Public Transportation Reliance

According to Statista Consumer Insights, 73% of Americans use cars to move between home and work. Meanwhile, only 13% of the 7,649 respondents use public transportation while 11% ride their bike. By contrast, in many European cities over half of workers can be found on buses, trams, and trains. In Amsterdam, almost half of all workers ride their bikes to work.

Bidets in restrooms
Bidets are a standard feature in many European bathrooms, used for personal hygiene after using the toilet. While they’re becoming more popular in some parts of the US, they’re still relatively rare compared to Europe. In Italy, laws have mandated the inclusion of these fixtures in homes.

Cafes are Social Hubs
In Europe, cafés are often more than just places to grab a quick coffee; they’re social hubs where people gather to chat, read, or work. In the US, coffee shops often serve more of a functional purpose, with people grabbing their drinks to go.

Multiple Languages
Approximately 65% of Europeans grow up speaking more than one language fluently, often due to the proximity of different countries with different official languages. Since the formation of the E.U.’s free-trade zone, packaging on consumer products is often in multiple languages, lowering the costs of packaging production. In the US, while there are bilingual communities, the majority of the population primarily speaks English.

Meals last a long time
In many European countries, meals are seen as a time to relax and enjoy the company of others. It’s not uncommon for meals to last for several hours, especially during weekends or holidays. In the US, there’s often more of an emphasis on efficiency, with meals tending to be quicker affairs. Because of this, waiters will never seem to be in a hurry to get you out of their section. You will need to ask for the check.

Attitude Towards Alcohol
While attitudes towards alcohol vary within Europe, it’s generally more socially acceptable to drink alcohol, even in public places like parks, in many European countries compared to the US, where public drinking laws are stricter.

Portion sizes
One thing Europeans always remark on when coming to America is how large the portions are in restaurants. American portions are really too dense in calories. It’s not uncommon for an American dish served at a restaurant to contain up to 1600 calories – without a beverage or dessert! Bear in mind that 2000 calories/day is considered normal. European portions tend to be more in proportion for a healthy daily caloric intake.

Roundabouts
Or traffic circles. These are much more efficient at moving traffic than 4-way stops or intersections with traffic lights – especially when traffic is moderately heavy. However, it takes some getting used to when traffic is very heavy.

Metric System
How much cheese is 500 grams? Is it too much or too little? Exactly. Americans who do the shopping quickly adjust to the metric system. You will learn quickly that 100 kilometers is about 60 miles while 30 degrees Celsius is hot.

What Unfinished Apartments means
In numerous parts of Europe, particularly in countries like France and Germany, renting an “unfurnished” space entails more than just lacking furniture. It often means that the kitchen will be completely bare, without any appliances, and sometimes even lacking basic fixtures like sinks, flooring, or countertops. People take their kitchen with them.

Paying to Potty
In their homeland, one thing Americans tend to take for granted is the availability of free public toilets. However, in Europe, the situation differs. You will need to pay to use the bathroom, somewhere between 0.5 and 1 Euro. However, you will find European pay-toilets are generally much cleaner and well kept than their American counterparts. Even so, it’s a good idea to go before you go, ya know?

No Shoes Inside
While Americans often wear their shoes all over the house, it is generally customary for guests to remove their shoes at the front door in many European countries. This practice is catching on in America as well, but it is much more prevalent in Europe.