Europe

On the other hand, tourists visit Ireland for many reasons, but the best of which is to go see Dublin. Dublin is a busy yet less polluted city compared with most other cities in the UK. In the suburbs you still get to see castles that have not changed over the centuries. English is spoken in Dublin, but there are still a big number of Gaelic speakers within and outside the city. One of the best universities in the world is found in Dublin-- Trinity College. It is a sight all to itself. Built by the British in 1592, Trinity College has educated the Irish elite such as Jonathan Swift, Thomas Moore, Oscar Wilde, Samuel Becket, among others, for centuries. There are rail lines and bus routes that link Dublin with the rest of Irish cities. The electric DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) connects the city to the suburbs.

Europe is diverse as it is similar. Western Europe was once bound by a common history so was all of Eastern Europe. This has never been truer than today with the existence of European Union (EU).

Europe's climate is a contrast of warm and cold. The continent covers more than 4 million square miles so it's not surprising that some parts overlap with that of Asia.

Western Europe isn't just about cobbled streets and ancient ruins. This side of the continent has always been at the center of fashion, art, and music. The old city of Rome in Italy, for example, teems of historical landmarks such as The Forum Romanum. The remains stand between the Capitol, the Coliseum, and the Palatine.

There are as many ways of getting around Rome. You can travel by bus or a rented car, but the best way is by walking. The nice thing about taking the metro train in Rome, though, is that it has only two color-coded lines (red and blue). But before riding a bus and the train you should have a validated ticket. If you are caught without a validated ticket you get fined for 51.65 Euros.

Italy

The Italian Republic, is a country situated in the Italian Peninsula in southern Europe and on two islands in the Mediterranean Sea, which are Sicily and Sardinia. It shares borders with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. San Marino and Vatican City are two independent states that are enclaves within the Italian Peninsula while the Campione d'Italia is an Italian exclave located in Switzerland.
Italy is the nation that is considered the cradle of various European cultures and peoples such as Romans and Etruscans.

Cyprus

The Republic of Cyprus (aka Southern Cyprus) is the third largest island in the Mediterranean. One of the most popular destinations for tourists in the area, it is located north of Egypt, east of Greece, south of Turkey, and west of Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. The Republic of Cyprus is one of the advanced economies in the region and has been a member of the European Union since May 1, 2004. Formerly a colony of Great Britain, Cyprus gained its independence in 1960. For 11 years from 1963 up to 1974, there were sporadic conflicts between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots

Russia

As of 2007, it was estimated that 141 million people live in Russia with a growth rate of -.5%. There have been around 160 ethnic groups that comprise the Russian population. Around 79.8% of the total population is Russian, while the rest is composed of minorities such as Tatar, Ukrainian, Bashkir, Chuvash, and other unspecified ethnicities.
There are three major languages spoken in Russia. First is the Russian language, which is considered to be the official state language, followed by Tatar and German. According to census studies, Russia holds a 100% literacy rate as of 2003.

Georgia

Georgia has had very troubled times in history. Like other countries that used to have a communist government, they had a time of economic crisis and civil unrest. The Rose Revolution then took place and through good leadership, helped the country regain what it had lost including hastening its economic growth. Today, it is not only known for its fine tasting wine and scenic mountain spots, but Georgia has also become one of the countries with a thriving nightlife that could compete in style and class internationally.

Ireland

Ireland, which derives its name from the Celtic goddess Eire, is one of the most prominent countries in Europe in terms of rich historical background, cultures, people, and tourism. Lying to the northwest of continental Europe, it is the third largest island in Europe and the 20th largest island in the world. The Republic of Ireland is the sovereign state of Ireland, which covers five-sixths of the island while the remaining part is Northern Ireland, which is under the United Kingdom rule. Its capital is Belfast.

Greece

Greece (the Hellenic Republic) is situated in the southeastern region of Europe with bordering countries of Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey. With modern day Greece having her roots set deeply in Ancient Greece, the country is noted as a nurturing center for the development of the western civilization. The official language in Greece is Greek, although due to the high influx of tourists on an annual basis many young Greeks are multi lingual speaking two, three or even four other languages. The local currency in Greece is the Euro, and the capital city is Athens.

Portugal

In Southwestern Europe, the Portuguese Republic is located on the western side of the Iberian Peninsula. With a strategic position between Spain and the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal became a world power in the 15th century by setting up ocean routes to India, Brazil, China and Japan, with settlements on both African coasts.
The richness and diversity of its culture reflect the exposure to so many different civilizations.

Switzerland

Switzerland (Swiss Confederation) is a federal republic and is known for its neutrality. It has not participated in any war since 1815. Because of this, a lot of neutral organizations can be found here such as the Red Cross, the World Trade Organization and one of the two European offices of the United Nations. It also houses the largest laboratory, CERN, which can be found in Geneva.
It is a federation of 26 states that are referred to as cantons, with Bern as its seat of federal authorities.

Netherlands

The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a country with a lively mix of tradition and fast-paced lifestyle. The Dutch have good sense of humor; enjoy life to the fullest, and are known for their tolerance and enthusiasm despite their country's strait-laced and interesting past. The country provides fun and excitement to its visitors. Much of the Netherlands lies below sea level, yet a great deal of its land mass comes from reclaiming the sea. Overall, the country is considerably flat.

