10 Tourist Mistakes to Avoid in EUROPE | Things to Know Before You Visit Europe

Planning a trip to Europe? Avoid these 10 common Europe Travel Mistakes that could cost you money, waste your time, and even make you look rude without even realizing it!

If you've ever had questions about how to get cash to pay for things (without being scammed), navigate the language barrier, or use the right transportation in Europe, this video is for you. Discover how to save money, have a more authentic local experience, and make the most of your European adventure. Don't miss out on these essential travel tips before you visit Europe!

***

Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.

RECOMMENDED TRAVEL RESOURCES:
The Best VPN for Travel:

Best Merino Wool Clothing for Europe:

EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter

Free Carry-On Only Packing List:

Best Credit Card for Free Travel:

My Favorite Travel Credit Cards:

TRAVEL TIP VIDEOS:

How we Pack for Full Time Travel:

Our Amazon Travel Must Haves:

Allie's TSA-Approved Toiletry Bag:

How to Find Cheap Flights:

How to Survive Long Haul Flights:

***

At Away Together, our mission is to help DIY travelers like you plan, afford, and enjoy better travel with your friends and loved ones.

Please SUBSCRIBE to follow along:

⏰ Timecodes ⏰
0:00 Don't Make These Europe Travel Mistakes
1:00 Mistake #1: How to Get Cash in Europe
3:05 Mistake #2: Not Attempting to Learn Language
5:17 Use Google Translate
5:37 Mistake #3: Not Using Europe's Public Transportation
7:00 Mistake #4: Overstuffing Your Europe Travel Itinerary
9:04 Mistake #5: Not Planning Enough
10:37 Mistake #6: Not Expecting Cultural Differences
12:07 Mistake #7: Not Researching European Customs and Norms
12:24 Tipping in Europe
13:53 Mistake #8: Assuming Europeans are Rude
15:18 Mistake #9: Not Leveraging Local Europe Travel Guides
16:45 Mistake #10: Bringing the Wrong Kind of Bag for Europe

[mares]

I am from Greece and I think American people are probably the best tourists Very kind and smiley people. Thank you😊

[dimitrinastoycheva]

I am a Bulgarian, we have amazing food and nature, and we are always kind and helpful to tourists :) So, if you haven't been here - don't miss it! :)

[LICENSETOGRILL]

Wow, spot on. Also control your volume! We were in a cafe having breakfast in Athens talking quietly and a group of eight women came in all trying to talk over each other. Our waiter rolled his eyes and actually apologized to us. Everywhere we have been in Europe the conversations are much more muted and not like eating in a Fridays

[patchan]

I’m a Singaporean living in Italy, totally agrees with ‘Humility and us being guests’, I guess the bottom line is Respect begets respect.

[aminor]

I have learned that a bank’s ATM inside a bank is safer than any, ATM outside! There are lots of scams with ATMs not in a secure location, like a bank office.

[MercedesHayes-ygdc]

Some of the best advice I've heard on line. I think some Americans think we are not friendly because we don't smile at them or say hi, but it's just our culture. If someone goes around smiling all the time, people would think
They are a bit crazy. 😂

[alicehughey]

I'm an American who really appreciates your comments about being polite and cultivating humility. We need to be good citizens of the world and curious about and respectful of other cultures if we want people to like us!

[fsetor]

As Europeans (Irish) our experience of US visitors both to our country and the numerous ones we visit is overwhelmingly positive. The only issue is the speaking volume - The times I had to put on noise cancelling headphones while reading to help drown out a conversation from several rows behind me on the trains is still fresh in my mind from our most recent trip

[hankl]

Using local greetings and short sentences are key signs of humility and respect, and it's phenomenal what you will achieve by doing so!

[Rswell]

I have met quite a few American tourists and I can honestly say that not one of them was rude or arrogant in any way.
Just one thing, and it may sound ridiculous to you but please don't ware your hat or cap indoors and certainly not at the dining table as it's considered very rude.

[rsaya]

You hit the nail on embracing new experiences and unique differences l. I hear Americans all too often missing the whole point of travel and beauty of a country by comparing it to their home town. I feel sorry for people like that. They’re missing out!

