THINGS YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW
Want to learn some really cool facts about Europe? You’ve come to the right place. This list I’ve compiled is full of fascinating information to inspire European travel and experiences to enrich your life.
Europe is a super-popular destination for travellers and holiday makers, with millions of visitors flocking to countries here each year. I travel to Europe regularly, so I’m always learning new and wonderful things.
If you love Europe like I do, or are planning a trip there, or just have an interest in the countries of this exciting continent, you are sure to learn something new from my list of cool facts about Europe.
These random bits of information and trivia I have found are not only fun and interesting, but some are quite unbelievable
One thing I hope is that they will help create inspiration for European travel.
So let’s jump into these cool European facts, many you may not know.
1. San Marino is the world’s oldest existing republic, founded in 301 CE.
2. Luxembourg is the wealthiest country in Europe and the world with the highest GDP per capita.
5. The Lærdal Tunnel in Norway, measuring 24.5 km in length, is the longest road tunnel in the world, and takes 20 mins to drive through.
6. Vatican City is the smallest country in Europe and the world, with an area of only 121 acres.
7. The micro-country of Andorra has NO airport or train. Bus, car or helicopter are the only travel options for visitors to get into the country. Andorra-La Seu is the nearest airport, in Catalonia, Spain. If you’re planning a trip, check the website.
8. The Netherlands is the land of windmills, of which there used to be 9,000 throughout the country. Today there are 1,200 of them, many of which are inhabited.
9. The Euro currency is only used by 20 out of the 27 countries of the European Union. The other countries have their own currencies in use. You can refer to this website.
10. The longest river in Europe is the Volga River in Russia which is 3,700 km long.
11. King Charlemagne (748 – 814) was the first Holy Roman Emperor and is considered the Father of Europe for his military accomplishments.
12. The Danube River runs through 10 European countries, from Germany to Romania.
13. Bulgaria is the oldest country name in Europe. It has kept the same name since the year 681.
14. Several countries in Europe have deserts to explore, both arid and semi-arid. You can visit the deserts in Spain, Italy, Serbia, Romania and even Iceland, which all have areas without any plant life and thus are uninhabitable.
15. The fastest train operating in Europe is Deutsche Bahn’s Intercity-Express 3 in Germany which travels at a speed of 320 km.
16. In Eastern European countries Marshrutka is a public van or mini-bus service, similar to a shared taxi, which you hail on set routes, and privately owned.
17. The Cathedral Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain has been under construction for more than 130 years. It is due to be completed in 2026.
18. There are 12 European countries with monarchies today – Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Monaco, Spain, Andorra, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Liechtenstein, Belgium, the UK and finally, Vatican City. Note, 10 are hereditary and 2 are elective.
19. Europe is renowned for its castles, with more than other continents. But it is tricky defining how many there are, as some are just ruins. Countries with thousands of castles are Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Ireland and Wales. Check this list of castles in Europe.
20. Netherlands is home to more bicycles (22 million) than people (18 million), especially in Amsterdam, where they are the main form of transport. Be sure to bring your lycra.
21. It is forbidden to make noise on Sundays in Switzerland, due to it being a rest day. So, if you are here on a Sunday, no mowing, vacuuming, drilling, etc. or you could be in a bit of trouble.
22. St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Rome, Italy is the largest church in Europe, constructed in the 16th century, and can hold 60,000 people.
23. The longest town name in Europe is Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch in Wales, of 58 letters.
24. Basque is thought to be the oldest language still spoken in Europe. The Basque region borders Spain and France.
25. The Alps stretch across 8 countries in Europe – Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Slovenia.
26. France, Italy and Spain are the biggest wine-producing countries in Europe and make up 70% of the wine production in the world.
27. The names of many villages in Northern Europe are just a single letter. For example, in Lofoten Islands, Norway there is a place called Å; in northern Sweden Ö is the name of a tiny village; and Ø is the name of a place in Jutland, Denmark.
