One of the best things about traveling far and wide is becoming more open-minded to different cultures and backgrounds. You realize just how diverse the world is, and that there are many different ways of structuring everyday life, culture, and society.
Amateur adventurers went online to share the things that are generally considered normal in European countries that might be considered weird across the Atlantic, in the United States. Keep scrolling to read their insights.
#1
More than two political parties.
question12338338:
But Americans don’t think Europeans are "weird" for having more than 2 parties. In fact, I would imagine most Americans are jealous of such a system.
question12338338:
But Americans don’t think Europeans are "weird" for having more than 2 parties. In fact, I would imagine most Americans are jealous of such a system.
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31points
#2
Walking. So many things can be done in Europe just by walking but in the USA it usually requires a car.
ThisIsMyCouchAccount:
Dude.
I live in a medium sized city in the middle of the US. And in the downtown area. I'm about 6 blocks away from all the stuff.
It's a 45 minute walk.
There are no sidewalks. So I have to walk over a bridge with no shoulder or an industrial area with lots of railroad crossing and no sidewalks.
The only safe way to get there is to take this paved walking trail that eventually meets up with the city sidewalks. And is the wrong direction if you're trying to get into the downtown.
Thankfully they are building a pedestrian bridge that is direct.
ThisIsMyCouchAccount:
Dude.
I live in a medium sized city in the middle of the US. And in the downtown area. I'm about 6 blocks away from all the stuff.
It's a 45 minute walk.
There are no sidewalks. So I have to walk over a bridge with no shoulder or an industrial area with lots of railroad crossing and no sidewalks.
The only safe way to get there is to take this paved walking trail that eventually meets up with the city sidewalks. And is the wrong direction if you're trying to get into the downtown.
Thankfully they are building a pedestrian bridge that is direct.
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30points
#3
Paying to use the bathroom.
boulevardofdef:
America actually tried to introduce pay toilets in the '70s, but they failed for exactly this reason -- people were just so outraged that they would be expected to pay for that.
Zeeplankton:
This is something I think needs to be gotten rid of.. I can understand low traffic areas, actually, like maintaining a park or something. But what you mean I have to pay €1.10 to use a disaster of a bathroom, waiting for a train I've paid hundreds of € for? Looking at you Amsterdam Centraal.
Blackhawk23:
Got off the London tube after flying in to Heathrow and made the crucial error of not peeing in the airport before getting on the metro.
I ran up the stairs at a station in downtown London, only to see the pay-to-pee bathroom. I was contemplating just going in my pants, I had to go so bad. I didn’t even have the local currency yet and it was cash only.
Luckily a lovely British woman saw my dilemma and offered to pay for me to use the restroom. A kind gesture but incredibly dystopian, IMO. Europeans clown the US as hyper capitalistic. Making people pay to do a normal bodily function is so alien to me. Still is.
boulevardofdef:
America actually tried to introduce pay toilets in the '70s, but they failed for exactly this reason -- people were just so outraged that they would be expected to pay for that.
Zeeplankton:
This is something I think needs to be gotten rid of.. I can understand low traffic areas, actually, like maintaining a park or something. But what you mean I have to pay €1.10 to use a disaster of a bathroom, waiting for a train I've paid hundreds of € for? Looking at you Amsterdam Centraal.
Blackhawk23:
Got off the London tube after flying in to Heathrow and made the crucial error of not peeing in the airport before getting on the metro.
I ran up the stairs at a station in downtown London, only to see the pay-to-pee bathroom. I was contemplating just going in my pants, I had to go so bad. I didn’t even have the local currency yet and it was cash only.
Luckily a lovely British woman saw my dilemma and offered to pay for me to use the restroom. A kind gesture but incredibly dystopian, IMO. Europeans clown the US as hyper capitalistic. Making people pay to do a normal bodily function is so alien to me. Still is.
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27points
One of the pain points when comparing life in European countries and in the US is the difference in systems for parental leave. Broadly speaking, many countries in Europe offer great parental leave, while many American parents have to deal with a very barebones, unforgiving system at the federal level, with major variations at the state level.
For instance, in Sweden, as The Lactation Network notes, parents get 480 days of shared leave, with 90 days reserved exclusively for each parent. That way, both parents get time to bond with their child. Their parental leave is paid at 80% of their wages.
