Iceland — where the tectonic plates of Europe and America rub — is a hot destination these days. Here, a quick stop-over on your flight to Europe turns into a bonus vacation. You can luxuriate in a steamy hot mineral spring amid a vast lava flow, charge over glacial-runoff rivers to desolate perches made to order for a Game of Thrones scene, marvel at the sleek lines of a modern cathedral standing like an exclamation point in the capital city, and enjoy meals that could rival the finest feasts i

In this episode of Rick Steves’ Europe, we'll island-hop through the Aegean, sampling three classic Greek getaways — Santorini, Mykonos, and Rhodes — and basking in their dramatic beauty. We'll tour ancient ruins, trace the vestiges of the Crusaders, sample rustic cuisine, savor classic Greek-island views, and compare beaches — from the ultimate party beach to idyllic quiet hideaways. And we'll see how a cruise ship can be an efficient way to link up great island stopovers. | Rick Steves' Europe

Historically, the people of Iceland were humble and struggled to survive. The rugged and wind-blown cliffs here harbored bird nests with treasured eggs, and locals learned to lower a rope and swing to seemingly protected nooks and crannies to harvest them. Today, that tradition is kept alive on the Westman Islands, as we’ll demonstrate in an upcoming episode of our TV show. Enjoy this little preview. (I wonder how to say “over medium” in Icelandic...) | Rick Steves