Rick Steves' Europe

Getting up to date in London, we jog with locals in Hyde Park, marvel at cultural treasures in the Victoria and Albert Museum, and nibble through a trendy East End food tour before luxuriating over afternoon tea. Then we celebrate London's regeneration as it turns industrial wastelands into inviting commercial zones and skyscrapers come with "garden in the sky" viewing platforms.

Our royal tour of London starts with red-coat pageantry at Buckingham Palace. Riding red buses, black cabs, and the Tube, we pop into the Houses of Parliament at Westminster and visit Churchill's underground war rooms - a World War II time warp. After looking into the eyes of those who put the great in Britain at the Portrait Gallery, we cruise the River Thames to the mighty Tower of London.

In Istanbul, we sample the wonders of this city that bridges two continents. After cruising the busy port of the Bosphorus, we dive into the Grand Bazaar, where endless shops enchant visitors. Then we stroll along the Golden Horn, watch dervishes whirl in their captivating spiritual trance, and zip by tram from the Old Town to Taksim Square, tasting local treats before hopping a ferry to Asia.

Istanbul's rich heritage spans the centuries from Christian Byzantium to Muslim Ottoman rule to today's thriving city. We start our look back at the Roman-tinged Hippodrome, then indulge in the ancient ritual of the Turkish bath. We take in the Blue Mosque and the grand Hagia Sophia, taste Turkish delight at the venerable Spice Market, and explore Topkapı Palace and its harem room deep within.

Paris is a world-class city - but also one that to millions is simply home. On this adventure, we're going local. We start at the city's proud symbol, the Eiffel Tower, then cruise the Seine before exploring a few distinctive neighborhoods. We visit the market for fresh food and flowers, window-shop along trendy streets, and cap our tour with a nighttime ride through the sparkling City of Light.

We set a course on a tranquil cruise of the rivers and canals of France's Burgundy region. Aboard a century-old barge-turned-hotel, we're treated to a relaxing pace and natural beauty - plus plenty of gourmet meals and fine wine. Stops for a hike or bike ride help us work up our next appetite, and a château lord welcomes us to taste the vintages of the famed Côte d'Or.

From north to south, Italy is a nonstop highlight reel. On this whirlwind look back through our travels, we sample la dolce vita in seductive Venice and Renaissance titan Florence, then soak up the Italian Riviera and the hill towns of Tuscany and Umbria. We touch down in the historical epicenter of Rome, embrace intense Naples and the Amalfi Coast, and finish amid the beautiful chaos of Sicily.

Warsaw, Poland's complex and cosmopolitan capital, boasts a new-meets-old skyline of communist concrete and glittering skyscrapers, plus lush parks, state-of-the-art museums, and intimate concerts celebrating favorite son Fryderyk Chopin. Then we stop off at red-brick Toruń - with its gingerbread bakeries - and massive Malbork Castle, headquarters of the Teutonic Knights.

In Kraków - Poland's most rewarding destination - we linger on one of Europe's best squares, learn about St. John Paul II in neighborhood churches, and tour Wawel Castle, home to Poland's national cathedral. In Kazimierz, we learn the story of Poland's Jewish community, and in Nowa Huta, we explore a communist-era planned workers' town.

Europe's ultimate road trip is the 800-mile loop around Iceland on Highway 1 - the Ring Road. On our journey, we visit the geothermal hot zone of Lake Mývatn, the rugged Eastfjords, the glacier lagoons of the Southeast, the waterfalls and beaches of the South Coast, and a side-trip to the Westman Islands, with a volcano-shaped townscape and resident puffins.

Reykjavík is a world capital with a small-town feel. We tour the city's endearing sights, get to know the uniquely Icelandic way of life, and take a dip in a thermal swimming pool.