Explore the Smallest Countries in Europe

Europe's biggest travel stories often come from its smallest places. Ten countries on the continent are small enough to cross on foot in an afternoon, yet each one holds centuries of history, its own language and cuisine, and a skyline worth the detour. Here's a closer look at all ten, the airport you'll actually fly into, and how to split the cost of getting there with Buy Now, Pay Later instead of paying for flights upfront.

1. Vatican City

Photo: valyag / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

• Area: 0.49 km² — the smallest country in the world
• Fly into: Rome Fiumicino (FCO)

Vatican City draws around 19,000 visitors a day to St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Basilica entry is free; the museums require a ticket. Italian is the everyday language, Latin the official one, and the food is classic Roman — pasta, risotto, pizza.

Travel tip: Book flights to Rome during the shoulder seasons (April–May, September–October) for better fares and shorter queues.

2. Monaco

Photo: Herry Lawford / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

• Area: 2.02 km² — the world's second-smallest country
• Fly into: Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE), France

Monaco is the most densely populated country on Earth, with nearly 26,000 residents per square kilometer, built around Monte Carlo Casino, the Prince's Palace and the Oceanographic Museum. French is official, with Italian, English and Monégasque also spoken; the food leans French with Italian touches, including the local barbajuan pastry.

Travel tip: Nice sits roughly 30 minutes away by train or car along the Côte d'Azur.

3. San Marino

Photo: Terragio67 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

• Area: 61 km²
• Fly into: Federico Fellini International Airport (RMI), Rimini, Italy

Said to date back to 301 AD, San Marino is one of the world's oldest surviving republics, perched on Mount Titano as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Guaita, Cesta and Montale towers, Piazza della Libertà and the Basilica di San Marino are the main draws. Italian is the official language, and the local torta tre monti — a chocolate-hazelnut wafer cake — is worth seeking out.

Travel tip: It's a 45-minute bus or taxi ride from Rimini, and a budget-friendly stop for food and shopping.

4. Liechtenstein

Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

• Area: 160 km²
• Fly into: Zurich Airport (ZRH), Switzerland

This Alpine principality is built for hiking, skiing and safety, with Vaduz Castle, the Malbun ski village, the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein and the Liechtenstein Trail among its highlights. German is official and English is widely spoken; the Alpine menu runs to Käsknöpfle (cheesy dumplings), Ribel and apple strudel.

Travel tip: Reach it via Zurich on a 1.5-hour train-and-bus combo, ideally April–June or September–October.

5. Malta

Photo: Taibhseoir / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

• Area: 316 km²
• Fly into: Malta International Airport (MLA)

Malta packs in more history than its size suggests — the UNESCO-listed capital Valletta, the medieval walled city of Mdina, the Blue Lagoon off Comino and the Ġgantija Temples all sit within easy reach of each other. Maltese and English are both official, and the food mixes Mediterranean, North African and Middle Eastern influences: pastizzi, fenek (rabbit stew) and fresh seafood. See our full Malta destination guide for more.

Travel tip: Malta is accessible year-round; off-season travel means lower prices.

6. Andorra

Photo: Jacob Truedson Demitz / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

• Area: 468 km²
• Fly into: Barcelona El Prat (BCN) or Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS)

Tucked in the Pyrenees, Andorra offers ski resorts in winter, hiking trails in summer and duty-free shopping year-round. Its capital, Andorra la Vella, is Europe's highest, at 1,023 meters above sea level. Catalan is official, alongside Spanish, French and English; look for escudella (a Catalan stew) and coca masegada.

Travel tip: It's roughly 3 hours from Barcelona or Toulouse — December–March for skiing, June–October for hiking.

7. Luxembourg

Photo: Cayambe / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

• Area: 2,586 km²
• Fly into: Luxembourg Findel Airport (LUX)

Wedged between France, Germany and Belgium, Luxembourg is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and an underrated city break: the Bock Casemates, the Grund district, Vianden Castle and the Müllerthal Trail span historic and modern architecture. Luxembourgish is the national language, with French and German official and English common; try Judd mat Gaardebounen (smoked pork) or Quetschentaart (plum tart).

Travel tip: May–June or September bring the best weather; January is the cheapest time to go.

8. Cyprus

Photo: Radosław Botev / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

• Area: 9,251 km²
• Fly into: Larnaca (LCA) or Paphos (PFO)

Cyprus bridges Europe, Asia and Africa, split between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot regions with deep archaeological roots. The Kourion Archaeological Site, the Tombs of the Kings, the Blue Lagoon and the Troodos Mountains are the highlights. Greek and Turkish are official, English is widely spoken, and the table runs to halloumi, souvla and kleftiko.

Travel tip: May–June or September–October bring the best weather; February tends to have the cheapest airfares.

9. Montenegro

Photo: Aleks.milo / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

• Area: 13,812 km²
• Fly into: Podgorica (TGD) or Tivat (TIV)

Montenegro's fjord-like coastline has made it one of Europe's fastest-rising destinations, from whitewater rafting to beach time. Kotor's UNESCO-listed old town, Durmitor National Park, Perast and Budva are the standouts. Montenegrin is official, alongside Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian and Albanian, with English common in tourist areas; try cevapi, sarma and kacamak.

Travel tip: Fly into Podgorica for a central base or Tivat for the Bay of Kotor — May–June or September–October are ideal.

10. Slovenia

Photo: Adiel lo / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

• Area: 20,273 km²
• Fly into: Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (LJU)

Slovenia fits alpine peaks, turquoise lakes, medieval towns and wine country into a few hours' drive — Lake Bled, Ljubljana's dragon bridges, Triglav National Park and the Postojna and Škocjan Caves lead the list. Slovene is official, English is widely spoken, and Italian and German are common near the borders; the food fuses Central European and Mediterranean influences, from jota (bean stew) to Bled cream cake.

Travel tip: Fly into Ljubljana and aim for May–June or September–October for mild weather and fewer crowds.

Multi-Country Itineraries Worth Planning

Because these countries sit so close to their neighbors, it's easy to combine several into one trip:

• Rome + Vatican City + San Marino
• Nice + Monaco + Andorra
• Zurich + Liechtenstein + Innsbruck

Pro Tips for Visiting Europe's Microstates

• Travel during shoulder seasons (April–May, September–October) for fewer crowds and better fares
• Pack light — most of these destinations are walkable city centers
• Combine two or three countries into a single multi-destination trip
• Use local buses and trains between neighboring microstates
• Carry some local currency; not every card type is accepted everywhere

Book the Flights Now, Pay Over Time

A multi-country microstate trip means several flights — into Rome, Nice, Zurich or wherever your route starts. Laters.com lets you book across 650+ airlines and spread the cost with Buy Now, Pay Later providers like Klarna, Afterpay, Cash App Afterpay, Zip and Atome, or in crypto via USDT and USDC — no hidden fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the smallest country in Europe?
Vatican City, at just 0.49 km², is both the smallest country in Europe and in the world.

Which airport do you fly into for Monaco?
Monaco has no commercial airport of its own; most travelers fly into Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) in France, about 30 minutes away.

Can you visit several of these countries in one trip?
Yes — their small size and close borders make combinations like Rome–Vatican City–San Marino or Nice–Monaco–Andorra easy to fit into a single itinerary.

When is the best time to visit Europe's smallest countries?
Shoulder seasons — April–May and September–October — generally bring milder weather, fewer crowds and better airfares across the list.

Can I pay for these flights in installments?
Yes. Laters.com supports Buy Now, Pay Later checkout through providers including Klarna, Afterpay, Zip and Atome, as well as select cryptocurrencies.