Mighty Alps
Join Rick Steves on an alpine adventure, with scenic train rides, breathtaking lifts, majestic glaciers, and unforgettable hikes. We conquer the Dolomites in Italy and the Zugspitze in Austria. In Switzerland, we savor the beauty of the Matterhorn, the Jungfrau, and Appenzell. And in France, starting from Chamonix, we ride the lift up to the Aiguille du Midi and hike the iconic Tour du Mont Blanc.
Episodes
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Berlin
S8 E812 - 25m 4s
A tumultuous 20th century left Berlin filled with powerful sights — from evocative memorials, to surviving bits of its communist and fascist days, to its glass-domed Reichstag. We enjoy its now-trendy east side, its people-friendly riverfront, and its vibrant social scene. Reunited Berlin — perhaps the fastest changing and most happening city in Europe — is entertaining more visitors than ever.
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Prague
S8 E811 - 25m 3s
The capital of the Czech Republic, Prague is the best-preserved Baroque city in Central Europe. We experience its massive castle, statue-lined bridge, evocative Jewish Quarter, and thrilling 20th-century history while enjoying its infectious love of music and perhaps the best beer in Europe. With a beautifully preserved Old Town, Prague deserves its nickname: the Golden City of a Hundred Spires.
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The Netherlands: Beyond Amsterdam
S8 E810 - 25m 2s
By train, bike, and boat, we visit the top Dutch sights outside of Amsterdam: from Haarlem to Rotterdam, and from Delft to the Zuiderzee. Along the way, we enjoy charming towns with fragrant cheese markets, soggy polderland, mighty dikes, and windmills both new and old. Rolling through the Netherlands and connecting with its people, you can't help but think, "Everything's so... Dutch!"
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Amsterdam
S8 E809 - 25m 4s
Europe's best-preserved 17th-century city, Amsterdam is quaint and jarring, traditional and modern. Filled with history and happy-go-lucky, it's a delight to explore. Uniquely entertaining Amsterdam shows us Rembrandts and Van Goghs, more bikes than cars, flirting prostitutes, and pot-filled coffeeshops — all under tall, skinny facades leaning out below quaint church towers.
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Italy’s Verona, Padova, and Ravenna
S8 E808 - 25m 4s
In the shadow of Venice, we visit three great cities. Padova is famed for its venerable university, precious Giotto frescoes, and pilgrim-packed Basilica. Verona is a hit with aficionados of Roman ruins and Romeo and Juliet fans. And Ravenna, with its shimmering mosaics, was once the western bastion of the Byzantine Empire. We enliven each stop with a tasty dose of Italian dolce vita.
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Italy's Riviera: Cinque Terre
S8 E807 - 25m 4s
Exploring Italy's most remote, romantic stretch of Riviera, we visit five tiny port towns: dramatic Vernazza, surrounded by vineyards; reclusive Corniglia, high on its bluff; pastel Manarola; hardscrabble Riomaggiore; and pint-sized resort of Monterosso. Fishing for anchovies, sipping wine out of rustic barrels, and savoring twinkling Mediterranean vistas, we enjoy the ultimate Riviera adventure.
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Palestine
S8 E806 - 26m 45s
Palestine is the Muslim and Arab half of the Holy Land. After visiting Jerusalem, we harvest olives near Ramallah, follow pilgrims to the place of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, approach Abraham's tomb — as both Jews and Muslims do — in Hebron, drop in on friends for dinner, and bob in the Dead Sea. We'll also learn about walls, Israeli settlements, and the challenges facing this region.
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The Best of Israel
S8 E805 - 26m 45s
We start in Jerusalem, alive with religious tradition and passion — Christian, Muslim, and Jewish. We then visit cosmopolitan Tel Aviv, with its in-love-with-life beaches; ponder the fortress of Masada; and join pilgrims at biblical sights around the Sea of Galilee. We'll pay our respects at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, drop into an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood, and savor the local cuisine.
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Paris Side Trips
S8 E804 - 25m 4s
Side-tripping from Paris into the Ile-de-France, we indulge in the world of royal and aristocratic extravagance in the pre-Revolutionary playground of France's elite. We explore Versailles, Europe's palace of palaces; exquisite Vaux le Vicomte; and extravagant Fontainebleau, home to centuries of French rulers. We'll also marvel at the glass and statuary of Chartres cathedral and dine like kings.
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France's Loire: Chateau Country
S8 E803 - 25m 4s
Along the Loire River Valley, the beautiful French countryside is studded with evocative châteaux. Home-basing in Amboise, we visit four unique castles: elegant Chenonceau, massive Chambord, stately Cheverny, and fragrant Villandry. Along the way, we tour Leonardo's home, feed hunting dogs, enjoy the local cuisine, and savor a princely garden.
