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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!

Rick Steves, America's leading authority on European travel, returns to transport viewers to the continent's bustling cities, quaint villages and picturesque countryside.
Genre:Documentary
Network:PBS

Best Episodes Summary

"Austrian and Italian Alps" is the best rated episode of "Rick Steves' Europe". It scored 8.3/10 based on 19 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 10/19/2020. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Eastern Turkey".

  • Austrian and Italian Alps
    8.3/1019 votes
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    #1 - Austrian and Italian Alps

    Season 11 Episode 1 - Aired 10/19/2020

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Eastern Turkey
    8.2/107 votes
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    #2 - Eastern Turkey

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 11/5/2000

    After a Mount Ararat sunrise, we visit Abraham's 4000-year-old home town, tour one of the world's biggest dams, cheer on grease wrestlers, meet the gods atop Mount Nemrut, and dance with new friends in a village.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Oslo
    8.2/1019 votes
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    #3 - Oslo

    Season 6 Episode 7 - Aired 11/14/2012

    The proud spirit of the Norwegian people shines in every dimension of their capital city — from its once-fearsome Viking ships to its sleek new Opera House, from a fun folk museum that keeps traditions alive to the constant festival of its thriving harborfront. Connecting with the culture, we enjoy art — from Vigeland's statues to Munch's scream — and join local friends for a boat ride on their fjord.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Paris: Regal and Intimate
    8.2/1035 votes
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    #4 - Paris: Regal and Intimate

    Season 7 Episode 6 - Aired 11/10/2012

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Paris: Embracing Life and Art
    8.2/1035 votes
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    #5 - Paris: Embracing Life and Art

    Season 7 Episode 7 - Aired 11/17/2012

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Bulgaria
    8.2/1023 votes
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    #6 - Bulgaria

    Season 9 Episode 4 - Aired 10/30/2016

    Bulgaria, so mysterious to most Americans, has a vivid identity as a crossroads of the Balkans. We'll trace the country's complex history, from ancient Thracian tombs to medieval Orthodox Christian monasteries to Soviet monuments. And we'll enjoy an intimate taste of contemporary culture: the yellow brick road of Sofia; the gregarious craftspeople of the medieval capital, Veliko Tarnovo; and the thriving pedestrian zones of cosmopolitan Plovdiv.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Southeast England
    8.2/1024 votes
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    #7 - Southeast England

    Season 9 Episode 9 - Aired 12/3/2016

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Germany's Fascist History
    8.2/1021 votes
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    #8 - Germany's Fascist History

    Season 11 Episode 4 - Aired 11/24/2020

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Art of Prehistoric Europe
    8.2/106 votes
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    #9 - Art of Prehistoric Europe

    Season 12 Episode 1 - Aired 10/1/2023

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • London: Mod and Trad
    8.1/1020 votes
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    #10 - London: Mod and Trad

    Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 10/2/2004

    London is quintessentially English, yet cosmopolitan. We check out the new — the Millennium Bridge and the British Museum's Great Court, and admire the old — well-wrapped mummies and a rare Leonardo. After bantering with Beefeaters at the Tower of London, we do some riverside beach-combing. Strolling the trendy South Bank of the Thames takes us from the Tate Modern to the dizzying London Eye.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Salzburg and Surroundings
    8.1/1024 votes
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    #11 - Salzburg and Surroundings

    Season 4 Episode 10 - Aired 12/9/2006

    The birthplace of Mozart — and everyone's Sound of Music fantasies — Salzburg is a Baroque jewel of a town. It's also the springboard for lots of alpine fun — from thrilling summer bobsledding, to idyllic boat rides in the Salzkammergut lake district, to exploring the delightful romantic town of Hallstatt.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Andalucía: The Best of Southern Spain
    8.1/108 votes
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    #12 - Andalucía: The Best of Southern Spain

    Season 6 Episode 1 - Aired 10/2/2010

    Join Rick as he weaves Andalucía's rich mix of culture, cuisine, history, and natural wonders into a 60-minute special. The hour includes the major cities of Sevilla, Córdoba, and Granada; flamenco, sherry, and horses; dramatic white-washed hill towns; and fun in the Costa del Sol sun — plus a dash of Britain in Gibraltar.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Florence: Heart of the Renaissance
    8.1/1032 votes
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    #13 - Florence: Heart of the Renaissance

