Europe Local Customs

  Svyturys from Klaipeda
by HORSCHECK
 
  • Svyturys from Klaipeda
      Svyturys from Klaipeda
    by HORSCHECK
  • Cafes at Pl. de la Sorbonne
      Cafes at Pl. de la Sorbonne
    by Beausoleil
  • one of many faience shops in Moustiers
      one of many faience shops in Moustiers
    by angiebabe
  • personally signed by its crafter
      personally signed by its crafter
    by angiebabe
  • Sea of flames under the cross on All Saints' Day
      Sea of flames under the cross on All...
    by J4r0
 

Most Viewed Local Customs in Europe

76.

Parlez vous francais?   Paris

Parlez vous francais?, Paris

 115 Reviews  Before our trip to Paris, my French vocabulary consisted of "croissant" and "crepe" - pronounced improperly, I may add. Armed with just these two terms, I figured we wouldn't starve but wouldn't be... 

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77.

Coffee Shops / Drugs   Amsterdam

Coffee Shops / Drugs, Amsterdam

 54 Reviews  The weed and hash menu is displayed openly for people to see. Look and decide what you want to purchase, or not. It is a CHOICE. Even though they are not really known for their weed, I have heard... 

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78.

Do As Romans Do   Rome

Do As Romans Do, Rome

 160 Reviews  News: TUSCAN VILLAGER WINS 148 MILLION EURO ON SAT, AUG 22! This week, Aug 20, was the 86th draw without a winner and pushed the pot to 146.9 million euros for Italy's SuperEnalotto jackpot. It... 

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79.

Food / Drink   Barcelona

Food / Drink, Barcelona

 92 Reviews  The locals flock to get all they can of the ham and pasteries that abound around the city. We saw the real store that only sold the jamon, and yes; it is expensive no matter how you cut it, or how... 

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80.

Carnival   Venice

Carnival, Venice

 44 Reviews  Carneval di Venezia ( Carnival of Venice ) is a must visit at least once in your lifetime, and to get into the spirit of things, a mask is a must. Venice has seen some form of mask going back to the... 

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81.

Etiquette   Vienna

Etiquette, Vienna

 29 Reviews   What I committed in Vienna, that lot of Viennese are fair. It is strange for me to see newspapers put into box (and not locked) and it is written: "put 1 euro there and bring newspaper". It means... 

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82.

Food and Drink   Berlin

Food and Drink, Berlin

 23 Reviews  The Internationales Berliner Bierfestival is a blast of a festival held near the Alexanderplatz. I counted 3 separate major stages where bands were playing, and the booths of beer vendors went on for... 

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83.

Drinking   Dublin

Drinking, Dublin

 37 Reviews  There is a famous saying that god created alcohol so that the Irish won’t take over the world. Indeed, some of the most popular sights in Ireland are alcohol-related such as Whiskey tasting or a visit... 

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84.

Beer!   Prague

Beer!, Prague

 39 Reviews   Statistically Czechs are one of the top beer drinkers in Europe. There are huge species of beer possible to buy in shops. Actually beer here is not only used for drinking, but also to make soaps,... 

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85.

Culture   Madrid

Culture, Madrid

 56 Reviews  In Spain, there's no need for a special reason to go out and celebrate, it's seems like the city is always prepare to go out and have good time. In Madrid, the official fiestas , by calender , are... 

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86.

Eating   Brussels

Eating, Brussels

 43 Reviews  Belgium chocolate is famous, and remarkably linked to Tourism. I think that it is impossible to approach Manneken Pis without being compelled to enter one of the many shops that rival to make the most... 

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87.

Lifestyle & Habits   Copenhagen

Lifestyle & Habits, Copenhagen

 25 Reviews  On the Hop on Hop off bus tour we learned about the garden allotments. In Danish culture the allotment garden has become a symbol of blue-collar culture - with all the positives and negatives... 

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88.

Food and drink   Lisbon

Food and drink, Lisbon

 49 Reviews  If you're one that loves sweets and a dessert especially after a meal, this one is for you. However, that is if you love the tropical fruit mango since this particular dessert, and very much a... 

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89.

Language   Stockholm

Language, Stockholm

 20 Reviews  One of the things Swedes really don't like is someone coming to Sweden speaking any other language than Swedish or English. The way we see it is that we have made an effort to learn the international... 

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90.

Dining and Drinking   Milan

Dining and Drinking, Milan

 25 Reviews  The custom of aperitivi is helpful when you're on a budget. Many of the bars in Milan, for the price of a drink, will give you food to go along with it. You can easily make it into a light... 

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91.

Behavior & Superstitions   Moscow

Behavior & Superstitions, Moscow

 49 Reviews  Tourist-turned-journalist: "Any advice where I should go to find hard-core authenticity? Drunk tractor drivers having a race, head-scarved babushkas with goats, men jumping into snow after the banya,... 

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92.

Dining and Drinking   Krakow

Dining and Drinking, Krakow

 4 Reviews  You will notice people walking around eating a long sandwich covered with pasta sauce and cheese. In actuality, it is a baguette, split in half. cooked in the over until the cheese is melted. Here... 

