We’re blessed with a bit of Irish luck as we take on Ireland’s ruggedly beautiful west coast. We start in Galway, Europe’s fastest growing city, shopping for Irish crystal and Celtic jewelry. Then it’s a salt-sprayed boat trip to the fabled Aran Islands where we reach breathless heights at a Stone Age fort and ferret out traditional hand-knit sweaters. Heading south, we pass through the eerie landscape of the Burren, sample the best of Irish folk music, and binge on a medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle. In the lush forests of Killarney, we visit the country manor of Muckross, before touring the stunning Dingle Peninsula. Tips on renting bicycles.

Irish eyes are smiling when we explore Dublin, Ireland’s urban core. There’s history around every corner, and Dublin delights with Trinity College, the Book of Kells, the famous Guinness Brewery, and the infamous Kilmainham jail where Irish rebels spent their last days. We liberally sample pub life while tapping our toes to traditional music, and follow in the footsteps of famous Irish writers on a literary pub-crawl. Beyond Dublin, we find inspiration in the hillsides of Glendalough, site of Ireland’s revered monastery, and the Hill of Tara, home of the ancient Irish kings. A side trip to Northern Ireland’s best folk park brings the Eire of yesteryear to life. Tips on visiting Dublin’s literary sites.

The Romantic Road winds through some of Germany’s most picturesque countryside complete with medieval villages and Baroque Palaces. We start our journey in Würzburg where we visit the spectacular Baroque Bishop’s Palace or Residenz and taste wine at one of Würzburg’s many wine festivals. Next we visit the castle of the Teutonic Knights in Bad Mergentheim and a short distance away the Deutsches Auto Museum in the Renaissance Castle of Prince Hohenlohe-Langenburg. Every July the medieval town of Dinkelsbühl celebrates the day the children saved the town during the Thirty Years War. We get a front row seat complete with dancing, music and an historic reenactment. We finish our trip in Rothenburg, the best preserved medieval walled city in Germany. Tip: Travel options along the Romantic Road.

For centuries the Rhine has been a natural border and the main route for trade, people and ideas. We start in the ancient Roman city of Trier and travel up the Mosel River visiting vineyards and ancient castles. We’ll take a scenic cruise down the Rhine for a sailor’s eye view of famous Rhine castles and the lovely but dangerous Lorelei. In Koblenz we’ll see where Julius Cesar destroyed two Germanic tribes but was never able to conquer Germany, and just down stream we’ll see where American troops first crossed the Rhine during World War II at the bridge at Remagen. Our trip concludes in the city of Cologne where we’ll visit the modern art museum and sample Kölsch, the local beer. Tip: Taking a cruise down the Rhine.

Known the world over for its wheels of golden cheese, its sweet prosciutto and divine vinegar, this slice of Northern Italy is a feast. From our base in Bologna we eat our way across the region, taking in the glorious art and culture along the way: cheese and mosaics in Parma, Balsamic vinegar and racecars in Modena, ham, pasta and university life in Bologna. An excursion to the mountainous Apennines, a trip to Ravenna’s brilliant 6th century mosaics and a beach resort at Rimini round out the adventure. Tips on sampling the region’s delicacies and agri-tourism hotels.

Graced with charming cities, countryside villas and precious art, this corner of Northern Italy also features a playground of Alpine peaks and meadows. After a spectacular night at the opera in fair Verona’s Roman arena, we set out in search of Giotto’s colorful frescoes in Padua and architect Palladio’s palatial villas in Vicenza and the surrounding countryside. Then we head for the hills and the dramatic peaks and meadows of the Dolomite Mountains. Tips on touring the Veneto countryside, shopping for gold and staying in a mountain inn.

