Smallest Countries/Territories in the World

The 18 Smallest Countries/Territories In The World And How To Visit Them

Kerwin McKenzieDestination Information 31 Comments

The 18 Smallest Countries/Territories In The World

Updated October 2025

It’s no secret that I’ve visited 145 countries/territories and want to visit all the countries/territories in the world. My own island where I grew up, Jamaica, though small is 4,244 square miles, so it does not even come close to the top 18. A few years ago, I visited the smallest country in the world; Vatican City aka Holy See, and it occurred to me that it may be good to look at the 18 smallest countries/territories in the world and how to visit them using your flight benefits.

If you want to see a complete list of all the territories in the world, head over to the Century Club.

If you ever want to know which routes are flown from any of the particular airports, use the Airport Schedules (premium content) and then you can plot your journey with the Mileage Calculator.

And if you go, use this handy hotel map to book a hotel. Just enter the city.

 

So here goes:

18. Grenada (132.8 square miles)

Although this island is located in the Caribbean and I’m from the Caribbean, I’ve not had a chance to visit just yet. My friend Ursula did though and had way too much chocolate :-). Grenada is also famous for nutmeg; in the Caribbean we put it porridge.

Airlines Serving Grenada (GND): Air Canada (AC), American Airlines (AA), British Airways (BA), Caribbean Airlines (BW), Delta Air Lines (DL), InterCaribbean Airways (JY), JetBlue Airways (B6), Liat Air (5L), Sunrise Airways S.A. (S6), Virgin Atlantic Airways (VS) and WestJet (WS).

17. Malta (122 square miles)

I visited Malta when I took a cruise by MSC Fantasia about two years ago. This was my second visit to Malta having visited in 2000. It’s a lovely place. Malta is the home of Air Malta (KM) with services to its airport in Laqua by several major European airlines from major European cities. My other Web site Unfamiliar Destinations has additional information on Gozo and Valletta.

Malta - Port of VallartaMalta – Port of Vallarta

Airlines Serving Malta (MLA): Aegean Airlines (A3), Aer Lingus (EI), Air France (AF), Air Malta (KM), Air Serbia (JU), AirBaltic (BT), BMI Regional (BM), British Airways (BA), Delta Air Lines (DL), EasyJet Airlines (U2), Emirates (EK), Eurowings (EW), ITA Airways (AZ), Jet2.com (LS), LOT Polish (LO), Lufthansa German Airlines (LH), Lufthansa City Airlines (VL), Luxair (LG), Norwegian Air International (D8), Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY), Qantas (QF), Qatar Airways (QR), Ryanair (FR), Ryanair UK (RK), SAS (SK), Swiss Airlines (LX), Transavia France (TO), Turkish Airlines – Star Alliance (TK), TunisAir Express (UG), Volotea (V7), Vueling (VY), Wizz Air (W6) and Wizz Air UK (W4).

 

16. Maldives (115.8 square miles)

In late 2014, I had the opportunity to visit this island country. It’s really a collection of tiny islands in 26 atolls. I actually stayed on the island Hulhumale which is connected to the airport island (Hulhule) by a narrow roadway. Incidentally, the runway is the length of the airport island.

I was in Sri Lanka and flew on Korean Airlines (KE) on the tag from Seoul-Incheon (ICN). I was feeling adventurous and actually leisurely walked around the island’s capital of Male. It took about three hours.
You can get to Male (MLE) from most of the European and Asian hubs, plus the Middle East hubs of Emirates (EK), Etihad (EY) and Qatar (QR). Transiting India is also very doable as its just across the way. You may require a visa, so ensure you check that first.

