Category: Rick Steves’ Europe

Time travel back to the 13th century with me, to a sacred pagan site at the intersection of two ley lines.♥ Read the rest “Exploring Layers of History at Stanton Church”

This is my kind of cocktail — a new experience that’s a mixture of pristine nature and history.♥ Read the rest “Hiding Out with History at Hailes Abbey”

More information about travel to Bosnia: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/bosnia-herzegovina

Bosnia was the former Yugoslavia’s cultural crossroads, home to its three major ethnic groups: Croats, Serbs, and Bosniaks.♥ Read the rest “Trebinje, Bosnia: Yugloslavian Diversity – Rick Steves’ Europe Travel Guide – Travel Bite”

Hello from Bristol!♥ Read the rest “Exploring England’s Industrial Might at the SS Great Britain”

It’s the first full day of my summer trip to Europe, and I’m on a natural high.♥ Read the rest “On a Natural High at Bath’s Baths”

After a quick trip home, I’m back on the road again, diving headlong into Part II of my 2019 travels.♥ Read the rest “The Star: For a Little Tobacco Twinkle in my Nose”

More information about travel to Bern: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/switzerland/bern

Bern’s pointy towers, colorful fountains, and arcaded streets make it one of Europe’s finest surviving medieval towns.♥ Read the rest “Bern, Switzerland: Classy Capital – Rick Steves’ Europe Travel Guide – Travel Bite”

More information about travel to Monaco: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/france/monaco

Monaco is one of the world’s smallest and most luxurious countries.♥ Read the rest “French Riviera: Monaco – Rick Steves’ Europe Travel Guide – Travel Bite”

More information about travel to Portugal: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/portugal

The Sítio district of Nazaré overlooks a stretch of the Atlantic that’s famous among surfers for some of the biggest waves in the world.♥ Read the rest “Sítio, Portugal: Surfing and Seafood – Rick Steves’ Europe Travel Guide – Travel Bites”

Many years ago, I traveled through Japan — and one of my most vivid memories from that trip is was the toilets.♥ Read the rest “A Traveler’s Reflection: Amazing Toilets on the Road”

Talking short is harder than talking long.♥ Read the rest “A Snippet of my Symphonic Journey Experience”

I’m still buzzing from a thrilling experience I had last week in Boston.♥ Read the rest “A Symphonic Journey: Boston”

More information about travel to Sicily: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/sicily

In addition to being Sicily’s most spectacular beach resort, Taormina is home to tasty, traditional cannoli and an impressive 2,500-year-old Greek theater.♥ Read the rest “Taormina, Sicily: Cannoli with a View – Rick Steves’ Europe Travel Guide – Travel Bite”

I love London’s Heathrow Airport, and I was happy to spend a couple of hours there as my spring trip wrapped up, just getting a bit of work done before my flight home to Seattle.♥ Read the rest “A Heathrow Moment”

It was a rainy day on the Emerald Isle, and I was somewhere I had never been before: St.♥ Read the rest “A Visit to St. George’s Market, Belfast”

I have always believed that no trip to the Emerald Isle is complete without a visit to Northern Ireland.♥ Read the rest “A Memorial Garden in Belfast”

I just enjoyed a very busy day on Capitol Hill, meeting with key members of Congress and advocating for an end to the federal prohibition on marijuana.♥ Read the rest “Rick Goes to Congress”

More information about travel to Portugal: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/portugal

Lisbon is a great foodie destination.♥ Read the rest “Lisbon, Portugal: Food Tour – Rick Steves’ Europe Travel Guide – Travel Bite”

Enjoy a quiet moment with me in Gimmelwald, a little traffic-free village in Switzerland surrounded by alpine splendor.♥ Read the rest “A Gimmelwald Stroll”

I just had to share this little moment with you from Gimmelwald — a cliff-hanging village high in the Swiss Alps.♥ Read the rest “Good Morning from Gimmelwald”

Join me in Gryon, a tiny village in the French-speaking part of the Swiss Alps that is — just as my Switzerland guidebook says — perpetually shrouded in mist (and a fine example of the Swiss charms that await the driver who ventures off the main highways).♥ Read the rest “Misty Gryon”

I’m home now from my spring trip to Europe — a busy month and a half of travel across Italy, Switzerland, and Ireland.♥ Read the rest “Looking for the Matterhorn”

Hello from the Swiss Alps!♥ Read the rest “Zermatt Before the Tourists?”

