I grew up in Europe, where the history comes from.

- Eddie Izzard

 

The 50 countries who host both the largest and smallest nations in the world.

  • Austria

    I really feel great in Austria, I love my home and Vienna is just the best place to be.

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina

    I am hopeful that no one will forget what happened in Bosnia.

  • Bulgaria

    Bulgaria is a fascinating, beautiful, difficult country, and I fell in love with it.

  • Croatia

    Croatia has been glorious - it's so beautiful, and I want to go back as often as I can.

  • Czech Republic

    The Czech Republic are coming from behind in more than one way now.

  • Denmark

    Denmark is like a secret little place with its own special language.

  • Estonia

    Creating a new country from scratch has given Estonia the license to imagine what a country could be.

  • France

    I wanted to get far away from those who believed in cruelty, so then I went to France, a land of true freedom, democracy, equality and fraternity.

  • Finland

    My favourite country is Finland because once you get to a certain point, you can drive for hours without seeing a single person.

  • Germany

    Germany has become a country that many people abroad associate with hope.

  • Greece

    In many ways we are all sons and daughters of ancient Greece

  • Hungary

    In Hungary all native music, in its origin, is divided naturally into melody destined for song or melody for the dance.

  • Iceland

    I would like to go to Iceland to see the northern lights.

  • Ireland

    We may have bad weather in Ireland, but the sun shines in the hearts of the people and that keeps us all warm.

  • Italy

    You may have the universe if I may have Italy.

  • Ladonia

    People love Ladonia because it is a system of government that they chose; it's not an accident of birth. We share a vision for the world that we want to build together.

  • Latvia

    Latvia!

  • Liechtenstein

    Why is America the last best hope of Earth? What if it's Liechtenstein? Or, worse, Canada?

  • Lithuania

    And finally, the bald man joined in, singing out the national anthem. ‘Lithuania, land of heroes…’

  • Portugal

    I’ve got two places I like to be. Portugal is one

  • Malta

    Malta is the only country in the world where the local delicacy is the bread.

  • Monaco

    I have found serenity at Monaco.

  • Netherlands

    The whole territory of the Netherlands was girt with forests.

  • Norway

    I want to travel. Maybe I'll end up living in Norway, making cakes.

  • Romania

    I can go on forever, Romania is so beautiful!

  • Russia

    Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.

  • Serbia

    Serbia is open for business.

  • Slovakia

    I don't think falling in love in Slovakia is much different from falling in love in Tunbridge Wells.

  • Spain

    Barcelona is a great city and Spain is a great country to live in.

  • Sweden

    There’s something I love about how stark the contrast is between January and June in Sweden.

  • Switzerland

    It's tough to find a place not to like in Switzerland.

  • Ukraine

    I promise everyone who comes to Ukraine can see a beautiful country.

  • United Kingdom

    The four home nations that make up our United Kingdom are bound together by historic links. We have, and always will be, better together.

Read the latest European Adventures…

Sweden Sebastian Shaw Sweden Sebastian Shaw

Gothenburg

Gothenburg is Sweden's second city, with a suburban population creeping above one million, it crams a lot into a small space. Also known as lilla London, due to its climate, and historic connection to London it is the home of Volvo, a hub for music and a city edged on one side by the water and islands of the archipelago and on the other by the forests of Bohus.

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Malung

Known for generations for its leather, Malung is still the place to go for leatherwork in the middle of Sweden. More stores are a little outside of the town, but it's easy to find them, just follow the main road north.

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Glanshammar

This charming spot, home to a close-knit community of around 727 inhabitants, offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Don't let its size fool you, though. Glanshammar may be small, but it's brimming with a unique character that's sure to leave a lasting impression. As you wander through the locality, you'll be captivated by the serene atmosphere and the friendly locals who call this place home.

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Karlskoga

It's a place where the past and present coexist, where the legacy of the arms manufacturer Bofors still resonates, and where the spirit of Alfred Nobel lives on in the Björkborn Manor.

