Which Countries Use The Euro

A Partial List

Countries using the Euro are Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.

For people of the European Union there are no longer any frontier controls at the borders between 13 EU countries. The Schengen rules remove all internal border controls but put in place effective controls at the external borders of the EU and introduce a common visa policy. The full Schengen members are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden (but not Ireland and the United Kingdom) plus Iceland and Norway (which are not EU members).

Europe isn't man made it's formed of the planet and as such generations of people with differing cultures have merged, separated, had wars, made peace, through history have had Rulers, Dictators, Kings, Queens, Prime Ministers and Presidents, for as many countries there are, there's a language to learn, a currency to handle and political views and opinions wide reaching.

It's for those reasons and many more which make an EU trip a must whether for a few days and one country or a week or two and several, a European Union makes travel easier for the citizens within as well as those visiting, but don't forget the countries outside which also provide many more fascinating insights to a culture you may have only heard and seen mentioned on the radio or telly.

Customs, experiences, food and drink, are all to be experienced and should be without hestiation. Currency is generally easy to understand and get used to quickly and with a dozen or so nations using the euro, that gets easier. Phrase books enable a quick yet not completely risk free interpretation of the basics of a language, but locals always appreciate a tryer even though many are encouraged to learn English.

New Europe is fast taking over Old Europe, roads are repaired, buildings revamped, shopping centres spring up and old ways of life are integrated and sometimes unashamedly dissected and changed overnight, and while this is sometimes good for the population of a country, albeit increase of prices, political situation and change of life, a tourist may miss out unless they get in before the road builders and planners do their work.

Europe has travelled a long path but with easy of access, good transport, timetables, events, beautiful sights, entertainment and a a thousand other things you've never thought of, your eu trip need not be long, simply short, full of enjoyment and new places and landmarks to see and visit, and most importantly memories of a new europe merging with the old.