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Central Turkey
S8 E802 - 25m 4s
We marvel at the fascinating landscape of Cappadocia from high above in a balloon...and from deep below, prowling an underground city where Christians once hid out. We'll join a circumcision party, explore troglodyte ghost towns, shop for sheep at the market, and chat with an imam. Then we enjoy the modern capital, Ankara, and pay our respects to the father of modern Turkey, Atatürk.
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Western Turkey
S8 E801 - 25m 4s
From the port of Kusadasi, we wander the streets of ancient Ephesus, soak in a natural spa at Pamukkale, learn why the dervishes whirl at Konya, munch lunch in a Turkish pizzeria, and cruise the Mediterranean on a traditional Turkish gulet from Antalya. Turkey is a mighty nation whose ancient heritage, Muslim faith, and western ways are coming together...and we'll see how.
Extras + Features
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Haarlem, Netherlands: Herring and Heritage
S8 E810 - 4m 39s
Haarlem is a “Dutch Masters” kind of town, with plenty of 17th-century architecture. Dodge bikes down narrow lanes to discover some of Haarlem’s gems — pickled herring, masterpieces by Dutch Masters, and, at 100 feet high, Holland’s greatest pipe organ.
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Berlin, Germany: Trendy Prenzlauer Berg
S8 E812 - 3m 42s
Young, in-the-know locals agree that Prenzlauer Berg is one of Berlin’s most colorful neighborhoods. There are no real sights -- just a lively, laid-back neighborhood ignoring its wonderful late-19th-century architecture high overhead.
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Verona, Italy: Ambience and a Grappa Taste Test
S8 E808 - 3m 29s
About two hours from touristy Venice is Verona — a welcome sip of pure, easygoing Italy. Its main attractions are its wealth of Roman ruins and its 21st-century quiet, pedestrian-only ambience.
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Prague, Czech Republic: Charles Bridge and a Czech Language
S8 E811 - 2m 37s
One of Europe's most pleasant strolls is along Prague's historic coronation route. Use it as a spine, but make a point to venture beyond, and learn enough Czech to interact with the locals.
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Chartres, France: Pure Gothic Cathedral
S8 E804 - 2m 46s
A great side trip from Paris is the city of Chartres — and its famous cathedral, arguably Europe’s best example of pure Gothic architecture. It was built quickly, so the cathedral has a unity of architecture, statuary, and stained glass that captures the spirit of the Age of Faith like no other church.
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Amsterdam, Netherlands: Coffeeshops and Red Light District
S8 E809 - 2m 44s
Amsterdam has plenty of examples of their progressive approach to subjects many people consider unsavory: curbside urinals, prostitutes who are unionized, taxed, and regulated and “coffeeshops” that sell marijuana.
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France's Loire: Château Country Preview
S8 E803 - 30s
Along the Loire River Valley, the beautiful French countryside is studded with evocative châteaux. Home-basing in Amboise, we visit four unique castles: elegant Chenonceau, massive Chambord, stately Cheverny, and fragrant Villandry. Along the way, we tour Leonardo's home, feed hunting dogs, enjoy the local cuisine, and savor a princely garden.
-
Central Turkey Preview
S8 E802 - 30s
We marvel at the fascinating landscape of Cappadocia from high above in a balloon...and from deep below, prowling an underground city where Christians once hid out. We'll join a circumcision party, explore troglodyte ghost towns, shop for sheep at the market, and chat with an imam. Then we enjoy the modern capital, Ankara, and pay our respects to the father of modern Turkey, Atatürk.