[aszechy]

Hungarian here, I live and work in the center of Budapest, so I encounter many tourists daily and have also worked occasionally as a guide. I have absolutely nothing against Americans - they are generally very friendly and while they might not know too much about my country they usually seem genuinely interested to learn which for me is a big plus. Most of the tips in this video are spot-on. Regarding the currency, proper, bank-affiliated ATMs will charge a withdrawal fee but will give you a good exchange rate, whereas at change booths, the rate will be worse but there is no one-off charge. So try to get by with one or two large ATM withdrawals and use the exchange booths for small amounts if you miscalculated things and need just a bit more cash. A big yes to the public transport as well, and I would like to add: don't limit yourself to the metro! The metro will definitely be the best option in Paris or London where there are dozens of metro lines and the surface traffic is horrible. But in Budapest and many other Central-European cities, we have trams that also avoid traffic and are much more dense than the metro network, and some will even be a great sightseeing experience. (Buses are of course also an option.) So you're making a big mistake if you try to go everywhere by metro just because you don't want to bother figuring out the other options. The only thing in the video I actually disagree with is the usefulness of learning the language basics. While I certainly appreciate the intent, and it might be a fun thing to do anyway, learing to say hello or sorry in the native language will have zero practical added value - these things can be understood from the context and for anything more complex you will need to find an English speaker anyway (which is not difficult to do in any big city in Europe). Oh, and about the water: while they certainly won't give you any free mineral water in restaurants in Europe, you're perfectly entitled to ask for tap water (which in the vast majority of Europe is perfectly fine to drink). They don't advertise it, and you might even get a disapproving look from less polite waiters, but they can't really say no. I've decided to stop paying for mineral water I don't need years ago and never have problems with this - you just have to work up the nerve to ask. Although, on second thought, this might not be an option for Americans who are generally not willing to drink anything that's above freezing point, even in winter 😅

[susanwestfall]

We always, whenever possible, make it a point to visit a local grocery store. It’s interesting to see what is different, and surprising to often see US brands there as well. We often take things back to our hotel room to try.

[RedwoodGeorge]

Learning the local culture and customs is a big, big step toward having a better experience. A colleague of my is French and before my first trip to Europe, she told me that it's basic courtesy to say hello ("bonjour") to the shopkeeper when you enter the shop. It's actually rude to ignore them and just walk in and start browsing. It actually makes sense, you're elevating them from being a servant to being a peer by recognizing them and saying hello. I did this every time I walked in a store and got a pleasant "bonjour" back. I'm sure they're used to American tourists not saying hello but they appreciate it when you make the effort.

[labtechsuperstar]

I cheered when Nik mentioned Pimsleur! I swear by that program. Not only do you learn important words and phrases, but you learn great pronunciation. I took their course in Czech for a trip to Prague and people there thought I was Czech. I have taken their European Portuguese (which I will likely repeat) and currently doing their Spanish course for an upcoming trip to both Portugal and Spain. No, I'm not paid by them to say this, just a very happy customer. By trying to speak in the language of the place you're visiting, even if it's not very good, you will be treated so much better than someone who shouts and expects to be served in English.

[richard_ager]

Hi Nik, just pointing out that you don't pay for water in a French restaurant if you simply want tap-water. Ask for "une carafe d'eau" (a jug of (tap) water). Pronounce "d'eau" like "dough" that is used to make bread!

[heatherfruin]

I don't mind paying for ice or going to the toilet. What puts me off going to the US is the tipping culture. It's a pity US employers don't have to pay employees a living wage. I'm Australian. Thanks so much for your advice. Great video.😊

[kevlarcardhouse]

I think the different restaurant/cafe/bar atmosphere also kind of contributes to the "Europeans are rude to Americans" myth. They are used to the North American way of doing things where restaurants want customers to eat quickly and leave so they can use the table again, and where staff are reliant on tips. When you grew up expecting everything being very quick and waiters being over-the-top in friendliness and chatter and are constantly asking you if you need anything, in Europe it can come off as bad service, slow, or cold and aloof.

[elainejarvis]

one of our best experiences was in Barcelona, we walked into a local restaurant and asked the waiter to tell us what to eat it was fabulous. We tried all kinds of foods and wines we would not have thought to order and the waiter was so nice to us. Try the local cuisine!

[Toonehv]

Dutchman here - number 8 is absolutely SPOT ON. Just chill out and be a nice person (not the same as being polite!) and you'll be fine. It's like visiting someone else's house: if you try to keep your prejudices at bay and respect their house rules, you're probably going to have a good time and get along great. People know you're in a different country across the globe, so as long as you're making an effort, you'll find them willing to forgive what might technically be a faux pas otherwise.