Rick Steves' Europe Video

The National Gallery features art showcasing the powerful beauty of Norway’s landscape and people. A visit here gives those heading into the mountains and fjord country a chance to pack along a little better understanding of Norway's history and cultural soul. You’ll also see some of famed Norwegian Expressionist painter Edvard Munch’s works including his iconic The Scream. For more information on...

Rome's Trastevere district is the place to immerse yourself in the crustier side of the Eternal City. Tucked between the Tiber River and the Janiculum Hill, this neighborhood feels worlds away from the rest of Rome. Take a slow wander and train your eyes to see Roman life more intimately. You’ll experience fascinating churches, local trattorias and pastel-colored lanes draped with laundry. For mor...

Along the Antrim coast an hour north of Belfast, the evocative remnants of Dunluce Castle perch dramatically on the edge of a rocky headland. During the Middle Ages Dunluce resisted several sieges until one stormy night the castle's kitchen and servants tumbled suddenly into the sea! Local guides are expert at bringing the turbulent past of ruins like this to life for visitors. For more informatio...

Barcelona boasts an enticing variety of tapas bars serving small portions of seafood, salads, meat-filled pastries, deep-fried tasties, and on and on. Some are colorful holes-in-walls, some are modern and trendy. Just drop in at any lively place and get a fun, inexpensive sampler plate. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participati...

Filled with over 30,000 works of art, the Louvre is a treasure trove of Western civilization. This vast former royal palace is famous as the home to Mona (Lisa) and Venus (de Milo) but that’s just the appetizer course. You’ll find Greek and Roman sculptures and medieval jewels plus masterpieces from the Renaissance to Romanticism starring Michelangelo, Delacroix, Gericault and many others. For mor...

Europe is continuing to unite — both politically and physically. From the start, the wealthier countries of the European Union have helped their less-affluent neighbors catch up. And, after a generation of huge investments, its transportation infrastructure keeps European commerce and trade moving faster than ever. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descr...

Budapest's main drag, Andrássy Boulevard, is a good place to stroll and get a feel for today’s urban Pest. At the boulevard's end, you’ll find the grand Heroes’ Square, dripping with history; the vast tree-filled expanse of City Park, and, tucked in the middle of it all, Budapest’s finest thermal spa and single best experience, the Széchenyi Baths. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe T...

The elegant Belvedere Palace was Austria's first great public art gallery and today houses the city's best collection of homegrown artists including Gustav Klimt, most famous for "The Kiss." In addition to the beautiful art you can tour the lavish palace, enjoy sweeping views of the manicured gardens and admire the Vienna skyline. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — includi...

No trip to Florence is complete without a visit to the masterpiece-packed Uffizi Gallery. On a single floor, travelers experience a thrilling sweep through art history, spanning the 12th through the 17th centuries. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.rick...

With its large student population and fashionable shops, Avignon is an intriguing blend of medieval history, youthful energy, and urban sophistication. 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.

London teems with lively shopping districts. Near Piccadilly, stroll Jermyn Street's quintessentially English shops for an elegant experience. Nearby the trendy Soho district beckons with its thriving, colorful youth scene and a diverse array of restaurants and theaters. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, tra...

While it has deep cultural roots, most people know Guernica for a horrific event in the years leading up to WWII. Picasso's mural, considered by many the greatest antiwar work of art ever, tells the story. (The mural is now located in Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain.) For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, trave...

Sweden's stunning capital is one-third water, one-third parks, one-third city and bubbles with energy and history. And they have an Ice Bar! Swedes are leaders among Europeans with their social legislation. They pay high taxes, but every citizen, regardless of their family's economic status, receives benefits like long vacations, quality health care and education. For more information on the Rick...

The Doge's Palace — the ruling center and opulent, art-filled residence of Venice's duke — was built to show off the wealth of the republic and to remind visitors that Venice's mighty trading empire was number one. For four centuries (about 1150-1550), this was the most powerful half-acre in Europe. The evocative Bridge of Sighs connects the palace to the prison next door. For more information on...

The best original Gothic stained glass is found in the Sainte-Chapelle church in Paris. Step inside and be overwhelmed by the dazzling light-filled interior. Its architectural harmony is due to the fact that it was completed in only six years — unheard of in medieval times (nearby Notre-Dame took over 200 years!). For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descri...

For many, the most endearing aspect of Irish culture is their love of language — both oral and written. Around the turn of the 20th century, Dublin provided inspiration for some of the world's great modern writers — James Joyce, William Butler Yeats, and Oscar Wilde. Nightly Literary Pub Crawls showcase the great Irish storytelling tradition as you enjoy a pint of Guinness. For more information on...

Savor the good life in Germany's Rhine River Valley while picking up some tips for getting the most out of your sightseeing. 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 Rome, you'll rub elbows with religious pilgrims from around the world. A major stop on the pilgrimage trail is San Giovanni in Laterano, the first Christian church in the city of Rome. Even today, it's the home church of the Bishop of Rome — the pope. The adjacent Holy Stairs are a one-of-a-kind experience. Each day, hundreds of faithful penitents climb these steps on their knees reciting a lit...

Spectacularly situated at the head of a 60-mile-long fjord, Oslo is Norway's biggest city - yet it’s easy to navigate with its compact historic core and great public transportation. Karl Johans Gate, the city’s people-friendly main drag stretches from the train station to Royal Palace. Nearby, the harborfront hums with international shipping and a thriving cruise industry. For more information on...

Sheepdog trial and hound shows in the Lake District are entertaining for weather-beaten shepherds, gentleman farmers and curious tourists alike. The fascinating local culture is alive and well and on full display. The main event is the master directing his trusty, intelligent dog to bring in the sheep as quickly as possible. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including epi...

Cosmopolitan Barcelona is the vibrant capital of Catalunya, the proud and distinct region tucked in the NW corner of Spain. Franco's oppressive fascism is long gone and regional creative and independent spirit is on a roll. Locals speak Catalan — not Spanish — and dance the sardana, not flamenco. Visca (Long live) Catalunya! For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including epi...

Copenhagen means "Merchants' Harbor" and impressive buildings from many eras hug the waterfront. Harbor tour boats come and go constantly, giving visitors a relaxing glide down the historic canals and along the harbor front, home to the Little Mermaid and a chorus line of strikingly modern Danish architecture. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptio...

Step out of the leafy, sun-dappled Impressionist painting that is the Tuileries Garden and into the Orangerie, a little jewel box of a museum featuring works by Monet, Renoir, Matisse, Picasso, and others. The main attraction, Monet's Water Lilies float dreamily in oval-shaped rooms he designed to showcase his masterpiece. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episo...

The magnificent Pantheon, built by the Romans as a temple to all of their gods, is the Eternal City's best-preserved monument. Engineers still admire how such a mathematically precise structure was built without modern technology. Standing under the massive solemn dome, you'll gain a new appreciation for the grandeur that was — and still is — Rome. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe T...

Whitehall, Britain's most important street connects Parliament with Trafalgar Square. A walk here is chock-full of reminders of a proud and hard-fought history as you pass monuments, Royal Horseguards and the nearby Churchill War Rooms. Shut down after WWII, it's open today as a fascinating time warp for visitors to explore. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including epi...