Venice lit up by a full moon

Europe packs more countries, cultures, cuisines, castles and cathedrals into its meagre landmass than any other continent.

For first-time visitors to Europe, the barrage of languages and currencies can be a culture shock. Just when you've mastered ordering a coffee in Italian, you'll find yourself in Paxos, trying to book a hotel room in Greek.

From beach bumming to gallery-hopping, latte-sipping to mountain climbing, whether you're a culture vulture, a beer-swiller or an adrenalin junkie, Europe is the ultimate vacation playground.

From the clean-cut streets of Sweden to the cutting-edge fashions of Milan, the quaint rural villages of Portugal to the hedonistic nightclubs of Ibiza, you'd need a lifetime and a mint to do Europe any justice.

In a single trip you could tackle Western Europe, taking in Britain and the Republic of Ireland before catching a ferry over to the Continent to cycle around Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Luxembourg.

Or you could splurge and go north, exploring the rugged Nordic beauty of Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland.

For stodgy food, old-world charm and a chilling glimpse into Europe's bloody past, take a train through Central Europe, visiting Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland.

Those on a budget will find their money goes further in Eastern Europe (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania, Russia and Ukraine) where rapid social and economic transformations have followed the collapse of Communism.

For Europe at its most passionate, follow the sun and olive oil trail to the Mediterranean. Here, life truly is for living. After kicking up your heels all night at a fiesta, you can repent your decadence the next morning in the confessional of an opulent cathedral. The Mediterranean's most visited countries include Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Portugal, Spain and Turkey.

Survival guide to Europe