Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door 2009 is the definitive guidebook for an affordable and unforgettable trip to Europe. Covering all the essentials and more—from packing to transportation to foreign currency—Rick’s tips allow travelers to become “temporary Europeans,” saving them time and money along the way. Rick also includes his personal favorites, or “back doors,” throughout Europe that will take you away from the tourist-beaten path and into a unique European adventure. Whether it’s surfing in Munich’s rivers or finding an Egyptian pyramid in Rome, Rick leads travelers to little-known and unforgettable experiences.

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If you go to Europe and say once "It's not the way I have it at home", then don't read this book unless you're ready to change your attitude. If you raise your voice louder and continue to speak English, then stay home and don't read this book. If you want the adventure of traveling to Europe and immersing yourself in the culture and people, way of life, and past, then read this book, buy your plane tickets, and get going. All the tools you'll want are in this book. You just add the adventure. Be brave.

This is the best story telling instruction book I've read in a long time. Rick gives you all you'll need to get off anywhere in Europe and be able to survive and enjoy. He'll encourage you to free your mind, talk in bad local language with a smile, change money, ride the train, order dinner at the local eatery, and how to just enjoy the life you're experiencing. Remember you go there because it's different from where you live.

There is so much information for the traveler here that it's hard to grab 1 or 2 ideas and discuss them. The one thing that stands out is that you'll approach your trip to Europe from a totally different angle after reading this book.

Rick, we go in 10 days, and thanks for the help.....

64 of 66 found the following review helpful:

Great Start - Could be Better!Mar 13, 2000

I have read Rick Steves' books for years, and like the others, this one contains helpful information. His conversational style and middle income budget make this book perfect for average American, especially the first time traveler. The down side to this book and other Rick Steves books is as follows: 1) the maps are very poor- hand drawn and definitely low tech. Frommer does a better job in this area 2) costs are listed only in the foreign currency instead of following with the approximate cost in dollars in parenthesis. You must constantly dig out the calculator. 3) a lot of the material (whole pages at a time) is a direct copy from the previous edition, making for a repetitive read. That said, I would not take a trip to Europe without this book. I have never met anyone who went to Europe and used his tips and was sorry. However, I have met a lot of people who have used Lonely Planet and Let's Go who were disillusioned. I'm taking this book and Frommer's when I go this summer.

38 of 39 found the following review helpful:

Amazing Suggestion - Thanks RickDec 11, 1999
By Alina M Silvestre
Traveling Europe last summer, my cousin and I were armed with every travel book that we could carry on a 2 1/2 month expedition throughout Europe. Europe Through the back door provided the most unique and awesome experiences that we had. Gazing onto the majestic scenery in Lake Como, Italy to the personal quarters in the scerene mountains of Switzerland. Rick Steves book was great and I suggest it to anyone who desires to experience Europe to it's fullest extent.

33 of 34 found the following review helpful:

Not for an experienced European travelerJun 05, 1999

Maybe I'm too used to Michelin or Fodors, but I found Through the Back Door to be more on the philosophical benefits of packing light, using the railpass and staying in lesser known places than on seeing, exploring, and experiencing Europe. Much of this material is already covered in packing books and general travel guides (not necessarily European).

I agree with several of his picks (and will be sure to check out others on my next trip there), but his recommendations about what to do in these places occupy only a small portion of the book.

Already a believer in packing light and meeting the locals, I wanted a book that would cover in more detail the "Back Door" towns that he recommends. My advice would be to get this book from your local library, check out his Back Door towns, photocopy the restaurant/lodging recommendations of those towns, and then get a Michelin guide for more detailed information.

44 of 48 found the following review helpful:

The Back Doors are no longerApr 26, 2000
By K. Pfeiffer "kpfeif"
Before buying this book, understand that all of the "secret" back doors are known to EVERYBODY that reads this book. You'll find yourself among ETTBD readers everywhere. There's a virtual army of Rick Steve's-toting 35+ "independent" travelers everywhere in Europe.

The general travel advice is good - the hints on hostels, trains, packing, etc. are important.

Do yourself a favor - get over to Europe with a couple of good maps and just find your own Back Doors.

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