About this season
Passport to Europe is a television show on the Travel Channel. The show follows the bubbly and upbeat television host Samantha Brown around Europe visiting various popular European cities, including prime travel destinations such as Berlin, Munich, Amsterdam, Venice, Florence, Rome, Paris and London, as well as smaller cities such as Stratford-upon-Avon, Penzance and Oxford in England. In the course of each show, Brown tours each city and interacts with the town's locals. She also visits local landmarks - including popular restaurants and shopping locales - and educates viewers on events in the city's history.
Episodes (27)
1. Athens, Greece
Aired 3 January 2006 • 30 min
Samantha Brown gets her passport stamped in Athens, Greece! She climbs the Acropolis, orders a famous Greek gyro and sips ouzo at a taverna. When Sam travels to Athens she'll experience 2,500 years of the uninterrupted history and tradition of Greece.
2. Mykonos, Greece
Aired 8 January 2006 • 30 min
Sam packs her bags for Mykonos in the middle of the Aegean Sea to experience island life Greek-style. She sinks her toes in the sand at a beach café, explores the ancient ruins of a lost civilization and dances the night away with the locals.
3. Santorini, Greece
Aired 9 January 2006 • 30 min
Sam vacations on an active volcano in Santorini, Greece. While there she cruises the Aegean Sea on a catamaran and celebrates the island's nightlife with music.
4. Crete, Greece
Aired 10 January 2006 • 30 min
Sam travels to Crete, an island that sits at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, and is the mythological birthplace of the god Zeus. Crete is also home to the first European civilization.
5. Brittany, France
Aired 17 January 2006 • 30 min
Sam travels to Brittany, France, known for its unique customs, traditions, even its own language. Her journey begins in search of its famous pottery -- the perfect souvenir -- before heading to the coast to discover the Breton oyster.
6. Oxford, England
Aired 23 January 2006 • 30 min
Sam visits Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford, England. From the Royal Shakespeare Company, to the real-life inspirations for "Alice in Wonderland" and "Harry Potter," she finds these centers of the English language are anything but dry and dusty.
7. Cornwall, England
Aired 24 January 2006 • 30 min
People come from around the world to surf its waves; its rugged coastline inspires creativity and has spawned art communities; its vineyards grow award-winning wine. If you're thinking of California, think again, Sam discovers Cornwall, England.
8. Turin, Italy
Aired 30 January 2006 • 30 min
Sam takes us to Turin, Italy, the host city for the 2006 Winter Olympics. She finds plenty to see and do there: she hunts for truffles, discovers mummies, learns about curling and where the martini got its start.
9. Provence, France
Aired 30 January 2006 • 30 min
Sam visits the French region of Provence and learns about bullfighting from a matador, tastes a wine with connections to the Pope and finds a link between an American blue-jean maker and the town of Nimes.
10. Marseilles, France
Aired 31 January 2006 • 30 min
Marseilles is chaotic, imperfect, impulsive and wild, but it's also surprisingly comfortable and friendly. Sam hits the major attractions and experiences this ancient port city's eccentric mix of cultures.
11. Normandy, France
Aired 5 February 2006 • 30 min
Sam travels to Normandy, France, whose coast inspired artist Claude Monet. She also visits Omaha Beach and reflects on the events of the D-Day invasion during World War II.
12. Lyon, France
Aired 6 February 2006 • 30 min
Lyon is known as the culinary capital of France, earning this weighty title because it's a hub for award-winning wine, meat, poultry, cheese and produce. Sam samples its amazing cuisine.
13. Geneva, Switzerland
Aired 13 February 2006 • 30 min
Sam travels to Geneva, Switzerland, one of Europe's most cosmopolitan cities with an eclectic mix of people from 173 countries. Though known for its international banking and bureaucracy, Sam discovers Geneva's small-town delights.
14. Milan, Italy
Aired 14 February 2006 • 30 min
Sam heads to the fashion capital of the world -- Milan, Italy -- and learns to speak Italian: Gucci, Armani, Versace, Prada. She discovers that panzarottis, not pizza, reign supreme. She also goes hands-on in a museum filled with da Vinci inspiration.
15. Viewer's Choice
Aired 11 May 2006 • 30 min
A favorite episode, as selected by viewers.
16. Venice, Italy
Aired 24 July 2006 • 30 min
Samantha Brown travels to Venice, Italy, where she observes exquisite blown glass, attempts to pilot a gondola, and witnesses tourists being mobbed by pigeons.
17. Venice, Itally (Hidden)
Aired 25 July 2006 • 30 min
The hidden side of Venice, Italy, includes Venetian art.
18. Bologna, Italy
Aired 31 July 2006 • 30 min
If the way to your heart is through your stomach, Bologna is your soul mate -- in fact, locals dare to call it the culinary capital of Italy. Sam finds out why in this episode.
19. Verona, Italy
Aired 1 August 2006 • 30 min
Sam visits Verona, Italy, the setting of Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet". She steps inside a coliseum older than the one in Rome and goes backstage at the opera. She also pens a letter at Juliet's Club and sips cappuccino at an outdoor café.
20. Valencia, Spain
Aired 7 August 2006 • 30 min
Sam gets her passport stamped in Valencia, Spain. She visits the sacred home of The Holy Grail, tries to master the moves of flamenco and gives the red cape a twirl in a bullfighting ring.
21. Mallorca, Spain
Aired 8 August 2006 • 30 min
The Spanish island of Mallorca offers something for everyone, and Sam takes full advantage, going underground for a one-of-a-kind cave experience and climbing island cliffs.
22. Glasgow, Scotland
Aired 14 August 2006 • 30 min
Sam travels to Glasgow, Scotland, to check out the buzz. She gets some "travel tips" from a local taxi driver and asks the question "What do men really wear under their kilts?" She even tests her talents on the bagpipes!
23. Scottish Highlands
Aired 15 August 2006 • 30 min
Sam gets a dose of authentic Scottish hospitality when she visits the Scottish Highlands. She competes against a champion at the caber toss, fishes the famous Loch Ness and gets spooked at a haunted castle hotel.
24. Helsinki, Finland
Aired 21 August 2006 • 30 min
Sam's passport gets stamped in Helsinki, Finland. While there she steps inside a steamy sauna for a lesson in etiquette and discovers why the Finns are fanatics about fish, licorice and rye bread.
25. Stockholm, Sweden
Aired 22 August 2006 • 30 min
Sam arrives in beautiful Stockholm, Sweden, a Scandinavian city comprised of 14 islands. While there she cools off in an ice bar, goes hunting for trolls and eats the meatballs.
26. Reykjavik, Iceland
Aired 28 August 2006 • 30 min
Sam lands in Reykjavik, Iceland, for a travel adventure like no other. She takes an unusual 4-wheel ride over moon-like volcanic fields and discovers that all Vikings may not have had horns on their helmets.
27. Copenhagen, Denmark
Aired 29 August 2006 • 30 min
Sam visits the gateway to Scandinavia -- Copenhagen, Denmark. She discovers how Copenhageners celebrate the longest day of the year, gets the spin on the bicycle scene and finds out if Danes really do eat danish.