More info about travel to Nice: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/france/nice

Nice offers grand examples of the belle époque — literally, the “beautiful age.” Travelers can step into an age of refinement at the Hotel Negresco, or visit Czar Nicholas II’s gift to the city: the exquisite Russian Orthodox cathedral, which claims to be the finest this side of the Volga.♥ Read the rest “Nice, France: The Belle Époque”

I suppose there are people higher than me right now in Europe, but nobody who is just stepping out of a lift is higher than me.♥ Read the rest “Who’s the Highest Person in Europe?”

I was dropping by the various wine bars in Bellagio (as one does when working) — and at Aperitivo Et Al, Andrea demonstrated a clever tool that pulls wine from a bottle with the ease of a nurse pulling blood from an arm.♥ Read the rest “Discovering a Great Tool for Wine Lovers: The Coravin”

After the intensity of Milano, Lake Como (just an hour’s train ride away) provides a great place to simply relax.♥ Read the rest “Italy’s Honeymoon Country: Lake Como”

I’m a sucker for Risorgimento history — the thrilling story of how the small countries of the Italian peninsula united, against the wishes of the established European powers, to create modern Italy in the 19th century.♥ Read the rest “Milan’s Risorgimento Museum: Now Free…and Still Empty”

More information about travel to Scotland: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/scotland

The Highlands’ rich history stretches back 4,000 years.♥ Read the rest “Highlands, Scotland: Crannogs and Cairns – Rick Steves’ Europe Travel Guide – Travel Bite”

It’s always good to enjoy the contemporary energy of Europe’s great cities in our travels — and when in Milan, be sure to drop by the gleaming high-rise neighborhood of Porta Nuova.♥ Read the rest “The New Milan at Porta Nuova”

Built after the economic crisis of 2008, the statue decorating the square at the doorstep of Milan’s stock market seems to be giving Joe the Plumber the finger.♥ Read the rest “Milano Gets Flipped the Bird”

Buongiorno! I’m in Milan, doing research for the next edition of my Rick Steves Italy guidebook.♥ Read the rest “To God, from the Rooftop of Milan’s Cathedral”

With the help of my friend Marco, I’ve discovered a wonderful new restaurant in Monterosso.♥ Read the rest “Life is Good in the Cinque Terre”

I’m in Monterosso, in the Cinque Terre — and Father Renato just found me visiting a cemetery.♥ Read the rest “Forgive Me Father”

Join me for a quiet moment high above the port towns of the Cinque Terre.♥ Read the rest “High Above the Sea — and the Crowds — in the Cinque Terre”

More information about travel to England: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/england

Warwick Castle has been turned into a virtual theme park.♥ Read the rest “Warwick, England: Medieval Castle – Rick Steves’ Europe Travel Guide – Travel Bite”

Meet Andrea, the entertaining waiter at Vernazza’s Ristorante Belforte.♥ Read the rest “Café Gourmand with Andrea on the Cinque Terre”

I’m in Riomaggiore, enjoying a simple lunch of bruschetta and wine at Dau Cila with my local guide, Amy Inman.♥ Read the rest “Sexy Bruschetta in the Cinque Terre”

Visit https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/ravenna-hard-case-luggage for more info on Rick Steves Ravenna Rolling Case.♥ Read the rest “Rick Steves Ravenna Rolling Case”

I’ve come back to Europe every spring since the 1970s — and I love that here we are, in 2019, and the magic still survives.♥ Read the rest “Vernazza After Dark — Magic”

Buona sera from Lucca!♥ Read the rest “The Airbnb Amphitheater”

Buona sera from Siena.♥ Read the rest “The Land of a Thousand Bell Towers — Each the Most Beautiful of All”

