Rules vary by country, so there is no single Europe-wide photography law summary. If you plan to publish or sell images, check local law or get qualified legal advice.

That said, the common practical rule described in the answers is:

• In genuinely public places, you can usually photograph what is visible.
• Restrictions often apply on private property that is open to the public, such as shopping centers, some stations, and similar venues. Owners or security may forbid photography and ask you to stop or leave.
• Some places may have special security restrictions; in Sweden, for example, secure sites are marked.
• The Czech Republic was specifically noted as having freedom of panorama.

A key practical point: even where security staff cannot demand deletion of images, arguing on the spot is rarely worthwhile when traveling.

So yes, there can be differences between Germany, the Czech Republic, Sweden, the UK, and others, but for tourists the biggest day-to-day distinction is usually public space versus privately owned accessible space. Official government guidance may be limited; country-specific guidance from qualified lawyers or photographers’ rights organizations is often more practical.