Korean Airlines (KE) Airbus A330 on the ramp in Male Airport (MLE)Korean Airlines (KE) Airbus A330 on the ramp in Male Airport (MLE)

Airlines Serving Male (MLE): Air Arabia (G9), Air Asia (AK), Air Astana (KC), Air France (AF), Air India (AI), Austrian Airlines (OS), Azerbaijan Airlines (J2), BS, Bangkok Airways (PG), BeOnd (B4), Beijing Capital Airlines (JD), British Airways (BA), CanJet Airlines (C6), China Eastern Airlines (MU), China Southern Airlines (CZ), Chongqing Airlines (OQ), Condor (DE), EW Discover GmbH (4Y), Edelweiss Air (WK), Emirates (EK), Etihad Airways (EY), Euroairlines (Q4), FitsAir (8D), FlyDubai (FZ), Fly Me (VP), Gulf Air (GF), Hong Kong Airlines (HX), ITA Airways (AZ), IndiGo Airlines (6E), Maldividian (Q2), Malaysia Airlines (MH), NR, Neos Air (NO), Qatar Airways (QR), Saudia Airlines (SV), Sichuan Airlines (3U), Singapore Airlines (SQ), SriLankan (UL), TOR Air (OD), Thai Asia Airways (FD), Turkish Airlines – Star Alliance (TK), Virgin Atlantic Airways (VS) and Xiamen Air (MF).

15. St. Kitts & Nevis (100.8 square miles)

This is another Caribbean island I’ve not visited either. But plan to very soon. Apparently you can do really cool plane spotting from the side of the runway. YouTuber SKB Energy has many videos so you can enjoy the airport. I’ve got one here while landing on my visit.

Airlines Serving St. Kitts & Nevis (SKB): Air Canada (AC), American Airlines (AA), British Airways (BA), Cape Air (9K), Caribbean Airlines (BW), Delta Air Lines (DL), InterCaribbean Airways (JY), JetBlue Airways (B6), Liat Air (5L), Sky High (DO), Sunrise Airways S.A. (S6), United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA) and Winair (WM).

Basseterre, St. Kitts from the Air

Basseterre, St. Kitts from the Air

14. Aruba (74.52 square miles)

I love Aruba, except for the lizards :-). Yes, they do have lizards (iguanas), but its a great place to visit. It’s been a while though since I’ve been. I have some additional information on what to do when you visit here. There are lots of lift from North America down to Aruba, so you should not have too much issues.

17 Smallest Countries - Aruba - Renaissance Island

18 Smallest Countries – Aruba – Renaissance Island

Airlines Serving Aruba (AUA): Aerolineas Argentinas (AR), Air Canada-Star Alliance (AC), Air Century (Y2), Air France (AF), American Airlines (AA), Arajet (DM), Avianca (AV), Copa Airlines (CM), Copa Airlines Colombia Operated by AERO REPUBLICA AS WINGO (P5), Delta Air Lines (DL), Divi Divi Air (3R), Frontier Airlines (F9), Gol Transportes Aereos (G3), JetBlue Airways (B6), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL), LATAM (LA), Q4, Sky High (DO), Southwest Airlines (WN), Spirit Airlines (NK), Sun Country Airlines (SY), Suriname Airways (PY), TUI Netherlands (OR), United Airlines-Star Alliance (UA), WestJet (WS), Winair (WM) and Z Air (7Z).

13. Easter Island (63.17 square miles)

I have yet to visit this Chilean territory. I came close once when I did a southern hemisphere crawl, but was off by one day since the flight to flight on LAN from Papeete (PPT) does not operate daily.

The Mataveri International Airport (IPC) runs across the southwestern tip of the island and is served by: Air Tahiti Nui (TN) seasonally and LATAM (LA).

12. Liechtenstein (61.78 square miles)

This is a German-speaking country in Europe between Austria and Switzerland. It does not have its own airport, but there are three airports within reasonable distances (Friedrichshafen, Germany; Stuttgart, Germany and Zurich, Switzerland):

Airlines Serving Friedrichshafen, Germany (FDH): Condor (DE), EasyJet Airlines (U2), Freebird Airlines (FH), Norwegian Air UK (DI) and Wizz Air (W6).

Airlines Serving Stuttgart, Germany (STR): AJet (VF), Aegean Airlines (A3), Air Cairo (SM), Air France (AF), Air Serbia (JU), Austrian Airlines (OS), British Airways (BA), Condor (DE), Eurowings (EW), Freebird Airlines (FH), FlyOne (5F), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL), LOT Polish (LO), Lufthansa German Airlines (LH), Pegasus Airlines (PC), SAS (SK), SunExpress (XQ), Swiss Airlines (LX), TUI fly Deutschland (X3), Turkish Airlines – Star Alliance (TK), UR Airlines (UD), Vueling (VY), Wizz Air (W6), Wizz Air UK (W4).