Meanwhile, in the US, the system is far less supportive.
#4
The price on the tag is the price you pay, unlike the US where taxes are added when you check out.
Same thing for restaurants.
LePhattSquid:
Do americans just, like, have to calculate what the product is actually gonna cost?
In my student days id literally be going around the supermarket totting up my total because i knew i had €12 on my card. I can’t imagine having to do tax as well that’s such a pain.
twopurplecats:
Yup. Personally I grew up in Texas where the sales tax was 8.25%. My mom taught me how to estimate 10% when I was pretty young, so I could easily calculate the amount I’d need to cover tax as well (with a little room for error)
Same thing for restaurants.
LePhattSquid:
Do americans just, like, have to calculate what the product is actually gonna cost?
In my student days id literally be going around the supermarket totting up my total because i knew i had €12 on my card. I can’t imagine having to do tax as well that’s such a pain.
twopurplecats:
Yup. Personally I grew up in Texas where the sales tax was 8.25%. My mom taught me how to estimate 10% when I was pretty young, so I could easily calculate the amount I’d need to cover tax as well (with a little room for error)
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26points
#5
Maternity leave of a couple months or years. Or split maternity/paternity leave.
ntcaudio:
We get 3 years here. However the money a parent receives as a substitute for salary from the state isn't great, so it's on the other parent to make money for the family for the most part. Ofc you can opt out and go back to work anytime if you feel like it.
edit: also, your employer is obliged to keep your job so that you can come back and they can't fire you during the period you're out.
mothramydear:
I got 16 weeks (4 were from my vacation/sick leave balance). My husband got 7 weeks. My mom called a week into my maternity leave and was like “[my husband] has already had more paternity leave than your dad got with both you and your brother combined” and I just about lost my mind. I don’t know how they did it. The fact that we continue to not have a national paid family leave policy is my villain origin story (or one of them, anyway).
ntcaudio:
We get 3 years here. However the money a parent receives as a substitute for salary from the state isn't great, so it's on the other parent to make money for the family for the most part. Ofc you can opt out and go back to work anytime if you feel like it.
edit: also, your employer is obliged to keep your job so that you can come back and they can't fire you during the period you're out.
mothramydear:
I got 16 weeks (4 were from my vacation/sick leave balance). My husband got 7 weeks. My mom called a week into my maternity leave and was like “[my husband] has already had more paternity leave than your dad got with both you and your brother combined” and I just about lost my mind. I don’t know how they did it. The fact that we continue to not have a national paid family leave policy is my villain origin story (or one of them, anyway).
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22points
“In the U.S., parents often face an uphill battle when it comes to balancing the demands of family and work, especially during the crucial early months of a child’s life. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act allows new parents to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave,” The Lactation Network explains.
This puts a lot of financial pressure on new parents and gives them fewer opportunities to bond with their children.
The average maternity leave in the US is around 10 weeks, while the average paternity leave is just 17 days.
That being said, depending on which US state you live in, you might get access to better opportunities. For example, Europe HR Solutions points out that new parents in California get access to 8 weeks of paid parental leave, equal to 60%-70% of weekly wages. In Colorado, you have a state-funded program of 12 weeks of paid leave, where your funds depend on your income.
#7
Eggs that aren't refrigerated.
Asleep_Onion:
It's totally normal for Americans who have chickens, but yeah in the stores our eggs are always washed and refrigerated.
7148675309:
I grew up in the UK - my parents (my mum is American) - did wash and then put eggs in the fridge.
Anyway - always spooks me to see eggs out in the supermarkets there and not in the refridgerated section. And when the question comes up on UK subreddits they are so negative about any other perspective…
Asleep_Onion:
It's totally normal for Americans who have chickens, but yeah in the stores our eggs are always washed and refrigerated.
7148675309:
I grew up in the UK - my parents (my mum is American) - did wash and then put eggs in the fridge.
Anyway - always spooks me to see eggs out in the supermarkets there and not in the refridgerated section. And when the question comes up on UK subreddits they are so negative about any other perspective…
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18points
#8
Toilet doors that go all the way up/down. For some reason, Europeans don’t like people watching them poop.
RangerDanger246:
Cheaper and easier is the reason. Think about how much more effort and time it takes to have really small clesrances for the parts and the walls they fit between.
