare for tourists. Join Rick as he sails from Westminste...
Lisbon: The Age of Discovery
26 Sep 2007
Contributed by Lukas
King Manuel built the Jeronimos monastery and church in Lisbon on the site of a humble sea-farers chapel as thanks for overseas discoveries. Richly or...
Belfast: New Morning in Old Smoke
19 Sep 2007
Contributed by Lukas
A few hours north of Dublin, Belfast straddles the Lagan River. Nicknamed "Old Smoke," Belfast was only a village in the 17th Century, but with the in...
The Riviera's High Corniche
12 Sep 2007
Contributed by Lukas
This region's breath-taking coastline is traversed by three coastal routes: the low, middle, and high corniche. Sitting upon the Via Aurelia, the gran...
Arcos de la Frontera, Spain: Queen of Andalucía
05 Sep 2007
Contributed by Lukas
The route of the Pueblos Blancos, or white towns, is a charm bracelet of characteristic towns perched in the hills and mountains of Andalucía. The qu...
Budapest's House of Terror
29 Aug 2007
Contributed by Lukas
The House of Terror, housed in the former headquarters of both the Nazis and, later, the communist secret police, displays the dark underside of Hunga...
Normandy, France: Mont St-Michel
22 Aug 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Through the ages, Mont St-Michel has been among the top pilgrimage sites in all Christendom. For over one thousand years, the silhouette of the island...
Lisbon: Port in the High Town
15 Aug 2007
Contributed by Lukas
The rebuilt center of Lisbon, known as the Baixa, is today a flat, inviting shopping area of grid-patterned streets. The main boulevard is a pedestria...
Brussels: Belgium's Cultural Capital
08 Aug 2007
Contributed by Lukas
600 years ago, Brussels was nothing more than a handy place to buy a waffle on the way to Bruges. Then, it was given free trade status and its economy...
Portugal's Laid-back Algarve
01 Aug 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Portugal's south coast was once known as Europe's last undiscovered tourist frontier. Lagos, the major town on this stretch of Algarve coast, is now w...
Sevilla's Alcazar: The Moors in Spain
25 Jul 2007
Contributed by Lukas
In 711, Muslim Moors swept in from Northern Africa and conquered the Iberian Peninsula, ruling Spain for five centuries and inspiring a Europe-wide cr...
Drinking Beer Belgian Style
18 Jul 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Belgium is right up there with Germany, England and the Czech Republic as one of the great beer countries. And, when it comes to variety, Belgium is n...
Salamanca: Bull Boards to Tuna Bands
11 Jul 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Immerse yourself in the high and vast plateau of central Spain. Visit the sunny, sandstone city of Salamanca and the finest square in spain - Plaza Ma...
Nîmes: Bullfighting French-Style
04 Jul 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Nîmes arena, which is still in use, is considered the best conserved from ancient Rome. It's another example of fine Roman engineering and propaganda...
Northern Ireland's Antrim Coast
27 Jun 2007
Contributed by Lukas
The Antrim Coast is one of the most popular and scenic drives in the whole of Ireland. Homesteads are pristine; visitors explore desolate trails, evoc...
Latin Quarter Cafe Culture
20 Jun 2007
Contributed by Lukas
In the 13th century, the University of Paris was founded on the south bank of the Seine River. Soon after, the area became to be known as the Latin Qu...
Madrid's Prado Museum
13 Jun 2007
Contributed by Lukas
The Prado Museum in Madrid houses paintings that give an eye-pleasing overview of Spain's rich history from its golden age to its slow fade. Highlight...
Normandy: Remembering D-Day
06 Jun 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Along the 75 miles of Atlantic coast you'll find countless memories of the largest military operation in history. It was on these beautiful beaches at...
Cape Sagres: The End of the World
30 May 2007
Contributed by Lukas
On the rugged Southwestern tip of Portugal, Cape Sagres was the closest travelers could get to the edge of our flat Earth in the days before Columbus....
Montepulciano: Tuscan Dolce Vita
23 May 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Montepulciano welcomes visitors with views, villas, and vino. Streets are lined with nobel palazzos because Florentine nobility favored Montepulciano ...
