Can You Actually Match the European Country to Its Capital?

WORLD

By: Robin Tyler

6 Min Quiz

Image: Chris Tobin/DigitalVision/Getty Images

About This Quiz

The continent of Europe consists of 50 countries, with some having land straddling into Asia as well. These are Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia.

European countries range greatly in size, from the smallest country in the world, the Vatican City, to Russia, which has the largest land area of all European nations. Many of the capitals of Europe are well-established tourist attractions. This is thanks to their blend of old and new, ancient heritage mixing with modern, technologically-advanced cities.

But it's the history of these cities that interest many. Visiting them, and the Old Towns of each city, in particular, takes us back to a time gone by. Many were initially built by the Romans, and Roman ruins are found throughout the continent.

Of course, all of these countries have capital cities. Some of them are obvious, and you probably can remember them from your school education. These include England, Paris and France, the countries from Europe that dominate our newsfeeds. But what about the capital of Malta, an island in the Mediterranean? Or one of the many new nations that sprung up following the end of Communism? Here, we are talking places such as Montenegro.

So if you think you know your geography, then have a go at our quiz in which you need to match European capitals to the correct country. Good luck! 








To ease you in, let's start with an easy one. What is the capital of England?

Of course, you knew it was London, right? One of the biggest cities in the world, London is electric! Filled with anything you could wish for, ancient history, a vibrant nightlife and unbelievable cuisine, this city really has it all. There is so much to see and do here, planning your visit is essential! And no, it doesn't always rain in London. In fact, on average, the British capital gets less rain than New York City. London became the capital of England in the 12 Century.

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If you were visiting Spain's capital, in which city would you be?

Now this one might have caused a little confusion. Although many think that Barcelona is the capital of Spain, it is actually Madrid. Over 3 million people live in this Spanish metropolis. In fact, Madrid is the third biggest city in the European Union, and will become the second after Brexit (if it every actually happens)!

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Ever been to the Latvian capital? Good, then you can tell us what it is. Don't worry—this question isn't "rig"ged!

When Latvia declared independence from Russian rule in 1918, Riga was named as its capital. A city with a population of just over 600,000 people, Riga is set at the mouth of the Daugava river. Did you know, that Latvian women are officially the tallest in the world? Their average height is 170 cm or around 5' 6."

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A city which bore the brunt of Nazi occupation in World War II, what is the capital of Poland?

The old town section of Warsaw was largely rebuilt after much of it was destroyed during World War II. And to keep it as it once was, paintings from Bernardo Bellotto were used to ensure the rebuild was as accurate as possible. Warsaw is fast becoming one of the must-see destinations in Europe.

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Home of the Guinness factory, which Irish city is the capital of the country?

Set on the River Liffey, the Irish capital city of Dublin is home to just over 1 million people, although around 1.9 million live in the greater urban area. People have lived here since around 600 AD, including the Vikings who had an outpost in the area. The city was declared a capital in 1922, when Ireland was split in two.

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Almost unbelievable, only around 180,000 people live in the capital of Belgium. Any idea what it is?

Of the 180,000 people living in the city, just under a third are registered as non-Belgian. Not only is Brussels the capital of Belgium, it plays an important part in the European Union as its administrative center.

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The capital of Slovakia features the beautiful, must-see Castle Devin. Name it, please.

Any trip to Bratislava must include a visit to Devin Castle. But Bratislava has more to offer than that! The historic city center, called Old Town by the locals, is filled with exquisite architecture, cafes, and restaurants. The city was named the capital of Slovakia in 1994 after the country split with the Czech Republic.

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Some of the oldest architecture in the word, is found in the Greek capital. What is it called?

The center of the Ancient world, Athens is home to some of the greatest ancient buildings and ruins in the world. This includes the Acropolis, which stands on a hill overlooking the city. This is one of the world's oldest cities. It has a written history dating back 3,400 years.

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A city once divided during the Cold War, which of these is the German capital?

