European Countries and Their Capitals: Complete List
All 48 European countries and capitals in one list, organized by region β with curious facts, the mistakes quiz players make most, and a Europe quiz to test yourself.
European Countries and Their Capitals
Europe packs 48 countries and territories into a relatively small landmass β more than any other continent for its size. Some are among the most visited cities in the world (Paris, Rome, Amsterdam). Others catch even experienced geography enthusiasts off guard (Vaduz? Valletta? Podgorica?).
Western Europe
| Country | Capital | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| France | Paris | β |
| Germany | Berlin | Bonn was the capital until 1990 |
| United Kingdom | London | β |
| Spain | Madrid | Not Barcelona |
| Italy | Rome | Not Milan |
| Portugal | Lisbon | β |
| Netherlands | Amsterdam | The Hague is the seat of government |
| Belgium | Brussels | β |
| Switzerland | Bern | Not Zurich or Geneva |
| Austria | Vienna | β |
| Luxembourg | Luxembourg City | β |
| Liechtenstein | Vaduz | Often forgotten entirely |
Switzerland is the most common Western Europe mistake. Zurich is the financial hub; Geneva is the international diplomacy center; Bern, the "federal city," is where the actual government sits β with a population of only around 130,000.
Northern Europe
| Country | Capital |
|---|---|
| Norway | Oslo |
| Sweden | Stockholm |
| Denmark | Copenhagen |
| Finland | Helsinki |
| Iceland | Reykjavik |
| Ireland | Dublin |
| Estonia | Tallinn |
| Latvia | Riga |
| Lithuania | Vilnius |
| Malta | Valletta |
Reykjavik is the world's northernmost national capital. Valletta is the smallest EU capital city by area, covering just 0.8 kmΒ² β yet it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980.
Eastern Europe
| Country | Capital |
|---|---|
| Poland | Warsaw |
| Czech Republic | Prague |
| Slovakia | Bratislava |
| Hungary | Budapest |
| Romania | Bucharest |
| Bulgaria | Sofia |
| Ukraine | Kyiv |
| Belarus | Minsk |
| Moldova | ChiΘinΔu |
| Serbia | Belgrade |
| Croatia | Zagreb |
| Slovenia | Ljubljana |
| Albania | Tirana |
Budapest is actually two cities merged in 1873: Buda (the hilly western bank of the Danube) and Pest (the flat eastern bank). Kyiv replaced the older "Kiev" spelling following Ukraine's standardization in 2019.
The Balkans & Southeastern Europe
| Country | Capital |
|---|---|
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | Sarajevo |
| Montenegro | Podgorica |
| North Macedonia | Skopje |
| Kosovo | Pristina |
| Greece | Athens |
Podgorica is one of the newest capitals in Europe β Montenegro became independent only in 2006, and the city was called Titograd until 1992. Pristina is newer still: Kosovo declared independence in 2008 and is still not universally recognised.
Europe's Micro-States
| Country | Capital | Notable fact |
|---|---|---|
| Monaco | Monaco | Smallest country with a capital |
| San Marino | San Marino | Oldest republic in the world |
| Vatican City | Vatican City | Smallest country in the world |
| Andorra | Andorra la Vella | Highest capital in Europe (1,023m) |
| Liechtenstein | Vaduz | Only country bordered by two landlocked countries |
Andorra la Vella sits at 1,023 meters above sea level β the highest capital in Europe. Andorra itself is a co-principality co-ruled by the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell (Spain).
Russia and the Transcontinental Question
| Country | Capital | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | Moscow | Spans Europe and Asia; grouped under Europe here |
Russia stretches across both continents, but roughly three-quarters of its population lives on the European side β including Moscow, which sits well west of the Ural Mountains. Cyprusruns the other way: culturally and politically tied to Europe, geographically closer to Asia. In this quiz Cyprus is grouped under Asia, so don't look for Nicosia in the Europe round.
The United Kingdom's Constituent Countries
| Country | Capital | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | Edinburgh | Part of the UK, not a sovereign state |
| Wales | Cardiff | Part of the UK, not a sovereign state |
| Northern Ireland | Belfast | Part of the UK, not a sovereign state |
These three are constituent countries of the United Kingdom rather than independent states, so you will not find them on a list of UN members. They each have their own capital and devolved parliament or assembly, and they appear in this quiz because most people learn them as distinct countries.
Test Your European Capitals
Ready to prove you know all 48? Use the Europe filter in the quiz to play through only European countries β with or without flag hints.
Continue Exploring
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- The Americas' Capitals: Complete Guide
- Oceania's Capitals: Complete Guide
- Complete List of World Capitals
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Europe?
Europe is a continent, not a country, so it has no official capital. Brussels comes closest: it hosts the European Commission, the Council of the EU and part of the European Parliament, which is why it is often called the capital of the European Union. Strasbourg and Luxembourg also host EU institutions.
How many countries are there in Europe?
It depends what you count. This list includes 48, covering sovereign states, Vatican City, Kosovo (partially recognised) and the constituent countries of the United Kingdom. Counting only UN member states brings the figure down to around 44.
What are the capitals of the European Union countries?
The EU has 27 member states: Austria (Vienna), Belgium (Brussels), Bulgaria (Sofia), Croatia (Zagreb), Cyprus (Nicosia), Czech Republic (Prague), Denmark (Copenhagen), Estonia (Tallinn), Finland (Helsinki), France (Paris), Germany (Berlin), Greece (Athens), Hungary (Budapest), Ireland (Dublin), Italy (Rome), Latvia (Riga), Lithuania (Vilnius), Luxembourg (Luxembourg City), Malta (Valletta), Netherlands (Amsterdam), Poland (Warsaw), Portugal (Lisbon), Romania (Bucharest), Slovakia (Bratislava), Slovenia (Ljubljana), Spain (Madrid) and Sweden (Stockholm). The United Kingdom left the EU in 2020.
What is the smallest capital in Europe?
Vatican City, which is both the smallest country and the smallest capital in the world at 0.44 kmΒ². Among EU capitals, Valletta in Malta is the smallest, covering roughly 0.8 kmΒ².
What is the northernmost capital in Europe?
Reykjavik, Iceland, which is also the northernmost national capital in the world.
Which European capitals have changed their name?
Podgorica in Montenegro was called Titograd until 1992. Ukraine standardised the English spelling of its capital from Kiev to Kyiv in 2019. Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, was once a capital but is no longer one β Ankara has held that role since 1923.