Helsinki's sky-lit copper dome of the Church in the Rock and pure, clean, neoclassical Lutheran cathedral offer unique architectural treats while delighting travelers. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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 pockets of old-world charm hiding out in the town center. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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 more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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 years. And it's a good place to start if you're looking for Turkey in the extreme. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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 art of western civilization. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Oslo is surrounded by a vast forest dotted with little lakes, idyllic huts, joggers, bikers, and sun-worshippers. Family values are taken seriously here, and Norway's social programs are particularly woman- and family-friendly. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Cappadocia is rightly known as that bizarre and fascinating bit of Central Turkey, noted for its centuries-old customs, and its unusual terrain. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
On the Mediterranean Sea, basking between the French and Italian Rivieras, the principality of Monaco barely fits on its one square mile of territory. From the famous casino to the palace atop its fortified hill, a visit to Monaco is a Riviera "must." For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
"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. Deep forests, countless lakes, and rugged wilderness engage nature lovers both on and off the train. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Hungary's Parliament is enormous, with literally miles of grand halls. Originally housing the sprawling multi-national Habsburg empire, it's now a palace of democracy. And locals enjoy a communal soak in traditional mineral baths. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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 economy collapsed, but today tourism, and chocolate shops, have rejuvenated this uniquely well-preserved gothic city. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Istanbul offers a good opportunity to better understand Islam. Visitors are welcome to visit historic mosques — such as the Blue Mosque, nicknamed because of its blue tiles — and at the same time experience a religion that still packs the house. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Denmark's roots, both Viking and royal, are on display in Roskilde. This historic capital’s centerpiece is its imposing cathedral, with paintings surviving from before the Reformation. And the Viking Ship Museum is a hands-on center for experiencing Denmark's seafaring heritage. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Copenhagen has lots of idyllic parks. Its most royal is the King's Garden surrounding the Rosenborg Castle, summer residence to Denmark's "big personality" king, Christian IV, who ruled from 1588 until 1648. The castle's basement holds cases of treasures to dazzle visitors, including the finest renaissance crown in Europe, from Christian IV's coronation in 1596. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel inf...
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 of the Peloponnese. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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, fancy yachts and lazy tourists meandering through traffic-free streets, alongside the occasional donkey. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
The astronomical clock of Olomouc — destroyed by the Nazis in World War II — was rebuilt under Communism in 1953. In good social realist style, you see earnest chemists and heroic mothers rather than holy saints and Virgin Marys. And this is where you can sample the notorious cheese of Moravia, purportedly the stinkiest in the whole country. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinati...
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 villages, fabled castles, colorful pubs, and capped with a 900-year-old abbey. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Near Lake Lucerne, visitors interested in Switzerland's secret defenses can tour Fortress Furigen, one of nine forts buried within the mountains. Wandering through this hidden fortress, you are reminded how perilous Switzerland's position was in the 21st century and how committed the Swiss were to defending their freedom. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit...
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, and a stout fortress protecting the mouth of its valley to the south. This quirky remnant of medieval feudal politics, where women were not given the vote until 1984, holds 11 villages in its 62 square miles. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel informa...
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 Cadaques features another museum of sorts, Dali's home, where even the furniture is a work of provocative and playful surrealist art. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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 along traffic-free, cobblestone lanes lined with foie gras shops, and tourists. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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 simple living. At any given time there are several thousand here from about a hundred countries, enjoying a week-long retreat. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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, including Istanbul's version of fast food: fresh mackerel sandwiches. For urban energy, join the million commuters who ferry over and back daily from the Asian side to the European. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit...
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 system and save on heating costs using one of the world's largest solar power plants. The island also features prehistoric burial sites, one of which holds a full Viking ship. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — vis...
In 1971, several hundred squatters took over an abandoned military barracks in Christiania and attempted to create their own utopia. Two generations later, 800 idealists still live here, defending their right to enjoy life on their terms, while real estate developers set their sights on this now desirable piece of land. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit w...
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 776 B.C. These games were held to honor the gods and to unify the Greeks, and the Sanctuary hosted them for 1,200 years. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Crowned by the mighty Parthenon temple, the Acropolis rises above modern Athens; a lasting testament to Greece's glorious golden age. The Acropolis was the center of ritual and ceremony, and the religious heart of the city. The marketplace at its base is Agora, and was the hub of commercial, political and social life. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www...
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 become emperor, Ferdinand turned this castle into a palace with all the latest comforts, amassed one of the world's best collections of arms and armor, and lined the walls with over 4,000 hunting trophies. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information o...
Among Europe's grandiose palaces, only Schonbrunn rivals Versailles, with over 1,400 rooms in the Baroque and Rococo style. In room after luxurious room, the palace heralds the story of the Habsburg's powerful reign. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
