Rick Steves’ Europe Scavenger Hunt
Want to add a new layer of discovery to your 2023 travels? Track down these 15 items on the Rick Steves' Europe Scavenger Hunt!
We've designed these 15 quirky and quintessential experiences to reflect the way we love to travel: with a focus on people-to-people connections; as eager students, with a spirit of curiosity about the places we visit; and, of course, to have fun. Don't feel obligated to tick off all 15 — after all, you're on vacation! But we hope this list guides you to a more intentional, engaging, and enjoyable travel experience.
For your next European trip, peruse the list, print out a pocket version, and challenge yourself to check off as many items as you can. Share your progress on social media (with the hashtag #KeepOnTravelin) and challenge friends and fellow travelers to see who can get the highest score. Send your favorite photos or takeaways from the scavenger hunt to [email protected]; we’ll collect these to share in the coming weeks. There’s no “Grand Prize,” but those with the most points will enjoy bragging rights and (we hope) an even more vivid travel experience.
Happy scavenging…and happy travels!
Around Town
Take a photo at a family-run business that you patronize.
Family-run small businesses — from mom-and-pop diners to lovingly tended hotels to wineries passed down from generation to generation — are a fundamental part of the joy of European travel. Patronize one of these proud businesses on your next trip to Europe…and feel like a member of the family for an hour or two.
Spot someone sporting a jersey for the local "football" team.
Football (the game you actually play with your feet) is Europe's undisputed top sport. Top footballers are treated like movie stars, and on big game nights, bars and beer gardens buzz with fans crowded around TV sets, all decked out in the local colors. While in Europe, try to spot a fan in uniform…and consider succumbing to football fever yourself.
Visit a monument to a notable woman from European history.
Women's stories are often underrepresented, on both sides of the Atlantic. Seek out a statue or monument dedicated to a notable woman from European history, and take time to learn her story. (For inspiration, check out Herstorical Monuments.)
Recreate a clip or an image of Rick from his TV show.
Rick has filmed over 100 television episodes across Europe. Find an episode that explores your next destination and recreate a scene or a still from the show…with you in the starring role.
Art & Architecture
Identify an example of Neoclassical architecture.
In the 18th century, architects from France to Finland revived the clean lines and stately columns of ancient Greek and Roman temples in museums, cathedrals, and town squares. Brush up on Neoclassism 101, and spot examples as you travel.
Capture street art with a social message.
Europe's vibrant street art transforms public spaces into a canvas and gives a voice to the voiceless. It generally delivers a social message as it offends, angers, inspires, and amuses — often at the same time. Keep an eye out for striking street art and ask yourself what it's trying to tell you.
Snap a photo beside an iconic landmark in one of Europe's "second cities."
Famous cities like London, Paris, and Rome fill many itineraries. But in recent years, once-depressed Industrial Age burgs have been revitalized, and often have a creative energy you won't find in the capital. When planning your next trip, budget time for Antwerp in Belgium, Marseille in France, Glasgow in Scotland, or Hamburg in Germany.
Write a poem inspired by a work of art you saw today.
A poem that's "ekphrastic" is inspired by a work of art (such as John Keats's "Ode on a Grecian Urn"). Flex your creative muscles by penning a quick poem about a work of art you saw today. It can be as simple as a haiku or a limerick…or something more in-depth. Maybe a few centuries from now, people will still be reading your "Ode on a Matisse Fern"!
Food
Eat the stinkiest local cheese you can find.
In Europe, cheese isn't just part of the cuisine; it's part of the culture. (Pun intended.) Rick loves popping in cheese shops, which he affectionately calls "festivals of mold," and finding a ripe cheese that a Parisian friend of his once described as smelling "like ze feet of angels." Consider these stinky suggestions from Rick, and pick out a wedge for your next picnic. (Vegan option: Try a jam made from a fruit you've never eaten.)
Snap a photo of a handwritten menu in the local language.
How do you find a great restaurant in Europe? Look for a short, handwritten menu in one language. It's short because they're cooking up only what they can sell out for the day. It's handwritten because it's shaped by whatever's fresh in the market that morning. And it's in only the local language because they're targeting local, return customers rather than tourists. (Be sure to review Rick's other tips for eating well in Europe.)
Buy and eat something direct from the producer.
To eat well in Europe, seek out what's regional and what's seasonal. The best way to do that is to buy direct from the producer. Browse a farmers market for a quick snack or the makings of a luxurious picnic. Or, for extra credit, indulge in a "zero-kilometer meal" on a working farm.
Try a gelato (or ice cream) flavor you've never had before.
In Italy (and throughout Europe), gelato is the ultimate pleasure. With options from pistachio to lavender to tomato-basil, you could have a different flavor every day for weeks. Your assignment: Track down a great gelateria…and give a new flavor a whirl.
Experiences
Take a train between two European cities and calculate the carbon you save.
Riding Europe's state-of-the-art rail network is easy, scenic, fun…and eco-friendly. Choosing a train over a flight can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 80 percent. Plan your next European rail trip, and calculate how much carbon you save.
Visit a house of worship for a faith tradition you don't share and make a note of something you learned.
After a hard-fought history of Christians versus Muslims and Catholics versus Protestants, today's Europe prides itself on religious pluralism. Visit a place of worship for a different faith tradition and try to experience it through the eyes of one of the worshippers.
Once back home, share an example of how your trip broadened your perspective on an issue in your community.
Rick says the greatest souvenir is a broader perspective. And it's even better when that perspective sheds new light on challenges back home. What's an issue that you see differently now that you've returned from your trip? And what can you do to put that broader perspective into action, to impact your community?