Berlin is a fascinating city that was divided for decades between east and west, communism versus democracy. Today, however, Berlin is a city that is thriving. And it's massive! In fact, it is nine times the size of Paris.

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A country that loves neutrality, what is the capital of Switzerland?

That might come as a surprise with larger cities such as Zurich and Geneva around, but Bern, population a little over 140,000 people, is the capital of Switzerland. Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen founded Bern in the 12th Century and named it after a bear, as you do. Interestingly, street signs are in various colors. This system was used by Napoleon to help his troops find their way around, as they were unable to read. The colors remain to this day.

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A city of conflict, what is the capital of Serbia?

It seems that conflict likes Belgrade. Nicknamed the "White Phoenix" due to the fact that it has been rebuilt on no less than 44 occasions, Belgrade has been fought over in over 100 different conflicts over the centuries. One of the oldest settlements in Europe, people have been living in the area around Belgrade since the third century B.C.

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Known for a host of famous cultural events, can you name the capital of Austria from the list below?

Vienna, or Wien as Austrians call it, has many hidden secrets. For instance, did you know that over 1,700 acres of vineyards can be found within the city limits? In fact, over 300 winemakers ply their trade in the city. Vienna is also home to many famous cultural events.

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Can you name the capital of Croatia, which as once two towns called Kaptol and Gradec.

That's right: before it merged into one city and changed its name, Zagreb as actually two separate towns, Kaptol and Gradec. Did you know that the city has an official lamp lighter? There are over 200 lamps in the Old Town, which are lit each night and snuffed out each morning. This has been ongoing since the mid-1800s.

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Any ideas as to the capital of Lithuania, a city with once known as "Jerusalem of the North"?

It's the Old Town in Vilnius that remains a must-see for travelers. A UNESCO world heritage site, it is filled with old architecture and cobblestone charm. The city was named the capital of the country in 1992 after Lithuania became a republic following decades of Soviet rule.

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Can you name the capital of Moldova which is also sometimes referred to as Kishinev?

Responsible for well over 50% of the economic output of Moldova, Chisinau is home to over 700,000 people. Interestingly, not many foreigners come to the city, as Moldova is not seen as a major travel destination for tourists. In 2016, just 100,000 people visited the country.

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Home to Jardim da Praça do Império, the biggest plaza in Europe, can you name Portugal's capital?

It seems Portugal is always the bridesmaid to Spain. But the country, especially the capital of Lisbon, is well worth a visit. Home to museums and other cultural attractions, Lisbon also has excellent beaches, great local cuisine, and a vibrant nightlife. Lisbon has been the capital of the country since 1255.

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The capital of Andorra is __________?

A popular ski resort in the Pyrenees, Andorra la Vella is the highest capital city in Europe. It stands at 1 km above sea-level. Tourism drives the economy of the city and the country. Over 10 million people visit Andorra each year. And the official language? Well, that is Catalan, which makes Andorra the only country to have this as an official language.

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What is the capital of Finland, the most northern capital on the European continent?

Home to around 650,000 people, Helsinki is said to have one of the highest standards of living in Europe. First established in 1550, the city is filled with beautiful architecture, such as the Helsinki Cathedral, built between 1830-1852.

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Do you know which of these Romanian cities is the capital of the country?

Did you know that Bucharest has the largest parliamentary building in the world? Home to around 2 million people, Bucharest has many must-see landmarks including the Romanian Athenaeum and Stavropoleos Church. Interestingly, Calea Victoriei, a road in the city, was originally made out of wood!

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The capital city of Hungary is ________, a city built on many thermal springs.

Yes, Hungary has around 70 million liters of heated water rising to the ground each day. In fact, it has more thermal springs than any other city in the world. The subway in the city is also the oldest on the European mainland. For lovers of culture, the city houses over 100 museums and 40 theaters.

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Don't get caught out with this one! Can you name the capital of the Netherlands?

