Documentary2000–PBS

The Best Episodes of Rick Steves' Europe

Every episode of Rick Steves' Europe ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Rick Steves' Europe!

Best episode
S12E12 Art of the 20th Century
9.19 votes
Worst episode
S1E1 Portugal's Heartland
6.821 votes
Top season
Season 12
8.6avg
Binge time
2d 19h
159 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Rick Steves' Europe Season 12 Episode 12 - Art of the 20th Century
    9.1/10(9 votes)

    S12:E12

    Europe's tumultuous 20th century spawned a kaleidoscope of cutting-edge art. From Spain to Hungary, Glasgow to Oslo, we seek out all that's wild, colorful, surreal, and just plain fun. The fascinating work of Pablo Picasso leads us through the century's major art styles. And in today's gleaming cities, we see how a persistent artistic spirit connects us with both our past and an exciting future.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Rick Steves' Europe Season 12 Episode 11 - Art of the Impressionists and Beyond
    9.0/10(9 votes)

    S12:E11

    The late-1800s saw old notions of beauty challenged by revolutionary artists. We enjoy pioneering Impressionist works — Monet's lilies, Renoir's ladies, Degas' snapshots and Rodin's statues — that capture the joie de vivre of the age. We trace the tempestuous travels of Van Gogh through his incomparable art. And we finish in Spain, with wild and crazy buildings that herald the dawn of a new century.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Rick Steves' Europe Season 13 Episode 1 - Iceland's Reykjavík and the Golden Circle
    8.9/10(10 votes)

    S13:E1

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Rick Steves' Europe Season 11 Episode 1 - Austrian and Italian Alps
    8.4/10(23 votes)

    S11:E1

    In the Alps of Austria and Italy, we celebrate both nature and culture. After conquering the Zugspitze, we tour Innsbruck, visit a remote farm in Austria, and join in a Tirolean village festival. Then we cross the Alps into Italy and tour a uniquely well-preserved medieval castle before joyriding deep into the rugged Dolomite Mountains.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Rick Steves' Europe Season 12 Episode 1 - Art of Prehistoric Europe
    8.6/10(13 votes)

    S12:E1

    As the Ice Age glaciers melted, prehistoric Europe bloomed with surprisingly sophisticated art. From Ireland to France, Scotland to the Greek Isles, we traverse that mystical world of mighty megaliths, torchlit cave paintings, magical goddesses, and wrinkled bog people. We stand in awe as a massive tomb is radiated by a dramatic beam of sunlight and listen to ritual horns that still play today.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Rick Steves' Europe Season 12 Episode 10 - Art of the Neoclassical and Romantic Ages
    8.8/10(9 votes)

    S12:E10

    Around 1800, Europe was in transition, reflected in two art styles. First, we visit Europe's great cities with their stately Neoclassical buildings of columns and domes. Meanwhile, the Revolution has unleashed a call for freedom, both political and personal. We see dramatic Romantic canvases depicting extreme emotions and awesome Nature, and tour dreamy castles — virtual theme parks of Romanticism.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Rick Steves' Europe Season 13 Episode 2 - Iceland's Ring Road
    8.7/10(10 votes)

    S13:E2

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Rick Steves' Europe Season 12 Episode 2 - Art of Ancient Greece
    8.6/10(12 votes)

    S12:E2

    Ancient Greece laid the foundations of Western art. Traveling from its sun-splashed isles to the rugged mainland to bustling Athens, we trace the rise of Greek culture. We marvel at the timeless Acropolis, perfect Parthenon, and Golden Age theaters. And we watch as art evolves from stiff statues to perfectly balanced Venuses to the exuberant Winged Victory, capturing the spirit of the age.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Rick Steves' Europe Season 9 Episode 9 - Southeast England
    8.3/10(27 votes)

    S9:E9

    Arcing along the southeast coast of England, we'll travel from Canterbury (with its famous cathedral) to Dover (stoutly fortified from Roman times to the Battle of Britain). Then we'll hike the trails that top the towering chalk cliffs of the South Downs, wander into the beachy resort of Brighton (England's Coney Island), and push on to Portsmouth, whose naval heritage has left it with the best collection of historic sailing ships anywhere.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Rick Steves' Europe Season 11 Episode 4 - Germany's Fascist History
    8.3/10(26 votes)

