Rick Steves' Europe – Specials
Episodes
European Christmas
Join Rick Steves for a colorful, musical celebration of Christmas across Europe. From England to Wales, France, Norway, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy, you'll see the bright Christmas markets, hear local choirs, share holiday traditions with families...and even play in the snow.
A Symphonic Journey
Usually you'll find Rick Steves touring the great destinations of Europe. Now you can join him on a different journey: a Symphonic Journey. Just as travel broadens one's perspectives, so can music. In this hour-long concert special — Rick Steves' Europe: A Symphonic Journey — Rick teams up with the Cascade Symphony Orchestra on a musical tour that begins in the USA, then touches down in seven different European countries. People of every nation have music that quickens their heartbeat and sets their patriotic spirit soaring. For each stop, Rick paints the cultural context in words, and then the orchestra plays stirring anthems — Strauss in Austria, Wagner in Germany, Smetana in the Czech Republic, Verdi in Italy, Elgar in England, Grieg in Norway, Berlioz in France — each accompanied by glorious video footage.
Travel as a Political Act
In another of his popular lectures, Rick explains how thoughtful travel can expand our worldview and shape our actions at home.
France's Alsace
On the loose in France's countryside, we drive up Alsace's Route du Vin for miles of vineyards, half-timbered villages, and feudal fortresses. We head to Verdun to walk the trenches of World War I before visiting Reims Cathedral to marvel at Gothic splendor and Chagall's stained glass. Our final stop is Epernay, the bubbly birthplace of champagne.
The Holy Land: Israelis and Palestinians Today
Join Rick as he travels through the Holy Land in this hour long special, weaving together both the Israeli and the Palestinian narratives. In Israel, we'll travel from the venerable ramparts of Jerusalem to the vibrant modern skyline of Tel Aviv. In Palestine, we'll harvest olives near Hebron, visit a home in Bethlehem, and pop into a university in Ramallah. We'll also learn about the persistent challenges facing the region today
Iran
As he's done with previous programs on Israel, Egypt, and Eastern Turkey, Rick takes us beyond Europe to a place that's rich with history...and mystery.
European Easter
Taking you on a spring journey through Spain, Slovenia, Switzerland, Italy, and Greece, "Rick Steves' European Easter" celebrates this 2,000-year-old story in a variety of cultures. You'll feel the emotion of this special time as the Passion of Christ unfolds during Holy Week. We'll join Andalusians carrying parade floats, Greek priests tossing showers of flower petals, and villagers blessing olive branches, plus feasting, fireworks, and more. Exploring a rich and fascinating mix of traditions
Luther and the Reformation
Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther kicked off the Protestant Reformation, which contributed to the birth of our modern age. In this one-hour special — filmed on location in Europe — Rick Steves tells the story of a humble monk who lived a dramatic life. Rick visits key sites relating to the Reformation (including Erfurt, Wittenberg, and Rome) and explores the complicated political world of 16th-century Europe — from indulgences to iconoclasts, and from the printing press to the Counter-Reformation. It's a story of power, rebellion, and faith that you'll never forget.
European Festivals
In addition to all its epic history and high culture, Europe also knows how to celebrate — and it does so with amazing gusto. Joining Rick, we drop in on the Continent's top 10 festivals, each one rich with tradition, great food, and fun with the locals. We run with the bulls at Pamplona, don a mask in Venice for Carnevale, dance with Spaniards at the April Fair, cheer on the horses at Siena's Palio, hoist a frothy stein at Munich's Oktoberfest, toss a caber at a Scottish Highland Games, and join European families for their traditional Easter and Christmas celebrations. No museums or galleries…just Europe at play.
The Story of Fascism in Europe
In this one-hour special, Rick travels back a century to learn how fascism rose and then fell in Europe — taking millions of people with it. We'll trace fascism's history from its roots in the turbulent aftermath of World War I, when masses of angry people rose up, to the rise of charismatic leaders who manipulated that anger, the totalitarian societies they built, and the brutal measures they used to enforce their ideology. We'll see the horrific consequences: genocide and total war. And we'll be inspired by the stories of those who resisted. Along the way, we'll visit poignant sights throughout Europe relating to fascism, and talk with Europeans whose families lived through those times. Our goal: to learn from the hard lessons of 20th-century Europe, and to recognize that ideology in the 21st century.
