Uncover the 13 Shocking Tourist Blunders in Europe That Could Ruin Your Trip!
Europe, the uncontested queen of tourism, pulls in about two-thirds of the globe’s international visitors—yes, two-thirds! And just when you thought it’d be smooth sailing, along came the pandemic to throw a wrench in the gears. But don’t hang up your travel boots yet; the industry is rallying back with gusto. Now, before you pack your bags and jet off, ever wondered what blunders could turn your European adventure into a comedy of errors? Thanks to a Reddit thread that asked the internet’s collective wisdom, we’ve got a treasure trove of what not to do—from dodging American fast food chains thousands of miles away from home, to understanding the delicate dance of local etiquette and the nuances that vary from, say, Finland to Italy. Buckle up as we delve into the quirks, faux pas, and downright hilarious mistakes tourists keep making across the Old Continent. Ready to keep your trip unforgettable for all the right reasons? <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/11dfqi1/whatshouldpeopleavoidwhiletravelingtoeurope/” target=”blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>LEARN MORE
Europe is the global leader in tourism, accounting for roughly two-thirds of international arrivals worldwide. The growth rate of this share accelerated in the 2010s, with the continent reporting a peak of 745 million international visitors in 2019.
With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the volume dropped dramatically, as lockdowns and emergency measures were implemented, but in 2021, things started to get better again, with travel and tourism amounting to 1,450 billion U.S. dollars of the European GDP; this figure remains way below pre-pandemic levels, but the industry is clearly rebounding.
So in an attempt to help everyone planning to explore this corner of the world, let’s take a look at a Reddit post that asked its users, “What should people avoid while traveling to Europe?” From getting around and eating out to keeping safe and interacting with locals, continue scrolling to check out the biggest mistakes to avoid!
As an American who did this foolishly: American chain restaurants. You flew 5,000 miles across an ocean, don’t waste your time eating American food you could have gotten in Ohio. Don’t just try the “local” stuff, go out of your way to find small mom and pop restaurants that the actual residents prefer.
The best meal of my entire life was in such a restaurant in Greece. I had rented a car with a friend who was visiting his grandparents and we were driving up north from Athens for hours. I kept trying to stop on the highway for some American or similar fast food (Pita Pan is legit decent fast food).
We had pulled off onto a smaller road and for hours didn’t see anything. We were so hungry we promised to pull over at the next restaurant we saw. When we finally saw one we pulled over immediately, only to find ourselves in someone’s house. It literally looked like someone’s driveway. Eventually I noticed a little coke branded refrigerator (filled with beers) and realized it really was a restaurant, kind of.
Inside was literally some grandma’s house but the living room was full of small wooden tables (probably 4-5). We were the only ones in the entire place besides grandpa who was reading a newspaper and having a coffee. You could see into the rest of the house, which was literally just some old people’s home. Grandma excitedly welcomed us and asked us what we wanted to drink. The food was whatever she cooked that day, you didn’t have a choice. That day it was some kind of meat (either beef or beef + goat) in red meat sauce with potatoes and some Greek salad and hearty bread. I guess if you didn’t like what she was serving, you were out of luck, but it was utterly divine, best thing I’ve ever had. It was also like $7 for the whole thing.
I figure she literally just cooks for herself and her husband and makes 2-3x as much on the chance that a few people stop by. I wish I had some idea where that place was, but I’d never find it in 100 years of traveling again. :/
Be respectful to memorial places. Don’t come to the idea to make selfies or similar.
Inform yourself about the traditions of the country. In some countries, you can openly make smalltalk with strangers, while in another one, you do have to approach them like a wild animal.
Don’t rent a car if you’re going to stay at a major capital, it’s not worth it, it’s much better to use public transport and get an occasional Uber
Avoid assuming Europe is all roughly the same. It’s a continent, not a country. You don’t go to Japan and expect it to be like Indonesia just because they are both in Asia. In other words, it all depends on which country in Europe you are traveling to.
It really, really, REALLY depends on which part of Europe you are talking about. For example, Finland and Italy are very different places with different social cultures. Heck, there are differences even inside a country!
Some tips in Finland, capital area especially:
