Europe 101 – An American’s guide to vacations in Europe

It can be daunting travelling to Europe from the US, especially if you plan to visit more than one country. Will they speak English? How are hotels different to what you’re used to? What can and can’t be pre booked? Is everything closed on Sundays?

The best advice for your vacation in Europe is to plan and prepare before you travel – for a full list of hints and tips for a hassle free trip to Europe, read on.

Before you go

At the planning stage, try not to squeeze in all the sights and all the cities. Allow time to explore towns and lesser known places.. Check that your passport is up to date (it must have at least 6 months validity remaining) and read up about the Schengen Agreement, which allows free movement in 27 European countries (not including the UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania, though the latter two join in March 2024). It’s a great idea to learn a few key words and phrases in the language of the countries you’re visiting, it will go a long way towards good will, though English is widely spoken particularly in northern Europe. Also, get comfortable with your destination and station name in the local language.

Finally, purchase travel insurance that covers you for trip cancellation, missed transport and delayed departure, medical, evacuation and baggage.

Visas/ETIAS/ETA

Depending on your passport country, you may require a visa to enter the UK or Europe. Currently nationals of over 130 countries do not need visas to enter the UK, and nationals over 90 countries do not need visas to enter Europe in the Schengen area. To check if you need a visa to enter the UK go here and to check if you need a Schengen visa to travel across a lot of Europe go here. In 2025 new short stay travel authorisations called ETIAS (Europe) and ETAs (UK) are expected to come into effect for international visitors travelling to Europe, these have not been rolled out yet.

Currencies, cash and cards

The majority of countries in the EU use the Euro, but destinations including Denmark, Sweden and the Czech Republic still use their own currency, and so does the UK. You don’t need cash before you arrive as  ATMs are everywhere (if you’re worried, buy a small amount of local currency before your trip), though do your research on what your bank will charge you for taking money out overseas. It’s always a good idea to change up notes as soon as possible, so you have coins for things like buses, or public toilets. 

Though some countries still run on cash, particularly Germany, debit and credit cards with a Mastercard or Visa logo are widely accepted in stores, restaurants, tourist sites, and well, everywhere in Europe (except perhaps by small outdoor vendors). American Express can be a bit trickier. Don’t forget to call your bank before you leave home so you don’t get blocked at an awkward moment. In Europe! Chip and pin or contactless is the norm, and cashiers may be confused by a bank that asks for a signature – take a contactless card with you, or buy a pre-paid card so you can make use of contactless payments. When paying with your card. always say no to dynamic currency conversion, which lets you see your purchase in dollars, but charges you a hefty currency conversion rate.

What to pack

Pack for the season, but pack light! You’ll do a lot more walking and often over cobbled streets or up and down hills – choose a backpack over a suitcase if you can manage it (note that there are luggage lockers in many train and bus stations, but they often need coins to operate, and may have limited opening hours). Rick Steves has published a comprehensive packing list for visiting Europe – key items include US-to-European (and UK) plug adapters, a reusable carrier bag and reusable water bottle, and ear plugs (cities can be a lot louder in Europe!).

Reservations 

Usually you do not need to prebook local or regional train travel within European countries, and in some countries reservations simply aren’t accepted (and neither are specific seat reservations). Gondolas too, are impossible to book (the gondola from Grindelwald for instance, runs every minute and you simply turn up).

For other types of bookings, sometimes a reservation is advisable. For instance, temporary museum exhibitions, tours or restaurants that you have your heart set on, or major attractions (like the Louvre, Anne Frank Museum, or the Houses of Parliament). Do your research a few months in advance of your trip.

On your trip

Safety 

Europe is generally considered safe to visit, though it’s sensible to be alert at ATMs and to be wary of pickpockets in tourist areas (some travellers like to use a money belt on their trip). The US Department of State offers up to date safety and security precautions for individual countries. If you are the victim of a crime, file a police report (you’ll need it for your insurance). It’s good practice to keep a hard copy or digital photocopy of your passport and travel documents, just in case.

Don’t forget that for emergency services (police, ambulance, fire services) in Europe it’s not 911, but 112 (and 999 in the UK). 

Tipping

Tipping in most countries in Europe is appreciated, but is not obligatory, and certainly a grand sum might earn you derision rather than thanks (plus, many restaurants already include the service charge). Eurochange has a good round up of customs in each country, 

Local transport and getting around 

People tend to walk a lot more in Europe, as public transport (subway, buses, trams or trains) is much more accessible and car hire is expensive (plus it can be hard to park). In some European countries, it’s common for buses to accept both cash and debit cards, while in others, only one payment method may be accepted or the payment may be required to be made in advance through a mobile app or ticket machine. If you can, download a mobile transport App like Citymapper, but Google Maps also works well for planning public transport journeys. 

