Rick Steves' Europe

Beautifully filmed on location, this 3-part, 90-minute special distills Ricks 25 years of travel experience into practical tips on: planning a trip, overcoming the language barrier, getting around, finding accommodations, staying safe, and more. In this first of three shows covering travel skills, well visit the Netherlands and Germany to learn about transportation by train and car within Europe, changing money, and settling in upon arrival. How well youre able to enjoy the delights of Europe depends upon how well you plan and how skillfully you travel.

Beautifully filmed on location, this 3-part, 90-minute special distills Ricks 25 years of travel experience into practical tips on: planning a trip, overcoming the language barrier, getting around, finding accommodations, staying safe, and more. In this third of three shows focusing on travel skills, well visit the Swiss Alps, Paris, and London while covering tips for finding the best accommodations, getting around in big cities, and enjoying Europes cuisine. This information is key to making the most of your travel time and, if youre on a budget, can help you cut the cost of your travels in half.

Newly energized Prague, slinky with sumptuous Art Nouveau facades, is perpetually playing Mozart and Vivaldi. Eastern Europes top destination has Europes best beer, biggest castle, liveliest pedestrian bridge, and most evocative Jewish Quarter. From Prague, we side-trip to Kutna Hora, once a silver-mining boomtown, to descend into its medieval mine and ponder its eerie chapel, decorated centuries ago with 40,000 bones.

We find the icons of Ireland strewn along its fascinating south coast: Waterfords much-loved crystal factory; the Kennedy family homestead; the Dunbrody famine ship; and Kinsales star-shaped fortresses. After learning why locals dont kiss the Blarney Stone, visit elegant Muckross House. Then savor the scenic charms of the Emerald Isle by driving the Ring of Kerry.

Berlin is back, resuming its place as a great European capital. We climb the Reichstags glass dome, sway at a modern-day cabaret, and pop a few chocolates in the now thriving eastern sector. Along with Germanys finest art, complicated Berlin also has hidden remnants of its fascist and communist past. In a city thats rebounding and rebuilding, we crane our necks at Potsdamer Platz, Europes newest Times Square.

In Munich, where locals specialize in good living, we visit boisterous markets and go-for-Baroque palaces. while office workers surf in the Isar River. Heading into the foothills of the Alps, we tour the fairy-tale castles of "Mad" King Ludwig, and climb to the highest point in Germany atop the Zugspitz. Then we cross into the Tirol to conquer a desolate ruined castle.

Madrid is studded with riches from its glory days. We tour the lavish Royal Palace, enjoy art-packed museums, and look deep into Picassos greatest masterpiece. Experiencing Madrid at its fun-loving best, were mesmerized by flamenco dancers and munch on pigs ears. Then, for a dose of Spains dramatic history, we side-trip to El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen.

After exploring the half-timbered charm of Rouen, we reflect on Monets lily ponds, peek in on local artisans, and set up an easel at Honfleurs harbor. We venture into composer Eric Saties eccentric world and feast on the finest of Normandy cuisine. After pondering sacrifice and celebrating freedom on the D-Day beaches, we hike with pilgrims to the enchanted island abbey of Mont St. Michel.

London is quintessentially English, yet cosmopolitan. We check out the new — the Millennium Bridge and the British Museums Great Court, and admire the old — well-wrapped mummies and a rare Leonardo. After bantering with Beefeaters at the Tower of London, we do some riverside beach-combing. Strolling the trendy South Bank of the Thames takes us from the Tate Modern to the dizzying London Eye.

Belgium is a land of contrasts. From the powerhouse headquarters of the European Union and Europes grandest square in big-city Brussels, we go quaint with delicate lace and back lane bike rides in small-town Bruges. We check into a medieval hospital, savor the exquisite art of Memling, and climb a bell tower to get up close and fortissimo at a carillon concert. Then passionate chefs - creators of French fries and Europes finest chocolate - give us a taste of their art.

A longtime favorite escape of Europes elite, the Riviera coastline still sparkles with yachts. In fairytale Monaco we listen to the graceful reshuffling of personal fortunes at the casino. Then we follow in the footsteps of 19th century aristocrats along Nices promenade des Anglais, and visit the picturesque, artist hangouts of Chagall, Matisse and Picasso.

Budapest, once Viennas partner in ruling the Austro-Hungarian empire, feels like the capital of Eastern Europe. Its actually two cities — busy Pest and noble Buda — straddling the Danube and laced together by mighty bridges. Capitalism has taken hold with gusto as shopping boulevards thrive and stone Lenins and cast iron Stalins litter a theme park at the edge of town. Today Roma (Gypsy) orchestras feature smoking violins, venerable mineral baths are the rage, and 19th century coffeehouses enjoy a renaissance.

