Europe is often divided into regions due to geographical, cultural or historical criteria. Some common divisions are as follows.

Directional divisions

Groupings by compass directions are the hardest to define in Europe, since (among other issues) the pure geographical criteria of "east" and "west" are often confused with the political meaning these words acquired during the Cold War era. For more details on this matter, see the articles on the following:

• Western Europe
• Eastern Europe
• Northern Europe
• Southern Europe
• Central Europe

Peninsulas

• Balkan Peninsula

The Balkan peninsula is located in southeast Europe and contains the following countries:

Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, (Part of) Turkey

• Iberian Peninsula

Located in southwestern Europe this peninsula contains Spain, Portugal and Andorra

• Apennine or Italian Peninsula

Located in the south of Europe, the Italian peninsula contains the states of Italy, San Marino and Vatican City

• Scandinavia or Scandinavian Peninsula

Including Sweden, Norway, and often Denmark.

Other groupings

• Baltic States

Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia

• Benelux, or the Low Countries

Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg

• British Isles

United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland

• Nordic countries

Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland

• Alpine countries

The states which have the Alps as a prominent part of their geography.

Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Slovenia

• Visegrad Group

A central European group representing an historical alliance.

Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary

• Mediterranean nations

Mediterranean nations are called those nations bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Excluding African countries these are the following:

Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and Malta

• Golden banana

Describing the concentration of the wealth/economic productivity of Europe in a banana-shaped band running from London, through Benelux, eastern France, western Germany to northern Italy.

See also

• Culture of Europe
• History of Europe
• Geography of Europe
• Economy of Europe