Europe is a large continent, located to the north of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Arctic Ocean, and east of Atlantic Ocean. The exact borders of Europe are difficult to define and the continent is often considered to include the Russian Federation.

The European Union was established in 1992 to encourage a single market and currency, being made up of 25 different member states. As a result, the Euro has become the single currency for more than 12 countries, eliminating the need for exchange rates.

The continent of Europe contains many of the world's leading countries and capitals cities, such as London in England, Paris in France, Berlin in Germany, Athens in Greece, Rome in Italy, and Madrid in Spain.

An important republic in the heart of Europe, Austria is bordered by many countries, lying to the south of both Germany and the Czech Republic, west of Slovakia and Hungary, north of Italy and Slovenia, and east of Switzerland.

Although the official language in Austria is German, many other local dialects exist, including both Croatian and Slovenian. The capital of Austria is Vienna, one of nine different states that make up the country.

Belgium is a low-lying country, located in Western Europe, on the southern side of the North Sea. Surrounded by the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg to the east, and France to the west, Belgium is a diverse country where Dutch, German and French are all spoken freely.

Known for its waterways, maritime climate and large port in the city of Antwerp, Brussels is the capital, standing in the very heart of Belgium.

The Channel Islands are a small group of islands, positioned in the English Channel, slightly to the northwest of France and south of England.

The main islands that are inhabited include Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Brecqhou, Herm, Jethou, Lihou and Sark. By far the biggest of the Channel Islands, both Guernsey and Jersey are major tourist destinations, featuring two busy ports, and a range of unspoilt beaches and coastline.

The Republic of Croatia is edged by the Adriatic Sea and many important countries, including Slovenia and Hungary to the north, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro to the east.

With two defined regions, Croatia is a distinctive crescent shape and features a varied terrain, with rolling hills, large lakes, wooded mountains and national parks. Zagreb is both Croatia's capital and largest city, sitting between the Sava River and the Medvednica mountain.

Cyprus is an island country situated on the southern side of Europe, where it is the third biggest island in the Mediterranean Sea. On the eastern side of the Mediterranean, Cyprus is close to Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Israel and Egypt.

To the far northwest you will also find Greece, connected by regular flights and ferries. Cyprus is divided into six main districts, with Nicosia being the capital. Other notable cities include Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos.

Surrounded by many large countries, the Czech Republic lies to the west of both Poland and Slovakia, north of Austria, and east of Germany. The Czech Republic contains many low mountains, and the Morava River.

With a typically temperate climate and warm summers, the Czech Republic has become a popular tourist hotspot in recent years. Prague is Czech's capital city and full of historic landmarks, including an ancient castle.

The Kingdom of Denmark is a notable country in northwestern Europe, directly north of Germany. Denmark is located on the Jutland peninsula and is the most southerly of the Nordic countries, and also the smallest.

Enclosed on three sides by the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, Denmark sits to the west of Sweden and south of Norway. Denmark includes a number of small islands, with the capital of Copenhagen on the eastern isle of Zealand.

The country of England is the biggest and most southerly region of the United Kingdom and Great Britain. Scotland stands to the north and Wales to the north west, with water encircling much of England, including the North Sea to the east, English Channel to the south, and Irish Sea to the west.

Famous throughout the world, London is England's capital and known for being the home of the Royal family, featuring many magnificent architectural wonders, including the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace.

Estonia is a Baltic country lying on the southeastern side of the Gulf of Finland, directly west of the Russian Federation and north of Latvia. Sweden is also nearby, being separated by the Baltic Sea, on Finland's eastern shore.

The country is divided into 15 large counties, with the official language being Estonian. Tallinn is the noteworthy capital, a beautiful city on the northern coastline of Estonia, listed as a World Heritage Site.

The Republic of Finland is one of the famed Nordic countries, sitting in the Baltic Sea, to the west of Russia, east of Sweden and south of Norway. Estonia is situated directly south of Finland, separated by the Gulf of Finland.

With more than 180,000 large lakes and a number of nearby islands and islets, Finland is a particularly beautiful country. Helsinki is both the capital and largest city, occupying an area of the southern shore of Finland.

A country overflowing with history, culture and many truly breathtaking buildings and palaces, France is arguably home to some of Europe's most appealing countryside, acclaimed vineyards and important art galleries.

Sited in Western Europe, much of France is surrounded by the North Sea, English Channel and Atlantic Ocean, with Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Italy to the east, and Spain to the southwest. Paris is France's capital city.

Located in central Europe, the Federal Republic of Germany is bounded to the north by the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. The countries of Denmark, Poland and the Czech Republic lie directly east of Germany, with Austria, Italy and Switzerland to the south, and France, Belgium and the Netherlands to the west.

Following the country's reunification in 1990, Germany has changed greatly, particularly in economic terms and tourist appeal. Berlin is Germany's famous capital city and is noted for its cultural attractions, with more than 150 museums and art galleries, over 50 theatres and three impressive opera houses.

Officially known as the Hellenic Republic, Greece enjoys a southeasterly position in Europe, featuring one of the longest coastlines in the world.

Much of mainland Greece is a peninsula, although the country also encompasses around 3,000 different islands. Athens is the capital and full of history.

A landlocked country in the centre of Europe, the Republic of Hungary is edged by numerous countries, including Austria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Ukraine. Hungary enjoys a surprisingly mild continental climate and is split into two main regions by the Danube River.

Budapest is Hungary's capital city and sits on the northern side. The country's political and cultural centre, Budapest is famed for its shopping.

