Europe Up Close

Belgium Tourist Information

Published/Revised June 20, 2018 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Belgium is one of the smaller countries in continental Europe and the “middle child” of three countries comprising “Benelux” (the others being the Netherlands and Luxembourg). It is an often-overlooked country but many consider it a European gem. Its capital, Brussels, is nicknamed the capital of Europe as it is home to the European Union headquarters. In Brussels one can find a unique blend of ... Read Full Article

Latvia Tourist Information

Published/Revised May 13, 2016 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.

If you want to learn more about Latvia, this post offers comprehensive Latvia tourist information designed to make it easy for you to plan your trip. Latvia is the middle of the three Baltic republics that gained independence after the fall of the Soviet Union. It is bordered by Estonia to the north, Russia and Belarus to the east, Lithuania to the south and the Baltic Sea to the west. A 2010 ... Read Full Article

Bulgaria Tourist Information

Published/Revised May 14, 2016 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Bulgaria is an ancient nation situated along the Black Sea to the east, Romania to the north, Turkey and Greece to the south, and Serbia and Macedonia to the west. The original Bulgars and Slavs migrated to present-day Bulgaria more than 2000 years ago and established themselves as a major power in southeast Europe. For hundreds of years, Bulgaria vied with the Byzantines, the Ottomans, the ... Read Full Article

Luxembourg Tourist Information

Published/Revised December 18, 2017 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Officially called Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, this small constitutional monarchy is nestled between France, Belgium and Germany. Luxembourg’s population of just over a half million reflects diverse cultural influences. German, French and Luxembourgish (which has similarities with both French and German dialects are the country’s official languages. Luxembourg is one of the founding members of the ... Read Full Article

Malta Tourist Information

Published/Revised May 13, 2016 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.

The little country of Malta, a member of the European Union, consists of a series of Mediterranean islands located 90k south of Sicily, Italy. This densely populated country holds an incredible variety of attractions for visitors, from prehistoric temple ruins to art festivals to scuba diving. It’s surrounded by clear waters and is sunny most of the time—hot in summer, mild in winter. Passports ... Read Full Article

Poland Tourist Information

Published/Revised July 27, 2019 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Poland is an oft-neglected destination for travelers to Europe and this bodes well for those of you who do make the trip. Poland has had its ups and downs since leaving the cold grip of the Soviet Union in 1990, but the economy is stable and the tourism infrastructure is more than adequate for the casual traveler and yet rustic enough to provide for those magic moments far away from home. Poland ... Read Full Article

Liechtenstein Tourist Information

Published/Revised June 30, 2016 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Only 160 square kilometres (a little smaller than Washington DC), little Liechtenstein is the 4th smallest country in Europe. The head of state, Prince Hans-Adam II von und zu Liechtenstein, is a very successful banker who presides over the family business -- leading the government of  the only remaining absolute monarchy in Europe.  He has, though, left the day-to-day running of the country to ... Read Full Article

Iceland Tourist Information

Published/Revised April 21, 2019 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.

With a population of just 325,000, Iceland is one of the most unique nations in the world, providing a diversity of attractions for the traveler. The geological wonders of this island nation are never ending, while the capital city, Reykjavik, is known for its carefree and intellectual nature as well as its first class infrastructure and tourism facilities. Passports & Visas for ... Read Full Article

Romania Tourist Information

Published/Revised July 20, 2018 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Romania is one of the largest and most interesting countries in Eastern Europe. It is blessed with stunning scenery ranging from the forested mountains of Transylvania, through the rolling hills of Moldavia, to the extensive Black Sea coast. It also has many interesting historic cities, as well as colorful villages where age-old traditions are still alive. Several ancient monasteries, castles and ... Read Full Article

Croatia Tourist Information

Published/Revised June 11, 2014 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Croatia is situated in the South-eastern part of Europe along the Adriatic Sea. It shares land borders with Slovenia, Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and a maritime border with Italy. The country was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until World War I, and then became a part of Yugoslavia. In 1991, Croatia declared its independence. What followed was the long and brutal ... Read Full Article