American customs that completely baffle Europeans.
America and Europe may share a lot of cultural influences, but when it comes to everyday customs, there are plenty of things Americans do that leave Europeans utterly confused. From our obsession with ice-filled drinks to the way we handle tipping, many aspects of American life seem downright bizarre to visitors from across the Atlantic.
Whether it’s our love of small talk or the sheer size of everything, here are 13 American customs that completely baffle Europeans.
1. Tipping for almost everything.
In most of Europe, tipping is either included in the bill or completely optional, with a small amount (like rounding up the check) considered sufficient, according to Rick Steves. But in America, tipping is an expected—almost mandatory—part of dining out, getting a haircut, or even grabbing a coffee.
Many Europeans are shocked to find out that servers in the U.S. often rely on tips to make a living wage. The pressure to calculate 15-25% on top of the bill feels excessive to visitors who are used to just paying the price listed on the menu.
2. Obsession with ice-cold drinks.
Americans love their drinks filled to the brim with ice, but Europeans find this strange—especially in places where drinks are served at room temperature or lightly chilled. Ordering a soda in Europe often means getting a cool (but not freezing) drink with no ice at all.
To Europeans, drowning a drink in ice dilutes the flavor and makes it less enjoyable. In fact, in some parts of Europe, people believe drinking extremely cold beverages is bad for digestion.
3. Free refills at restaurants.
In most of Europe, if you want a second drink, you have to pay for it—simple as that. The American concept of unlimited soda refills is mind-blowing to Europeans, who are used to paying per glass.
To visitors, the idea that you can sit at a restaurant and keep refilling your Coke without extra charge seems almost too good to be true. It’s one of the little perks of American dining that leaves Europeans pleasantly surprised.
4. Extreme enthusiasm and friendliness.
Americans are known for their outgoing nature, but to Europeans, the level of enthusiasm can seem over the top. Strangers smiling, greeting each other with “How’s it going?” and making small talk in grocery store lines can feel forced or even insincere.
In many European countries, people reserve their friendliness for close friends and family. So when an American cashier asks, “How’s your day?” and seems genuinely interested, it can catch European visitors off guard.
5. Huge portion sizes.
American portions are often double—or even triple—the size of a typical European meal. Visitors from Europe are frequently stunned when their plate arrives, stacked with food that could easily feed two people.
This is especially noticeable at fast-food restaurants and casual dining chains, where a “regular” meal in the U.S. would be considered an extra-large serving in most of Europe. No wonder so many American restaurants offer to-go boxes!
6. Shopping 24/7.
Many Europeans are used to stores closing early, especially on Sundays or holidays, when businesses shut down for family time. In America, the idea of a 24-hour Walmart or a supermarket open late into the night is mind-blowing.
The convenience of being able to buy anything, at any time, is something Europeans both admire and find baffling. To them, the idea of running errands at midnight feels excessive—but undeniably practical.
7. Sales tax isn’t included in the price.
One of the most frustrating things for European visitors is seeing a price tag in a store and then paying more at checkout. In most European countries, sales tax (VAT) is already included in the listed price, so what you see is what you pay.
In America, the tax is added at the register, which can be a rude surprise for Europeans who aren’t used to mentally calculating the extra cost. It makes shopping feel unnecessarily complicated.
8. The national obsession with college sports.
In Europe, professional sports reign supreme, while university athletics are mostly low-key. But in America, college football and basketball are treated like major league events, with packed stadiums, marching bands, and national TV coverage.
The idea that a college coach can earn millions or that students will camp out overnight for tickets is completely foreign to Europeans, who typically don’t associate universities with massive sports empires.
9. Enormous cars and trucks.
To Europeans, American cars look like tanks. While compact cars and efficient public transportation dominate Europe, the U.S. is filled with oversized SUVs, pickup trucks, and gas-guzzling vehicles that would be completely impractical in most European cities.
The sheer size of American roads and parking lots allows for these giant vehicles, but Europeans often wonder why Americans need such massive cars—especially when public transportation is an afterthought in many places.
10. Excessive air conditioning.
Walking into a freezing cold restaurant, store, or office building in the middle of summer is something most Europeans don’t understand. While Americans crank up the A/C to Arctic levels, Europeans tend to rely on open windows, fans, and lighter clothing to stay cool.
Visitors from Europe often find themselves carrying an extra layer just to survive the icy blast of indoor spaces in the U.S. To them, it seems wasteful and unnecessary.
11. Drive-thru everything.
Fast food drive-thrus make sense, but in America, you can also find drive-thru pharmacies, banks, coffee shops, and even wedding chapels. This level of convenience—and laziness—completely baffles Europeans.
In Europe, people are more accustomed to walking into a store and interacting face-to-face, so the idea of barely stopping your car to grab a prescription or a latte feels both efficient and a little surreal.
12. Over-the-top holiday decorations.
Europeans love their holidays, but Americans take things to a whole new level. From massive Halloween yard displays to entire neighborhoods covered in Christmas lights, U.S. holiday celebrations are bigger, flashier, and more expensive than anything seen in Europe.
While some Europeans appreciate the festive spirit, others find it excessive—especially when Christmas decorations start appearing in stores before Halloween is even over.
13. Smiling in photos.
One of the biggest giveaways that someone is American? Their tendency to smile in every photo. While Americans see smiling as a sign of friendliness, many Europeans prefer a more neutral expression in pictures, especially for official documents like passports.
To Europeans, the constant smiling can feel unnatural or overly cheerful. Meanwhile, Americans often find European photos too serious and wonder why no one looks happy.