Rick Steves' Europe

After 16 years and more than 100 travel shows, Rick and his crew take you behind the scenes to show you just how they produce this series. Join the crew as they scamper through Milan and around Lake Como.

Salzburg is a baroque jewel of a town. It's also the springboard for lots of alpine fun, from thrilling summer bobsledding, idyllic boat rides in the Salzkammergut lake district, and to exploring the delightful romantic town of Hallstatt.

In Europe's classiest capital we'll tiptoe through the palace of Maria Theresa and be dazzled by the Hapsburg crown jewels. Then we'll picnic on the Danube, nibble strudel in an old world cafe, and waltz to the beat of Johann Strauss.

Connoisseurs of Italy find that its quintessential charms survive in its hill towns. From San Gimignano's medieval towers to Orvieto's papal intrigue, all of them sit on lofty stone perches that protect them only from the modern world.

Tuscany give us a healthy dose of the "sweet life" as we hunt for truffles in an oak forest, nibble through an artichoke festival, share a farmhouse feast, and ride a classic convertible through Mona Lisa's back yard.

In Milan, we'll peek at Italy's highest fashion, fanciest delis, and greatest opera house. Then we'll cruise along Lake Como, settling down in the lakeside village of Varenna, classic honeymoon country, where Italy meets the Alps.

We'll experience the breath-taking Amalfi Coastline, the trendy resort of Positano, the limoncello charms of Sorrento, the ancient Greek temples at Paestum, and the iridescent Blue Grotto hidden beneath the enchanting isle of Capri.

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

Edinburgh is the historical and cultural heart of Scotland. We'll explore the castle, peek at the new parliament, dabble in the literature, sip a little Scotch, get wrapped up in a kilt, and then stow away on Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia.

We'll 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.

We'll explore Roman hot springs, cruise quiet canals, marvel at England's finest Gothic church, and get a surprising dose of Viking history as we enjoy England's easy urban delights.