Airlines Serving Zürich-Kloten, Switzerland (ZRH): AJet (VF), AccessRail (9B), Aegean Airlines (A3), Aer Lingus (EI), Air Cairo (SM), Air Canada (AC), Air Dolomiti (EN), Air Europa (UX), Air France (AF), Air India (AI), Air Malta (KM), Air Serbia (JU), AirBaltic (BT), American Airlines (AA), Austrian Airlines (OS), BeOnd (B4), British Airways (BA), Brussels Airlines (SN), Bulgaria Air (FB), Cathay Pacific Airways (CX), Chair Airlines (CS), Condor (DE), Corendon Airlines Europe (XR), Croatia Airlines (OU), Delta Air Lines (DL), EasyJet Airlines (U2), Edelweiss Air (WK), El Al Airlines (LY), Emirates (EK), Eqyptair (MS), Ethiopian Airlines (ET), Etihad Airways (EY), Euroairlines (Q4), Eurowings (EW), Finnair (AY), Helvetic (2L), ITA Airways (AZ), Iberia Airlines (IB), Icelandair (FI), InterJet (4O), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL), Korean Airlines (KE), LOT Polish (LO), Lufthansa German Airlines (LH), Oman Air (WY), Pegasus Airlines (PC), Qatar Airways (QR), Royal Air Morac (AT), Royal Jordanian (RJ), SAS (SK), Saudia Airlines (SV), Singapore Airlines (SQ), SunExpress (XQ), Swiss Airlines (LX), TAP Portugal (TP), Thai Airways (TG), Tunisair (TU), Turkish Airlines – Star Alliance (TK), United Airlines-Star Alliance (UA) and Vueling (VY).

There’s also St. Gallen-Altenrhein, Switzerland (ACH) which is a smaller airport with flights on People’s (PE) to/from Vienna, Austria (VIE).

Vaduz, Liechtenstein - Vaduz Castle

Once you arrive at either of these airports, you can take a train to Liechtenstein, or go by car. So not too easy to get to, but quite an adventure.

When I did the trip, I took easyJet to FDH from London-Luton I believe it was, then took the train that comes to the airport into the city. Then walked to the ferry station and took the ferry across the lake to Switzerland and then took a train to Liechtenstein and then I took a bus to Vaduz. It was quite the journey :-). I didn’t spend the night there, instead, I went to Zurich via bus and train. So it made for a very long day. You can see my adventures here.

If you decide to spend the night, there are many places to stay in this town.

11. Montserrat (39.38 square miles)

This tiny Caribbean island is located in what’s called the Lesser Antilles part of the Caribbean. A few years ago, it was devastated by a volcanic eruption, but now it’s inhabited again. I do need to pay them a visit soon. Here is some information on Montserrat from my friend Ursula and I visited in 2022 and wrote this article on Montserrat.

It does have its own airport, John A. Osborne Airport (MNI) which is served by FlyMontserrat (5M) from neighboring Antigua (ANU). You may also take the five times a week ferry from Antigua when it operates as it’s currently not operating.

Passenger terminal in Brades, Montserrat

Passenger terminal in Brades, Montserrat

10. Hong Kong (31.04 square miles)

Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China. Unlike mainland China, no visa is required for U.S. citizens. All the major worldwide airlines have a presence in Hong Kong. You can find some information about Hong Kong here.

The main airport is Hong Kong International-Chep Lap Kok (HKG) which is home to Cathay Pacific Airways (CX). This was the city that had the awesome landings at Kai Tak airport downtown Hong Kong. I was lucky enough to fly in during the final days and flew out of the new airport on its first day. It was quite interesting.

Sometimes Hong Kong has weight restrictions since the journey back to the U.S. is so long, so be mindful of that when you make your travel plans. If push comes to shove, try heading to Tokyo-Narita or Tokyo-Haneda to get back to the U.S.

