Author: Rick Steves, Special to USA TODAY

After seeing Switzerland’s famed Matterhorn, Rick Steves says he finally understands why tourists trek to Zermatt. But when’s the best time to go?

With pilgrimages, the point is to go beyond tourism and connect more deeply with a place, a culture or a faith. Rick Steves shares several favorites.

Ireland is an isle filled with cultural and historic wonders … and lately with lots of tourists, too, prompting many sites to require reservations.

Be skeptical of fake officials, selfie-taking tourists behind you at the ATM and Airbnb hosts demanding wire transfers, warns Rick Steves.

Skiing’s not the only reason to visit Europe in winter. Sparse crowds, cheap flights and lodging and holiday markets make an off-season trip worth it.

Set under a historic fortress, Tomar is a place with lots of local ambience, yet remarkably untouristed – and well worth a stop.

Paris’ Père Lachaise – final resting place of Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde – isn’t Europe’s only must-see cemetery. Rick Steves suggest a few more.

An easy day trip from Edinburgh, St. Andrews. Scotland, is the birthplace of golf and where the future king and queen of Britain fell in love.

From France’s Versailles to Portugal’s Pena Palace, the best royal retreats provide insight into the dynamic, often quirky monarchs who built them.