Sevilla, Spain, is the flamboyant city of Carmen and Don Juan. Its where bullfighting is still politically correct and where little girls dream of growing up to become flamenco dancers. Sevilla has soul-and we feel it in its lacy Moorish palace, massive cathedral, lavish royal tombs, labyrinthine Jewish quarter, and its people-filled streets. After munching tasty tapas, we head south for Andalusias ultimate whitewashed hilltown, Arcos de la Frontera.

From towering Mount Snowdon and evocative medieval castles to grand Victorian promenades, North Wales is a poem written in landscape. Well climb a mountain aboard a steam train, learn some Welsh, follow a miner deep into a slate mine, herd sheep with a very clever dog, and work in a pop pilgrimage to the Beatles Liverpool.

Naples is Italy in the extreme. Well prowl backstreet fish markets, dodge fast-moving Vespas, and dine on pizza where it was invented. Well climb to the top of nearby Mount Vesuvius, then wander through the amazing ruins of Pompeii, the Roman town it destroyed.

No trip to Italy is complete without Milan and Lake Como. In Milan well take a peek at Italys highest fashion, fanciest delis, grandest cemetery and greatest opera house...not to mention Leonardos Last Supper. Then well cruise along Lake Como, settling down in the lakeside village of Varenna...classic honeymoon country, where Italy meets the Alps.

Connoisseurs of Italy find its quintessential charms survive in its classic hill towns. From San Gimignanos medieval towers to Civita di Bagnoregios cliff-hanging vistas...all sit on lofty stone perches that now protect them only from the modern world.

The birthplace of Mozart — and everyones Sound of Music fantasies — Salzburg is a Baroque jewel of a town. Its also the springboard for lots of alpine fun — from thrilling summer bobsledding, to idyllic boat rides in the Salzkammergut lake district, to exploring the delightful romantic town of Hallstatt.

Burgundy is a calm and cultivated corner of France, where fine living is intimately tied to nature and traditions run strong. Well slow down to enjoy the regions edible, drinkable, scenic, and floatable delights. Well travel on a canal barge, visit a medieval hospice and a modern monastery, build a barrel, appreciate fine Burgundy wine, slurp escargot, and eat very, very well. If youre looking for quintessential French culture, youll find it in Burgundy.

The creative spirit of Spains Catalunya — the land of Picasso, Gaudí, and Salvador Dalí — is on a roll. Well get caught up in the festivity of Barcelona, enjoying the vibrant street scenes, tasty tapas, and pedestrian-friendly Gothic Quarter. Then well take a scenic side trip to mountaintop Montserrat, and finish with an artist’s pilgrimage along the Costa Brava to Salvador Dalí country. In seaside Cadaqués, we’ll visit Dalís home, and in nearby Figueres, well experience his playfully surreal mausoleum/museum.

Focusing on Switzerlands often-overlooked urban charms, we explore lakeside Luzern, cobbled Bern, spire-filled Zürich, and sophisticated Lausanne. Well enjoy eye-opening art, from Chagall and Klee to the works of asylum inmates. Well ring a very big bell high up in a church spire, float down a rushing river, and ponder Switzerlands pragmatic drug policies and hidden underground arsenals. And its all before a backdrop of stunning natural beauty.

Few travelers venture beyond Prague to experience the Czech Republics many cultural riches and offbeat delights. Well get started with a whirlwind of Art Nouveau, local pub music, stinky-cheese tasting, and peat bathing in places like Olomouc, Moravský Krumlov, Třeboň, and Konopiště. Well also tour a remarkable memorial to the Holocaust in Terezín, and the charming castle town of Český Krumlov.

After exploring the ancient capital of Mycenae, well enjoy Greeces charming old port town of Nafplio, take center stage at the remarkably preserved theater at Epidavros, and time-trip through the ruins of Olympia. Then well wander off the beaten path along the rustic, rough-and-tumble Mani Peninsula — with a relaxing stop in the idyllic beach town of Kardamyli — and marvel at Greeces Rock of Gibraltar: the fortress town of Monemvasia.

Using Copenhagen as a springboard, well visit the very best of Denmark. Aarhus welcomes us with its ruddy affluence, charming open-air museum, and eerily well-preserved ancient bog man. Roskilde impresses visitors with its royal burial church and the best Viking-ship museum anywhere. And the delightfully quaint isle of Ærø comes with half-timbered cottages, ships in bottles, and cobbled alleyways that remind us of the world of Hans Christian Andersen.

