Rick Steves' Europe Video

Part 1 of 5, this clip celebrates how we travel to have experiences…to have fun. Going to new places invigorates us. It’s exciting.

Built by Ramses II in about 1250 BC, the temple of Abu Simbel is one of Egypt's must-sees. About 50 years ago, it was at risk of being submerged by the creation of Lake Nasser. Thanks to a heroic effort, the ancient temple was cut into huge blocks and moved to the location where it stands today.

A visit to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo helps bring the country's many ancient sights to life. The museum houses the best collection of ancient Egyptian art anywhere, including 3,000-year-old statues, vibrant paintings, and funerary art fit for a pharaoh.

Straddling the border between Provence and Burgundy, Lyon has been one of France's leading cities since Roman times. After Paris, it's arguably the most historic and culturally important city in the country, especially considering its reputation as the cuisine capital of France. More info about travel to France: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/france

Zermatt, at the foot of the Matterhorn, was essentially built for enjoying the Alps. It's hugely popular with skiers in the winter and hikers in the summer. And with its many lifts, Zermatt is a springboard for countless trails and unforgettable viewpoints. More info about travel to Zermatt: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/switzerland/zermatt

At nearly 10,000 feet, the Zugspitze is Germany’s highest mountain. A cable car zips visitors up to the summit, where breathtaking views of peaks in Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland await. The summit also marks the border between Germany and Austria, making for one of the most thrilling border crossings in Europe. More info about travel to the Bavarian Alps: https://www.ricksteves.com/euro...

Karnak was the most important place of worship in ancient Egypt. This sprawling temple complex was built over many centuries during the New Kingdom period, when most of the great pharaohs ruled. Rather than for the public, Karnak was reserved only for royals, priests, and the gods. But today, anyone can explore the site's impressive ruins.

In the British countryside, near the village of Avebury, stand two of England's most mysterious prehistoric sites: the Avebury Stone Circle, 16 times as big as Stonehenge, and Silbury Hill, a yet-to-be-explained mountain of chalk that's the largest man-made construction from prehistoric Europe. More info about travel to England: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/england

Tallinn's Kumu Art Museum displays contemporary Estonian art that traces the country's chaotic 20th century, from idyllic German-influenced pastorals and Communist propaganda to the 1960s counterculture and Estonia's eventual (and peaceful) fight for independence. More info about travel to Estonia: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/estonia

Rising above a plain where the Lowlands meet the Highlands, Stirling Castle was the seat of the kings and queens of Scotland for hundreds of years. It's no surprise that this strategic castle has hosted many of the biggest names and events of Scottish history, from Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Battle of Bannockburn. More info about travel to Scotland: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/scotland

Rome is magnificent and overwhelming at the same time. Make your trip to the Eternal City fun and hassle-free with Rick's travel tips, from choosing where to stay to using public transportation. More info about travel to Italy: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy

For centuries, Portugal's royalty considered Sintra the perfect place to escape from Lisbon. Today, tourists can experience Sintra's mix of natural and man-made beauty, too, from fantasy castles to lush forests to craggy hilltops with hazy views of the Atlantic. More info about travel to Portugal: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/portugal

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery is Glasgow's best museum. Like a Scottish Smithsonian, it features everything from natural history exhibits to fine art, including pieces by the 19th-century Scottish Romantics and Art Nouveau architect (and Glaswegian) Charles Rennie Mackintosh. More info about travel to Scotland: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/scotland

In Northern Ireland, Orangemen parades fill village and neighborhood streets with Protestants from Easter through September. The long-established Orange Order — with their signature orange team color — works to defend British rule, and these parades are like pep rallies for the cause of continued union. More info about travel to Northern Ireland: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/ireland/northern-...

Sicily's sprawling, gritty capital of Palermo boasts colorful markets and bustling shopping streets that signal a fun-loving city in regeneration. Take an evening stroll through the landmark Quattro Canti and discover Palermo's trendy, inviting neighborhoods. More info about travel to Sicily: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/sicily

In Rome, pop into churches to see art in situ — not hanging on museum walls, but exactly where it was meant to be enjoyed — including magnificent Michelangelo sculptures, dazzling Byzantine mosaics, and impressive Renaissance frescoes. More info about travel to Italy: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy

Made from huge stones that were quarried, carved, and moved from as far away as Wales, Stonehenge has amazed visitors for thousands of years. And throughout that time, it's continued to work as a functioning celestial calendar, lining up with the rising and setting sun on the longest day of the year. More info about travel to England: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/england

With one of Scotland's best distillery tours and plenty of character, Oban is a basket of Scottish traditions. And it's ideally situated for day trips to three of the most worthwhile Inner Hebrides: Mull, Iona, and Staffa. More info about travel to Scotland: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/scotland

Plenty of character is packed into Lisbon — and much of it is edible. One treat you're sure to find in any Lisbon restaurant, market hall, or café is bacalhau (salted cod), a Portuguese favorite. More info about travel to Portugal: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/portugal

Glasgow is Scotland's most underrated destination. With an energetic cultural scene and unique flair for art and design, this rejuvenated city is bursting with history, pride, and a love of life. More info about travel to Scotland: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/scotland

Sicily's many rulers — from the Greeks to the Arabs to the Spanish — have each left their mark on the island's capital, Palermo. You can still see that impact today through the city's distinctive architecture and in the faces of its residents. More info about travel to Sicily: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/sicily

Alabaster and wine are traditional specialties in the Tuscan hill town of Volterra. Drop by a local workshop or wine bar to see Volterra's masters at work (and enjoy the fruits of their labor). More info about travel to Italy: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/Italy

The fascinating and remote Orkney Islands, off the north coast of Scotland, offer some of the best prehistoric sites in northern Europe, including 5,000-year-old homes and burial mounds. More info about travel to Scotland: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/scotland

Experience the decadence of Paris' belle époque ("beautiful age") at sights like the Opéra Garnier and the Jacquemart-André Museum. More info about travel to France: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/france

In 1755, a devastating earthquake reduced Lisbon to rubble. The city's downtown was eventually rebuilt in a symmetrical grid plan, with broad boulevards and inviting squares — a style known as "Pombaline," named for the prime minister who oversaw the reconstruction. More info about travel to Portugal: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/portugal