Human, environmental, and physical geography are separate in Europe. A center of trade and commerce for centuries due to its rich agricultural and industrial diversity. This continent is between Africa and Asia, two other “Old World” continents.
Expatriates worldwide are drawn to Europe because of its diverse landscapes, cultures, architecture, and climate. It is also relatively easy to obtain a visa here. Most European nations do not require visas for Canadians and Americans.
A true adventure awaits you when you travel to Europe! A trip to Europe is educational, inspiring, and fun, with its diverse countries, cultures, cuisines, histories, and languages!
It is no secret that a trip makes for some spectacular photographs – from the Eiffel Tower to Big Ben to the canals of Venice to Athens’ Acropolis. Once you scratch the surface, you’ll discover how this beautiful content is truly good for the soul.
The European continent is the second-smallest in size, and it can also be described as a subcontinent or a peninsula. Europe is located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and is part of the Eurasian landmass. The British Isles, which include the UK and Ireland, and Iceland are larger islands that belong to Europe.
Approximately 20% larger than the contiguous United States, this continent covers 10.2 million km2 (3,938,000 sq mi). The European Union has an area (without the UK) of over 4.23 million km² (1.6 million sq mi).
There are 50 countries in Europe. Traditionally, Europe is divided into 44 sovereign states or nations. The list excludes several countries, including Turkey, which occupies only a small part of East Thrace on the European Balkan Peninsula.
Geographically, Cyprus is located in Asia Minor (Middle East).
Denmark controls the Faroe Islands, an island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean.
Geographically, Greenland belongs to North America, but it is also an autonomous Danish territory.
In the Balkans, Kosovo is partially recognized as a state.
Europe also includes a small portion of Western Kazakhstan.
Approximately 747 million people are living in Europe. Europe’s most populous country is part of Russia, with 110 million people, followed by Germany, 83 million citizens, and Metropolitan France, with 67 million residents (in 2020).
(Source: UN World Population Prospects)
Located in York, northern England is Castle Howard. Despite its name, it is not a traditional castle. Castles are fortified structures to defend against attacks, but the term “castle” is often part of an English estate home’s name. Likewise, when a building sits on a prior castle site, the term castle is common. Castle Howard…
Everyone has fantasized about visiting Lapland, and Saariselkä Finland is a resort village in northern Finland in the middle of Lapland. It is located above the arctic circle, in the Inari region, and home to Sami traditions. Saariselkä Finland attracts visitors from around the world, seeking a winter wonderland escape. Considered Europe’s final frontier, Lapland…
Oktoberfest is the world’s largest beer festival and traveling funfair a “Volksfest.” It occurs annually in Munich, Bavaria. It is held from mid-September through the first Sunday in October for a total of sixteen days. The festival has been held since 1810 and attracts more than six million people annually. It is the world’s largest…
Sitting in the southeast corner of Bavaria bordering Austria is Linderhof Palace. The lesser know homes of the famous King Ludwig and one often missed by tourists. Bavaria is the Land of Castles. If you visit Bavaria, Germany, you will see Neuschwanstein Castle – the “Disney Castle” most famous. King Ludwig died before the completion…
Shadowed by the fame of Neuschwanstein Castle, many tourists skip visiting Hohenschwangau Castle. For the life of me, I can’t understand why. If you like castles, why would you not go inside both? Fortunately, people have stated that Hohenschwangau Castle is more beautiful than the famous neighbor in recent years. Here are a few reasons…
Perhaps one of the most famous castles in the world, a visit inside Neuschwanstein Castle may not be what you expect. This fairy tale castle is often referred to as the “Disney Castle,” the “Sleeping Beauty Castle, and the “Cinderella Castle,” almost everyone recognizes this Romanesque Revival Castle perched on the rocky hills of Hohenschwangau. …
Is Fussen Germany worth visiting? Beyond. This medieval town called “Füssen” is at the end of the Romantic Road (Romantische Strasse), which runs 217 miles north along the west border of Germany to Wurzburg. This little town in Bavaria is often skipped over, yet it’s only a six-minute drive away or two miles from the…
Nestled between Switzerland and Austria and situated on the banks of the Rhine. Here’s why you should visit the Liechtenstein Castles! Visiting Liechtenstein was never on our list. I’ll be frank – I’d never even heard of it. We stumbled across it while enjoying a day out in Switzerland. Ironically, we accidentally drove back down…
Heidiland is a region of Eastern Switzerland packed with high mountains, clear lakes, diverse nature, and original postcard-worthy villages. A total of 32 communities in an area of 24 square miles. It’s also home to Heidi Village, the original site of the world-famous Heidi story. A short-day trip from the Bavarian region of Germany, Austria,…
Long before planning our trip to Scandinavia, I had seen and heard about Bergen, Norway. I was captivated by the images that all look like scenes from a fairytale. When I plan trips, I often wonder if it will be as I imagine. Or, in this case, as beautiful. Bergen, Norway, is stunning, as I…