As hes done with previous programs on Israel, Egypt, and eastern Turkey, Rick takes us beyond Europe to a place thats rich with history…and mystery. In this first of two half-hour shows on Iran, Rick dodges traffic in Tehran, enjoys the tranquility of a nearby village, and encounters both anti-American propaganda and a warm welcome from everyday Iranians.

Nestled inside its mighty ramparts is Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of the Adriatic." From this remarkably preserved medieval fortress city, we venture into less-touristed corners of the former Yugoslavia. In Montenegro, we sail the fjord-like Bay of Kotor and explore its mysterious, mountainous interior. And in Bosnia, we visit Mostar — war-torn in the 90s, but bursting with promise today.

Andalucías Moorish heritage sparkles in the historic capitals of Granada and Córdoba. And the pride of the Reconquista and the power of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand enliven the regions great sights. Tasting the smooth sherry and marveling at prancing stallions, we find the passion in Andalusian culture. And we top it off with fun in the Spanish sun on the Costa del Sol.

The proud spirit of the Norwegian people shines in every dimension of their capital city — from its once-fearsome Viking ships to its sleek new Opera House, from a fun folk museum that keeps traditions alive to the constant festival of its thriving harborfront. Connecting with the culture, we enjoy art — from Vigelands statues to Munchs scream — and join local friends for a boat ride on their fjord.

Swedens capital, confident and self-assured, glitters with souvenirs from the day when it ruled as a superpower. From pondering gilded royal staterooms to sampling gourmet reindeer and sipping vodka in an ice bar, we experience the citys cultural highlights. Then we sail the archipelago for the prettiest island-hopping in northern Europe.

We follow the trail pilgrims have trod for centuries, from the French border to Santiago de Compostela in the northwest corner of Spain. Along the way, we stop off in Pamplona to run with the bulls, and dive into the unique Celtic culture of Galicia — where Riverdance meets flamenco.

Part one of three shows on the Eternal City, this episode resurrects the rubble and brings back to life the capital of the ancient world. Focusing on the grandeur of classical Rome, well admire the groundbreaking architecture at the Colosseum and Pantheon, and the empires exquisite art at the Capitoline Museum. Then well head out on a bike ride along the ancient Appian Way and take in nearby marvels of Roman engineering.

In this third of three shows on the Eternal City, well explore this grand metropolis — so rich in art and culture — on a more intimate scale, delving into its back lanes and unheralded corners. Venturing through the crusty Trastevere district, visiting the historic Jewish Ghetto, and enjoying art treasures in a string of rarely visited churches, we uncover charms of hidden Rome that compete with its marquee sights.

In this second of two episodes on Florence, well enjoy more of the exquisite artistic treasures of the city that propelled Europe out of the Middle Ages. Then well side-trip to a couple of rival cities and cultural capitals in their own right, Pisa and Lucca, where well marvel at a tipsy tower, circle a city on its ramparts, and enjoy some Puccini in his hometown.

In this second of two episodes on Europes "City of Light," well ride a unicorn into the Middle Ages at the Cluny Museum, take a midnight Paris joyride in a classic car, get an extremely close-up look at heavenly stained glass in Sainte-Chapelle, go on a tombstone pilgrimage at Père Lachaise Cemetery, and savor the Parisian café scene. Few cites are so confident in their expertise in good living — and as travelers, we get to share in that uniquely Parisian "joie de vivre."

Hiking through the Cumbrian Lake District — Englands green and pristine mountain playground — well admire idyllic lakes, discover misty waterfalls, tour a slate mine, and conquer stony summits. And well meet the locals — and their beloved dogs and sheep — everywhere. Then we play a little cricket, hike Hadrians Wall, and get dazzled by Durhams Norman cathedral.

Join us as we trace the life of Venice, once Europes most powerful city, from its early beginnings to its superpower heyday to its hedonistic decline. Well start by cruising its lagoon, stopping in fiery Murano for glass, pastel Burano for lace, and murky Torcello for a sense of where Venice was born. Along with sampling the sumptuous art treasures and exploring its back-street wonders, well luxuriate in a venerable café and savor fresh fish canalside with Venetian friends. Get intimate with the decadent city of Casanova as we become as anonymous as possible in this city of masks.

We marvel at the fascinating landscape of Cappadocia from high above in a balloon...and from deep below, prowling an underground city where Christians once hid out. Well join a circumcision party, explore troglodyte ghost towns, shop for sheep at the market, and chat with an imam. Then we enjoy the modern capital, Ankara, and pay our respects to the father of modern Turkey, Atatürk.

