Do the larger cities in Europe have suburbs that are characterized as bedroom or commuter communites or are larger cities set up as distinctly urban (mostly vertical housing and business)? When my wife and I visited Australia, there was a noticeable and sudden difference between rural Melbourne and the city of Melbourne. I was wondering if Europe is similar or if they also have gradual suburban sprawl.
EDIT I am requesting information on what Europe IS like rather than what Europe is NOT like when compared to the USA.