Rick Steves' Europe

Take a peek behind the scenes as Rick and his crew scamper through Milan and around Lake Como. You’ll follow the creative process as the challenges and surprises that come with travel are shaped into a finished TV show.

The birthplace of Mozart — and everyone's Sound of Music fantasies — Salzburg is a Baroque jewel of a town. It's also the springboard for lots of alpine fun — from thrilling summer bobsledding, to idyllic boat rides in the Salzkammergut lake district, to exploring the delightful romantic town of Hallstatt.

In Vienna, we'll explore the palace, picnic on the Danube, bake a strudel, visit an extraordinary Gothic Cathedral, chase butterflies, marvel at the crown jewels and of course, do a little waltzing.

Connoisseurs of Italy find its quintessential charms survive in its classic hill towns. From San Gimignano's medieval towers to Civita di Bagnoregio's cliff-hanging vistas...all sit on lofty stone perches that now protect them only from the modern world.

The rural charms of Tuscany give us a healthy dose of the "sweet life" as we hunt for truffles in an oak forest, nibble our way through an artichoke festival, and ride a classic convertible through the cypress groves of Mona Lisa's backyard.

In Milan we'll take a peek at Italy's highest fashion, fanciest delis, grandest cemetery, and greatest opera house...not to mention Leonardo's Last Supper. Then we'll cruise along Lake Como, settling down in the lakeside village of Varenna.

Just south of Naples, we'll experience the breathtaking Amalfi Coast, 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.

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

In this program Rick explores the cultural heart of Scotland, Edinburgh. After rambling through Edinburgh Castle, we experience Scottish literature and Scotch whisky, savor the new Scottish cuisine with a local friend, stow away on her majesty’s yacht, The Britannia, and check out the new Parliament.

In this program Rick explores North Wales, from towering Mount Snowdon and evocative medieval castles to grand Victorian promenades. He visits the castle-within-a-castle in Conwy, peeks into 16th-century domestic life at Plas Mawr, goes down deep in the Llechwedd slate mine, and up high in Snowdon National Park, then strolls through a “Beatle pilgrimage” in Liverpool.

Medieval York and Georgian Bath pack an exciting pair of sightseeing punches. Rick explores Roman hot springs, cruises quiet canals, marvels at England's finest Gothic church, and gets a surprising dose of Viking history.