Rick Steves advocates smart, affordable, perspective-broadening travel. As host and writer of the popular public television series RICK STEVES' EUROPE, and best-selling author of 40 European travel books, he encourages Americans to travel as "temporary locals." He helps American travelers connect much more intimately and authentically with Europe — and Europeans — for a fraction of what mainstream tourists pay.
In this episode, Rick visits a longtime favorite escape of Europe's elite, the Riviera, where the coastline still sparkles with yachts. In fairytale Monaco we listen to the graceful reshuffling of personal fortunes at the casino. Then we follow in the footsteps of 19th century aristocrats along Nice's promenade des Anglais, and visit the picturesque, artist hangouts of Chagall, Matisse and Picasso.
For lots more information, check out our best-selling Rick Steves' France and Rick Steves' Provence and the French Riviera guidebooks — or join us on one of our free-spirited tours in Europe.
This episode originally aired in 2011.
Rick Steves is on Facebook, and you can follow @RickSteves on Twitter.
The snug port of Villefranche, in spite of luxury yachts glistening in its bay, offers travelers an easy-going slice of small-town Mediterranean life just minutes from bustling Nice and jet-setting Monaco. Some of the Riviera's priciest real estate stretches from Villefranche to Monaco, and the coast is studded with the floating toys of millionaires. For more information on the RICK STEVES' EUROPE TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit
www.ricksteves.com.
On the Mediterranean Sea, basking between the French and Italian Rivieras, the principality of Monaco barely fits on its one square mile of territory. From the famous casino to the palace atop its fortified hill, a visit to Monaco is a Riviera "must." For more information on the RICK STEVES' EUROPE TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit
www.ricksteves.com.
This region's breath-taking coastline is traversed by three coastal routes: the Low, Middle, and High Corniches. Sitting upon the Via Aurelia, the Grand, or High, Corniche caps the cliffs with staggering Mediterranean vistas. High above the sea, Èze, touristy yet magnificent, offers art and gastronomy in its medieval center. For more information on the RICK STEVES' EUROPE TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit
www.ricksteves.com.
