European Capitals Quiz
Madrid, Vienna, Zagreb, Vilnius: 15 questions on Europe's capitals, from easy wins to real stumpers.
What is the capital of Spain?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Madrid
Madrid has been Spain's capital since 1561, when Philip II moved his court there from Toledo, partly because of its position near the center of the country.
At about 650 m (2,130 ft) above sea level, Madrid is one of the highest capital cities in Europe.
What is the capital of Germany?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Berlin
Berlin became the capital of reunified Germany in 1990, and the parliament and government moved back from Bonn, the West German capital, during the 1990s.
Berlin has more bridges than Venice, with around 960 crossing its rivers, canals and lakes.
What is the capital of Portugal?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Lisbon
Lisbon has been Portugal's capital since 1255 and sits where the Tagus River meets the Atlantic, making it the westernmost capital on the European mainland.
A huge earthquake, tsunami and fire destroyed most of Lisbon on All Saints' Day in 1755, and the city was rebuilt on a grid plan.
What is the capital of the Netherlands?
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Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the constitutional capital of the Netherlands under the Dutch constitution, even though the parliament, the supreme court and the government all sit in The Hague.
Amsterdam is built on about 11 million wooden poles driven into the soft ground, and it has more than 1,500 bridges.
What is the capital of Poland?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Warsaw
Warsaw became Poland's capital in 1596 when King Sigismund III moved the royal court there from Kraków, which had been the seat of Polish kings for centuries.
About 85 percent of Warsaw was destroyed in World War II, and the rebuilt Old Town is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What is the capital of Austria?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Vienna
Vienna was the seat of the Habsburg empire for more than six centuries and has been the capital of modern Austria since the republic was founded in 1918.
Vienna is one of the few capitals with a working vineyard inside the city limits, with around 700 hectares of vines.
What is the capital of Finland?
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Helsinki
Helsinki became Finland's capital in 1812, when the country was a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire, replacing Turku, which was considered too close to Sweden.
Helsinki hosted the 1952 Summer Olympics and remains the smallest city by population ever to host the Summer Games.
What is the capital of Hungary?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Budapest
Budapest was formed in 1873 when the cities of Buda and Óbuda on the west bank of the Danube merged with Pest on the east bank.
Budapest has more than 100 thermal springs and more medicinal baths than any other capital in the world.
What is the capital of Romania?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Bucharest
Bucharest has been Romania's capital since 1862, when the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia united. It is often confused with Budapest, 800 km (500 miles) away.
Bucharest's Palace of the Parliament, built under Ceaușescu, is the heaviest building in the world and one of the largest by floor area.
What is the capital of Croatia?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Zagreb
Zagreb, in the north of the country, has been Croatia's capital since independence in 1991 and was the capital of the Croatian region under Austria-Hungary and Yugoslavia.
Zagreb's Museum of Broken Relationships, which displays objects left over from failed romances, won the Kenneth Hudson Award at the 2011 European Museum of the Year Awards.
What is the capital of Slovenia?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Ljubljana
Ljubljana has been the capital of Slovenia since the country became independent from Yugoslavia in 1991. The name is often confused with Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.
Ljubljana's symbol is a dragon, which appears on the city's coat of arms and on the famous Dragon Bridge from 1901.
What is the capital of Lithuania?
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Vilnius
Vilnius has been Lithuania's capital since the 1300s, when Grand Duke Gediminas founded the city. Riga and Tallinn are the capitals of neighboring Latvia and Estonia.
Vilnius has a self declared artists' republic called Užupis, complete with its own constitution, president and an independence day on April 1.
Which European capital is the northernmost capital of any sovereign state?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Reykjavík
Reykjavík lies at about 64 degrees north, which makes it the world's most northerly national capital. Helsinki, at about 60 degrees, is the northernmost capital on the European mainland.
Reykjavík means 'smoky bay', a name the first Norse settlers gave to the steam rising from its hot springs.
What is the capital of Moldova?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Chișinău
Chișinău is the capital and largest city of Moldova, a small country wedged between Romania and Ukraine. The city has been the capital since independence in 1991.
Moldova is home to the Mileștii Mici wine cellars near Chișinău, which hold the largest wine collection in the world with more than 1.5 million bottles.
Vaduz is the capital of which country?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Liechtenstein
Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein, a tiny Alpine principality between Switzerland and Austria. With fewer than 6,000 residents, it is not even the country's largest town.
The prince of Liechtenstein still lives in Vaduz Castle on the hill above the capital, and the family has ruled since 1719.
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All Geography quizzes →About the European Capitals Quiz
Europe packs more than 40 capital cities into a continent smaller than Canada. Some are giants like Madrid and Berlin, while Vaduz in Liechtenstein has fewer than 6,000 people and Reykjavík sits farther north than any other national capital on Earth.
These 15 questions start with the capitals everyone should know, then move east through Warsaw, Budapest and Bucharest before finishing with the Balkans, the Baltics and a couple of microstates that catch out even seasoned travelers. It suits students, interrailers, anyone planning a European trip and quiz fans who want to finally keep Ljubljana and Bratislava straight.
You will find 15 multiple choice questions here, each with four options. Difficulty: Easy. Most people finish in about 6 minutes, and every answer comes with a short explanation and one extra fact worth keeping.
