In Rome, pop into churches to see art in situ — not hanging on museum walls, but exactly where it was meant to be enjoyed — including magnificent Michelangelo sculptures, dazzling Byzantine mosaics, and impressive Renaissance frescoes. More info about travel to Italy: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy

Made from huge stones that were quarried, carved, and moved from as far away as Wales, Stonehenge has amazed visitors for thousands of years. And throughout that time, it's continued to work as a functioning celestial calendar, lining up with the rising and setting sun on the longest day of the year. More info about travel to England: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/england

With one of Scotland's best distillery tours and plenty of character, Oban is a basket of Scottish traditions. And it's ideally situated for day trips to three of the most worthwhile Inner Hebrides: Mull, Iona, and Staffa. More info about travel to Scotland: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/scotland

Plenty of character is packed into Lisbon — and much of it is edible. One treat you're sure to find in any Lisbon restaurant, market hall, or café is bacalhau (salted cod), a Portuguese favorite. More info about travel to Portugal: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/portugal

Glasgow is Scotland's most underrated destination. With an energetic cultural scene and unique flair for art and design, this rejuvenated city is bursting with history, pride, and a love of life. More info about travel to Scotland: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/scotland

Sicily's many rulers — from the Greeks to the Arabs to the Spanish — have each left their mark on the island's capital, Palermo. You can still see that impact today through the city's distinctive architecture and in the faces of its residents. More info about travel to Sicily: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/sicily

Alabaster and wine are traditional specialties in the Tuscan hill town of Volterra. Drop by a local workshop or wine bar to see Volterra's masters at work (and enjoy the fruits of their labor). More info about travel to Italy: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/Italy

The fascinating and remote Orkney Islands, off the north coast of Scotland, offer some of the best prehistoric sites in northern Europe, including 5,000-year-old homes and burial mounds. More info about travel to Scotland: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/scotland

Experience the decadence of Paris' belle époque ("beautiful age") at sights like the Opéra Garnier and the Jacquemart-André Museum. More info about travel to France: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/france

In 1755, a devastating earthquake reduced Lisbon to rubble. The city's downtown was eventually rebuilt in a symmetrical grid plan, with broad boulevards and inviting squares — a style known as "Pombaline," named for the prime minister who oversaw the reconstruction. More info about travel to Portugal: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/portugal