Oh, and in case your journey is delayed or there isn’t a trolley service or cafe onboard your service (there generally isn’t on regional trains services), carry snacks! Smaller bus and train stations won’t have places to eat or drink, either.

Opening hours 

Opening hours vary across Europe but it’s likely that you may find stores, museums, pharmacies and restaurants closed on either Sunday or Monday, or both, and in France, some museums and galleries close on a Tuesday. In the Mediterranean and Southern Europe, siestas are still common and businesses close for a long lunch and nap during the hottest hours of the day. See publicholidays.eu for holidays in individual countries (most businesses close on these days).

Hotels

In general, hotel rooms are smaller than those in the US, and away from chain hotels, you’re unlikely to find the same level of amenities (many don’t have ironing boards or coffee makers, though you’ll often find a kettle). Most rooms have one large bed, or two singles, rather than the two doubles often found in US hotels. Bath towels are smaller, too. Lots of European hotels have stairs (and no elevator), unless they are explicitly accessible. Hotel air-conditioning doesn’t always deal with the heat of summer. On the plus side, service is impeccable and many hotels are packed with cute character and unique history. Foodies are going to be in hotel heaven too, as coffee is strong, breakfast is delicious and hotel restaurants are regularly phenomenal.

Eating out 

In European restaurants (even those with tables on the sidewalk), it’s always polite to ask before you’re seated, and note that sometimes the best seats have more expensive drinks. Hospitality is a little more low key (waiting staff won’t be falling over themselves to tell you their name) and you are positively encouraged to linger over lunch and dinner (tracking down your server to pay is often the tricky bit). Cheap eats in Europe are perfectly possible to find, though there are fewer free things and portions are smaller (to-go boxes aren’t the norm), so a lot of visitors fill up on their hotel breakfast.

Cafe culture is also alive and well across the continent, where a coffee or an aperitif is a chance for laid back people watching from a table spilling out onto a sidewalk or square. In Europe, coffee is often a quick (strong) espresso and you’ll see locals standing at a high counter, where your cup of Joe is cheaper than in the tourist seats. Coffee tends to be smaller and more purist, unless you seek out a Starbucks.

Wifi and phones 

Either sign up for an international plan before you leave the US, or buy a SIM card from any EU country and use it everywhere (eSIMS – the digital version – are easily accessible if you have a modern smartphone). You’re likely to want wifi on-the-go so you can access directions and see opening hours for tourism sites, though cafes, restaurants and hotels often have free wifi and some cities have free wifi hotspots. Watch out for roaming charges in the UK and Switzerland, where they may have their own standalone plans. 

Tourist taxes and local laws

Some countries, regions or cities require visitors to show ID such as a passport in order to register their stay as a tourist. European tourist tax or city tax, historically charged to combat overtourism, is most often a nominal fee (between €1 and €7) added nightly to your accommodation, which must be paid on arrival. To balance this out, don’t forget that as a visitor to the EU, you can apply for a VAT refund on purchases (though you will need to get the paperwork stamped by custom officers when you leave Europe).

The minimum drinking age in most European countries is 18, and in some countries and some situations (with an adult, low alcohol content), it’s 16. Licensing rules across Europe are different, but children (with a responsible adult) are often in bars and pubs during the daytime. Across most of Europe, the minimum age to purchase tobacco is 18. There are different local laws in every country, particularly when it comes to recreational drugs.

Water 

You can, and most people do, drink tap water in Europe. Look out for public drinking fountains in cities to refill your bottle. However, there are some exceptions in restaurants (for instance, in Italy and Germany you are always served bottled water when you dine out). 

Toilets

Some public restrooms need the correct change and some have attendants, most are gender separated, although in restaurants and bars bathrooms there’s often just private stalls with no distinction. Toilet flushes can be flummoxing (Rick Steves has a lot to say about toilet flushing) and it’s a good idea to carry some tissues in case toilet paper isn’t available (and note some countries ask you not to flush toilet paper, here’s a handy map). There are some places that have squat toilets like French public restrooms in more rural locations, but this is fairly uncommon.

If you enjoyed this article, also take a look at our Europe Train Travel 101 blog.