Rick Steves' Europe

Stow away with Rick as we experience the local culture, history, cuisine, and fun with two episodes each in Iceland (Reykjavík with the Golden Circle, Ring Road), Poland (Kraków, Warsaw with Gdańsk), Istanbul (Turkish Delights, Capital of Emperors and Sultans), and London (A Royal Tour, Yesterday and Today); travel-thrill-packed episodes featuring highlights of Paris and Italy; and then loosen your belt for an unforgettably tasty gourmet barge cruise in Burgundy.

1. 

   E1. Iceland's Reykjavík and the Golden Circle

   Oct 1, 2025 · 26m

   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 pool. Then we side-trip into majestic Icelandic nature: its famous Blue Lagoon; the classic Golden Circle, bubbling geysers, thundering waterfalls, and otherworldly scenery; and Snæfellsnes Peninsula, an "Iceland-in-miniature" loop.

2. 

   E2. Iceland's Ring Road

   Oct 8, 2025 · 26m

   Europe's ultimate road trip is the 800-mile loop around Iceland on Highway 1 — the Ring Road. 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 side trip to the Westman Islands to see puffins. We also break for insightful folk museums, sod-roofed settlements, and a little whale watching.

3. 

   E3. Kraków: Poland's Historic Capital

   Oct 15, 2025 · 25m

   In Kraków, we linger on one of Europe's most crowd-pleasing squares, marvel at past glories in art galleries and at Wawel Castle, and savor Polish cuisine — including a lesson in making pierogi by hand. Nearby, the communist-planned town of Nowa Huta offers a nostalgic spin through the Cold War days, while the sobering concentration camp memorial of Auschwitz-Birkenau honors victims of the Nazis.

4. 

   E4. Poland's Warsaw and Gdańsk

   Oct 22, 2025 · 26m

   Warsaw, the heartbeat of contemporary Poland, is gilded with a grand palace, home to a hard-fought 20th-century history, and busy with Chopin concerts. After a stop at the gingerbread bakeries in red-brick Toruń, we ogle the massive Teutonic Knight fortress of Malbork. Finishing in maritime Gdańsk, we experience handsome Hanseatic townhouses, amber jewelry, and stirring Solidarity history.

5. 

   E5. Italy's Highlights

   Oct 29, 2025 · 28m

   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.

6. 

   E6. Burgundy: Gourmet Barge Cruise

   Nov 5, 2025 · 26m

   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.

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