Dress well, drink less: The rules for doing Europe like a European

If you’re ever wondering about the correct way to behave while travelling, the answer is simple: the same way the locals do.

Though, of course, within that simple answer lies a whole world of nuance and potential misunderstanding. And that’s never more true than in Europe, where accepted customs might change from village to village, let alone from country to country.

This is a continent with myriad social rules and etiquette expectations, and with more and more tourists swamping its many countries, causing friction with locals as over-tourism bites, it has never been more important to figure them out and abide by them.

The following, then, is your guide to doing Europe in the same way the Europeans do. It’s advice on eating, drinking, shopping, dressing, and even moving from place to place while acting in the same way locals do – which, of course, can vary wildly depending on which country you’re in and even the time of year you’re travelling.

The “rules” are complex and often contradictory. But they are also vital for ensuring a positive experience not just for visitors, but for those being visited. It’s a form of respect. It’s a chance to lessen your impact, to heighten your enjoyment, and even to better yourself in the process.

Converse like a European

Keen to pull off some La Dolce Vita vibes? Then do what the Europeans do.Credit: Alamy

This one is simple: if you want to do as the locals do in Europe, you need to speak as the locals speak. In their language.

Of course, you aren’t expected to learn an entire language for every country you visit. For most of us, that isn’t remotely feasible.

What you are expected to do, however, is learn a few rudimentary phrases to get you through simple interactions without being that tourist yelling at everyone in English.

This is more important in some countries than others, though it always shows respect. It will be particularly useful in France and will help a lot in Spain and rural Germany.

In German cities, however, as well as the Netherlands, Belgium, much of Portugal, as well as tourist-friendly areas in Greece, Poland, Italy and many other countries, English will get you by just fine – but it’s more polite to at least have a few words of the local tongue.

Dress like a European

In large European cities, there’s a certain formality to local dress that tourists rarely adhere to.Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

As with essentially every other facet of this story, the key to dressing appropriately in Europe is to match the style and level of formality of the locals. Which, as a tourist, isn’t always easy to do.

The general rule for most of us is to try harder.

If you want to blend in with the crowd and so lessen the impact of tourists in places who see many, many of them, you need to dress in a way that is more stylish and thoughtful than the classic boardies and thongs or even the Kathmandu-style adventure wear that gets passed off as fashion among travellers.

In large cities such as Paris, Rome, Prague, Madrid and Vienna, there’s a certain formality to local dress that tourists rarely adhere to, no matter how much it would be appreciated.

You might get around during the day in standard tourist attire, but at night, at restaurants, concerts and other events, it’s worthwhile carrying around at least a few more formal outfits that will make it look like you’ve gone to some effort.

Dress standards tend not to fluctuate too much with the weather: locals dress quite conservatively in, say, baking-hot Seville, in the same way they do in Frankfurt, in the same way they do in Stockholm.

In cities such as Barcelona, Lisbon, Berlin and Copenhagen, you can be less formal, but you still need to be stylish if you want to fit in with locals. In country areas and around beachy holiday destinations (except the likes of Nice and Cannes), visitors can be a lot more casual and relaxed with their dress.

Eat like a European

Eat like a Roman … Trattoria al Moro, Rome.

Dining customs, of course, vary greatly from country to country. They eat early in northern Europe; they eat very late in the Mediterranean. They take their time – a long time – over food in the south; they speed things up a little in the north. We will have to generalise here for the sake of brevity.

To begin with, most European countries stick to a fairly rigid schedule of eating times, which you will need to be aware of and obey – otherwise, you just won’t get fed (French restaurants, in particular, will shut up shop very quickly).

You should also prepare to treat each meal as an event, something to take your time over and savour, rather than as food to bolt down and get back to whatever you were doing. Most people don’t eat on the go in Europe.

Lunch tends to be the most important and largest meal of the day in many European countries, which is a style you should adhere to. Go light on breakfast, settle in for a hefty feed in the middle of the day, and then keep things relatively simple for dinner.

Stick to milk coffee in the morning.Credit: iStock

You will even discover meals that don’t exist in Australia, though you should embrace them while travelling.

In Spain, merienda is a light, often sweet snack and coffee taken about 5pm. In Italy, aperitivo is a pre-dinner drink and snack that starts about the same time. In Sweden, fika is a mid-morning or mid-afternoon break for coffee and pastries.

