Discover the age-old continent through these Europe travel stories, its curious, unsung places as well as its more familiar spots.
You may notice a few countries that may not traditionally be considered European. Europe’s borders are never easy to define. So I’ve decided to go by the old definition I learned in school: In the east, Europe ends at the Ural Mountains. That means the Caucasian countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia – are part of Europe, according to Sophie’s World. This is probably also according to the countries themselves: all three are members of the Council of Europe and cooperate with the European Union with a view to future membership. Also, all three countries participate in the Eurovision Song Contest; can’t argue with that.
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Cyprus
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Holy See (Vatican)
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Kosovo
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malta
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
Norway
Romania
Russia
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
Latest Europe travel stories
Advent in Vienna
Vienna is one of my favourite cities; seeped in old-world elegance. Advent in Vienna is especially magical, with wonderful Christmas markets everywhere.
In transit: Budapest is icy cold today…
Could have been practically jacket-less in Oslo this morning, while Budapest was freezing cold. Not crisp and fresh, but seriously freezing.
Destination Playland: 3 bloody hours of it.
Here’s a new destination, folks: Playland, or Lekeland, as it's called in the local lingo - in Drammen, Norway. Bring earplugs – the noise level is well above an average Metallica concert, with about 100 kids. Could be 200 or 300. Sounds like 1 000. All yelling and screaming at the top of their lungs. Simultaneously and continuously. I expect [...]
How to kill 39 minutes in Luxembourg in 11 easy steps
Here’s how I did it. Of course, why I would have only 39 minutes in Luxembourg is more interesting, if not disturbing. I’ll get back to that.
Golden Kyiv
Update: this article was first published on Boots'n'all. If you just want a straight “What to see and do in Kyiv”-piece, I have condensed the most relevant info (and added more photos) in this post. If you’re interested in more of a travel narrative, with a bit of Ukrainian politics and my idle musings thrown in, carry on right here. [...]
Walking across borders
I love walking across borders and try to do that whenever I can. It's still fun in Africa - say, between South Africa and Lesotho, or Asia, even between USA and Mexico or any place where borders still mean something. Sadly (in a nostalgic sense, that is), this is no longer the case in Europe. In the 25 countries comprising [...]
It just isn’t fair to trash a place after only a few hours’ visit
Lesson learnt: It really isn't fair to trash a place after spending only a few hours there.
Stein-am-Rhein – Stories on Walls (Day out Zürich)
About halfway between Konstanz and Schaffhausen, set amongst meadows and castles along the most beautiful stretches of the river Rhine, is Stein-am-Rhein, one of the loveliest and best kept medieval villages in Europe. I hadn't even heard about it until yesterday. Finding myself with an entire day completely open before a late flight home from Zurich, I was idly leafing [...]
Border bridge: Liechtenstein and Switzerland
Border bridge: Liechtenstein to the left, Switzerland to the right. I jump: Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland...
One night in Vaduz
Liechtenstein is essentially a family firm, headed by His Serene Highness Hans Adam II von und zu Liechtenstein, who lives in Schloss Vaduz.
Zurich – a night on the town
I quite like Zurich. It's a good city to visit - just the right size. Never mind the smell of money.
Time travelling in Carcassonne
La Cité in Carcassonne, a perfectly preserved, living and breathing medieval city, perched on top of a hill. A fairy-tale! Love at first sight.