28. Europe’s largest train station is in Berlin, Germany. The Hauptbahnhof is modern, enormous and looks like an airport.
29. The oldest Pub in Europe is believed to be Sean’s Bar in Athlone, Ireland from the year 900. However, research is still underway.
30. Albania is full of round concrete bunkers, built to protect the people from the threat of invasion in the Cold War era. Some are now used for various purposes, such as museums which you can visit, others left abandoned.
31. Moldova is the least visited country in Europe, perfect if you want to travel off-the-beaten-path and avoid crowds of tourists. It’s also the most budget-friendly in Europe.
32. If you’re into forests, the country of Finland is a forest-lover’s haven with 75% coverage, more than other countries in Europe.
33. The ‘House of The People’ palace in Bucharest, Romania, is the largest parliament building in the world at 360,000 square metres.
34. Most of the autobahn road system in Germany has no speed limit posted, but in general, driving at a limit of 130km is advised.
35. European countries each have their own traditional or national dress / costume which inspire national pride and celebrate cultural heritage. They are mostly worn on special occasions / events / festivals.
36. Bergen in Norway is the wettest city of Europe, with the highest average rainfall.
37. Paris, France has a Statue of Liberty, located on the little island, Île aux Cygnes. It is a quarter of the size of the one in USA.
38. Romania has the tallest sculpture in Europe standing at 55m high, along the Danube River, near the city of Orsova. The Rock Sculpture of Decebalus, is an enormous face carved out of rock, of the last King of Dacia.
39. Europe has more than 400 UNESCO World Heritage Sites to visit. Italy is the country with the most UNESCO sites in the world, currently at 60. Cordoba in Spain is the city with the most UNESCO sites in the world at 4.
40. Hungary is the land of thermal spas, rich in minerals, with more than 1,300 in Budapest alone, making for a rich wellness and spa culture in the country.
41. Berlin in Germany has the most street art in Europe.
42. The longest bridge in Europe is the Vasco da Gama in Lisbon, Portugal, spanning more than 17,000m.
43. Pule is a type of cheese in Serbia made mostly of Balkan donkey milk and is the most expensive cheese in the world costing 1,000 euros per kilo.
44. Wroclaw in Poland has more than 800 different statues of dwarfs located all around the city for people to find.
45. Reykjavic in Iceland has the lowest crime rate by far in all of Europe.
46. Stonehenge is the oldest tourist attraction in Europe, a prehistoric monument 5,000 years old, located in Wiltshire, England.
47. Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, Russia is unique for its 11 chapels inside.
48. The number of museums you can visit in Europe is staggering. There are more than 30,000 different types of museums / art galleries. London is the city with the most museums at 238. The Paris Louvre is the biggest museum in the world. Rome has the oldest museum, Capitoline, since 1471.
49. The cleanest country in the world is in Europe. Estonia has earned that honour, with the greenest cities, cleanest air, less litter and the lowest emissions.
50. Slovenia is famous for its many caves, about 8,000 of them, the largest and most visited is Postojna.
That’s a wrap, for now.
I hope you’ve learned some new facts about Europe and perhaps gained some inspiration for future travels to this diverse and fascinating continent.
Ciao.
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9 Comments
Lots of things I didn’t know here, even as a European!
Loving all the facts here and many I did not know about especially that Germany has the most zoos in the world or that the names of many villages in Northern Europe are just a single letter.
What a wonderful list of facts about Europe! Super interesting to read!
This is really cool and I am pinning this one to come back to. So many fun facts!
This was such a fun read. I didn’t know so many of these. 400 zoos is a HUGE amount for one country.
Europe is gorgeous…I’ve been to many countries in Europe and loved every one of these trips…The food, the culture…Every country has something unique to offer, I love it.
Europe feels like it has so much more going on then America! Thank you for sharing these interesting facts.
I didn’t know the exact number of windmills in Netherlands when I visited the country. Enjoyed reading your post.
Wow this is absolutely so astounding! I can’t get enough of Europe, and I’m just so looking forward to be able to travel there again!