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The Worst Episodes of Rick Steves' Europe

Every episode of Rick Steves' Europe ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Rick Steves' Europe!

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

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Rick Steves' Europe Season 1 Episode 12 - Slovenia and Croatia
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #1 - Slovenia and Croatia

    S1:E12

    We discover that Dubrovnik is still the "jewel of the Adriatic" while nearby villages decorate their dreamy archipelago with small-town Venetian charm. Ljubljana is like Salzburg without tourists. The Julian Alps glisten with pristine lakes as Lipizzaner stallions are eager to strut their stuff.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Rick Steves' Europe Season 13 Episode 9 - Istanbul: Turkish Delights
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #2 - Istanbul: Turkish Delights

    S13:E9

    In Istanbul, we sample the wonders of this city that bridges two continents. After cruising the busy port of the Bosphorus, we dive into the Grand Bazaar, where endless shops enchant visitors. Then we view the mosaics of Chora Church, watch dervishes whirl in their captivating spiritual trance, and zip by tram from the Old Town to Taksim Square, tasting local treats before hopping a ferry to Asia.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Rick Steves' Europe Season 1 Episode 1 - Portugal's Heartland
    6.7/10(20 votes)

    #3 - Portugal's Heartland

    S1:E1

    Leaving Lisbon for the countryside, we eat barnacles in a salty old fishing town, march with pilgrims on the anniversary of a miracle, ponder the local Romeo and Juliet, sample university life, and rummage through the riches of Portugal's Golden Age.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Rick Steves' Europe Season 6 Episode 11 - Northern Spain and the Camino de Santiago
    6.9/10(24 votes)

    #4 - Northern Spain and the Camino de Santiago

    S6:E11

    We follow the trail pilgrims have trod for centuries, from the French border to Santiago de Compostela in the northwest corner of Spain. Along the way, we stop off in Pamplona to run with the bulls, and dive into the unique Celtic culture of Galicia — where Riverdance meets flamenco.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Rick Steves' Europe Season 1 Episode 16 - Travel Skills Special (3)
    7.0/10(11 votes)

    #5 - Travel Skills Special (3)

    S1:E16

    Beautifully filmed on location, this 3-part, 90-minute special distills Rick's 25 years of travel experience into practical tips on: planning a trip, overcoming the language barrier, getting around, finding accommodations, staying safe, and more. 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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Rick Steves' Europe Season 5 Episode 12 - Istanbul
    7.0/10(27 votes)

    #6 - Istanbul

    S5:E12

    In Istanbul, we’ll lose our way in the Grand Bazaar and munch our way through the famously fragrant Spice Market. We’ll follow the fall of the ancient capital of Byzantium and the rise of Islam at the city’s ancient wall, and wander among the treasures of Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapı Palace. To escape the city bustle, we’ll cruise the churning waters of the Bosphorus, make friends over backgammon, and try a traditional Turkish bath.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Rick Steves' Europe Season 2 Episode 2 - Venice Side-Trips: The Best of Veneto
    7.1/10(12 votes)

    #7 - Venice Side-Trips: The Best of Veneto

    S2:E2

    Pulling on hip boots, we settle into the muck of Venice, then take a speedboat tour of the lagoon. On the mainland, we head for Padova to tour a once-illegal anatomy theater and track the restoration of Giotto's Scrovegni Chapel. In Vicenza, we admire elegant Palladian-style streets and villas. In Verona, we climb the Roman arena, jostle with tourists to rub the brass breast of Juliet, and taste-test grappa before riding the train to Ravenna for its dazzling 1500-year-old mosaics.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Rick Steves' Europe Season 2 Episode 4 - Siena and Assisi: Italy's Grand Hill Towns
    7.1/10(17 votes)

    #8 - Siena and Assisi: Italy's Grand Hill Towns

    S2:E4

    In red-bricked Siena, we tour the town's innovative medieval hospital, lavish cathedral, and a bakery that makes panforte (like fruitcake, only delicious). Exploring the Chianti region, we sip Brunello di Montalcino — with its makers. Spending the night at a farmhouse, we meet the family and its sheep, learn of the Slow Food Movement, and enjoy a homegrown dinner. In Assisi, we follow the footsteps of St. Francis, from his humble chapel to the Giotto-frescoed basilica that holds his tomb.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Rick Steves' Europe Season 5 Episode 7 - The Czech Republic Beyond Prague
    7.1/10(29 votes)