    Season 7 Episode 4 - Aired 10/27/2012

    Fifteenth-century Florence was the home of the Renaissance and the birthplace of our modern world. In this first of two episodes, we'll gaze into the self-assured eyes of Michelangelo's David, enjoy Botticelli's Birth of Venus, delve into the 3-D wonders of Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise, appreciate Fra Angelico's serene beauty, and climb the dome that kicked off the Renaissance. Then we'll cross the Arno to where Florentine artisans live, work, and eat…very well.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • South England: Dover to Land's End
    8.0/1014 votes
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    #14 - South England: Dover to Land's End

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 9/17/2000

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Majesty of Madrid
    8.0/1022 votes
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    #15 - The Majesty of Madrid

    Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 9/4/2004

    Madrid is studded with riches from its glory days. We tour the lavish Royal Palace, enjoy art-packed museums, and look deep into Picasso's greatest masterpiece. Experiencing Madrid at its fun-loving best, we're mesmerized by flamenco dancers and munch on pigs' ears. Then, for a dose of Spain's dramatic history, we side-trip to El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Highlights of Paris: Eiffel and Monet to Crème Brûlée
    8.0/1026 votes
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    #16 - Highlights of Paris: Eiffel and Monet to Crème Brûlée

    Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 10/9/2004

    Packing the best of Paris into one episode, we scale the Eiffel Tower, then savor classic treats - from steak tartare to crème brulée. We marvel at Monet, Manet and company in the stunning Orsay Gallery. Tracing the sad steps of Marie Antoinette, we relive French history from its bloody revolution to its extravagant belle epoche.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Iran: Tehran and Side Trips
    8.0/1015 votes
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    #17 - Iran: Tehran and Side Trips

    Season 5 Episode 13 - Aired 1/3/2009

    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. In this first of two half-hour shows on Iran, Rick dodges traffic in Tehran, enjoys the tranquility of a nearby village, and encounters both anti-American propaganda and a warm welcome from everyday Iranians.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Rome: Ancient Glory
    8.0/1041 votes
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    #18 - Rome: Ancient Glory

    Season 7 Episode 1 - Aired 10/6/2012

    Part one of three shows on the Eternal City, this episode resurrects the rubble and brings back to life the capital of the ancient world. Focusing on the grandeur of classical Rome, we'll admire the groundbreaking architecture at the Colosseum and Pantheon, and the empire's exquisite art at the Capitoline Museum. Then we'll head out on a bike ride along the ancient Appian Way and take in nearby marvels of Roman engineering.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • London: Historic and Dynamic
    8.0/1030 votes
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    #19 - London: Historic and Dynamic

    Season 7 Episode 8 - Aired 11/24/2012

    In many-faceted London, we’ll ponder royal tombs in Westminster Abbey, discover treasures in the British Library, enjoy the vibrant evening scene in Soho, uncover Churchill’s secret WWII headquarters, join the 9-to-5 crowd in the new London, shop where the queen shops, and straddle the Prime Meridian in Greenwich.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • European Travel Skills (2)
    8.0/1023 votes
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    #20 - European Travel Skills (2)

    Season 7 Episode 13 - Aired 12/29/2012

    In this second of three shows focusing on travel skills, we'll visit Venice, Siena, and the Cinque Terre in Italy to learn about trip planning, packing, safety, and — perhaps the most rewarding skill of all — connecting with the locals. Going beyond the sights, Rick shares some practical tips to help make European travel fun and hassle-free.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • European Travel Skills (3)
    8.0/1022 votes
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    #21 - European Travel Skills (3)

    Season 7 Episode 14 - Aired 1/5/2013

    In this third of three shows focusing on travel skills, we'll visit the Swiss Alps, Paris, and London while covering tips for finding the best accommodations, getting around in big cities, and enjoying Europe's cuisine. This information is key to making the most of your travel time and, if you're on a budget, can help you cut the cost of your travels in half.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Paris Side-Trips
    8.0/1031 votes
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    #22 - Paris Side-Trips

    Season 8 Episode 4 - Aired 10/25/2014

    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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Berlin
    8.0/1025 votes
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    #23 - Berlin

    Season 8 Episode 12 - Aired 12/20/2014

    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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Germany's Frankfurt and Nürnberg
    8.0/1019 votes
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    #24 - Germany's Frankfurt and Nürnberg

    Season 9 Episode 3 - Aired 10/22/2016

    Skyscraper-studded Frankfurt — with so much commerce it's nicknamed "Bankfurt" — has a delightful-to-explore old center. We'll also visit Nürnberg, a capital for both the First Reich (the Holy Roman Empire) and the Third. From its towering castle and playful fountains to its Nazi Documentation Center and maze of underground bomb shelters, Nürnberg is a fascinating study in contrasts.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • West England
    8.0/1023 votes
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    #25 - West England

    Season 9 Episode 8 - Aired 11/26/2016

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A