Season 1

The Spanish capital Madrid welcomes us with grand plazas and sparkling fountains. First stop is the Prado, one of Europe’s great museums and home to Goya, El Greco and Velazquez. We tour El Palacio Real, the seat the Spanish empire, and the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales, a fascinating hoard of art treasures hidden away in the center of the city. After dark we sway to the rhythms of Flamenco dancers and lose ourselves in Madrid’s pulsating nightlife. Then we day-trip to the imperial city of Toledo to roam the twisting streets and narrow alleyways of this historic center. Tips on traditional food and jewelry.

For a totally different view of Europe, Rudy shows smart travelers how to organize a trip around a theme. Rudy discovers surprising and fresh takes on Europe as he sets out on a music lover’s tour. Winning, live performances by the Sicilian folk band Diascouri, and by Groupo Emiliano, a zany, classically-trained quartet from Emilia Romagna, are the backbone of this offbeat trip. But performance is just the start. Rudy visits folkdance groups in Sweden and Norway and delights in the classics in Italy and Austria. And everywhere, the music provides a backdrop for enthralling local scenery and engaging local stories.

While Athens sprawls, its historic core survives. After climbing the majestic Acropolis, prowling the Plaka, and cheering Greece's best folk dancers, we take some easy trips outside the city. We make a pilgrimage to the famed oracle of Delphi and tour a beautiful medieval monastery. Then it's off to the Peloponnesian Peninsula, where we scope out Nafplion's charming port and visit the epic ruins of King Agamemnon in the ancient capital of Mycenae. Along the way, we investigate local superstitions and sample tangy specialty treats. Tip: Finding great Greek food, traditional and contemporary.

A Mediterranean marvel, Barcelona simmers with beautiful beaches, medieval mazes, eye popping art and hypnotic architecture. From tapas bars, to surrealist art, to Modernist structures, we’ll feast on Barcelona’s delights. Rambles along La Rambla, Gaudi’s treasures, a neighborhood festival, designer shopping and waterfront fun are some of the highlights. For the best in beaches we head north to the coves of the Costa Brava.

We conjure a bit of magic when we visit the Georgian city of Bath and follow tales of Camelot into South Wales. In Bath, we marvel at ancient Roman spas and peek into the high society of Jane Austen’s day. We stop by Wells to admire that city’s spectacular cathedral, and we quest for the Holy Grail in the mystical town of Glastonbury. The poignant landscape of Wales’ Wye River Valley offers a wealth of scenic riches. We investigate Caerleon’s claim to King Arthur and explore a ruined abbey that inspired poet William Wordsworth.

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..

Hot-spiced cider and strains of "O Tannenbaum" warm our hearts as we head to Europe for Christmas. Switzerland has a special glow this time of year and we find plenty of good cheer in the bright Christmas markets and toasty ski lodges. We begin in the magical atmosphere of Zurich, with its glittering trees and festive music. Then we veer off the beaten path to the medieval town of Bremgarten for a visit with St. Nicholas. Finally, we discover a winter paradise in glamorous St. Moritz, the famous ski resort with the "dry, sparkling champagne climate".

Here's where we pull together some of Europe's most rewarding sites from the classical world. Ancient Greek and Roman remnants are more than cold stone. They hold centuries of stories. So we revisit some favorite classical sites around the Mediterranean, pick up some new stories and see what kinds of connections we can make. It's the Greeks in Athens, Delphi, Delos, Paestum and Syracuse-and the Romans in Pompeii, Rome and Provence, with a little history of wine and olives thrown in for good measure.

Europe’s best kept secret, the Croatian coast of Dalmatia dazzles with stunning white stone cities and azure waters. We begin in Dubrovnik, then island hop up the coast, snorkeling, swimming, sunning and reveling in the scenery. In Split we visit a Roman emperor’s palace and make excursions to ruins, timeless towns and fortresses. Tips on boating, food and driving.

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.