Although The Hague is the seat of government of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is the capital. This is something most people get wrong! Its a city that tourists love to visit. Laws are a little, shall we say, lax here, and Amsterdam is known for legalized sex work and its Red Light district, which is called De Wallen.

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The capital of the Scandinavian country of Denmark is?

Bustling nightlife, an infusion of modern and historical architecture and a city in which to shop till you drop, Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, has it all. And according to the UN's World Happiness Report of 2014, Danes are the happiest people on the planet! If that is not a reason to visit, what is? Copenhagen has been the capital of the country since the 15th Century.

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Home to the deepest metro station on the planet, what is the capital of Ukraine?

Yes, that's right. The Arsenalna metro station is over a 100 meters below the ground! The city is also home to the Kiev State Museum of Miniatures, which contains miniatures of just about everything you can think of.

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Do you know the name of the capital city of Slovenia?

A city filled with greenspaces, including the massive Tivoli Park, Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia. Home to around 300,000 people, Ljubljana was established in Roman times as an outpost called Emona. And how do you actually say the name of the city? Well, its lyoo-BLYAH-nah! Easy enough, right?

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The small European country of Luxembourg's capital is?

One of the smallest countries in the world, Luxembourg is a sovereign Grand Duchy. That makes it the only one of its kind in the world. People in Luxembourg have their own language, called Luxembourgish, which is similar to Dutch and German.

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________ is the capital of the European country of Belarus.

Having survived World War II, the Government House at Minsk is certainly the most impressive building in the city. With around 1,000 rooms, it covers an area of 41,653 square meters! The city is also home to over 100 fountains, with the oldest from 1874.

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Known as the City of Lights, what is the capital of France?

Paris, the capital of France, certainly needs very little introduction. This beautiful metropolis is filled with attractions, cultural, historical and of course, cuisine. Paris sits on the banks of the river Seine and was founded in the 3rd century B.C. by the Gauls. They called it Parisii.

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Do you know the name of the capital of Montenegro?

Following a referendum in 2006, Montenegro became an independent country of its own, breaking up Serbia and Montenegro as they had been previously. Its capital is Podgorica, home to close to 30% of the population of the country. Around 185,000 people live in the greater Podgorica area.

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Called the Eternal City, what is the capital of Italy?

One of Europe's great tourist attractions, Rome is filled with ancient architecture. Examples include the Colosseum and the Pantheon. Of course, there are hundreds more. Make a wish in Trevi fountain or sit on the Spanish steps. And of course, the cuisine is nothing short of spectacular!

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Any idea what the capital of Bulgaria is called?

Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is like many of the older cities in Europe in that it is rich with beautiful architecture and cultural sites. Built on top of an ancient Roman city, remnants of a bygone era remain, including the Amphitheater, which is only slightly smaller than the Colosseum.

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Name the capital of the Principality of Monaco, please.

A city-state, Monaco is its own capital! A bit strange, but essentially, this city is seen as a country. It is also the second smallest country in the world.

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Once a forbidden city to the West, the Russian capital is now very popular with tourists. Name it, please.

With attractions like Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Kremlin, Moscow, the capital of Russia has become a popular tourist attraction. Did you know that it was named after the Moskva river that runs through it?

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What is the capital of the Scandinavian country of Norway?

The capital of Norway since 1814, Oslo was founded in around 1000 AD. It is built around forests, in fact, of the 454 square kilometers the city inhabits, more than half are forested. Attractions in Oslo include the National Theater and the National Museum of Art.

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An island in the Mediterranean, what is the capital of Malta, former European Capital of Culture?

The capital city of the island of Malta since 1571 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Baroque in style, Valetta suffered during World War II with the Royal Opera House totally destroyed during the conflict. In 2018, the city was named the European Capital of Culture.

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________ is the capital of Sweden.

The capital of Sweden and the most populated city in the Scandinavian country, Stockholm covers an area of 73 square miles and built on an archipelago of 14 islands. One of the major attractions in the city is its Old Town area, built from the 13 century onwards.

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