Airlines Serving Hong Kong (HKG): AccessRail (9B), Aeroflot (SU), Air Asia (AK), Air Asia Zest (Z2), Air Busan (BX), Air Canada (AC), Air China (CA), Air France (AF), Air India (AI), Air New Zealand (NZ), Air Niugini (PX), Air Premia (YP), All Nippon Airlines (NH), Asiana Airlines (OZ), Bangkok Airways (PG), British Airways (BA), Cambodia Airways (KR), Cambodia Angkor Air (K6), Cathay Pacific Airways (CX), Cebu Pacific Air (5J), China Airlines (CI), China Eastern Airlines (MU), China Southern Airlines (CZ), CKS Ferry Airline (3A), Delta Air Lines (DL), EVA Airways (BR), Emirates (EK), Ethiopian Airlines (ET), Etihad Airways (EY), Fiji Airways (FJ), Finnair (AY), Garuda Indonesia (GA), Greater Bay Airlines (HB), Hainan Airlines (HU), Hebei Airlines (NS), HK Express (UO), Hong Kong Airlines (HX), IndiGo Airlines (6E), Japan Airlines (JL), Jeju Air (7C), Juneyao Airlines (HO), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL), Korean Airlines (KE), Loong Air (GJ), Lufthansa German Airlines (LH), Malaysia Airlines (MH), Mongolian Airlines (OM), Nepal Airlines (RA), Peach Aviation (MM), Philippine Airlines (PR), Qingdao Airlines (QW), Qantas (QF), Qatar Airways (QR), Royal Brunei Airlines (BI), Thai Lion Air (SL), Shandong Airlines (SC), Shanghai Airlines (FM), Shenzhen Airlines (ZH), Sichuan Airlines (3U), Singapore Airlines (SQ), Spring Airlines (9C), Starlux Airlines (JX), Swiss Airlines (LX), T’way Air, TOR Air (OD), Thai Airways (TG), Thai Asia Airways (FD), Tibet Airlines (TV), Tiger Airways (TR), Turkish Airlines – Star Alliance (TK), United Airlines-Star Alliance (UA), Urumqi Air (UQ), VietJet Air (VJ), Vietnam Airlines (VN) and Xiamen Air (MF). 

Airplanes Hong Kong Airport (HKG)

Airplanes Hong Kong Airport (HKG)

9. San Marino (23.63 square miles)

Finally, I made it to San Marino in 2017; an amazing place with views to die for. There is no airport in this Principality which is contained in the country of Italy.

The closest airport is in Rimini (Federico Fellini International Airport (RMI)) about 30 minutes or so away. Then you can take a bus or drive to the city center.

Airlines Serving Rimini (RMI): British Airways (BA), EasyJet Airlines (U2), Luxair (LG), Neos Air (NO), Ryanair (FR), Vueling (VY) and Wizz Air UK (W4)

You can also reach San Marino by train from other parts of Europe, but only as far as Rimini. From here you then take the San Marino bus up the hill.

You may also use the Bologna Airport (BLQ) or the Florence Airport (FLR) and take a train from the city center to Rimini and then take the local San Marino bus up the hill.

Airlines Serving Bologna (BLQ): Aegean Airlines (A3), Air Albania (ZB), Air Arabia Maroc (3O), Air Cairo (SM), Air Dolomiti (EN), Air France (AF), Air Serbia (JU), Austrian Airlines (OS), British Airways (BA), Brussels Airlines (SN), Dan Air (DN), EasyJet Airlines (U2), Emirates (EK), Eurowings (EW), Finnair (AY), FlyOne (5F), HiSky Europe (H4), ITA Airways (AZ), Iberia Airlines (IB), Jetairfly (TB), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL), Lufthansa German Airlines (LH), Luxair (LG), Neos Air (NO), Norwegian Air International (D8), Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY), Nouvelair Tunisie (BJ), Pegasus Airlines (PC), Royal Air Morac (AT), Ryanair (FR), Ryanair UK (RK), SAS (SK), Swiss Airlines (LX), TAP Portugal (TP), Transavia (HV), Tunisair (TU), Turkish Airlines – Star Alliance (TK), Twin Jet (T7), Volotea (V7), Vueling (VY), Wizz Air (W6) and Wizz Air UK (W4).