How to play
Read the question and pick one of the four answers. The correct answer is revealed straight away with a short explanation, then press Next question to keep going. At the end you get your score out of 15 and a full review of your round. Play again any time and the questions arrive in a fresh order. There is no timer and no account.
Good to know before you play
What is the northernmost capital city in Europe?
Reykjavík, Iceland, at about 64 degrees north, is the northernmost capital of any sovereign state, a little north of Helsinki and Oslo.
Which European capital is often confused with its seat of government?
Amsterdam is the constitutional capital of the Netherlands, but the parliament, government and royal palace of work are all in The Hague.
What is the smallest capital city in Europe?
Vatican City is a city state, but among national capitals Vaduz in Liechtenstein, with fewer than 6,000 residents, is one of the smallest.
Answer key: all 15 questions with explanations
- What is the capital of Spain?
Madrid Madrid has been Spain's capital since 1561, when Philip II moved his court there from Toledo, partly because of its position near the center of the country. At about 650 m (2,130 ft) above sea level, Madrid is one of the highest capital cities in Europe. - What is the capital of Germany?
Berlin Berlin became the capital of reunified Germany in 1990, and the parliament and government moved back from Bonn, the West German capital, during the 1990s. Berlin has more bridges than Venice, with around 960 crossing its rivers, canals and lakes. - What is the capital of Portugal?
Lisbon Lisbon has been Portugal's capital since 1255 and sits where the Tagus River meets the Atlantic, making it the westernmost capital on the European mainland. A huge earthquake, tsunami and fire destroyed most of Lisbon on All Saints' Day in 1755, and the city was rebuilt on a grid plan. - What is the capital of the Netherlands?
Amsterdam Amsterdam is the constitutional capital of the Netherlands under the Dutch constitution, even though the parliament, the supreme court and the government all sit in The Hague. Amsterdam is built on about 11 million wooden poles driven into the soft ground, and it has more than 1,500 bridges. - What is the capital of Poland?
Warsaw Warsaw became Poland's capital in 1596 when King Sigismund III moved the royal court there from Kraków, which had been the seat of Polish kings for centuries. About 85 percent of Warsaw was destroyed in World War II, and the rebuilt Old Town is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. - What is the capital of Austria?
Vienna Vienna was the seat of the Habsburg empire for more than six centuries and has been the capital of modern Austria since the republic was founded in 1918. Vienna is one of the few capitals with a working vineyard inside the city limits, with around 700 hectares of vines. - What is the capital of Finland?
Helsinki Helsinki became Finland's capital in 1812, when the country was a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire, replacing Turku, which was considered too close to Sweden. Helsinki hosted the 1952 Summer Olympics and remains the smallest city by population ever to host the Summer Games. - What is the capital of Hungary?
Budapest Budapest was formed in 1873 when the cities of Buda and Óbuda on the west bank of the Danube merged with Pest on the east bank. Budapest has more than 100 thermal springs and more medicinal baths than any other capital in the world. - What is the capital of Romania?
Bucharest Bucharest has been Romania's capital since 1862, when the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia united. It is often confused with Budapest, 800 km (500 miles) away. Bucharest's Palace of the Parliament, built under Ceaușescu, is the heaviest building in the world and one of the largest by floor area. - What is the capital of Croatia?
Zagreb Zagreb, in the north of the country, has been Croatia's capital since independence in 1991 and was the capital of the Croatian region under Austria-Hungary and Yugoslavia. Zagreb's Museum of Broken Relationships, which displays objects left over from failed romances, won the Kenneth Hudson Award at the 2011 European Museum of the Year Awards. - What is the capital of Slovenia?
Ljubljana Ljubljana has been the capital of Slovenia since the country became independent from Yugoslavia in 1991. The name is often confused with Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Ljubljana's symbol is a dragon, which appears on the city's coat of arms and on the famous Dragon Bridge from 1901. - What is the capital of Lithuania?
Vilnius Vilnius has been Lithuania's capital since the 1300s, when Grand Duke Gediminas founded the city. Riga and Tallinn are the capitals of neighboring Latvia and Estonia. Vilnius has a self declared artists' republic called Užupis, complete with its own constitution, president and an independence day on April 1. - Which European capital is the northernmost capital of any sovereign state?
Reykjavík Reykjavík lies at about 64 degrees north, which makes it the world's most northerly national capital. Helsinki, at about 60 degrees, is the northernmost capital on the European mainland. Reykjavík means 'smoky bay', a name the first Norse settlers gave to the steam rising from its hot springs. - What is the capital of Moldova?
Chișinău Chișinău is the capital and largest city of Moldova, a small country wedged between Romania and Ukraine. The city has been the capital since independence in 1991. Moldova is home to the Mileștii Mici wine cellars near Chișinău, which hold the largest wine collection in the world with more than 1.5 million bottles. - Vaduz is the capital of which country?
Liechtenstein Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein, a tiny Alpine principality between Switzerland and Austria. With fewer than 6,000 residents, it is not even the country's largest town. The prince of Liechtenstein still lives in Vaduz Castle on the hill above the capital, and the family has ruled since 1719.
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