    S11:E4

    Traveling across Germany, we learn how fascism rose and then fell, taking millions of people with it. Visiting actual locations — from Munich to Nürnberg to Berlin — we trace the roots of Nazism in the aftermath of World War I, when masses of angry people were enchanted by Hitler. We explore the totalitarian society Hitler built, and see the consequences: genocide and total war. Learning from Germany's fascist story, we can recognize that hateful ideology as well as the tricks of wannabe dictators in our own age.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Rick Steves' Europe Season 12 Episode 6 - Art of the High Middle Ages
    8.6/10(10 votes)

    S12:E6

    As Europe passed AD 1000, its growing prosperity was reflected in soaring Gothic cathedrals graced with colorful altarpieces, lacy stonework, and radiant stained glass. We visit luxurious castles to see exquisite tapestries showing a new secular love of worldly pleasures and, end in Italy, where pioneering artists like Giotto were mastering realism and pointing the way to the future of art.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Rick Steves' Europe Season 12 Episode 4 - Art of the Roman Empire
    8.5/10(12 votes)

    S12:E4

    With its vast empire, ancient Rome gave Europe its first common culture. From England to Turkey, we explore the greatest Roman cities, marveling at their over-the-top art, soaring aqueducts, and crowd-pleasing theaters. As Rome fell, saints replaced Caesars and Christianity filled the vacuum with art-filled churches — preserving the grandeur of imperial Rome and inspiring the Europe to come.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Rick Steves' Europe Season 7 Episode 6 - Paris: Regal and Intimate
    8.2/10(39 votes)

    S7:E6

    In Paris, amidst all of its grandeur, the little joys of life are still embraced. In this first of two episodes on Paris, we'll cruise the Seine River, visit Napoleon's tomb, and take in the Louvre. Then we'll feel the pulse of Paris — shopping in village-like neighborhoods, attending church in a grand pipe organ loft, and celebrating the mother of all revolutions with a big, patriotic Bastille Day bang.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Rick Steves' Europe Season 7 Episode 7 - Paris: Embracing Life and Art
    8.2/10(39 votes)

    S7:E7

    In this second of two episodes on Europe's "City of Light," we'll ride a unicorn into the Middle Ages at the Cluny Museum, take a midnight Paris joyride in a classic car, get an extremely close-up look at heavenly stained glass in Sainte-Chapelle, go on a tombstone pilgrimage at Père Lachaise Cemetery, and savor the Parisian café scene. Few cites are so confident in their expertise in good living — and as travelers, we get to share in that uniquely Parisian "joie de vivre."

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Rick Steves' Europe Season 12 Episode 9 - Baroque Art
    8.6/10(9 votes)

    S12:E9

    Forged in Europe's religious struggles, Baroque art inspired the faithful and dazzled the masses. We start in Rome, with its awe-inspiring St. Peter's, fleshy Bernini statues and bubbly fountains. In Belgium, we see the dramatic canvases of Rubens. And finally: the ultimate Baroque palace, Versailles, with its chandeliered Hall of Mirrors and vast gardens where nobles played as Revolution brewed.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Rick Steves' Europe Season 12 Episode 5 - Art of the Early Middle Ages
    8.5/10(11 votes)

    S12:E5

    After Rome's fall, Europe's Christians kept culture alive with art rooted in their deep faith. We visit sturdy Romanesque churches filled with art that reinforced the ruling order. Meanwhile, Europe was invigorated from the fringes: Byzantines to the East, with their dazzling mosaics; Spanish Muslims with their lush palaces; and fierce Vikings of the North — all part of Europe's rich cultural stew.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Rick Steves' Europe Season 10 Episode 2 - Lisbon
    8.2/10(29 votes)