Airlines Serving Florence (FLR): Aegean Airlines (A3), Air Corsica (XK), Air Dolomiti (EN), Air France (AF), Air Serbia (JU), Austrian Airlines (OS), British Airways (BA), Brussels Airlines (SN), Eurowings (EW), Finnair (AY), ITA Airways (AZ), Iberia Airlines (IB), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL), Luxair (LG), Small Fly(PI), SAS (SK), Swiss Airlines (LX), TAP Portugal (TP), Volotea (V7), Vueling (VY), and Wideroe (WF).

 

17S Smallest Countries - San Marino

18 Smallest Countries – San Marino

8. Bermuda (20.54 square miles)

This island is where they wear the famous Bermuda shorts. It’s quite an expensive place to visit though. They are a member of the Commonwealth meaning they were under British rule and are still under British rule, but they have an independent parliament; a little complicated.

There are several flights from North America, so that makes it easy to get there.

Airlines Serving Hamilton, Bermuda (BDA): Air Canada (AC), American Airlines (AA), BermudAir (2T), British Airways (BA), Delta Air Lines (DL), JetBlue Airways (B6) and United Airlines-Star Alliance (UA).

7. Pitcairn Island (18.15 square miles)

Not one of the easiest places to get to at all as it sits in the South Pacific Ocean southeast of Papeete and northeast of New Zealand. Totegegie Airport (GMR) is the closest airport to Pitcairn in French Polynesia, so you’ve have to fly into there on Air Tahiti (VT) and then take a ship over. Not an easy one at all.

6. Macau (11.39 square miles)

Like Hong Kong, Macau is a SAR of the People’s Republic of China, thats a Special Administrative Region. Its complicated to explain :-). You can get there from several nearby countries by using their local airport; Macau International Airport (MFM) or you can take high speed ferries from Hong Kong (HKG); the typical route.

Visa is on arrival for not too much money. Once you get to the island, you can just take one of the local casino buses and go check out the casinos, or you walk or take a local bus or cab to check out the area. It’s actually very worth it.

Airlines Serving Macau: (MFM): Air Asia (AK), Air Asia Zest (Z2), Air Busan (BX), Air China (CA), Air Macau (NX), Cambodia Airways (KR), Cebu Pacific Air (5J), China Eastern Airlines (MU), China Southern Airlines (CZ), EVA Airways (BR), Firefly Airline (FY), Jeju Air (7C), Korean Airlines (KE), Shanghai Airlines (FM), Shenzhen Airlines (ZH), Spring Airlines (9C), Starlux Airlines (JX), Thai Asia Airways (FD), Thai Lion Air (SL), Tiger Airways (TR), Tigerair Taiwan (IT), and Xiamen Air (MF).

Macau Tower

5. Tuvalu (10.4 square miles)

Any airport that has the airport code as FUN can’t be that bad at all. Fiji Airways (FJ) flies here from Nadi, Fiji (NAN) and Nausori, Fiji (SUV). I love this airport code too. You?

4. Republic of Nauru (8.108 square miles)

This is the smallest island nation in the world. Despite being a little difficult to get to, it does have its own international airport, Nauru International (INU) in Yaren in the south of the island. I’m looking forward to checking out Nauru as they have their own airline, Nauru Airlines (ON), and do a similar island hopping to some of the other Micronesian/Marshall Islands as United Airlines does.

I’ve done the United island hopper when it was run by Continental Micronesia, once on the Boeing 727 and then on the Boeing 737-800 and have done it in both directions. It’s quite the challenge, but totally worth the experience.

To get to Nauru, you have to start in Brisbane, Australia (BNE) or start in Kiribati, one of the Micronesian/Marshall islands that United (UA) serves such as Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (PNI), Kosrae, Federated State of Micronesia (KSA) or Majuro, Marshall Islands (MAJ).

Another way is to start in Nadi, Fiji (NAN) on Nauru Airlines. The airline schedules in this neck of the woods is not daily so be sure to check the airline schedules.