Side-tripping from Paris into the Ile-de-France, we indulge in the world of royal and aristocratic extravagance in the pre-Revolutionary playground of Frances elite. We explore Versailles, Europes palace of palaces; exquisite Vaux le Vicomte; and extravagant Fontainebleau, home to centuries of French rulers. Well also marvel at the glass and statuary of Chartres cathedral and dine like kings.

Palestine is the Muslim and Arab half of the Holy Land. After visiting Jerusalem, we harvest olives near Ramallah, follow pilgrims to the place of Jesus birth in Bethlehem, approach Abrahams tomb — as both Jews and Muslims do — in Hebron, drop in on friends for dinner, and bob in the Dead Sea. Well also learn about walls, Israeli settlements, and the challenges facing this region.

Europes best-preserved 17th-century city, Amsterdam is quaint and jarring, traditional and modern. Filled with history and happy-go-lucky, its a delight to explore. Uniquely entertaining Amsterdam shows us Rembrandts and Van Goghs, more bikes than cars, flirting prostitutes, and pot-filled coffeeshops — all under tall, skinny facades leaning out below quaint church towers.

The capital of the Czech Republic, Prague is the best-preserved Baroque city in Central Europe. We experience its massive castle, beloved statue-lined bridge, evocative Jewish Quarter, and thrilling 20th-century history while enjoying its infectious love of music and perhaps the best beer in Europe. With a beautifully preserved Old Town, Prague deserves its nickname: the Golden City of a Hundred Spires.

Hamburg, Germanys mighty port city, has risen from the ashes of World War II with a gleaming new skyline and a brisk creative energy. From there, we visit the great historic sights of Martin Luther and the Reformation (Erfurt, Wittenberg, and Wartburg Castle) before finishing in the capital of Franconia: wine-loving Würzburg.

Skyscraper-studded Frankfurt — with so much commerce its nicknamed "Bankfurt" — has a delightful-to-explore old center. Well also visit Nürnberg, a capital for both the First Reich (the Holy Roman Empire) and the Third. From its towering castle and playful fountains to its Nazi Documentation Center and maze of underground bomb shelters, Nürnberg is a fascinating study in contrasts.

Well tour Romanias vibrant capital, Bucharest, with its "Little Paris of the East" architecture and lingering reminders of a brutal communist dictator. Then well head into Transylvania, where well visit fortified churches, cobbled merchant towns like Sighișoara, and castles made famous by an imported German king and the real-life Dracula. Finally well explore Maramureș, where everyday life still feels like an open-air folk museum.

Arcing along the southeast coast of England, well travel from Canterbury (with its famous cathedral) to Dover (stoutly fortified from Roman times to the Battle of Britain). Then well hike the trails that top the towering chalk cliffs of the South Downs, wander into the beachy resort of Brighton (Englands Coney Island), and push on to Portsmouth, whose naval heritage has left it with the best collection of historic sailing ships anywhere.

The heartland of England has sights that put the "Great" in Britain — its venerable universities, its royal heritage, and reminders of its industrial might. At Oxford and Cambridge, we’ll see where kings and prime ministers studied. At Blenheim Palace — Winston Churchill’s birthplace — we’ll connect with English aristocracy. At Ironbridge Gorge, we fire up memories of the Industrial Revolution. And all along the way, we’ll be driving on the left and polishing our pub etiquette.

Portugal has an oversized history, fascinating culture, and boatloads of sardines. Saving the capital city of Lisbon for another episode, well dance on the beach at Nazaré, marvel at a medieval abbey in Batalha, visit a royal library and revel with university students in Coimbra, savor port wine with the people who made it along the Douro River, and get to know Portugals gritty and fascinating second city, Porto.

Well island-hop through the Aegean, sampling three classic Greek getaways — Santorini, Mykonos, and Rhodes — and basking in their dramatic beauty. Well tour ancient ruins, trace the vestiges of the Crusaders, sample rustic cuisine, savor classic Greek-island views, and compare beaches — from the ultimate party beach to idyllic quiet hideaways. And well see how a cruise ship can be an efficient way to link up great island stopovers.

In this second of two episodes on Europes greatest festivals, well dance with Spaniards at Sevillas April Fair, celebrate Bastille Day in Paris, run with the bulls at Pamplona, and hoist a frothy stein at Munichs Oktoberfest. And well celebrate a traditional family Christmas, browsing the holiday market in Nürnberg and sledding down alpine slopes by torchlight in Switzerland. With the entire Continent as our playground, fun is our mission.