While most Italian cities have a church on their main square, Siena’s Il Campo gathers around a symbol of an independent republic — its City Hall.♥ Read the rest ““Love Justice, You Who Rule the Earth”: Siena’s City Hall”

Join me now from a secret hideaway above Europe’s finest square — Siena’s Il Campo.♥ Read the rest “Perched Above Siena with a Porcupine and a Macchiato”

More information about travel to Portugal: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/portugal

Coimbra is the Oxford of Portugal — home to the country’s oldest and most venerable university.♥ Read the rest “Coimbra: Portugal’s Oxford – Rick Steves’ Europe Travel Guide – Travel Bite”

I’m so happy that Florence’s Trattoria la Burrasca is still good.♥ Read the rest “Florence’s Rustic Gem: Trattoria la Burrasca”

Join me at the place I’ve called home for the last few days in Florence — Hotel Loggiato Dei Serviti — and check out my rooftop view of the Duomo, coming right in through the bathroom window.♥ Read the rest “My Florence Hotel: Location, Location, Location”

Tonight, after a beautiful dinner and a bit of wine, I was overcome by the historic beauty of Piazza S.S.♥ Read the rest “The Renaissance at Night — With Wine”

My friend Tommaso (who runs Hotel Davanzati with his family) and I have a tradition of spending an evening getting up-to-date on restaurants in Florence.♥ Read the rest “Dessert with Bobo”

I’m spending every evening this month researching restaurants for my guidebooks.♥ Read the rest “Buon Appetito at Trattoria da Tito”

More information about travel to Paris: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/france/paris

Paris dramatically changed during the Enlightenment and the French Revolution: The Panthéon was built, cemeteries were moved underground to the Paris catacombs, and churches were turned into “temples of reason.”

Visit http://www.ricksteves.com for more information about this destination and other destinations in Europe.♥ Read the rest “Paris, France: The Panthéon and the Paris Catacombs – Rick Steves’ Europe Travel Guide – Travel Bite”

I want to make sure my Rick Steves Florence & Tuscany guidebook includes the most characteristic, fun, and affordable places to eat — so I’ve been spending my lunch and dinner hours here blitzing restaurants.♥ Read the rest “Casa del Vino with Gianni”

I just wrapped up a research trip through Rome and Venice — and now I’m in Florence, working on my Rick Steves Florence & Tuscany guidebook.♥ Read the rest “Hospital of the Innocents: The First Renaissance Building in Florence”

I’m in Venice, doing research for the next edition of my Rick Steves Venice guidebook — and I just spent a great evening updating restaurant listings with the help of two American expats, Maya and Adam Stonecastle of Venice Bites Food Tours.♥ Read the rest “Warning: This Video Will Stoke Your Appetite”

Any visit to Venice is filled with ornately painted masks.♥ Read the rest “A Glimpse at the History of Venetian Masks”

Buongiorno! I’m in the heart of Venice, at a beautiful viewing point on the Ponte dei Carmini.♥ Read the rest “Gondolas: A Timeless Venetian Tradition”

Rome may have lots of crowds, but only three essential sights are difficult to see without advance reservations: the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums, and the Borghese Gallery.♥ Read the rest “The Baths of Caracalla: Ancient Rome Gets Naked 1600 at a Time”

In Rome, most tourists clamor to see the famed outdoor sights (the Colosseum, Forum, etc.) — often neglecting the indoor sights.♥ Read the rest “Dinner with Empress Livia?”

More information about travel to Sicily: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/sicily

In the 11th century, when the Muslim Arabs were tossed out by the Christian Normans, the Normans made Sicilian civilization grander yet — building monumental Norman churches.♥ Read the rest “Palermo, Sicily: Monreale Cathedral – Rick Steves’ Europe Travel Guide – Travel Bite”

I’m in Rome, updating my Rick Steves Rome guidebook — and I’m lucky to have Roman guide Francesca Caruso at my side.♥ Read the rest “Great Empires Respect Their Vanquished Foes”