Rick Steves' Europe

Hamburg, Germany’s mighty port city, has a gleaming skyline and a brisk creative energy. From there, we'll visit the Reformation sights of Erfurt and Wittenberg, and finish in wine-loving Würzburg.

Saxony, part of the former East Germany, remains a secret to most travelers. We’ll visit the two great cities of the region: the capital city of Dresden, with the opulent palaces and art treasures of the Wettin dynasty, and Leipzig, with its Bach heritage, a massive monument to the day Europe beat Napoleon, and museums remembering its communist heritage.

Join us as we explore modern Frankfurt’s delightful old town. Then we'll visit Nürnberg. From playful fountains to a sobering Nazi Documentation Center, it’s a fascinating study in contrasts.

We’ll trace Bulgaria’s complex history, from ancient Thracian tombs to medieval Orthodox Christian monasteries to Soviet monuments. We’ll also wander about the cities of Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, and Plovdiv.

We'll tour Romania's vibrant capital, Bucharest. Then head into Transylvania and Maramureș where we’ll visit fortified churches, legendary castles, and places where everyday life feels like an open-air folk museum.

In the Italian countryside, we'll see how prosciutto and pecorino are made, and hike down into ancient wine cellars. Then we’ll visit Assisi and its awe-inspiring basilica dedicated to St. Francis.

We’ll enjoy a front-row seat at Siena’s venerable Palio horse race, and marvel at treasures from the city’s golden age. Then we’ll head out of town for a taste of la dolce vita.

England’s West Country will charm us with its quaint Cotswold villages, cathedral town of Wells, New Age capital of Glastonbury, and dramatic prehistoric stone circles of Stonehenge and Avebury.

Arcing along the coast, we’ll travel from Canterbury’s cathedral to Dover’s fortifications, hike atop the chalk cliffs of the South Downs, and be wowed by historic sailing ships in Portsmouth.

In the far southwest of England, we'll explore salty pirates' towns, fishing villages, and a tin mine. Hiking in Dartmoor National Park, we’ll find forgotten stone circles and chase wild ponies.