Passport Check is USA TODAY’s weekly international travel briefing, helping you stay ahead of changing rules, trends, costs and opportunities around the world.
In my most recent trip to Japan, I tried my best to adapt to local customs – knowing how deeply ingrained politeness and cleanliness are in the country’s culture. At Ryokans, or traditional accommodations, I took off my shoes in exchange for slippers, and didn’t eat or drink on the subway or while walking around in public (even though my jet-lagged self badly wanted a coffee in hand). In stores, it’s considered rude to hand money directly to a cashier, and you should place it on a small tray instead.
When traveling to another country, it’s always prudent to follow the local customs and etiquette out of respect. To me, it’s more than just trying not to stick out like a sore thumb wearing a label that says “tourist,” but to better immerse myself in the culture of the destination.
Many travelers agree with me. Google searches for “how to have good etiquette” have surged 373% in the past year, and on TikTok, #etiquette has reached 4.4 billion views, according to language learning platform Preply.
However, travelers headed to Europe may not find good etiquette to be as straightforward as I did in Japan, since the customs can vary widely country to country. While it’s normal for friends in Spain to greet each other with cheek kisses, it could surprise someone in Sweden. Even where this greeting is commonplace, giving one to a new business client may not yield the results you want.
To help travelers navigate Europe’s cultural norms, Preply conducted a survey of 1,600 people from 27 European countries on what’s considered good etiquette, including greetings, home visits and dining.
“Good travel etiquette doesn’t require memorizing every rule,” said Madeline Enos, language trends expert at Preply, in an email to USA TODAY. “It’s about having good situational awareness, reading the room, and recognizing that what’s considered polite in one culture might be different in another.”
Here’s what travelers should know about good and poor etiquette in Europe.
To Bisous or Not Bisous
Many Americans believe the cheek kiss is a common greeting in Europe, but that might just be something we learned from television and movies. In reality, we should pause before we lean in. According to the survey, 85% of countries said they wouldn’t initiate a greeting this way with everyone, and most would wait for the other person. Some countries, like Denmark, Estonia, Sweden and Slovakia, said they never do this.
“This challenges the idea that cheek kissing is a universal European custom,” said Enos. “It’s certainly common in places like Spain, but when and how people use it depends on the situation.”
House Guest Rules
When invited into someone’s home, it pays off to know what’s appropriate so you can be a respectful guest. Taking your shoes off before entering is expected in 89% of countries, such as Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany. However, those in Spain, Italy and Portugal said they’d prefer you to keep your shoes on. If you’re unsure, just ask.
Bringing a gift such as a bottle of wine as a thank you for being hosted is typical in about two-thirds of the countries, although only for special occasions in Austria, the United Kingdom and Spain. The only country against it was Finland.
“My advice is to avoid assumptions,” said Enos. “What feels polite in one European country will not necessarily be the same in another. Even neighboring countries can have very different expectations around everyday interactions.”
However, nearly all 27 countries agreed on at least one behavior as being good manners: finishing your plate as a sign of respect for your host. So, eat up.
What Matters Is the Effort
Knowing the basics is always helpful in navigating a different country. I’m glad I researched local customs in Japan before my trip, so I knew a few things to expect — like how there are no public trash cans. Another tip by Enos is when in doubt, observe and copy what the locals do.
And in the end, don’t stress too much about potentially messing up. Whenever I’m in Mexico, I can get nervous ordering in Spanish at restaurants and find myself stumbling even more over pronunciation because of how much I want to get it right. Most of the time, locals will just appreciate the effort.
“To keep it short and sweet: good travel etiquette comes down to respect, not perfection,” said Enos. “You won’t always get everything right, and that’s okay. What matters is showing genuine interest in the people and culture around you. Often, this leads to the most meaningful interactions and connections while traveling abroad.”
Kathleen Wong is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY. She’s the author of “The Conscious Traveller Hawai’i” and is based in Hawaii.
Add a Comment