    #9 - The Czech Republic Beyond Prague

    S5:E7

    Few travelers venture beyond Prague to experience the Czech Republic's many cultural riches and offbeat delights. We'll get started with a whirlwind of Art Nouveau, local pub music, stinky-cheese tasting, and peat bathing in places like Olomouc, Moravský Krumlov, Třeboň, and Konopiště. We'll also tour a remarkable memorial to the Holocaust in Terezín, and the charming castle town of Český Krumlov.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Rick Steves' Europe Season 1 Episode 8 - Surprising Bulgaria
    7.2/10(10 votes)

    #10 - Surprising Bulgaria

    S1:E8

    Bulgaria is a time warp of old and new — from chic shops in the city to donkey cars in the country. We hike to a mountain monastery, meet two sculptors (dad does Stalin, son does nudes), and enjoy a traditional dinner feast at a local home.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Rick Steves' Europe Season 1 Episode 9 - Rome: Baroque, After Dark
    7.2/10(10 votes)

    #11 - Rome: Baroque, After Dark

    S1:E9

    After a pilgrimage to Michelangelo's Pieta, we climb to the top of St. Peter's Basilica. We seek out tucked-away Renaissance paintings and a cleverly-painted false dome. At the Borghese Gallery, it's exquisite sculptures by the master of marble, Bernini. Then we join the locals on an after-dark stroll, lacing together Rome's Baroque and bubbly nightspots.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Rick Steves' Europe Season 1 Episode 15 - Travel Skills Special (2)
    7.2/10(12 votes)

    #12 - Travel Skills Special (2)

    S1:E15

    Beautifully filmed on location, this 3-part, 90-minute special distills Rick's 25 years of travel experience into practical tips on: planning a trip, overcoming the language barrier, getting around, finding accommodations, staying safe, and more. 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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Rick Steves' Europe Season 3 Episode 12 - Lisbon and the Algarve
    7.2/10(27 votes)

    #13 - Lisbon and the Algarve

    S3:E12

    Experiencing the best of Portugal, we start in Lisbon, a ramshackle mix of glorious old and fun-loving new. Salty sailors' quarters and wistful Fado singers mix with ornate architecture to recall the glory days when Vasco da Gama and Magellan made Portugal a world power. Then we head for the south coast of your travel dreams-the Algarve. We explore the Land's End of Europe-windy and historic Cape Sagres before savoring pristine beaches and arm-wrestling octopi in the sleepy fishing village of Salema.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Rick Steves' Europe Season 3 Episode 13 - Sevilla
    7.2/10(25 votes)

    #14 - Sevilla

    S3:E13

    Sevilla, Spain, is the flamboyant city of Carmen and Don Juan. It's where bullfighting is still politically correct and where little girls dream of growing up to become flamenco dancers. Sevilla has soul-and we feel it in its lacy Moorish palace, massive cathedral, lavish royal tombs, labyrinthine Jewish quarter, and its people-filled streets. After munching tasty tapas, we head south for Andalusia's ultimate whitewashed hilltown, Arcos de la Frontera.

    Director:Simon Griffith
    Writer:Rick Steves

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  15. Rick Steves' Europe Season 4 Episode 4 - Naples and Pompeii
    7.2/10(34 votes)

    #15 - Naples and Pompeii

    S4:E4

    Naples is Italy in the extreme. We'll prowl backstreet fish markets, dodge fast-moving Vespas, and dine on pizza where it was invented. We'll climb to the top of nearby Mount Vesuvius, then wander through the amazing ruins of Pompeii, the Roman town it destroyed.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Rick Steves' Europe Season 4 Episode 7 - Tuscany's Dolce Vita
    7.2/10(24 votes)

    #16 - Tuscany's Dolce Vita

    S4:E7

    The small towns and rural charms of Tuscany give us a healthy dose of the "sweet life" as we hunt for truffles in an oak forest, nibble our way through an artichoke festival, share a farmhouse feast, and ride a classic convertible through the cypress groves of Mona Lisa's backyard.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Rick Steves' Europe Season 5 Episode 2 - France's Dordogne
    7.2/10(24 votes)

    #17 - France's Dordogne

    S5:E2

    The Dordogne River Valley — with its dramatic castles, evocative cave paintings, and prized cuisine — is an unforgettable blend of man-made and natural beauty. We'll take an idyllic canoe ride, and then visit a goose farm and savor the foie gras. We'll also wander through a lamp-lit castle, enjoy a country market, and visit the Sistine Chapel of the prehistoric world. Then we head south to Albi, home of Toulouse-Lautrec, and the imposing fortress city of Carcassonne.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Rick Steves' Europe Season 11 Episode 8 - Why We Travel
    7.2/10(25 votes)