Having a 1/4" gap leaves wigglw room for the stall doors and barriers in case walls are out lol.
Sloppy and cheap, that's why.
Several_Hospital_129:
I'm American, but my husband is English. Oh my goodness, I hate bathroom doors here in America. I bet I could make a ton of money by starting a business with European bathrooms, especially for the women.
Future-Outcome9210:
A large US company I worked for in Denmark, they did a office redecoration. Also new toilets. They installed these cardboard like walls and doors into the toilets. But closed all the way up. Few months after they changed it with real walls with tiling floor to ceiling and real solid doors. Nobody wanted to use the toilets with cheap cardboard walls.
RangerDanger246:
Cheaper and easier is the reason. Think about how much more effort and time it takes to have really small clesrances for the parts and the walls they fit between.
Having a 1/4" gap leaves wigglw room for the stall doors and barriers in case walls are out lol.
Sloppy and cheap, that's why.
Several_Hospital_129:
I'm American, but my husband is English. Oh my goodness, I hate bathroom doors here in America. I bet I could make a ton of money by starting a business with European bathrooms, especially for the women.
Future-Outcome9210:
A large US company I worked for in Denmark, they did a office redecoration. Also new toilets. They installed these cardboard like walls and doors into the toilets. But closed all the way up. Few months after they changed it with real walls with tiling floor to ceiling and real solid doors. Nobody wanted to use the toilets with cheap cardboard walls.
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18points
#9
Electric kettles.
Gibby1293:
American here. I just bought mine a week ago and i love it! I can’t believe I never had one before. We are seriously missing out.
WeeDramm:
You don't even know how badly you are still missing out. Kitchens in Ireland and the UK are wired for a much greater power-output because we need that kettle to boil right now. Because we need our tea.
Tea is Very Serious Business.
Gibby1293:
American here. I just bought mine a week ago and i love it! I can’t believe I never had one before. We are seriously missing out.
WeeDramm:
You don't even know how badly you are still missing out. Kitchens in Ireland and the UK are wired for a much greater power-output because we need that kettle to boil right now. Because we need our tea.
Tea is Very Serious Business.
16points
What have you found to be the biggest differences between life in European countries and in the United States, Pandas? Which side of the Atlantic do you prefer and why? What are some of the biggest cultural quirks of your home country? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
#10
Not replying to work emails outside of office hours (i.e. having weekends and time off).
NunYaBeezWax79:
I wish it wasn’t so expected to be available ALL the time to your employers in the US, even though we’re only paid for the 8-5.
NunYaBeezWax79:
I wish it wasn’t so expected to be available ALL the time to your employers in the US, even though we’re only paid for the 8-5.
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16points
#11
Drinking at 16.
Constant_Cultural:
We Germans already get sober at 16😁
couchcaptain:
In Hungary, the drinking age is whatever age you are when you can reach the top of the bar table to order a drink.
Constant_Cultural:
We Germans already get sober at 16😁
couchcaptain:
In Hungary, the drinking age is whatever age you are when you can reach the top of the bar table to order a drink.
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14points
#13
No tipping.
Stoltlallare:
They really pushing tipping in Sweden, every place has that stupid iPad with 15% 20% 30% bs now and if you pay by card they will ask you to type the number you wanna pay yourself. And they will stand there next to you as do it. It’s so awkward.
Tipping has been a thing for a very long time in sit down restaurants, but only as a way to round of the bill, but nothing more than that so like ”286 turn into 300” but that was common in a lot of countries I would sssume when you paid by cash, but it did translate into paying by card as well, but now they want MORE.
IrishFlukey:
Yes, we have this radical idea of having the hospitality industry pay their staff a decent wage and for any tips they do get to be completely for themselves with no impact on how much their employer has to pay them.
Stoltlallare:
They really pushing tipping in Sweden, every place has that stupid iPad with 15% 20% 30% bs now and if you pay by card they will ask you to type the number you wanna pay yourself. And they will stand there next to you as do it. It’s so awkward.
Tipping has been a thing for a very long time in sit down restaurants, but only as a way to round of the bill, but nothing more than that so like ”286 turn into 300” but that was common in a lot of countries I would sssume when you paid by cash, but it did translate into paying by card as well, but now they want MORE.