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Karlstad

Known as the "Sun City" of Sweden, Karlstad is a place where the sun seems to shine a little brighter, and the smiles seem a little warmer. The city is situated on the delta where the Klarälven river meets Lake Vänern, the largest lake in Sweden, providing a picturesque backdrop for your adventures.

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Örebro

The seventh-largest city in Sweden and the seat of Örebro Municipality. The city is beautifully situated on the banks of the Svartån River, offering picturesque views and a tranquil environment. The city's most iconic landmark is the Örebro Castle, a medieval fortification that has stood guard over the city for over 800 years.

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Jönköping

Sat on the southern tip of Vattern, Sweden's second-largest lake, the city of Jönköping has a population just shy of 100,000 people. The common suffix in Swedish towns of Köping means a trading centre, and Jön is from a nearby creek. For over a hundred years, Jönköping was known for its matchstick industry, producing the first safety matches as early as 1845, and the legacy lives on in its museum and craftwork area.

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Ystad

With under 20,000 people, it is surprising how far Ystad goes back. Founded in the 11th century as a herring fishing village it remains a popular tourist spot and a busy ferry port, as well as the site of Kurt Mankell's books about Kurt Wallander.

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Skanör

On the coast, facing the bridge across to Copenhagen, Skanör is a popular destination for tourists in good weather, offering white sand beaches, reasonable waves and nice weather. The area has a history that stretches back to the Middle Ages. It was home to herring fishing in the local area markets which caused Skanör to become a thriving trading place during the 13th century.

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Lund

Lund was founded around the year 990 by a Danish king, probably Sven Tveskägg.

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Sälen

The second-largest Ski resort in Sweden, beaten only by Åre in the north. Sälen has four separate areas, all included in the same ski-pass. The area around Sälen does have one or two other privately run ski resorts, so it's worth double checking any bookings you make for accommodation or rental that they are near one of the four Ski Star Sälen locations.

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Hemavan

Not really a town so much as a shopping mall with a collection of accommodation and ski options, Hemavan sits on Bluvågen and acts as either the start or end of the trail.

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Ammarnäs

Ammarnäs, a village tucked away in Sweden's Västerbotten County, is a gateway to the wild. It's a place where the Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve, one of Europe's largest protected areas, is just a stone's throw away.

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Adolfström

Adolfström is a small village, but one focused on fishing and hiking and has a few options for staying overnight and a small store.

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Jäkkvik

A small village in the middle of the King's Trail, Jäkkvik has a supermarket, a hostel, a Chapel, and a few modern new build homes and in winter access to a small ski slope.

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Kvikkjokk

On the King's Trail, a silver mining town, Kvikkjokk is your first contact with civilization since starting the trail in Abisko. A Mountain Station, Church and a few homes are all Kvikkkokk offers other than its setting's beauty.

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Öland

Öland has been inhabited since 8,000 BCE by Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers, who crossed the ice that sometimes forms on the Kalmar Straight. As a result, it feels old but tamed in a way much of Sweden does not. Its smaller landmass and heavily farmed spaces make it feel a little like the English countryside. Still, then occasionally you travel past standing stones in a farmers field, giving you a brief glimpse into its uniquely Scandinavian history.

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Kalmar

Kalmar gets its name from the word "kalm", a collection of stones, something found in large quantities on both the land and waters around Kalmar. It is first mentioned in writings from the beginning of the 13th century. However, archaeological evidence of a city wall, monastery, Church and courthouse from the 12th Century show it was a thriving community.

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Aspö

A small island, a short distance off the southern tip of Karlskrona, Aspö is part of the archipelago and home to under five hundred, though this population swells in the summer months. With an hourly car ferry from the mainland, Aspö is well served. A single ICA sits on the island offering basic necessities year-round with a few cafes, a restaurant in the Fortress and many artist's galleries opening in the summer months.

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Lyckeby

Hidden in a field behind a shopping outlet, Lyckå Slottsruin is a small but impressive reminder of a Danish border castle. The ruin was renovated in 2014 to prevent further decay, although the renovations are somewhat obnoxiously modern.

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