It’s also important to make reservations at restaurants in Europe. Many restaurants on the Continent will not “flip” their tables, which means there is only one seating per meal – a restaurant may look empty when you arrive, but it will fill up steadily over the course of the night.

And finally, if you’re going to dine like a European, you should finish your meal with a coffee, usually just a simple espresso, and definitely not a milk-heavy cappuccino or cafe latte. If it’s late at night, feel free to ask for decaf.

Oh, and be aware that there might be an extra charge on your bill, known in Italy as a “coperto”, or table charge, which will be a few euros. Tipping is not mandatory in any European country, though 10 per cent is appreciated.

Drink like a European

By all means imbibe – but know when to stop. Credit: Getty Images

Europeans drink alcohol. A lot. It’s not uncommon in, say, Spain to visit a snack bar first thing in the morning and find several people there nursing glasses of wine or cold beers.

The big difference to Australian drinking culture, however, is that in Europe alcohol is very rarely consumed without food, and the idea is to enjoy the drink rather than to get very drunk.

This will vary from place to place. In a German beer hall you will see your share of public drunkenness, and there won’t always be food to go with the “mass”, or one-litre beer glasses. Same in the Czech Republic. So, again, we will need to generalise a little here.

In Europe, most people will drink some alcohol with any sit-down meal. That will usually mean wine, which is poured in small amounts and is meant to be sipped and savoured, rather than slugged.

There’s often a drink to be had before the main meal too – in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and more southern countries, these drinks will be taken standing up, or sitting at high tables, often right on the street, and always with a small snack to whet the appetite.

Spirits are popular too: grappa, palinka, schnapps, eau de vie, cognac, akvavit and many, many more. The trick – as with any drinks you consume in Europe – is to go with whatever is local, as that will be the cheapest, and it’s what everyone else will be drinking. And drink for the taste, not the effect.

Coffee is also popular throughout Europe, though the quality varies greatly. One custom that runs through most countries, however, is that milky coffees are generally only drunk in the morning, while afternoons and evenings are for short, black styles.

Shop like a European

Need to stock up? Grab a basket or bag and head to a market.Credit: Getty Images

Let’s start with food shopping. If you’re buying produce to eat in Europe and want to fit in with the locals, head to the market.

Though supermarkets exist in all European countries and are still necessary for bulk buys, cosmetics, toiletries etcetera, for fresh produce that supports local farmers and workers – and which is often produced by hand, organically and sustainably – you should be shopping daily at the local market.

Look for whatever is fresh, seasonal and locally produced when you do your shopping. Generally, whatever is being sold will fit those parameters, though if you’re unsure, just ask the people behind the counter.

It’s also worth asking what to do with certain ingredients – there will always be local recipes that make use of the produce, and locals are usually happy to share these dishes.

For your other shopping needs, the only thing you will have to do to fit in with the locals is take note of opening hours.

Many shops in southern Europe won’t open until 10am, and in the far south, particularly in smaller cities, they will close for three hours or so in the afternoon. In northern Europe, most shops will be open by 9am, and across the Continent, large department stores and supermarkets will stay open well into the evening.

Be aware, too, that in Germany, Austria, Poland and certain other countries, most shops will be closed by law for all of Sunday; in many others, they will be closed for at least part of the day. Even in Spain, where there are no laws stating shops have to close on Sundays, many take the day off.

Rest like a European

A siesta isn’t mandatory, though why wouldn’t you indulge?Credit: Getty Images

The most obvious quirk that leaps out here is the siesta, which is typically associated with Spain, though it’s also common in parts of Italy, Portugal and other Mediterranean nations.

Sometimes, siesta isn’t about sleep – it’s an extended break from work in the middle of the day when many small businesses close up shop, and workers go home for a proper lunch.

Your obedience when it comes to siesta isn’t mandatory, though why wouldn’t you indulge? In the places where this is popular, the weather is often stiflingly hot, and everything is closed anyway – you may as well retire to your hotel or holiday apartment for a postprandial rest.

The hours that Europeans sleep tend to reflect their location. In sun-drenched southern countries such as Spain, people stay out late and then begin their day late. In the likes of the Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia, everyone is in bed early and then out of bed earlier the next day.

One quirk that you will need to prepare yourself for: in Germanic countries such as Germany, Switzerland and Austria, couples might share the same bed, but they don’t share the same blanket. It’s customary for double beds to be made with two single doonas rather than one large one. Go with it.