IrishFlukey:
Yes, we have this radical idea of having the hospitality industry pay their staff a decent wage and for any tips they do get to be completely for themselves with no impact on how much their employer has to pay them.
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13points
#14
The right to roam and public pathways through private lands. That freedom to transit through different kinds of land ownership and explore nature.
proscriptus:
We actually have a right to roam in our Vermont Constitution, I think a lot like England, there's a lot of tension around it, but unless you specifically exclude people (in a specific, legally acceptable way) your land is open to public use, including hunting.
proscriptus:
We actually have a right to roam in our Vermont Constitution, I think a lot like England, there's a lot of tension around it, but unless you specifically exclude people (in a specific, legally acceptable way) your land is open to public use, including hunting.
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13points
#15
Waiters that don’t constantly bother you when you’re trying to have a relaxing meal.
Catinkah:
A relaxing meal taking 1-2 hours. So you have time to digest between courses and... like.. take the time to have a conversation with your table mates and not having courses served back to back without a break.
palenuetral:
Most people from US would assume rudeness, laziness or forgetfulness from the waiter because they never bring over the check. The US is a pressure cooker and always trying to speed things along more than they need to.
In the US, the waiter is trying to find that exact moment to bring the check over when the patrons are settling to move on. The check is like part of the meal they are waiting for.
Outside of the US, I've usually had to ask for the check because the waiters are patiently waiting till I'm ready to move on.
Catinkah:
A relaxing meal taking 1-2 hours. So you have time to digest between courses and... like.. take the time to have a conversation with your table mates and not having courses served back to back without a break.
palenuetral:
Most people from US would assume rudeness, laziness or forgetfulness from the waiter because they never bring over the check. The US is a pressure cooker and always trying to speed things along more than they need to.
In the US, the waiter is trying to find that exact moment to bring the check over when the patrons are settling to move on. The check is like part of the meal they are waiting for.
Outside of the US, I've usually had to ask for the check because the waiters are patiently waiting till I'm ready to move on.
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13points
#16
Traveling efficiently by train.
Moorhenlessrooster:
Not in the UK, my friend.
Moorhenlessrooster:
Not in the UK, my friend.
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13points
#17
Not paying to go to the hospital.
Senior-Book-6729:
Can we not lie? Maybe in some countries, but in Poland we have separate public and private healthcare. The thing is, public healthcare is mostly useless (and has very long wait times), so if you want to be actually treated you have to pay anyway. And even then, to use public healthcare you need insurance, which is expensive. Also, it kind of sucks how me who makes very little money (contract work) has to pay almost 40% of my salary for the healthcare fund…
Senior-Book-6729:
Can we not lie? Maybe in some countries, but in Poland we have separate public and private healthcare. The thing is, public healthcare is mostly useless (and has very long wait times), so if you want to be actually treated you have to pay anyway. And even then, to use public healthcare you need insurance, which is expensive. Also, it kind of sucks how me who makes very little money (contract work) has to pay almost 40% of my salary for the healthcare fund…
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11points
#18
Having a work life balance.
PiccoloAwkward465:
It was great to work for an Australian company and they just offered 4 weeks PTO, I didn't need to negotiate for it. I didn't feel like I had to hoard my time off and plan my vacations down to the day.
Home_Improvers:
Having a life in general.
PiccoloAwkward465:
It was great to work for an Australian company and they just offered 4 weeks PTO, I didn't need to negotiate for it. I didn't feel like I had to hoard my time off and plan my vacations down to the day.
Home_Improvers:
Having a life in general.
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11points
#20
Affordable healthcare.
JasonDomber:
Would you rather pay nearly $1,000 a month just to be insured?
Because that’s where we’re at here. My medical premiums are $953.55 as of 2026 and dental is $39.14
Imagine paying £750 a month just to be insured….
rolph4:
I pay 1.6k month for me, my wife and kinds just to be insured and wait weeks and months for doctors appointments. In Germany as a low-medium income husband with a stay at home wife.
JasonDomber:
Would you rather pay nearly $1,000 a month just to be insured?
Because that’s where we’re at here. My medical premiums are $953.55 as of 2026 and dental is $39.14
Imagine paying £750 a month just to be insured….
rolph4:
I pay 1.6k month for me, my wife and kinds just to be insured and wait weeks and months for doctors appointments. In Germany as a low-medium income husband with a stay at home wife.
10points