3. Gibraltar (2.625 square miles)

In early 2015, I was in Hamburg, Germany and figured out a routing that would get me to Spain as well as Gibraltar. It’s not the easiest place to get to as the flights are quite expensive, but if you have agreements with the airlines serving the Rock, then you are golden.

Airlines Serving Gibraltar (GIB): British Airways (BA) and EasyJet Airlines (U2).

You may also fly into Jerez de La Frontera (XRY) as I did and then take a local bus to the border city of in Spain and then walk across the border. And yes, you do need your passport. It is quite expensive though and if you take money out of the ATM, be sure and use them before you leave as although they use the British pound as currency, the machines give you Gibraltar pounds which is frowned upon elsewhere in the world including the U.K.

Alternatively, you may even fly into Malaga, Spain (AGP) and then take a bus to the border town of La Linea and then walk across the border to Gibraltar.

Here’s a video of me crossing the active runway in Gibraltar (GIB) between flights.

I just did a trip there agin in 2022, by flying into GIB and then stayed in Almeria, Spain.

The Rock of Gibraltar from the airportThe Rock of Gibraltar from the airport

2. Monaco (0.78 square miles)

For my birthday in 2009, I decided to visit the Principality of Monaco. I even made it more fun by taking Heli Monaco from the Nice (NCE) airport. It was the best 7-minutes I’ve ever spent. Check with them for an interline discount even if your airline does not have an agreement.

This is perhaps the most expensive place I’ve ever visited and then I went to Norway :-). The opulence is incredible. The irony of taking a helicopter there is that I took the 1 EUR bus back to Nice.

Airlines Serving the Nice Airport (NCE): Aegean Airlines (A3), Aer Lingus (EI), Air Algerie (AH), Air Canada (AC), Air Corsica (XK), Air France (AF), Air Serbia (JU), Air Transat (TS), AirBaltic (BT), American Airlines (AA), Animawings (A2), Austrian Airlines (OS), British Airways (BA), Brussels Airlines (SN), Delta Air Lines (DL), EasyJet Airlines (U2), El Al Airlines (LY), Emirates (EK), Etihad Airways (EY), Eurowings (EW), Finnair (AY), FlyOne (5F), FlyOne Armenia (3F), Georgian Airways (A9), ITA Airways (AZ), Iberia Airlines (IB), Icelandair (FI), Jet2.com (LS), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL), LOT Polish (LO), La Compagnie (B0), Lufthansa German Airlines (LH), Luxair (LG), Norwegian Air International (D8), Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY), Nouvelair Tunisie (BJ), Pegasus Airlines (PC), Qatar Airways (QR), Royal Air Morac (AT), Ryanair (FR), Ryanair UK (RK), SAS (SK), Smart Wings (QS), Swiss Airlines (LX), TAP Portugal (TP), Tarom (RO), Transavia (HV), Transavia France (TO), Tunisair (TU), Turkish Airlines – Star Alliance (TK), Twin Jet (T7), U5, United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA), Volotea (V7), Vueling (VY), Wideroe (WF), Wizz Air (W6) and Wizz Air UK (W4).

Monte Carlo Hotel, Monaco

Monte Carlo Hotel in Monte Carlo.

1. Vatican City (0.17 square miles)

And so we made it to the smallest country on earth, Holy See aka Vatican City. After many times trying, I finally made it to Vatican City. You see each time I traveled, I usually ended up leaving town too early; weekend trip travels was the reason. For this one I recommend taking a tour as I did with Walks.

The airport of choice here is Rome-Fiumicino, Italy (FCO). Once you arrive take a bus to the city for about 4-6 EUR or take the train into the city. From there it’s easy to get to the Vatican using public transit, a taxi or Uber. There is also another airport Rome-Ciampino (CIA) which is served by low cost carriers.