Travel like a European

Flying instead of catching a train? Gauche.Credit: Getty Images

You have probably heard of flygskam, or “flight shame”, a term coined in Sweden to describe the social shame of flying from one place to another instead of taking a train or bus.

That idea became popular back in 2018, and it has since spread throughout much of Europe, particularly in France, which has banned domestic short-haul flights where a rail alternative of under 2½ hours exists.

This is your key to travelling like a local in Europe: take the train. Train networks in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and many other countries are extensive and efficient, if not always very affordable. Still, this is the way most locals choose to travel, and you should too.

When it comes to choosing your destination, meanwhile, you could also take a leaf out of locals’ books. In Italy, for example, the island of Ischia is more popular with locals than the Amalfi Coast.

Budget-friendly destinations such as Bulgaria are popular among skiers, while Turkey’s southern coast is a well-known alternative to Italy, Greece and Croatia.

Red flags: Five signs you’re an annoying tourist in Europe

Crowds at Rome’s Trevi Fountain... sticking to the stereotypical sites leads to overcrowding.Credit: Getty

You’re dressed in adventure wear. It used to be that Australian tourists could be spotted for miles off in their boardies and singlets. These days in Europe, however, the offending items of clothing are far more likely to be made by lululemon or Kathmandu. Tourists have a habit of dressing in skintight activewear or baggy clothing designed specifically for travel. It might be comfortable, but it’s also obvious.

You’re dining too early. You will know as soon as you sit down in that popular restaurant and notice that you’re the only one there: I’ve arrived too early. I’m dining in the tourist timeslot. In Italy, no one sits down for dinner before 8pm and often not before 9pm. In Spain, it’s often not before 10pm. The same in Greece and Croatia. In northern Europe, however, restaurants are busy by 6pm.

You’re drunk. Consider your past trips to Europe, and think about how many times you have seen local people visibly drunk. It’s rare, surely. Europeans drink for enjoyment, but not with the goal of outrageous drunkenness. If you see anyone stumbling around the street, yelling, or causing a scene, there’s a good chance that person will be a tourist.

You’re obsessed with the sights. Foreign tourists in Europe tend to stick to a rigid set of destinations and even attractions within those destinations, which is a problem, as anyone who has been to Dubrovnik, or Prague, or Amsterdam can attest. This is one of the easiest ways to mark yourself out as a tourist: just be in these over-touristed places. It’s far better to choose an alternative.

You’re only speaking in English. Have you ever noticed the way most Europeans can speak at least two languages, often three, sometimes even four or five? There’s a word for monolingual people in Europe, and that word is “tourist”.

Five European destinations where Europeans go

A village in Agulo in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife of the Canary Islands.Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Canary Islands, Spain. Steer clear of major resort hubs such as Arrecife in Lanzarote and Santa Cruz in Tenerife – both of which attract Ryanair-loads of boozed-up Brits – and you will discover a spectacularly beautiful and culture-rich set of islands to the west of Morocco. The likes of Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura are vastly underrated by antipodeans. See hellocanaryislands.com

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France. Picture a destination that has cultural attractions as well as natural beauty, without the crowds of Rome or Paris, yet still has plenty to experience and enjoy. We’re talking about Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, the French region that includes Lyon, Annecy and Chambery, not to mention ski paradise in Chamonix and Val-d’Isere. See france.fr

Bulgaria. Those aforementioned French ski areas might be popular with a certain European set, but that doesn’t mean they’re cheap. The alternative in that respect, one that has been popular with domestic travellers for some time now, is Bulgaria, which has very affordable skiing in the likes of Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo. See bulgariatravel.org

Ischia, Italy. Fans of the Neapolitan Novels by Italian author Elena Ferrante, would already be familiar with Ischia, the island off the coast of Naples. This is not just a favourite holiday spot for modern-day Neapolitans (and other Italians), but a setting for some of the more memorable scenes in the series’ first two books. It’s also achingly beautiful. See italia.it

Adriatic Croatia. Known in Croatian as Jadranska Hrvatska, this gorgeous region takes in the likes of Split, Zadar, Pula and Rijeka, coastal hotspots whose populations swell in summer as hordes of European holidaymakers descend. It’s easy to see why, too, with historic locations, excellent local cuisine, and some of the finest beaches on the planet. See croatia.hr