From cheek kisses to shoe removal and punctuality expectations, subtle gestures carry vastly different meanings across Europe.
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New research has uncovered the essential etiquette rules travellers should master before visiting Europe, covering everything from greeting strangers to navigating dinner invitations.
Preply, an online language learning and tutoring marketplace, analysed public data sources and surveyed 1,600 residents across 27 European countries. The findings challenge several widely held assumptions about continental customs.
Etiquette is far from trivial; it signals respect, kindness, and cultural awareness when engaging with locals. Interest in the subject is surging — by September 2026, the #etiquette hashtag had amassed 4.4 billion views on TikTok, while searches for “how to have good etiquette” jumped 373% over the previous year.
Because social norms shift as quickly as borders across the continent, travellers benefit from a nuanced understanding to avoid missteps. Here is what the data reveals.
How to greet someone appropriately
Although cheek kissing is often stereotyped as a universal European greeting, the practice is less common than assumed.
In 23 of the 27 countries surveyed, most respondents said they would wait for the other person to initiate a two-cheek kiss. Across Europe, 85% favoured this approach, while in Denmark, Estonia, Sweden, and Slovenia, respondents indicated they would decline the gesture entirely.
Shoes on or off?
While not every nation is as strict as Sweden — where 100% of respondents deemed shoe removal mandatory — taking off footwear indoors is standard practice across much of the continent.
In 24 of the 27 countries, the majority said they remove their shoes when visiting a home. Northern European nations overwhelmingly insisted on indoor shoe removal, whereas Spain, Italy, and Portugal preferred to keep shoes on, a preference likely linked to warmer climates and fewer carpets.
An age divide also emerged. Most respondents aged 18–34 said they always remove their shoes, while those aged 35–54 preferred to wait for the host’s cue.
To bring a gift or not to bring a gift?
Host gifts are appreciated everywhere, but expectations vary.
Over half of respondents considered bringing a gift standard practice, while a third reserved it for special occasions. Only in Finland did a majority say they would never bring a host gift.
The study found that residents of 17 out of 27 countries would likely bring wine or flowers when visiting a friend, though nine of those — including Austria, the UK, and Spain — said they would limit the gesture to special events.
Make sure to finish your food
Finishing a meal was the sole etiquette point considered respectful across all 27 countries.
Viewed as a universal sign of appreciation for the host’s effort, 82% of men reported always finishing their meals compared to 75% of women. Some female respondents noted they deliberately leave a small portion, possibly as a polite signal of satisfaction.
Punctuality is a divisive issue
Global searches for “is it better to be on time, early or late?” rose 66% over the past year, and the data reveals a complex picture.
In 23 of 27 countries, respondents favoured arriving exactly on time, with Greece placing particular emphasis on punctuality. Meanwhile, 35% of men preferred arriving early — a higher proportion than women, who tended to aim for on-time arrival.
Respondents in Czechia, Germany, Poland, and France said they preferred to arrive early. The survey also found that single people were twice as likely to arrive late, while parents often struggled to adhere to rigid schedules.