    #18 - Why We Travel

    S11:E8

    In times of crisis and challenge, we ask ourselves: What is the true value of travel? Is it just hedonism…or something more powerful? After a lifetime of exploring Europe — and inspiring Americans to see Europe as the springboard for world exploration — Rick Steves shares his reasons why. This special episode is a sonnet to travel — an introspective love story, set in Europe, that vividly celebrates the rewards of exploring our world and the joy that awaits those who travel.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Rick Steves' Europe Season 1 Episode 2 - Paris: Grand and Intimate
    7.3/10(13 votes)

    #19 - Paris: Grand and Intimate

    S1:E2

    After marveling at masterpieces in the Louvre and strolling the Champs-Elysees, we explore a delightful Parisian neighborhood. We meet a pipe organist, drop by a butcher shop, design our own perfume, and cruise the Seine.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Rick Steves' Europe Season 1 Episode 13 - The Best of Sicily
    7.3/10(13 votes)

    #20 - The Best of Sicily

    S1:E13

    After going fishing for anchovies off Cefalu, we land in rough-and-tumble Palermo. Marveling at the eerie skeletons in a Cappuccin crypt, airy mosaics of Monreale, enchanting ruins of Segesta, and the fiery rim of Mount Etna, we enjoy the best of Sicily.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Rick Steves' Europe Season 2 Episode 3 - Florence: City of Art
    7.3/10(13 votes)

    #21 - Florence: City of Art

    S2:E3

    In the birthplace of the Renaissance, we look into the eyes of Michelangelo's David and Botticelli's Venus, learn tricks for touring the Uffizi art gallery, and climb the dome that kicked off the Renaissance. Then we delve into the Florentine good life: visiting a fragrant 400-year-old perfumery, sipping Campari on a rooftop, chasing the sunset on a Vespa, and sleeping serenely in a converted monastery.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Rick Steves' Europe Season 3 Episode 11 - Budapest: The Best of Hungary
    7.3/10(33 votes)

    #22 - Budapest: The Best of Hungary

    S3:E11

    Budapest, once Vienna's partner in ruling the Austro-Hungarian empire, feels like the capital of Eastern Europe. It's actually two cities — busy Pest and noble Buda — straddling the Danube and laced together by mighty bridges. Capitalism has taken hold with gusto as shopping boulevards thrive and stone Lenins and cast iron Stalins litter a theme park at the edge of town. Today Roma (Gypsy) orchestras feature smoking violins, venerable mineral baths are the rage, and 19th century coffeehouses enjoy a renaissance.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Rick Steves' Europe Season 5 Episode 1 - Burgundy: Profoundly French
    7.3/10(26 votes)

    #23 - Burgundy: Profoundly French

    S5:E1

    Burgundy is a calm and cultivated corner of France, where fine living is intimately tied to nature and traditions run strong. We'll slow down to enjoy the region's edible, drinkable, scenic, and floatable delights. We'll travel on a canal barge, visit a medieval hospice and a modern monastery, build a barrel, appreciate fine Burgundy wine, slurp escargot, and eat very, very well. If you're looking for quintessential French culture, you'll find it in Burgundy.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Rick Steves' Europe Season 6 Episode 4 - The Best of Slovenia
    7.3/10(24 votes)

    #24 - The Best of Slovenia

    S6:E4

    Little Slovenia is the least visited and most underrated of Europe's alpine countries. From its prosperous capital of Ljubljana, we enjoy the mountain resort of Lake Bled, venture into the Julian Alps for natural thrills mixed with WWI history, go spelunking in a gigantic cave, and swim with Slavs in a charming Adriatic port.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Rick Steves' Europe Season 6 Episode 12 - Basque Country
    7.3/10(22 votes)

    #25 - Basque Country

    S6:E12

    The homeland of the proud and resilient Basque people is split between France and Spain. From our San Sebastián home base, we tour the ancient Basque capital of Guernica, the dazzling Guggenheim Bilbao, and then cross into France for more Basque Country charms. From yummy tapa bars to lightning-fast jai alai games, we’ll experience Basque culture at its most vivid.

    Director:Simon Griffith
    Writer:Rick Steves

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Slovenia and Croatia" is the worst rated episode of "Rick Steves' Europe". It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 11/19/2000. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Istanbul: Turkish Delights".