Airlines Serving Rome-Fiumicino (FCO): AJet (VF), AccessRail (9B), Aegean Airlines (A3), Aer Lingus (EI), AeroItalia SRL (XZ), Aerolineas Argentinas (AR), Aeromexico (AM), Air Albania (ZB), Air Algerie (AH), Air Cairo (SM), Air Canada (AC), Air China (CA), Air Corsica (XK), Air Europa (UX), Air France (AF), Air Malta (KM), Air Serbia (JU), Air Transat (TS), AirBaltic (BT), AlbaStar (AP), American Airlines (AA), Arkia Israeli Airlines (IZ), Asiana Airlines (OZ), Austrian Airlines (OS), BMI Regional (BM), BQ, Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG), British Airways (BA), Brussels Airlines (SN), Bulgaria Air (FB), Cathay Pacific Airways (CX), China Airlines (CI), China Eastern Airlines (MU), Condor (DE), Croatia Airlines (OU), Delta Air Lines (DL), EasyJet Airlines (U2), El Al Airlines (LY), Emirates (EK), Eqyptair (MS), Ethiopian Airlines (ET), Etihad Airways (EY), Eurowings (EW), Finnair (AY), FlyOne Armenia (3F), Georgian Airways (A9), Gulf Air (GF), Hainan Airlines (HU), ITA Airways (AZ), Iberia Airlines (IB), Icelandair (FI), InterJet (4O), Jet2.com (LS), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL), Korean Airlines (KE), Kuwait Airways (KU), LATAM (LA), LOT Polish (LO), Lufthansa City Airlines (VL), Lufthansa German Airlines (LH), Luxair (LG), Middle Eastern Airlines (ME), Neos Air (NO), Norse Atlantic Airways (N0), Norwegian Air International (D8), Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY), Oman Air (WY), Pegasus Airlines (PC), Qantas (QF), Qatar Airways (QR), Royal Air Morac (AT), Royal Jordanian (RJ), Ryanair (FR), SAS (SK), Saudia Airlines (SV), Sichuan Airlines (3U), Singapore Airlines (SQ), Sky Express (GQ), Smart Wings (QS), SunExpress (XQ), Swiss Airlines (LX), T’way Air (TW), TAP Portugal (TP), Tarom (RO), Transavia (HV), Transavia France (TO), Tunisair (TU), Turkish Airlines – Star Alliance (TK), United Airlines – Star Alliance (UA), Uzbekistan Airways (HY), Volotea (V7), Vueling (VY), WestJet (WS), Wizz Air (W6) and Wizz Air UK (W4).

Airlines serving Rome-Ciampino (CIA): Ryanair (FR), Ryanair UK (RK) and Wizz Air UK (W4).

 

Vatican City - St. Peters BasilicaVatican City – St. Peters Basilica

Have you been to any of these countries? Please leave a comment below.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best way to plan routes to these small countries/territories?

Start with the Airport Schedules tool to see current services, then use the Mileage Calculator to map efficient hops. For microstates without airports, plan via the nearest hub and connect by train, bus, or ferry.

Are these destinations realistic for non-rev/standby travel?

Yes, but flexibility is key. Many routes are seasonal or low-frequency. Always carry alternates (nearby hubs, different alliances, or surface options) and watch weight-restricted long-haul returns (e.g., from HKG to the U.S.).

Do I need visas for any of these places?

Visa rules vary by nationality. Some offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival, while others follow the rules of the country they’re associated with. Verify requirements before departure, especially when routing via third countries.

How do I handle places with no commercial airport?

Target the closest international airport (e.g., ZRH for Liechtenstein, NCE for Monaco) and continue by rail, bus, ferry, or organized transfer. For ultra-remote locations (e.g., Pitcairn), expect ship segments and long lead times.

Any tips for booking accommodation near these microstates?

Use the embedded hotel map for quick availability near borders or key hubs. In peak seasons (e.g., Mediterranean summer), lock lodging first, then plan flight alternates around it.


Comments 31

  1. Reading these posts make me think of all the places I still have to visit! Out of those 14, I’ve only been to : Vatican City, Aruba, Bermuda, Maldives and Liechtenstein. Great post.

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  2. I’ve been to The Vatican. I was amazed by all of the beautiful art and saddened by the poor looking for handouts. 
    I’ve also been to Bermuda! What a beautiful island! The cleanest place I’ve ever been. You’re right, it’s very expensive, but the history you’ll see is worth the visit!