    S10:E2

    Lisbon, built with the riches of Portugal's New World discoveries, has a rustic charm. We'll remember great navigators, eat lots of cod, enjoy pastries hot out of the oven, stroll the city's back lanes and its reinvigorated waterfront, marvel at an exquisite church built with spice taxes, and enjoy some soulful fado music. Then we'll side-trip to Sintra to explore the fanciful castles of Portuguese royalty and climb hilltop ramparts with grand views.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Rick Steves' Europe Season 13 Episode 5 - Italy's Highlights
    8.7/10(7 votes)

    S13:E5

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Rick Steves' Europe Season 1 Episode 3 - South England: Dover to Land's End
    8.3/10(17 votes)

    S1:E3

    From the white cliffs of Dover to Land's End, we ponder Roman, Norman, and Nazi invasions. After exploring Admiral Nelson's flagship, we chase wild ponies across the moors and discover an ancient stone circle. For refreshment, it's cream tea and Cornish pasties.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Rick Steves' Europe Season 9 Episode 8 - West England
    8.2/10(27 votes)

    S9:E8

    The quintessence of charming England is the "West Country": quaint Cotswold villages with their fine churches, manor homes, and gastropubs; Wells, England's smallest cathedral town; and the New Age capital of Glastonbury, with its legends of the Holy Grail and King Arthur. We'll finish by pondering the dramatic prehistoric stone circles of Stonehenge and Avebury.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Rick Steves' Europe Season 10 Episode 8 - The Best of Sicily
    8.2/10(27 votes)

    S10:E8

    This tour of Sicilian highlights starts in Palermo, where we'll sing with the merchants in the markets, join locals in their passeggiata, drop in on a contessa, and marvel at the Romanesque cathedral of Monreale. Then we'll sip wine on the slopes of Mount Etna, munch cannoli, ponder Greek temples at Agrigento, admire Roman mosaics at the Villa of Casale, and marvel at the view from the Greek theater in Taormina.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Rick Steves' Europe Season 11 Episode 2 - Swiss Alps
    8.2/10(26 votes)

    S11:E2

    Switzerland draws travelers from around the world for its legendary mountains. From the Matterhorn to the Jungfrau to Appenzell, we savor both the country’s jaw-dropping alpine beauty and the rich and resilient culture of its people. As we lace together that dramatic mountain wonder with scenic train rides, breathtaking lifts, and unforgettable hikes, we also enjoy alpine life.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Rick Steves' Europe Season 11 Episode 5 - Egypt's Cairo
    8.2/10(23 votes)

    S11:E5

    Teeming Cairo, straddling the Nile, is the capital of Egypt and one of the leading cities of the Muslim world. With 20 million people, greater Cairo pulses with energy. We explore the back streets on a tuk-tuk, drop in on a mosque, haggle with a gauntlet of eager merchants, bake some pita bread, help chisel a tombstone, marvel at King Tut's gold, greet the ancient Sphinx, and climb into the center of the greatest pyramid.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Rick Steves' Europe Season 12 Episode 7 - Art of the Florentine Renaissance
    8.6/10(7 votes)

    S12:E7

    After its medieval struggles, Europe rediscovered the art of the ancients, led by booming Florence. We revel in the bold spirit of the Cathedral's lofty dome and Botticelli's sweet Venus. Leonardo da Vinci gives us the iconic Last Supper and enigmatic Mona Lisa. And Michelangelo — sculptor of David, painter of the Sistine, and architect of St. Peter's — takes the Florentine Renaissance to new heights.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Rick Steves' Europe Season 12 Episode 8 - Art of the Renaissance Beyond Florence
    8.6/10(7 votes)

    S12:E8

    From Italy, the Renaissance spread across Europe, revolutionizing art. We travel to Spain and Portugal where overseas plunder is transformed into lacy architecture and ethereal paintings by El Greco. In bustling Germany and Belgium, new technologies enable Durer's mass-produced engravings, Van Eyck's meticulous oil paintings, Brueghel's peasants at play, and the futuristic visions of Bosch.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Art of the 20th Century" is the best rated episode of Rick Steves' Europe. It scored 9.1/10 from 9 votes. Written and directed by Unknown, it aired on October 1, 2023. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Art of the Impressionists and Beyond".

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