Top 5 Smallest European Countries
Among the world's 195 sovereign states, some barely make a mark on the map. Yet these tiny nations boast rich history, remarkable culture and — often — more UNESCO World Heritage Sites per square kilometre than their much larger neighbours. Here are the five smallest in Europe!
1. Vatican City – 0.44 km²
Vatican City is the world's smallest independent state, covering just 0.44 km² in the heart of Rome. With fewer than 800 permanent residents, it remains one of the most significant religious and cultural sites on Earth. St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums draw millions of visitors every year.
2. Monaco – 2.02 km²
Monaco is the world's most densely populated country: around 36,000 people live in just 2.02 km². The jewel of the Côte d'Azur is world-famous for its Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Monte-Carlo Casino and the luxury yachts in its harbour. The country is bordered on three sides by France and on the fourth by the Mediterranean Sea.
Monaco has no UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but the entire country is a sight in itself. The Prince's Palace perched on the Rocher de Monaco, the narrow streets of the old town and the Musée Océanographique offer a unique experience.
3. San Marino – 61 km²
San Marino is the world's oldest republic — founded in 301 AD, it has maintained its independence ever since. Completely surrounded by Italy, it nevertheless remains an independent state. The historic centre of San Marino city, perched atop Mount Titano, is both the capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
San Marino is easiest to reach from Rimini, just 30 minutes by car. Its special tax regime means plenty of duty-free shops await visitors, but the three medieval towers — the Guaita, Cesta and Montale — are the real highlights.
4. Liechtenstein – 160 km²
Liechtenstein is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world — it is surrounded by landlocked countries (Switzerland and Austria) and has no access to the sea or a bordering coastal state. The 160 km² principality ranks among the world's wealthiest nations by GDP per capita. Its capital Vaduz is dominated by the hilltop princely castle.
5. Malta – 316 km²
Malta is an island nation in the centre of the Mediterranean, with nearly 570,000 people living on just 316 km². The EU's smallest member state is also one of the most densely populated countries on Earth. Malta's rich history reflects millennia of struggle for control of the Mediterranean: Phoenicians, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, the Knights of St John and the British have all left their mark.
Malta has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: prehistoric megalithic temples (older than the pyramids and Stonehenge), the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum (an ancient underground burial site) and the old city of Valletta, Europe's smallest capital city.
Have you visited any of these? Mark them on your map and track the UNESCO heritage sites too!