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      I hear you Theresa; typical of Tourist Attractions worldwide sadly.

      Yeah, loved Bermuda as well. I really want to go back, but have to draw big on the savings account :-).

      Kerwin
      Passrider.com
      Facebook.com/Passrider

  3. Thanks for the interesting article Kerwin! I have only been to 3 of these…so far.-Liechtenstein, Gibraltar and Vatican City. Looking forward to visiting some more.

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  4. Been to Malta, Maldives, st Kitts & Nevis, Aruba, Liechtenstein,Hong Kong, Bermuda, Monaco and Vatican City. We love traveling 

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      1. We don’t know, want to do trans Siberian railway, not been to Mongolia. Our kids wanted to know how many countries we had visited and we came up with 106 so I asked them to name the Capitol cities but they wouldn’t take me up on the challenge.  Applying for global entry was interesting though. Must say I love your site Kerwin

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          It’s always fun when you don’t know :). That’s the fun part of it all.
          I really want to do that Railway as well; should be fun.

          106 is pretty impressive, congrats! You are in a unique club there. I’m sure they will at some point hehe…The fun thing about capital cities is that they are not usually what we thing they are :-).

          Global Entry is really a must have for international travelers as it saves so much time.

          Thank you so much for your compliment about the site. You made my day :). I’m glad that you find the information useful Sue.

          Kerwin
          http://www.Passrider.com
          http://www.Facebook.com/Passrider

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  5. I have been to all of them except Gibraltar. See my profile on The Best Travelled : http://thebesttravelled.com/en/travellersSingle/anthonyasael/
    I find their ranking and classification far superior to TCC. They have done an amazing work to divide the world in 1281 World Regions.
    Curious to see your TBT travel map on it 😉

  6. I have been to all of them except Gibraltar. See my profile on The Best Travelled : http://thebesttravelled.com/en/travellersSingle/anthonyasael/
    I find their ranking and classification far superior to TCC. They have done an amazing work to divide the world in 1281 World Regions.
    Curious to see your TBT travel map on it 😉

  7. Pingback: Malé and Hulhumalé, Maldives – Unfamiliar Destinations

  8. Pingback: 8. Malé and Hulhumalé, Maldives – Unfamiliar Destinations

  9. I have been to more than one of these places.
    I have probably spent the most time in Grenada. I first visited in 1980 when Maurice Bishop was President. I didn’t stay long, we sailed into St. George and flew out the next day. No real need to describe the place before Reagan invaded. We have sailed in several times in the last 3 years with my wife flying out last in 2024. Today it is a vibrant country with a great airport, thanks to the Cubans. People are welcoming and there is a blossoming tourist industry. Customs and Immigration if you come in by sailboat is easy as they use SailClear mobile app used by much of the Caribbean nations. The chocolate is great and the House of Chocolate gives a wonderful history of chocolate on the island and in the world. Grenada consists of three main islands. Carriacou should have an airport by Spring of next year. It was damaged by Hurricane Beryl, but is recovering. The population of Grenada is quite diverse. While the majority is of African descent, there is a large Indian population and of course some indigenous people. The mix has helped to create the creole cuisine that includes Roti and lots of curries with many african based stews. Great hiking and horseback riding. Of course there are several rum distilleries.

    I visited Bermuda in 1980. It has probably changed since then, but my memory is of a very welcoming place with a very British flavor.

    We toured the Vatican in May of 2018. The Vatican is mobbed with tourists. Visits are are quite structured and youstick with the tour. A friend went to high school as a Ukrainian Catholic. He said that off the beaten path, it is an amazing place. Our tour guide said the least crowded time of year between New Year and Ash Wednesday. He also said it is the worst weather! We stayed in Rome in an AirBnB by the Peoples’ Gate and were able to walk both ways to Forum and to the Vatican. It is easy to catch a train from the airport to the central staion in Rome, though we took a cab back to the airport.

    As with everywhere in the world, we need to go back. We will be in Grenada by mid-December and will probably spend Christmas in Bequia in St. Vincent & The Grenadines.

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