Civita: Jewel on the Hill
16 May 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Perched on a pinnacle, in a grand canyon, the traffic-free village of Civita is Italy's classic hilltown. In a town so full of history, exploring Civi...
San Gimignano: Towering Hill Town
09 May 2007
Contributed by Lukas
San Gimignano, with its distinctive skyline, stands like a medieval mirage on its hilltop. With walls built in the 13th century and 12 surviving tower...
Capri: Isle of Hidden Delights
02 May 2007
Contributed by Lukas
First made famous as the vacation hideaway of Roman emperors, and once the haunt of romantic-age aristocrats during their grand tour of Europe, the is...
The First Tuscans
25 Apr 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Tuscany is named after the Etruscan people who lived here centuries before the region was conquered by ancient Rome. Over 2500 years ago, long before ...
Snowdonia: Wild Wales
18 Apr 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Arguably Britain's most rugged and beautiful area, Snowdonia National Park is nature at its wild and Welsh Best. Britain's second largest park, with o...
Edinburgh: The Scottish Spirit
11 Apr 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Serious connoisseurs of the Scottish spirit will want to pop into Cadenheads Whisky Shop. Founded in 1842, Cadenheads prides itself on bottling fine w...
Waltzing in Vienna
04 Apr 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Vienna's parks have been filled with the sound of music for centuries. In the late 1800s, Johann Strauss, the waltz king himself, directed wildly popu...
Milan's Artful Cemetery
28 Mar 2007
Contributed by Lukas
While there are many evocative cemeteries in Europe, this one, with its emotional portrayals of the departed and their heavenly escorts in the melodra...
Orvieto: Signorelli's Masterpiece
21 Mar 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Famous for its colorful ceramics and gleaming cathedral, Orvieto, Umbria's grand hill town, sits majestically high above the valley floor on a big chu...
York: England's Second City
14 Mar 2007
Contributed by Lukas
York offers a fascinating collection of great sites mixed with an easy-going pedestrian ambience all lassoed within its formidable wall. Its rich hist...
Salzburg: Baroque Splendor
07 Mar 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Constructed in the early 1600's, Salzburg's cathedral was one of the first grand Baroque buildings north of the Alps. Immersed in pure Baroque grandeu...
Pompeii: Window on Ancient Rome
28 Feb 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Life in Pompeii stopped in its tracks in 79 a.d. when the thriving city was buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Today, excavations of this once bo...
Liverpool: Home of the Beatles
21 Feb 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Many people visit Liverpool just to remember John, Paul, George and Ringo, but Liverpool is a surprisingly enjoyable city. It's an interesting stop bo...
Milan, Italy: Leonardo da Vinci
14 Feb 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Epitome of Renaissance genius, Leonardo da Vinci spent some of his most productive years in Milan, enjoying the patronage of the Sforza family. In fac...
La Feria: Seville's Ultimate Party
07 Feb 2007
Contributed by Lukas
It's no surprise that Seville is famous for letting loose in vibrant festivals, and no festival is bigger than the one celebrated in April. Much of Se...
Krakow: Poland's Cultural Capital
31 Jan 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Krakow emerged from WWII virtually unscathed. As a result, today the city is Poland's leading tourist attraction, with plenty of top notch sights. Fro...
London: South Bank Sites
24 Jan 2007
Contributed by Lukas
The south bank of the Thames thrives with restaurants, condos, and cultural centers, all tied together by the Jubilee Promenade. From St. Paul's Cathe...
Pipes in Paris
17 Jan 2007
Contributed by Lukas
For organ lovers, a visit to St. Sulpice in Paris is a pilgrimage. On Sunday mornings, the magnificent organ thrills tourists and locals alike. After ...
Laid Back Munich
10 Jan 2007
Contributed by Lukas
Students, office workers, and families alike enjoy a sunny break from everyday life in Munich's 200 year old English Garden. Sprawling over three mile...
Avebury: Megalithic Playground
03 Jan 2007
Contributed by Lukas
While England is sprinkled with stone circles, the megalithic playground at Avebury gives travelers a truly hands-on experience. Unlike Stonehenge, wh...