Ireland is the third-biggest island in the whole of Europe and is sandwiched by both the Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Officially known as the Republic of Ireland, this state is made up of around five-sixths of the main island.

Dublin is the official capital of Ireland and a particularly vibrant city, located on the eastern coast and separated into two regions by the River Liffey.

The Isle of Man is a small island that lies between England, Ireland and Scotland, in the Irish Sea. Although the Isle of Man is part of the British Isles, despite its location, it is actually separate from the United Kingdom.

Divided into six main regions - Ayre, Glenfaba, Garff, Michael, Rushen and Middle areas, Douglas is the Isle of Man's capital city. Further surrounding islands include the Calf of Man, St. Michael's Isle and St. Patrick's Isle.

Occupying an enviable location in Southern Europe, the country of Italy consists of a long peninsula, lying to the east of the Tyrrhenian Sea, west of the Adriatic Sea and north of the Ionian Sea. Italy also includes many islands, of which Sardinia (west) and Sicily (south) are the most notable.

Rome is the capital city of Italy and contains numerous spectacular remains and ruins, many of which date back almost 3,000 years.

Comprising seven main islands in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, the Republic of Malta is located to the south of Italy's isle of Sicily. Tunisia lies to the west of the Republic of Malta and Libya to the south.

Malta is home to a busy port in Valletta, the capital of Malta, which contains a number of important historic buildings. To the north, Gozo is a significant island in the Maltese archipelago, although smaller than the main isle.

On the western side of Europe, the Netherlands can be found to the west of Germany and north of Belgium, sitting alongside the North Sea. Much of the Netherlands is flat, standing below sea level and featuring many famous dykes.

Often known as Holland, the Netherlands features a dense population. Amsterdam is the capital city, while The Hague is the seat of local government.

Northern Ireland is a province of the United Kindom, occupying the northeasterly area of Ireland, covering around one-sixth of the overall island.

The country of Northern Ireland consists of six separate counties, Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone. Belfast is Northern Ireland's capital city and straddles the border of County Antrim and County Down.

On the western side of Sweden, the country of Norway sits directly to the north of both Denmark and Germany, being separated by the Skagerrak inlet of the North Sea. Much of Norway is fairly rugged, featuring a particularly mountainous landscape, with Norwegian being country's official language.

Norway is divided into 19 main counties. Oslo is the bustling capital of Norway and the biggest city, with around 40 islands nearby.

An important and scenic country in Central Europe, Poland is bordered by Germany and the Czech Republic to the west, Slovakia to the south, Balarus and Ukraine to the east, and Lithuania and part of Russia to the north. The Baltic Sea also lies on the northern side of Poland, separating nearby Sweden.

Warsaw is Poland's capital city, divided by the Vistula River and dominated by the large Royal Castle, a historic cathedral and many modern skyscrapers.

The Portuguese Republic is situated on the western side of Europe's Iberian Peninsula, being bounded by Spain on both the north and east sides. The Atlantic Ocean exists on Portugal's western coastline. Portugal also includes the Azores and Madeira islands. Lisbon is Portugal's capital city.

Russia is officially known as the Russian Federation and is the largest country is the world. Occupying such an enormous area, Russia is edged by many notable countries, including Norway, Finland, Estonia, Poland, China and Mongolia.

Although Russia is a European country, the eastern side is often considered to be located in Asia. Moscow is Russia's spectacular capital city, containing many superb structures, including Saint Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin.

The country of Scotland resides in the northernmost part of Great Britain and the United Kingdom, with England directly to the south.

Scotland contains numerous islands on the west and north shores, including the Hebrides, Orkneys and Shetlands. Whilst Edinburgh is the capital, nearby Glasgow is actually the biggest city in Scotland.

Spain is a large country, known for its history, cultural appeal and cuisine. Mainland Spain is edged by France to the east and Portugal to the west. Spain's noteworthy Balearic Islands, including Ibiza, Menorca and Mallorca, lie on the eastern coast, while the popular beaches of the Canary Islands can be found to the far southwest. Madrid is Spain's capital, a lively and diverse city.

Part of Scandinavia, the Kingdom of Sweden sits directly to the east of Norway and west of Finland, the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea.

The southwestern side of Sweden is linked to nearby Denmark by the stunning Oresund Bridge. Stockholm is Sweden's largest city and the capital, with the city of Gothenburg being second in size.

Switzerland is a landlocked country in the heart of Europe, skirted by France, Italy, German and Austria. Due to its location, locals in Switzerland speak several different languages, including French, German and Italian.

Famed for its Alpine scenery and mountainous landscape, Switzerland also contains a number of large lakes and rivers, including the Rhine River. Switzerland's capital is Berne, although the city of Zurich is considerably larger.

The Republic of Turkey sits on the Anatolian peninsula, in southeastern Europe, bordering eight countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Iraq and Syria. Turkey is also fringed by the Aegean Sea, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Marmara.

Turkey features a varied terrain of mountainous and coastal areas, split into seven main areas. Ankara is Turkey's capital city, whilst Istanbul is bigger.

A principality of the United Kingdom, Wales is a beautiful country, known for its magnificent countryside, valleys and mountains. Wales is sited to the west of central England. The Irish Sea lies directly to the west, and the Bristol Channel to the south of Wales, connected to England by the Severn Bridge.

Cardiff is the capital of Wales and is an exciting city. Other notable parts of Wales include Aberystwyth, Newport, Swansea and the Isle of Anglesey.