Here are the capitals of the fifteen countries of Southern Europe. Some are among the oldest cities in Europe; some Balkan capitals are easy to confuse.
| Country | Capital |
|---|---|
| Portugal | Lisbon |
| Spain | Madrid |
| Andorra | Andorra la Vella |
| Italy | Rome |
| San Marino | San Marino |
| Holy See | Vatican City |
| Malta | Valletta |
| Slovenia | Ljubljana |
| Croatia | Zagreb |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Sarajevo |
| Serbia | Belgrade |
| Montenegro | Podgorica |
| Albania | Tirana |
| North Macedonia | Skopje |
| Greece | Athens |
Key idea
The big ones: Lisbon (Portugal), Madrid (Spain), Rome (Italy) and Athens (Greece). The Balkan capitals: Ljubljana (Slovenia), Zagreb (Croatia), Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Belgrade (Serbia), Podgorica (Montenegro), Skopje (North Macedonia) and Tirana (Albania).
Why it works
Madrid was chosen in the 1500s partly because it sits near the middle of Spain. Most other capitals here grew where rivers and coasts made trade easy: Lisbon on the Tagus, Belgrade where the Sava meets the Danube, Rome on the Tiber. Linking a capital to its river or coast helps you place it.
Worked example: Two that sound alike
Ljubljana or Zagreb: which is Slovenia's capital?
- Slovenia and Croatia are neighbors.
- Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia.
- Zagreb is the capital of Croatia.
Answer: Ljubljana.
Worked example: Spain's capital
Barcelona is Spain's second-largest city. What is the capital?
- Madrid, near the center of the country, is the capital.
Answer: Madrid.
The tiny states have tiny capitals. The Holy See's capital is Vatican City itself, inside Rome. San Marino's is the City of San Marino, on a mountaintop. Malta's is Valletta, a walled port. Andorra's, Andorra la Vella, high in the Pyrenees, is often called the highest capital city in Europe.
Common mistake
The Balkan capitals get mixed up: Ljubljana (Slovenia), Zagreb (Croatia), Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Skopje (North Macedonia). Learn them with the countries' order from northwest to southeast, and say each pair aloud.