TravelAPR 13, 2025

30 Things Europeans Do Differently Than Americans And Surprise Them

It’s one thing to learn about a continent or geographical area by reading books or online articles; it’s another thing entirely to witness different cultures and ways of living with your own eyes. That’s why travel is so powerful: it opens your mind to the reality that the world is incredibly wide and varied.

Some of these differences in cultures and customs can be jarring for travelers. A handful of American internet users took to an online thread on AskReddit to share the things about Europe that they personally find utterly bizarre and bamboozling. Scroll down to read their opinions.

#1

30 Things Europeans Do Differently Than Americans And Surprise Them

Socialized medicine. Man, you get sick and you just go to the doctor without worrying about how much it will cost.

Ok_Key_4731, user16396000

Report

129points

#2

When I was in Romania, I didn't realize that the default for ordering water was for it to be carbonated. I remember buying a giant water bottle at the train station for a several hour train ride, and finding out too late it was bubbly haha. I quickly learned to specifically ask for "flat water".

Significant-Water-18, nensuria

Report

58points

#3

Comma as a decimal separator really threw me for a loop.

NicPizzaLatte, Getty Images

Report

54points

According to the World Population Review, France is the most visited country globally, with 89.4 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, followed by Spain (83.7 million), the United States (79.3 million), China (65.7 million), and Italy (64.5 million).

Next up in terms of tourist popularity is Turkey (51.2 million arrivals), Mexico (45 million), Thailand (39.8 million), Germany (39.6 million), and the United Kingdom (39.4 million).

#4

When I went to Europe, you had to pay to use public restrooms in a lot of places. As an American that’s crazy. Here the closest thing we have is a business saying only paying customers can use their restrooms, but I’ve never encountered a bathroom you literally had to use money to access.

gayjospehquinn, freepik

Report

53points

#5

This is something I’ve seen in the UK but may apply elsewhere. We were visiting g and decided to make a road trip mount to Cornwall. People seemed like we’d lost our minds. “But that’s like 5 hours!”. Right. So? They seemed to find it remarkable. Whereas we did not. 5 hours is about the drive I make to get to Dallas where I live and we do that with some frequency.

daveescaped, Lia Bekyan

Report

53points

#6

The Netherlands situation with floors in rentals. It’s one of the most insane things I’ve ever heard of.

Zeppelin59:

They don’t have any. Prospective renters have to supply and build their own floors, and remove them when they move out.

GuanSpanksYou, Getty Images

Report

51points

Travel and Tour World notes that fewer American tourists are considering heading to Europe (a “long-standing favorite”) and other places around the world this year due to rising costs.

The European Travel Commission, in collaboration with Eurail BV, states that only 37% of Americans plan to vacation in Europe in 2025, compared to 45% of those surveyed in 2024.

#7

Not weird, and I like it, but on escalators, when in London, you should stand to the right so people in a hurry can pass you. Learned that real fast.

TaroFuzzy5588, Tom Parsons

Report

48points

#8

For me personally, it's weird, but in a good way, that many Europeans are interested in American politics. I was surprised when I first learned it many years ago. I saw the BBC coverage of our presidential election on youtube, and it was similar to how we covered it. We Americans never showed that level of interest in politics in other countries, but now, I wish we did. It's usually, and in other news, this person became leader of this nation.

Showdown5618, Glenn Carstens-Peters

Report

46points

#9

Utter lack of accessibility for wheelchairs, blind people etc. I’m sure it’s not everywhere in Europe but it’s definitely not at all like western USA where there’s a lot of accessibility.

ElaineV, Getty Images

Report

44points

The European Union, which currently comprises 27 member states, has a population of 448 million people, or 5.6% of the global population. As per the official EU website, this number is predicted to grow until the year 2026, after which it may fall to around 420 million by the year 2100.

Meanwhile, the United States of America currently has an estimated population of nearly 344 million people, compared to 331.5 million in 2020. However, the Congressional Budget Office states that the US population is around 350 million in 2025 and may increase to 372 million by the year 2055.

The US is 9,866,289 square kilometers in size, compared to the EU’s 4 million square kilometers.

#10

Lot of the places I’ve been don’t use ice with soda, water, etc.

Buzallen, freepik

Report

42points

#11

No tarter sauce for fish & chips? how unamerican :)

Oh, and american chocolate sucks compared to german or swiss.

maler27, Davey Gravy

Report

41points

#12

Today I learned what a ‘hot press’ is on housing floor plans in Ireland. That one threw me for a loop. (It is, essentially, a water heater closet.).

cuddlesdotgif, Getty Images

Report

38points

What are some of the strangest things you’ve noticed and culture shock moments you've experienced while traveling abroad, dear Pandas? What are some cultural peculiarities that you’ve personally witnessed, whether while vacationing in Europe or the United States?

What are some of the things that you feel the most homesick about when you go on holiday? If you feel like opening up, feel free to do so in the comments below!

#13

Not sure if it's in all European countries, but the ground floor being 0 instead of 1. It makes sense, but it just feels a little "off" to me in an extremely subtle way.

bbbbbthatsfivebees, Getty Images

Report

37points

#14

Mayonnaise, on french fries.

Merciless972, yeEm

Report

37points

#15

Well im not offended but it's strange to me - the way they walk around naked in a mixed sauna - not even a towel. i have a towel just for cleanliness purposes. this happened in germany- i (woman) was there with my towel and and a man walked into the little sauna - without a stich on and grinning. and germans don't usually smile at a stranger.

Mammoth-Positive-396, pvproductions

Report

36points

#16

The vertical partially opened apartment windows.

VoidEel, Emily Wang

Report

34points

#17

Not sure if this is just Germany, but the lack of bug screens on windows. This is really frustrating because of German Luften, so it's often a requirement to crack open the windows, but there's nothing stopping the bugs. Ironically I mentioned this and someone said that bugs never really are an issue... and not long after a wasp started flying around the room.

WindyWindona, Aditya Vyas

Report

33points

#18

When you make incidental eye contact on the street with a stranger and instead of a nod or hello you get the mean mug or 1000 yard stare.

I know we’re not friends, but we’re not in prison.

regurgitator_red, 1Click

Report

33points

#19

Okay based on the countries I’ve been to, what is with the open showers? Where are the shower curtains?? All of the heat escapes, the water gets all over the floor… I understand that they can be beneficial for people with mobility issues, but I don’t understand how a curtain changes that.

There are enclosed showers there but the prevalence of open ones is so confusing….

savethedonut, Hannah Xu

Report

33points

#20

The caps don’t fully detach from your plastic water bottles (though I’ve come to appreciate this!).

1_tomato, Tom Radetzki

Report

33points