We leave Western Europe behind as we venture to the exotic cities of Prague and Budapest. In Prague, we marvel at the startlingly beautiful old town and tour the labyrinthine castle that haunted writer Franz Kafka. Bohemian glass dazzles us as we browse the flourishing shops in this former Communist country, and we witness the scene of the “Velvet Revolution”. Then it’s off to Budapest where we surrender ourselves to steamy mineral spas, get serenaded by Gypsy music in one of the city’s most traditional restaurants, and sway to the rhythms of Hungarian dancers. We round out our trip with Budapest’s regal Opera House, and monuments of a bygone era in the Communist Statue Park. Tips on luxury hotels.

Sweden is a natural-born beauty, winning us over with luxuriant landscapes and sleek Scandinavian style. We cruise through Stockholm’s sun-dappled archipelago, visit a designer hotel and sip cocktails in the trendy Ice Bar (a lounge built completely of ice!). We stroll through the Karl Milles sculpture garden, and admire the world’s best-preserved 17th century warship, the Vasa. Then it’s off to the woodsy “Kingdom of Crystal” where we peek in on Sweden’s best glass artists and get rowdy at a traditional herring dinner. We pay tribute to a grand medieval castle once called the “key to Sweden”. Then we escape to the vacation island of Öland, an out-of-the-way charmer with timeless windmills, ancient ruins and glorious sand beaches. Tips on shopping for glass.

The grand panoramas of Norway prove irresistible to adventurers. In Oslo, we see testaments to maritime prowess in Viking Ships and the celebrated Kon Tiki raft. We “Scream” with painter Edvard Munch before heading south to the glorious vistas of Telemark country. After dropping by the home of playwright Henrik Ibsen, we’re off to a boisterous celebration of Norwegian village life, complete with traditional costumes, dancing and potato pancakes. Next it’s a ride on Europe’s most spectacular railway and a boat cruise through the impossibly beautiful scenery of the fjords. We end up in Bergen, Norway’s best-preserved medieval city, taking in a traditional stave church and views that inspired composer Edvard Grieg. Tips on railroad travel.

The Champagne region of France bubbles over with fine wine, gourmet cuisine, picturesque towns and gothic spires. We base in Reims, home of the historic cathedral where French kings were crowned. From Reims, we tour wine country, visiting champagne producers both large and small. In the medieval town of Troyes, we shop for fine chocolate and discover a collection of modern art. North of Reims, the city of Charleville delights with its golden architecture and tradition of puppetry. Our final destination is the imposing fortress of Sedan, the largest castle in Europe. Tips on how to buy quality champagne and touring wine country.

From a dramatic, historic coast to rural pastures, this sweet section of France abounds with apple orchards, enchanting villages, stunning abbeys and sparkling seaports. We base in the lovely seaside town Honfleur. At Giverny, and in the museums in Rouen and Honfleur, we discover the birth of Impressionism. Near the famous beaches of Normandy, the Norman Conquest unfolds in the Bayeux tapestry and we remember the poignant victory of World War II’s D-day. Cider and cheese draw us to the lovely farmland just inland from Honfleur. Our journey ends at the awe inspiring Abbey of Mont-St-Michel. Tips on car rental, shopping for antiques and touring cider country.

The medieval world is one of the big draws of European Travel. Moody ruins, “tippy” towers, cobbled streets, sparkling mosaics, monasteries, castles, and cathedrals form the core of many a tourist’s dreams. In this episode we revisit some favorite spots and toss in a few new sights as we make a little sense out of a fascinating 1000 years—from the fall of Rome to the dawn of the Renaissance. We sort it all out with several short itineraries in Ireland, Austria, Germany, and France.

London, Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels. A European city bustles—it’s a hub of commerce and the arts, energy, surprise, and international flavor. Where do you start if you have just 24-hours? Here, we highlight some best choices of the urban culture in four great cities. London calls for high tea at the Athenaeum and modern art at the New Tate. Paris treats us to impressive dining, the Musee D’Orsay and the Pompidou. Rembrandt’s The Night Watch and traditional rijsttafel dinner are mandatory in Amsterdam, and in 1000 year-old-Brussels, we land in what some call “the most beautiful town square in Europe.” Europe’s great cities stay with you.