Sicily serves up a full-bodied and tasty travel experience. Well dine on fresh seafood at the fishermans harbor in Cefalù, ponder ancient Greek greatness in Siracusa, commune with monks — alive and departed — in a Capuchin crypt, sleep in an olive orchard at an agriturismo, and eat our way through a classic Sicilian banquet with a famous chef.

Well begin on the tranquil Isle of Iona, where Christianity first reached the shores of Scotland. Then well visit another of the Inner Hebrides, road-tripping across the Isle of Skye, where well explore Iron Age forts, peat fields, a venerable distillery, thatched crofter huts, and the dramatic Trotternish Peninsula. Finally, well sail to Orkney — more Nordic than Celtic — with its stony remnants of a thriving Iron Age civilization and evocative reminders of the 20th-century wartime harbor at Scapa Flow.

In the Alps of Austria and Italy, we celebrate both nature and culture. After conquering the Zugspitze, we tour Innsbruck, visit a remote farm in Austria, and join in a Tirolean village festival. Then we cross the Alps into Italy and tour a uniquely well-preserved medieval castle before joyriding deep into the rugged Dolomite Mountains.

After exploring the proud cuisine capital of Lyon — which, at least in its own mind, rivals Paris — we head for Chamonix, in the shadow of Europe’s tallest peak: Mont Blanc. With the classic alpine resort as our springboard, we make some high-altitude cheese, then ride the lift up to Aiguille du Midi and over to the border of Italy.

Teeming Cairo, straddling the Nile, is the capital of Egypt and one of the leading cities of the Muslim world. With 20 million people, greater Cairo pulses with energy. We explore the back streets on a tuk-tuk, drop in on a mosque, haggle with a gauntlet of eager merchants, bake some pita bread, help chisel a tombstone, marvel at King Tuts gold, greet the ancient Sphinx, and climb into the center of the greatest pyramid.

Venturing beyond Europe, and with local experts as his guides, Rick uses Ethiopia as a classroom for understanding global hunger and extreme poverty — and how to beat it. Together, we witness the importance of water, education, empowering women, and nutrition during a childs first thousand days. And we see firsthand the impact of globalization and climate change. Our souvenir: A vivid appreciation of how ending hunger is possible — and how smart and modern development aid is the key.

As the Ice Age glaciers melted, prehistoric Europe bloomed with surprisingly sophisticated art. From Ireland to France, Scotland to the Greek Isles, we traverse that mystical world of mighty megaliths, torchlit cave paintings, magical goddesses, and wrinkled bog people. We stand in awe as a massive tomb is radiated by a dramatic beam of sunlight and listen to ritual horns that still play today.

We follow Romes rise through its awe-inspiring art, starting at Romes humble birthplace in the Forum. Soon Rome is graced with supersized monuments like the majestic domed Pantheon and the Colosseum, where gladiators battled to the death. We also get a glimpse of Romes more intimate side: the colorful mosaics, luxurious frescoes, and realistic portraits of the solid citizens who made Rome great.

After Romes fall, Europes Christians kept culture alive with art rooted in their deep faith. We visit sturdy Romanesque churches filled with art that reinforced the ruling order. Meanwhile, Europe was invigorated from the fringes: Byzantines to the East, with their dazzling mosaics; Spanish Muslims with their lush palaces; and fierce Vikings of the North — all part of Europes rich cultural stew.

After its medieval struggles, Europe rediscovered the art of the ancients, led by booming Florence. We revel in the bold spirit of the Cathedrals lofty dome and Botticellis sweet Venus. Leonardo da Vinci gives us the iconic Last Supper and enigmatic Mona Lisa. And Michelangelo — sculptor of David, painter of the Sistine, and architect of St. Peters — takes the Florentine Renaissance to new heights.

Forged in Europes religious struggles, Baroque art inspired the faithful and dazzled the masses. We start in Rome, with its awe-inspiring St. Peters, fleshy Bernini statues and bubbly fountains. In Belgium, we see the dramatic canvases of Rubens. And finally: the ultimate Baroque palace, Versailles, with its chandeliered Hall of Mirrors and vast gardens where nobles played as Revolution brewed.

The late-1800s saw old notions of beauty challenged by revolutionary artists. We enjoy pioneering Impressionist works — Monets lilies, Renoirs ladies, Degas snapshots and Rodins statues — that capture the joie de vivre of the age. We trace the tempestuous travels of Van Gogh through his incomparable art. And we finish in Spain, with wild and crazy buildings that herald the dawn of a new century.