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93.

Sauna (The Finnish Sauna Society)   Helsinki

Sauna (The Finnish Sauna Society), Helsinki

 6 Reviews  We deliberately chose a hotel with a swimming pool in Helsinki and were shocked to find the pool only opened around 2 hours per day. This is because the pool is part of the sauna experience. Finnish... 

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94.

Eating / Drinking   Edinburgh

Eating / Drinking, Edinburgh

 32 Reviews  When I told one of my friends I was going to Edinburgh, he said "You must try haggis!" I asked him what it was, but he told me (ironically) that I'd better just ordered it in a restaurant in... 

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95.

Legends and urban stories   Antwerp

Legends and urban stories, Antwerp

 19 Reviews  There is some Antwerp legend (I'm afraid I don't remember the details but it's not important) about a giant and a man who fight, the man wins and cuts of the giant's hand (natives - feel free to... 

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96.

Beers / Chocolates / Flemish Frites (Fries).   Brugge

Beers / Chocolates / Flemish Frites (Fries)., Brugge

 20 Reviews  While you are in Brugge you MUST try fries with mayonnaise (of course unless you are not a big fan of mayonnaise). I never thought it would be that good until I tried it. When we ordered them, they... 

 See All 118 Local Customs in Brugge

97.

Culture   Warsaw

Culture, Warsaw

 39 Reviews   Warsaw has not one but two legends of mermaids. - One is the story of a fisherman named WARS , who while fishing in the river found a mermaid named SAWA, they fall in love and she asked him to found... 

 See All 126 Local Customs in Warsaw

98.

Alcohol   Tallinn

Alcohol, Tallinn

 7 Reviews  Estonian beer proved to be really good, even from the point of taste of a spoilt German tongue. I learned that the Purity Law we Germans are so proud of (beer may contain hop, malt, water and yeast,... 

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99.

Topless Sunbathing   Nice

Topless Sunbathing, Nice

 5 Reviews  Topless sunbathing is permitted on the beaches of the Cote d'Azur. You'll see a mix of women with their tops on or off as you enjoy the beaches. The lesson to be learned is not to stare like a... 

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100.

April Fair   Sevilla

April Fair, Sevilla

 9 Reviews  Next to the Feria you find a huge lunapark, called "Calle del Infierno" - Hell's street. When you walk around there you understand why it got this name. You can find merry go rounds but also some... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Studying European ethnic groups...

by microsensazione

Your approach of a long study is the best way to reach your target on visiting European Community!My profession makes me travel a lot around European Community and I consider me very lucky because I work with many different European people and, in this way, I have the opportunity to meet and understand very deeply their own different Souls.So, I'm glad now to help you with a simple but fundamental consideration I have learned: in European Community many souls and customs are deeply connected with ethnicity.It's very curious because, even if we are an European Community not so extended geographically (I'm thinking about Australia), we still maintain our local customs!I'm VERY VERY proud about it because I feel that a great richness, an "ultra-wide" open vision opportunity of approach on every argument.Why have I written you these things?Because I'd suggest you to begin studying the...

Telfs/Austria : the next Schleicherlauf is 2015

by globetrott

Schleicherlauf in Telfs/Austria is a great event that will take only every 5th year, and the next time will be in 2015 !It is not easy to translate Schleicher into english, but "sneaker" might be a good explanation : they have a bell fixed at their back and they have to make sure that this bell stays calm, this is why they have to move very cautiously.Schleichers will always have a mask, a flag and some pretzels and very elegant socks.New Schleicherhats are made for each Schleicherlaufen and they are really great works of art, I think I saw around 40 different such hats at the Schleicherlaufen 2010.The audience will have 3 possibilities to see them : About 1 hour before the Schleicherlauf starts they will meet and place their hats in a garden, where you can go and see them from a short distance. Then you will see them in the parade and finally there is an exhibition of them in the...

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European Currency

by Leipzig

The European Union consits of 25 members, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus (the south only), Czech Republic,Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom. The monetary unit of the European Union is Euro (€), except in the UK, Denmark, Sweden and the new ten members. Although there is only one currency in Europe there is a little different on the backside of coins. If you want to know more about this currency have a look on my travelogue.

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Sports

by Mikebond

The most popular sport in Europe is certainly football. Some peoples, like Italians or Spaniards, are totally crazy about those 22 people who play with a ball. It is a fact that the best football teams in the world are European (well, South America has some, too): Milan, Juventus, Inter, Roma in Italy, Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea in the UK, Bayern München in Germany, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux in France, and many more.However, football is not equally important in all of Europe.Rugby enjoys a high support in France, Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland. These five team play every year the "Six Nations" tournament. But there are five of them, you'd say! The sixth team is... Italy, the weakest one, which ends up last almost every year.Hockey is very important in Sweden, Finland, Russia, Latvija, Czechia, Slovakia and Germany.Other important...