Cruising the Mediterranean
In this one-hour special, Rick sails from Barcelona to Athens, with stops in the French Riviera, Rome, and more. Our goal: to explore the ins and outs and pros and cons of cruising. We'll learn how to make the most of the cruise experience, from enjoying time on the ship to exercising independence on shore — savoring iconic sights and romantic island getaways.
European Travel Tips and Tricks
Rick Steves shares the essential skills for smart European travel: itinerary planning, venturing off the beaten path, packing light, avoiding crowds (and thieves), transportation tips, finding hotels and restaurants, and much more. In this practical lecture, Rick shares lessons from a lifetime of travel so others can learn from his experience and travel smarter.
Hunger and Hope: Lessons from Ethiopia and Guatemala
In his new hour-long special available February 1, 2020, Rick Steves travels through Ethiopia and Guatemala to learn about extreme poverty — the more than 700 million people who struggle to live on less than $2 a day. Ending hunger is possible. And, with travel as our classroom, we'll learn about innovative solutions, including the importance of water access, education, empowering women, and smart development aid.
Egypt: Yesterday and Today
Rick sails beyond Europe, exploring the historic and cultural wonders of Egypt. In the teeming metropolis of Cairo, Rick climbs to the center of a pyramid, greets the Sphinx and marvels at King Tut's gold. In the fabled city of Alexandria, Rick brings viewers into a wonderland of back lanes and introduces a traditional shisha (hookah) experience.
Rome: Eternally Engaging
In this hour-long travel special, we explore the "Eternal City" of Rome, a grand and ancient metropolis rich with exquisite art, vibrant culture, and centuries of history. We trace the rise and fall of classical Rome, meander through the heart of Bernini's Baroque Rome, and make a pilgrimage to the Vatican. Then, we follow Rick as he uncovers the charms of hidden neighborhoods filled with character and energy, enjoys a Roman feast, and mixes and mingles with the locals during an early-evening stroll through the city's romantic nightspots.
Europe Awaits
Travel lovers are dreaming of where they'll go post-COVID. In this special, Rick Steves visits some European favorites he'd love to see when we can travel again. Rick shares a montage of travel delights: Sicily, Mykonos, Porto, the Cotswolds, Tuscany, and Romania. It's an adventure with remote beaches, gourmet food, and an English hike; Rick even drops in on an eccentric lord and a Tuscan pig farm.
Best of the Alps
In his new one-hour special, 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 off from Chamonix, we ride the lift up to the Aiguille du Midi and hike the iconic Tour du Mont Blanc.
Iceland
This one-hour special begins in Reykjavík, with endearing sights and thermal pools, plus a side-trip to the Golden Circle's gorges, geysers, and waterfalls. Then, after fording rivers in a desolate valley and spotting puffins on volcano-shaped islands, we drive the 800-mile Ring Road — connecting glaciers, fjords, geothermal hotspots, sod-roofed settlements, and majestic Icelandic nature.
Poland
This one-hour "best of Poland" special begins in Kraków, with a stunning square, historic castle, and nearby, communist-era Nowa Huta and Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp memorial. Then we head to bustling Warsaw for skyscrapers and Chopin, sample gingerbread in Toruń, and ogle red-brick Malbork Castle. We finish in Gdańsk with handsome Hanseatic townhouses and stirring Solidarity history.
Experiencing Europe
In this entertaining, information-packed hour, join Rick as he shares lessons from a lifetime of travel. With Europe as our classroom, we'll learn the essential skills for smart travel from itinerary planning to venturing off the beaten path. Get Rick's tips on packing light, escaping crowds, avoiding scams, and maximizing your cultural and culinary experiences.
Best of Paris
In this one-hour celebration of the “City of Light” we cruise the Seine, marvel at the stained-glass glory of Sainte-Chapelle, dance on the riverbanks, and groove to cool jazz in a medieval cellar. We eat unforgettably French, enjoy perhaps Europe’s finest art in the Louvre, admire the palace of palaces at Versailles, climb the Eiffel Tower, and embrace that fabled joie de vivre in its hometown.