Cheek kisses, shoes off and punctuality: European social etiquette rules travellers should know
From taking your shoes off indoors to being on time, a new survey reveals the social etiquette rules that travellers should know before heading to Europe.
When travelling in Europe, it's essential to be aware of the diverse social etiquette that varies from country to country. A recent study by Preply, an online language learning and tutoring marketplace, surveyed 1,600 people in 27 countries to uncover the key etiquette rules to keep in mind.
One significant finding is the controversy surrounding cheek kisses as a greeting. While many associate Europeans with this practice, it's actually less common than expected. In 23 out of 27 countries, most people surveyed would wait for the other person to initiate the cheek kisses. Denmark, Estonia, Sweden, and Slovenia even rejected the gesture outright.
Shoes off at someone's home is another practice that varies across Europe. While strict in Sweden, where 100% of respondents said it was necessary, many other countries, including 24 out of 27 countries surveyed, preferred taking off their shoes when visiting a host's home. This tradition may be more prevalent in northern European countries with cooler climates and fewer carpets to protect.
The question of whether to bring a gift is also culturally dependent. While more than half of the survey respondents considered bringing a gift to be standard practice, a third thought it was reserved for special occasions. Finland was the only country where the majority said they'd never bring a gift. Respondents from 17 out of 27 countries said they'd likely bring a bottle of wine or a bouquet of flowers, although nine of those countries, including Austria, the UK, and Spain, reserved the gesture for special occasions.
Finishing your food is considered respectful across all 27 countries, with 82% of men saying they always finish their meals, compared to 75% of women. Some women deliberately left a little food on their plates out of politeness. Regarding punctuality, the results were varied, with online searches for the term "is it better to be on time, early or late?" increasing by 66% globally over the past year.
In 23 out of 27 countries, respondents favoured arriving on time, with Greece particularly emphasizing punctuality. Single people were twice as likely to arrive late, and those with children found it particularly challenging to keep to a strict schedule.
Written by urgent.news from Euronews's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
