Rick Steves, Special to Postmedia

LATEST STORIES BY RICK STEVES, SPECIAL TO POSTMEDIA

Visiting Europe's time-warp homes

Many of Europe’s time-warp houses — sights that bring you back to a bygone era — get only a few thoughtful travellers, overshadowed by big-name museums. Some of the ones I highly recommend may make people say “Huh!?” But they’re the sights that might just make your day.

October 25, 2019 Travel Europe

At Stanway House in England's Cotswolds district, you can visit the grand home of the Earl of Wemyss. (Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli)

Stockholm's delightful day trips

Stockholm’s inviting medieval centre, leafy parks, top-notch sights, and exciting urban scene make the city a highlight of any Scandinavian vacation.

October 1, 2019 Travel Europe

Carl Milles' 'Hand of God' gives insight into the sculptor's belief that creativity is divinely inspired. (Rick Steves)

Malta a citadel of many cultures in middle of Mediterranean

Sailing into the stony harbour of the island of Malta, surrounded by ramparts and turrets, you realize that this strategic and much fought-over rock midway between Sicily and Africa has had a long and difficult history. But its parade of foreign rulers (Phoenician, Roman, Greek, Arab, Norman, Sicilian, and British — to name a few) make it a fascinating place to explore today.

September 17, 2019 Travel Europe

According to tradition, the colours of these Maltese fishing boats represent a fisherman's home village. (Gretchen Strauch)

Czeching out Prague's top day trips

Few cities can match Prague’s over-the-top romance, evocative Old World charm … or its tourist crowds.

September 3, 2019 Travel Europe

Kutna Hora's Gothic cathedral was funded by the town's once-lucrative silver-mining and -minting industry. (Cameron Hewitt)

Visiting Europe's top university sights

When touring any city, it’s fun to drop in on the local university. But in Europe, universities can be essential sightseeing, as some are home to great architectural, artistic and cultural treasures.

August 27, 2019 Travel Europe

King Joao's Library, in Coimbra, Portugal, has a spectacular Baroque ceiling. (Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli)

Slovakia's capital Bratislava makes remarkable comeback

Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia and once a nearly desolate ghost town, is one of the big surprises of my recent travels.

August 10, 2019 Travel Europe

The SNP Bridge's observation deck and "UFO" restaurant provide stunning views of Bratislava. (Gretchen Strauch)

Experiencing Italy's Renaissance in person

Among the many things I love about Italy is how the Renaissance can be spliced into your travels. Imagine: In Florence you can sleep in a converted 16th-century monastery that’s just a block from Michelangelo’s David, around the corner from Brunelleschi’s famous cathedral dome, and down the street from the tombs of the great Medici art patrons -— and that’s just for starters.

August 6, 2019 Travel Europe

Raphael's 'School of Athens' celebrates mankind's intellectual achievements and connection to the great minds of classical Greece. (Rick Steves)

Sample some of Belgium's incredible edibles

Whenever I think of Belgium, I recall digging into a dish of mussels while seated on a sunny square in Brussels, in the shadow of a lacy medieval spire. My waiter bragged, “In Belgium, we eat as hearty as the Germans and as fine as the French.”

June 29, 2019 Travel Europe

Fresh Liege waffles, Belgium's other great street food, are usually eaten as a warm afternoon snack. (Rick Steves)

Lake Bled: Slovenia's romantic alpine retreat

Tiny Slovenia, nestled where the Alps meet the Adriatic Sea, is one of Europe’s most unexpectedly charming destinations, with spectacular natural beauty and a fascinating recent history – yet much of it is still far off many tourists’ path. One of its brightest gems is a romantic getaway that once entertained emperors and presidents: Lake Bled.

June 11, 2019 Travel Europe

Visitors enjoy a scenic ride to a Lake Bled island on a traditional pletna boat. (Cameron Hewitt)

Plenty of historic hits in mod Milan

While much of Italy’s appeal is rooted in its relaxed pace and Old World feel, Milan – the nation’s second city and financial capital – offers just the opposite. But travellers who make time for Milan find that this modern, industrious metropolis packs historic highlights as powerful as other Italian cities.

June 4, 2019 Travel Europe

Made of pink marble and decorated with Gothic spires, Milan's cathedral is one of the largest in Europe. (Cameron Hewitt)