Rick Steves

You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling in France.

With this guide, you’ll explore sleepy villages, romantic hill towns, and cosmopolitan cities, including Paris, Avignon, and Nice. Climb the Eiffel Tower, wander world-renowned museums, and dine at sidewalk cafés. Then escape to the sunny countryside, where you can explore castles of all shapes and sizes or pedal your way from village...

You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling in St. Petersburg, Helsinki, and Tallinn. In this compact guide, Rick Steves covers the essential spots of each city, including the Hermitage, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Linnanmäki (a classic amusement park), and Toompea Castle. Take a day trip to the lavish palace at Peterhof, stroll through Kaivopuisto Park in Helsinki, or see the best of contemporary...

We'll marvel at prehistoric cave paintings, Egyptian pyramids, and classical Greek statues.

We'll tell the story of Europe in transition from bubbly Baroque to austere Neoclassicism.

We'll follow the rise and fall of Rome through its awe-inspiring architecture and art.

Hiking through the Cumbrian Lake District, we'll admire idyllic lakes, discover misty waterfalls, tour a slate mine, and climb up to a stony summit. Then we'll play some cricket, hike Hadrian's Wall, and be dazzled by Durham's cathedral.

Uniquely entertaining Amsterdam shows off its Rembrandts and Van Goghs, rivers of bikes, and pot-filled coffeeshops - all under gabled facades leaning out over placid canals.

We'll start with a cruise through Venice's lagoon, pausing to savor fresh fish canal-side. Then we'll sample the treasures of the Accademia Gallery, explore some back-street wonders, and luxuriate in a venerable cafe on St. Mark's Square.

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.

After roaming Versailles - the palace of palaces - we'll drop in on exquisite Vaux-le-Vicomte and extravagant Fontainebleau, marvel at Chartres Cathedral...and dine like kings.