Europe has six microstates. Tiny, independent countries that most people might skip or barely notice. But each has its own government, currency, and history. If you're nearby, they're definitely worth visiting for a very different look at Europe. Here's our guide to these fascinating countries and what to explore in each.
1. Andorra 🇦🇩
Tucked between France and Spain in the Pyrenees, tiny Andorra is mostly known for skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. Its mountainous location means it gets solid snow, and resorts like Grandvalira cover more ground than you'd expect from such a small country.
When the snow melts, well-marked trails take over, drawing walkers through valleys, over passes, and past alpine lakes. Andorra is also a tax haven, which makes it a shopping stop for people crossing the border – especially for electronics, alcohol, and perfumes.
The capital, Andorra la Vella, is compact, clean, and easy to explore in an afternoon.
2. Liechtenstein 🇱🇮
Liechtenstein sits between Switzerland and Austria. It’s a quiet, orderly place where everything seems to work exactly as it should.
The country is mostly mountainous and rural, which makes it good for hiking and biking in summer and for skiing during the winter months. Its capital, Vaduz, is small and low-key, with a few museums and shops.
Above it stands Vaduz Castle, where the country’s royal family still lives. You can’t go inside, but it’s visible from just about anywhere in town.
Liechtenstein is one of the last places in Europe where a monarch still has actual political power, and it has kept a low international profile while maintaining a solid economy and close ties with its neighbors.
3. Monaco 🇲🇨
Monaco, on the French Riviera, is often mistaken for just a rich suburb of Nice, but it’s its own country.
With steep streets, tall buildings, and luxury everywhere, it feels more like a vertical city than a traditional nation. People mostly know it for fast cars, high-end yachts, and the Monte Carlo Casino, which tourists can still visit even if they’re not gambling.
If you’re in town during the Monaco Grand Prix in May, you’ll find the entire place transformed into a racetrack, with streets closed off and crowds packed in.
Monaco’s tiny size means you can walk from one end to the other in under an hour, often with excellent views of the sea and the cliffs.
4. Malta 🇲🇹
Malta sits in the middle of the Mediterranean, just south of Sicily, and despite its small size, it’s one of the more complex countries in Europe.
The island has been ruled by just about everyone — Romans, Moors, the Knights of St. John, the British — and you can feel that history in everything from the food to the architecture (Arabic-sounding language, British-style plugs...).
Valletta, the capital, is built like a fortress, with thick limestone walls and narrow grid streets that were designed to hold off invaders. It’s compact, easy to walk, and packed with small museums, churches, and viewpoints that look out over the Grand Harbour.
Outside the city, the rest of Malta has a slower pace. People head to the cliffs at Dingli, the blue waters around Comino, or the quieter second island, Gozo.
The food is heavy on seafood, rabbit stew, and pastizzi — cheese-filled pastries you’ll find in every town. English is an official language, and public transport is decent, which makes it a pretty straightforward place to get around.
In summer, it’s hot and packed; off-season, it’s quieter and still sunny enough to explore comfortably.
5. San Marino 🇸🇲
San Marino is a small, independent country completely surrounded by Italy.
Despite its size, it’s not a novelty. San Marino has existed as a republic since the year 301.
The country is built around Mount Titano, and most of the action happens in its historic hilltop capital. Once you’re up there, you’ll find a dense network of stone streets, towers, and old city walls.
The views over the surrounding countryside stretch for miles, especially on clear days. The Three Towers of San Marino sit along the ridge and are connected by paths you can walk in under an hour. The town is full of shops, cafes, and small museums, and while it gets tourists, it rarely feels overcrowded.
There's no official border crossing; you can drive or bus in from nearby Rimini without stopping. If you want a passport stamp, you can pay a few euros for one at the tourist office.
A visit here doesn’t take long, but the place leaves an impression. It feels like a small country that’s stayed mostly the same... while the world changed around it.
6. Vatican City 🇻🇦
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, entirely surrounded by Rome.
It’s the headquarters of the Catholic Church and home to some of the most visited sites in Europe.
St. Peter’s Basilica is the main landmark. It's massive inside, free to enter, and topped with a dome you can climb for wide views over the city.
Next to it are the Vatican Museums, which stretch through a maze of halls filled with sculptures, tapestries, and paintings, ending in the Sistine Chapel.
The chapel itself is crowded but worth seeing, especially Michelangelo’s ceiling and Last Judgment.
Lines here can be long, so early entry or a timed ticket helps.
Vatican City has its own rules, its own guards, and its own post office. The Swiss Guard still wears traditional uniforms and stands quietly at the entrances in full color. It’s not the kind of place you spend a whole day, but it’s unlike anywhere else — a self-contained world that just happens to sit in the middle of a major city.
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