Use the local language, you are a guest!

by MvomO

Learn a few words of the local language and use them, at the very least a greeting, a goodbye and the question if whoever you talk to speaks English, French or whatever other language you speak. People will appreciate even this minor approach to honor the local customs instead of acting like the dumb, arrogant tourist (which is what you might be treated like if you don't even try). In Europe, you are almost always a guest at first, not a customer.A few tourists mistake the fact that most Europeans are able to speak English and even think locals desperatly wait for some native English speaker who they finally can try their language skills on. That's simply not true. You will actually meet even more people who do (read: are willing to) speak English if you approach them in their local language.If you ask using the local language and whoever you speak to switches to English without you even...

Communication in English in none English countries

by Gili_S

It is always polite to start and say few words in the local language, for example good morning, thank you and such. It is not so difficult to learn. Then you can continue by speaking English, try to speak slow and clear and most young people will at list understand you.Now, I never start with: Do you speak English? As most will actually answer: No even if they do have the basic English. It is not because they are not friendly but because they believe their English is not good enough for conversation. So if someone answer you NO, I think it is impolite to continue and speak English to them!There fore, I just try to speak few words in local language and next will try some slow English. Usually it works, I had no problem to communicate well in France, Italy, Germany etc.

Long Drink.

by Dizzyhead

It is a very good drink, taste like gin and tonic and you buy them on cans. Very delicious when they are really cold and you drink them in a hot summer day! I really love them and enjoy them when you feel the drink going down in your throat.

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Friendly faces of Skerries

by chatskerries

If you hang around the streets of Skerries long enough the locals will get to know you by name. This is a very friendly town so expect to feel like you lived in Skerries all your life. The locals love been asked directions and telling tall stories about Skerries. You won't feel out of place here. All business offer top service and helpful assistance should you be looking for gifts or golfing goodies. Don't be shy just make your self at home.

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Åland: Ethnically Swedish

by Potato-Brigade

The Finnish island of Åland is particularly interesting in that it’s a community relatively isolated and is, in fact, far closer to Sweden than it is to Finland. The inhabitants of Åland (as with the Swedish-speaking minority of the Finnish mainland too) not only speak Swedish as their mother tongue but have Swedish surnames as well. Though this is becoming increasingly blurred with the intermarriage of the two peoples on the mainland, Åland continues to remain ethnically “Swedish”. Also, towns of Swedish-speaking communities on the mainland are bilingual on a daily basis but on Åland you probably won’t hear any Finnish spoken at all and indeed the few Finish-speakers residing on Åland are more or less compelled to speak Swedish. I like Åland. It’s a quiet and friendly island and the people are very congenial and helpful. Hitch-hiking (there are buses as well) is an easy way to get round...

FANCY DRESS: BRIT LIFE ©

by DAO

Men? Fancy Dress? Sure! Women and children too. Fancy dress is not a garment, it’s a bit of British fun! Dress up as Superman, Wonder Women or Scooby Doo! From movie characters to super heroes, it’s always a good time to dress up! Often people do this to celebrate milestones like Birthdays and Exams, but some just do it. I have seen the full gamut from Vicars to prostitutes, French maids and even complete cross-dressing. Hmmm. That last one may not have been fancy dress.Just about every town in the UK has at least one fancy dress shop where you can rent a full range of costumes. Enjoy!BRIT LIFE ©

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Local Customs: Cities in Europe
  1. Paris Local Customs
  2. London Local Customs
  3. Amsterdam Local Customs
  4. Rome Local Customs
  5. Barcelona Local Customs
  6. Venice Local Customs
  7. Vienna Local Customs
  8. Berlin Local Customs
  9. Dublin Local Customs
  10. Prague Local Customs
  11. Budapest Local Customs
  12. Madrid Local Customs
  13. Brussels Local Customs
  14. Copenhagen Local Customs
  15. Florence Local Customs
  16. Munich Local Customs
  17. Lisbon Local Customs
  18. Stockholm Local Customs
  19. Milan Local Customs
  20. Athens Local Customs
  21. Moscow Local Customs
  22. Krakow Local Customs
  23. Helsinki Local Customs
  24. Oslo Local Customs
  25. Edinburgh Local Customs
  26. Antwerp Local Customs
  27. Brugge Local Customs
  28. Warsaw Local Customs
  29. Tallinn Local Customs
  30. Manchester Local Customs
  31. Nice Local Customs
  32. Sevilla Local Customs
  33. Palma de Mallorca Local Customs
  34. Salzburg Local Customs
  35. Saint Petersburg Local Customs
  36. Zürich Local Customs
  37. Granada Local Customs
  38. Frankfurt am Main Local Customs
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  40. Verona Local Customs
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  42. Pompeii Local Customs
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  44. Skopje Local Customs
  45. Ibiza Local Customs
  46. Hamburg Local Customs
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  50. Glasgow Local Customs

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Hey, This summer I have about a month out and id like to travel around the EU, I come from the UK so Visa's and the like are... 

K_V_B profile photo

A: If you're a student and live in the UK the option you want to look at is a thing called "interrail". Just google it. Be mindfull however of the following caveats: - In... 

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