Europe

There are 44 countries in Europe, divided up into four regions; Western Europe, Northern Europe, Eastern Europe and Southern Europe.

You may be surprised to know that Europe is actually the second smallest continent in the world after Australia. Europe has a landmass that covers 6.8% of the world, clocking in at 10.18 million kilometers squared.

In terms of pure landmass, Europe is ever so slightly smaller than the USA, covering just 0.4 million square miles more. That means that all the states of the US would be able to fit within the continent.

Many people think that Russia is the largest country in Europe. While it is true that Russia is the largest country in the world, it actually spans across two continents, with its landmass shared by both Europe and Asia. This means that the biggest country in Europe, where the landmass is located entirely on the one continent, is Ukraine, with France clocking in in second place.

If you are wandering the stunning streets of Rome, you may not even notice when you stumble into an entirely new country. Vatican City, located within the city of Rome, is a country in its own right, and home to the famous Sistine Chapel. Vatican City covers 0.44 kilometers squared, so it is seriously tiny! The second smallest country in Europe is Monaco, covering a grand total of 1.95 kilometers squared.

Tipping standards vary from country to country. In some European destinations, tipping is sometimes included on the bill as standard, whereas in other locations, a 5-10% tip is normally customary and welcomed.

Absolutely! Snow is not an uncommon sight in Europe, most especially in the winter. Some countries, such as Norway and Sweden, can have snow all year round to their north extremities. Otherwise, countries throughout Europe such as Austria, Poland and Germany, will typically see snowfall in the winter months. In Southern countries, such as Italy, snowfall is typically rare.

In terms of official languages, there are 24 used in Europe, with the most prevalent being English, then German, and then followed by French. However there are an estimated two hundred plus languages spoken in total between different communities and nationalities within the continent.