Friendly and feisty, Scotland makes us feel right at home. In Edinburgh, we climb the ramparts of this city’s famous castle, shop for kilts, visit mysterious Rosslyn chapel and thrill to a spooky ghost tour. Then we head to historic St. Andrew’s to practice our swing on the world’s most famous golf course. In the Scottish highlands, we try our hand at skeet shooting and falconry, and tour the Dewar’s whisky distillery. Then it’s off to historic Stirling to stroll the battlefields of Braveheart before setting sail on legendary Loch Lomand.

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.

We can jet to Europe in a day and visit four cities in less than a week. It’s great to take your time but sometimes you only have a day to visit. How can you be part of the international jet set and still get a taste of “old” Europe? This time Smart Travels takes viewers on a whirlwind tour of four cities that represent a bit of the old and bit of the new in Europe. Rudy shows viewer how to get the most out of one-day visits to Copenhagen, Berlin, Munich, and Rome. Tips on maximizing travel memories from a 24-hour stay in a European big city.

As more travelers return to Europe for multiple visits, many are on the lookout for another dimension in travel. Occasionally they want to skip historical sights and museums in favor of a trip—or a day—just for fun. They're ready for absolute R&R; looking to break up serious sightseeing with hot-air-balloon trips, mountain luge rides, country hikes or days at an amusement park. They’re seeking new adventures in Europe—flights of fancy—spiced with great meals and local libations of course. This time, Rudy shares his personal picks of Europe Just for Fun.

The world’s finest wines, sweeping vineyards and fine food couple with a river valley dotted with castles. We sample the best Bordeaux then cruise the lovely Dordogne and Lot rivers with stops at chateaux, ancient watermills, and perched villages. Cooking classes and an underground adventure to see pre-historic cave paintings round out the trip.

From a fairy tale fortress to the gentle Pyrenees, Rudy takes in the castles and peaks of this magical region. We tour the largest fortress in Europe, Carcassonne, and sample the local stew, Cassoulet. A gallop through the countryside takes in several romantic castle ruins and the artwork of Toulouse Lautrec. Then we head for high country and one of the world’s natural wonders – a mountain amphitheatre with cascading waterfalls..

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.

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.

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 Kolsch, the local beer.

The Romantic Road winds through some of Germany’s most picturesque countryside complete with medieval villages and Baroque Palaces. We start our journey in Warzburg where we visit the spectacular Baroque Bishop’s Palace or Residenz and taste wine at one of Warzburg’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 Dinkelsbahl 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.

On the Greek Islands we get familiar with the ferries as we island-hop the Aegean. Sun-drenched, upscale and exotic, Santorini sits on the rim of an ancient, but still active, volcano. At one end of the island, the archeological site at Akrotiri uncovers a city frozen in time by the volcano's eruption 3,600 years ago. The island of Naxos offers serenity, a low-keyed pace and bargain accommodations. Its massive marble quarries and kouros sculptures were the toast of ancient Greece. We catch some R&R on trendy Mykonos, and then head to sacred Delos—an uninhabited island covered entirely with ancient ruins, and the place where the great god Apollo was born. Tips: Discovering little off-the-beaten-path surprises.

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.

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

We leave the eternal city behind by way of the famous Apian Way to explore the environs of Rome. First it’s the majesty of Emperor Hadrian’s villa and lakes of the Alban Hills. Next, it’s south to the ancient seaport of Ostia, Rome’s Pompeii. Along the way we sample olive oil, stop at the ancient’s favorite beach and visit a medieval hilltop town. Our own five star villa is a retreat fit for an emperor.

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.

The Swiss Alps reverberate with cowbells, accordions, and laughter. We make our home base in the year-round playground of Interlaken, the “town between two lakes”. We sail across glacial Lake Brienz, famous for its beautiful woodcarving. We head to the spectacular Lauterbrunnen Valley for a heart-stopping gondola ride to alpine heights, and hike past flower-filled meadows and mountain chalets. Then it’s off to vibrant Zurich for shopping, chocolate and tasty Swiss cuisine.