Europe stretches from Russia in the north to Greece in the south, west to the Azores and east to Russia again. Forty-eight countries in all, there is enormous diversity.
The countries of Western Europe are prosperous and stable, while some of the Central and Eastern European states are shaking off the memory of Communism and enjoying the benefits of EU membership, welcoming tourists to their under-discovered cities, beaches and ski resorts.
Europe's capitals are jewel-like, each one more spectacular than the next. Paris is the City of Lights, the most beautiful and romantic capital; stately Vienna was the centre of the Habsburg Empire for more than 600 years; red-roofed Prague the city of a hundred spires and medieval Krakow, once royal capital of Poland.
The continent offers a wealth of holiday ideas: touring the Burren in Ireland, viewing the Northern Lights in Norway or Sweden, skiing in France or Switzerland or lying on the beach in Spain or Portugal.
The rise of the low-cost airline has helped to make Europe more accessible. Airlines offering cheap flights to Europe have opened up countries, revealed little-known tourist gems, and allowed people to live in one state and work in another.
Search and compare: cheap flights to Europe
