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 Tsarist Russian rule and nearly 50 years as part of the Soviet Union have blended in a distinctly Russian flavor. Tallinn has modernized at an astounding rate since the fall of the Soviet Union, while also remaining one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the north of Europe. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — includi...
Mar 16, 2011•3 min
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 housed, a 1628 war ship that sank to the bottom of the harbor just minutes into its maiden voyage. Rescued after 300 years under the sea, it's now the best-preserved ship of its kind. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — ...
Mar 09, 2011•2 min
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, creating the defining feature of Norway's landscape — fjords. 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.
Mar 02, 2011•3 min
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 Norwegian cousin. 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.
Feb 23, 2011•3 min
The Rock of Gibraltar stands like a fortress at the gateway to the Mediterranean. With its strategic setting, Gibraltar has an illustrious military history and remnants of its martial past are everywhere. But within a generation the economy has gone from one dominated by the military to one based on tourism. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteve...
Feb 16, 2011•3 min
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 town of Nerja, which has kept some of its charm despite capitalizing on its vacation culture. 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.
Feb 09, 2011•4 min
Being the midpoint bewteen the Slavic, Germanic and Italian worlds gives Ljubljana a special spice. This tiny town has only about a quarter-million people, but it's by far the country's largest city, cultural capital, and a charming place to kick off any Slovenian trip. 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.
Feb 02, 2011•6 min
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 contrasts: an intriguing combination of rugged landscapes, communist-era decrepitude, and an emerging Mediterranean hotspot that's quite popular with the cruising crowd. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricks...
Jan 26, 2011•4 min
Handy boat connections make the island of Hvar a popular stop off the Dalmatian coast. Activities are low energy. Expertly enjoying this town, seemingly made for relaxing, yachters stern tie into the good life. Visitors nurse drinks on the main square, or stroll the back lanes. 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.
Jan 19, 2011•3 min
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 conveniently laces the old town with points along the river and to the sight which spearheaded Bilbao's urban renaissance: the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.rickst...
Jan 12, 2011•3 min
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 information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Jan 05, 2011•6 min
Helsinki's most important sight is Suomenlinna, an island guarding Helsinki's harbor that served as a strategic fortress for three countries: Sweden, Russia, and then Finland. It's now a popular park, most appreciated by locals for its scenic strolls. 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.
Dec 29, 2010•2 min
Stockholm's vast archipelago is an amazing playground of literally thousands of islands stretching 80 miles from the city. Catch a ferry with the locals and grab a perch on the breezy sundeck with the Swedes as they enjoy their island wonderland. 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.
Dec 22, 2010•3 min
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, steeped in Norse legends and folk lore, and home to Europe's biggest surviving glacier, Jostedal. 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.
Dec 15, 2010•2 min
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 rugged and pragmatic, celebrating life. The park showcases a lifetime of work by Norway's greatest sculptor, Gustav Vigeland. 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.
Dec 08, 2010•2 min
Most visitors to Tangier take a tour, daytripping in from Spain for a predictable series of experiences. But wandering through this delightfully disorienting town, at your own pace, is more fun. And to enjoy it with maximum understanding, you can hire a local guide. 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.
Dec 01, 2010•7 min
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 dwindling Moorish empire. As Christian forces pushed the Moors farther and farther south, this palace was the last hurrah of a sophisticated 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.
Nov 24, 2010•4 min
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 ruled by nearby Venice and retains its Venetian flavor. In fact, the town's officially bilingual: Slovene and Italian. Today, its town square is enjoyed by visitors and locals of all generations — savoring the good life where the Slavic world, the Alps, and the Mediterranean all come together. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series ...
Nov 17, 2010•2 min
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 of multi-cultural community but collapsed under artillery shells when Yugoslavia fell apart in the 1990s. Today, Mostar is rebuilding, and ethnic divisions are gradually fading. And the new Old Bridge, rebuilt using the original materials, is a promising sign of reconciliation. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including e...
Nov 10, 2010•6 min
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 heavily forested canyon. It's a lush and unforgettable valley of 16 terraced lakes, laced together by waterfalls and miles of pleasant plank walks. 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.
Nov 03, 2010•2 min
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, prehistoric people painted deep inside caves in what is today the Dordogne region of France. These cave paintings are huge and sophisticated projects executed by artists and supported by an impressive culture — the Magdalenians. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, trave...
Oct 27, 2010•5 min
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 architects were inspired by the Italian architect Andrea Palladio to build a "new Rome." Bath's Royal Crescent and Circus are fine examples of this neoclassic style. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.rickstev...
Oct 20, 2010•4 min
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 long tradition of vintners making wine and offering their label to the thirsty public. And its castle has become one of Germany's top hostels, with plenty of beds and a warm welcome. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more ...
Oct 06, 2010•3 min
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. Patrick, and, wandering through Rick's favorite Celtic cross graveyard, feel the soul of Ireland. 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.
Sep 29, 2010•1 min
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 signposted, and dotted with tame cows and goats. 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.
Sep 22, 2010•2 min
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 Mediterranean cuisine, and meets a local fisherman. 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.
Sep 15, 2010•5 min
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 Mull, it's a one-mile ferry ride to the sleepy island of Iona, a great place for a break from a busy itinerary. 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.
Sep 08, 2010•4 min
Often referred to as the "Gibraltar of Greece," Monemvasia is a virtual showcase of Byzantine, Turkish, and Venetian history dating back to the 13th century. Worth climbing: the steep zigzag path that leads up and up, out of the lower town, to ruins of the fortified upper town, and sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit...
Sep 01, 2010•2 min
Budapest's Great Indoor Market Hall is a commotion of produce stands, butcher stalls, peppers and spices. Paprika — a dominant spice in Hungarian cuisine — is everywhere, in varieties ranging from very sweet to very hot. 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.
Aug 25, 2010•2 min
At their peak of power in the 1500s, the Habsburg family ruled Austria, Germany, northern Italy, the Netherlands, and even Spain. And Vienna's Kunsthistorisches (Art History) Museum offers great art from throughout the realm. The Italian collection is particularly strong. 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.
Aug 18, 2010•4 min
