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Europe encompasses an area of 10,400,000 km² (4,000,000 square miles), stretching from Asia to the Atlantic, and from Africa to the Arctic. It is one of the world’s seven continents. European countries welcome more than 480 million international visitors per year, more than half of the global market, and 7 of the 10 most visited countries are European nations. It's easy to see why - a well preserved cultural heritage, open borders and efficient infrastructure makes visiting Europe a breeze, and rarely will you have to travel more than a few hours before you can immerse yourself in a new culture, and dive into a different Phrasebook.

History
Europe has a lot of human history packed into it. Starting with ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, the spread of Christianity, the Viking Age, through the Renaissance, to the development of the nation states which explored the world and built global empires (Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, France and the Netherlands), and in the past century the World Wars and the growth of the European Union. In Europe you won't go short on history.

Geography
Europe's longest river is the Volga, which meanders 3,530 km (2,193 miles) through Russia, and flows into the Caspian Sea. Europe's highest point is Russia's Mt. Elbrus, which rises to 5,642 m (18,510 feet) above sea level. Western Europe's highest point is Mont Blanc in the French-Italian Alps, which rises to 4,810 m (15,771 feet) above sea level. Other important high mountain ranges include the Pyrenees between France and Spain and the Carpathians that run through Central Europe to the Balkans. Cyprus is also considered part of Europe.

Climate
Europe's climate ranges from subtropical near the Mediterranean Sea in the south, to subarctic near the Barents Sea and Arctic Ocean in the northern latitudes. There is much here for the traveller to enjoy, with a bewildering array of diversity and languages and culture, cosmopolitan cities and spectacular scenery, let alone some of the leading cities of the world.

Cities
These are the nine most visited European cities, in order of popularity:

• Paris - The capital of romance (and France) on the banks of the Seine
• London - Britain's vibrant and truly multicultural capital
• Istanbul - The only major city to span two continents and a fascinating melting pot of East and West.
• Rome - The eternal city of seven hills and two and a half thousand years of history
• Barcelona - Gaudi's cosmopolitan home on Mediterranean coast
• Moscow - Europe's largest city is famous for its nightlife and the iconic Kremlin
• Prague - Magical city with its renowned bridges spanning the Vltava River
• Athens - The cradle of western civilization is teeming with historic monuments
• Amsterdam - Canals, Rembrandt, hashish and red lanterns, the epicentre of liberal attitudes