Schedule
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Rick Steves' Europe
Thursday
Apr 25
30 Minutes
Rick Steves' guidebooks, public-radio program and numerous television series have made him an essential resource for travelers wishing to explore Europe. This program finds the knowledgeable host offering globetrotters a fresh perspective on lodgings, transportation and places to visit on their journeys. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is Steves' belief that travelers should become "temporary locals," exploring not only major cities and the usual sites, but out-of-the-way locales that often produce the most authentic, and enjoyable, experiences of a trip. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Berlin
Thursday
Apr 25
30 Minutes
A reunited Berlin entertains more visitors than ever before. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Germany's Hamburg and the Luther Trail
Thursday
Apr 25
30 Minutes
Germany's port city of Hamburg, post-World War II; historic sites of Martin Luther and the Reformation, including Erfurt, Wittenberg and Wartburg Castle; Wurzburg in Franconia. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Friday
Apr 26
30 Minutes
Rick Steves' guidebooks, public-radio program and numerous television series have made him an essential resource for travelers wishing to explore Europe. This program finds the knowledgeable host offering globetrotters a fresh perspective on lodgings, transportation and places to visit on their journeys. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is Steves' belief that travelers should become "temporary locals," exploring not only major cities and the usual sites, but out-of-the-way locales that often produce the most authentic, and enjoyable, experiences of a trip. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Germany's Hamburg and the Luther Trail
Friday
Apr 26
30 Minutes
Germany's port city of Hamburg, post-World War II; historic sites of Martin Luther and the Reformation, including Erfurt, Wittenberg and Wartburg Castle; Wurzburg in Franconia. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Germany's Dresden and Leipzig
Friday
Apr 26
30 Minutes
The capital city of Dresden, Germany's palaces and art of the Wettin dynasty; Leipzig's Bach heritage, a monument to the day Europe beat Napoleon and museums. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Saturday
Apr 27
30 Minutes
Rick Steves' guidebooks, public-radio program and numerous television series have made him an essential resource for travelers wishing to explore Europe. This program finds the knowledgeable host offering globetrotters a fresh perspective on lodgings, transportation and places to visit on their journeys. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is Steves' belief that travelers should become "temporary locals," exploring not only major cities and the usual sites, but out-of-the-way locales that often produce the most authentic, and enjoyable, experiences of a trip. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Tuesday
Apr 30
30 Minutes
Rick Steves' guidebooks, public-radio program and numerous television series have made him an essential resource for travelers wishing to explore Europe. This program finds the knowledgeable host offering globetrotters a fresh perspective on lodgings, transportation and places to visit on their journeys. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is Steves' belief that travelers should become "temporary locals," exploring not only major cities and the usual sites, but out-of-the-way locales that often produce the most authentic, and enjoyable, experiences of a trip. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Tuesday
Apr 30
30 Minutes
Rick Steves' guidebooks, public-radio program and numerous television series have made him an essential resource for travelers wishing to explore Europe. This program finds the knowledgeable host offering globetrotters a fresh perspective on lodgings, transportation and places to visit on their journeys. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is Steves' belief that travelers should become "temporary locals," exploring not only major cities and the usual sites, but out-of-the-way locales that often produce the most authentic, and enjoyable, experiences of a trip. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Wednesday
May 1
30 Minutes
Rick Steves' guidebooks, public-radio program and numerous television series have made him an essential resource for travelers wishing to explore Europe. This program finds the knowledgeable host offering globetrotters a fresh perspective on lodgings, transportation and places to visit on their journeys. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is Steves' belief that travelers should become "temporary locals," exploring not only major cities and the usual sites, but out-of-the-way locales that often produce the most authentic, and enjoyable, experiences of a trip. -
Image
Rick Steves' Europe
Wednesday
May 1
30 Minutes
Rick Steves' guidebooks, public-radio program and numerous television series have made him an essential resource for travelers wishing to explore Europe. This program finds the knowledgeable host offering globetrotters a fresh perspective on lodgings, transportation and places to visit on their journeys. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is Steves' belief that travelers should become "temporary locals," exploring not only major cities and the usual sites, but out-of-the-way locales that often produce the most authentic, and enjoyable, experiences of a trip. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Bulgaria
Wednesday
May 1
30 Minutes
The complex history of Bulgaria, from ancient Thracian tombs to medieval Orthodox Christian monasteries to Soviet monuments. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Rick Steves' Europe: Art of the Roman Empire
Thursday
May 2
30 Minutes
Exploring ancient Roman cities from England to Turkey, including their art, aqueducts, theaters and churches. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Bulgaria
Thursday
May 2
30 Minutes
The complex history of Bulgaria, from ancient Thracian tombs to medieval Orthodox Christian monasteries to Soviet monuments. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Romania
Thursday
May 2
30 Minutes
Romania's capital, Bucharest; Transylvania's fortified churches, cobbled merchant towns and castles; Maramures region of Romania. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Rick Steves' Europe: Art of the Early Middle Ages
Friday
May 3
30 Minutes
Diverse art produced by early Europeans, from Christians to Muslims and Byzantines to Vikings. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Romania
Friday
May 3
30 Minutes
Romania's capital, Bucharest; Transylvania's fortified churches, cobbled merchant towns and castles; Maramures region of Romania. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Assisi and Italian Country Charm
Friday
May 3
30 Minutes
Farmhouse inn; making prosciutto and pecorino cheese; hiking down ancient wine cellars; the basilica in Assisi, Italy, the hometown of St. Francis. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Rick Steves' Europe: Art of the High Middle Ages
Tuesday
May 7
30 Minutes
Gothic cathedrals with colorful altarpieces, lacy stonework and radiant stained glass; art celebrating worldly pleasure; artists like Giotto mastered realism in Italy. -
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Rick Steves' Europe
Siena and Tuscany's Wine Country
Tuesday
May 7
30 Minutes
The Palio wild horse race in Siena, Italy; Tuscany's wine country.
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