Germany

The Federal Republic of Germany is the largest country in Central Europe in both population and size. It is bordered to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic, to the south by Austria and Switzerland, to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands, and to the north by the Baltic Sea, Denmark, and the North Sea. It has a temperate seasonal climate over a territory of 137,847 square miles.

United Kingdom

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or more commonly known as just "the UK," is a sovereign state that can be found on the northwestern coast of Europe. It is an island country that is spread over an archipelago that includes Great Britain and the northeastern part of Ireland as well as many other islands. Northern Ireland is part of the UK while the other half is the Republic of Ireland. Aside from this country, UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, Irish Sea, and the English Channel.

Romania

Romania is a country located north of the Balkan Peninsula in the southeastern and central part of Europe. It is bordered by Hungary and Serbia to its west, Ukraine to the northeast and Bulgaria to its south.
Among the European Union member states, it is the ninth largest in terms of territory and seventh in terms of population. Its capital is Bucharest, which is also the country's largest city. This city also happens to be the sixth largest in the European Union with 1.9 million people.

Macedonia

Located in the southern portion of Europe, The Republic of Macedonia is a very beautiful country. When visiting this country bear in mind the beautiful churches, monasteries, and amazing mosques, all of which are worth visiting. Macedonia is rich in natural resources. The terrain of this country is composed of several upland areas and water bodies. There are 16 mountains in the country, two of which are the Dinaric and Rhodope ranges. There are also centuries-old lakes and streams interspersed all within the country.

Finland

Finland is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. It borders Sweden on the west, Russia on the east, and Norway on the north, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland. The capital city is Helsinki.
It is the eighth largest country in Europe in terms of area yet the most sparsely populated country in the European Union. Finland is a democratic, parliamentary republic with a mostly Helsinki-based central government and local governments in 348 municipalities.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg, or more officially known as the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a small country found in western Europe. It is surrounded by Belgium, Germany, and France. It is a parliamentary representative democracy with a constitutional monarchy that is ruled by its Grand Duke. Luxembourg is the only remaining country in the world that has a sovereign Grand Duchy.
It is a highly developed and industrialized country and has the highest Gross Domestic Product per capita in the world.

liechtenstein

Located in Western Europe, The Principality of Liechtenstein is bordered by Switzerland to the west and by Austria to the east. Total area is approximately 62 square miles. The estimated population is 35,000. The capital city is Vaduz while the biggest city is Schaan.
The form of government of Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy with 11 municipalities. It is reputed among countries as a winter sports destination since much of its terrain is mountainous.

Lithuania

Lithuania is in Northern Europe, the southernmost of the three Baltic states. Situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, it shares borders with Latvia to the north, Belarus to the southeast, Poland and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad to the southwest.
During the 14th century, Lithuania was the largest country in Europe. In 1569, Poland and Lithuania formed a new state, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth that lasted more than two centuries, until neighboring countries systematically dismantled it from 1772 to 1795.

Moldova

The Republic of Moldova is a small easternEuropean country surrounded by Romania on the west and Ukraine to the south, north and east. The republic was held captive by the Russian empire and later was unified with Romania in the year 1918. It was captured by the Soviet Union in 1940.
Moldova has a parliamentary form of government. The President is the titular head of state while the Prime Minister is the head of government. Its Parliament is unicameral and holds one hundred and one members.

San Marino

The Most Serene Republic of San Marino is the third smallest state in the country of Europe ranking after Monaco and the Vatican. San Marino is one of the most sought after destinations inEurope and welcomes 2.2 million visitors every year. This country claims to be the world's oldest republic, which was said to be founded in 301 AD by a man named Marinus who was a stonemason. The country's policy is aligned with Italy. San Marino is one of the tourists' most favorite day-trip destinations, which is why its tourism has been booming in the past years.

Albania

Albania is in southeastern Europe, bordered byGreece to the southeast, Montenegro to the north, Kosovo to the northeast, and Macedonia to the east. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the west and on the Ionian Sea to the southwest. It is less than 45 miles from Italy.
Albania's vast cultural heritage ranges from the Greek, Roman, Serbian, Venetian and Ottoman empires. Archaeologists today are finding remains from all periods, from the Stone Age to the early Christian era.

Malta

The Republic of Malta is an archipelago consisting of seven groups of islands. The country has road sides that are characterized by magnificent and historic cathedrals built during the Renaissance period. The country's baroque palaces are testaments of great architectural geniuses among its citizenry during the olden days. Malta is located in the southern region of the European continent. Its neighboring countries are Sicily to the south, Tunisia to the east, and Libya to the north.

Located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, Spain is a country bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea; to the north byFrance, Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay; to the northwest by the Atlantic Ocean; and to the west by Portugal.
Spain is the second largest country in WesternEurope after France, and the 51st largest country in the world with an area of 195,364 square miles. Its territory includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, and two autonomous cities Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa.
This country has always been a major source of influence to its neighboring countries and in its territories since prehistoric times until the Modern Era. Its form of government today is a democracy organized in a parliament and under a constitutional monarchy.
Spain, whose name derives from the word "Hispania", an ancient Roman name for Iberia, is a developed country with the ninth largest nominal gross domestic product. It is currently a member of the United Nations, European Union, NATO, OECD, and WTO.