Travellers visiting Europe may want to leave their shoes by the door and avoid initiating cheek kisses, according to a Preply survey of more than 1,600 residents in 27 countries. The findings show that customs around greetings, hosting and punctuality vary across the region.
In 23 of the 27 countries surveyed, most respondents said they would wait for the other person to initiate two cheek kisses. Respondents in Denmark, Estonia, Sweden and Slovenia said they would reject the greeting outright.
Removing shoes at someone’s home was the majority preference in 24 countries. Sweden stood out, with all respondents saying guests should take their shoes off. Spain, Italy and Portugal were the exceptions to the broader pattern, with respondents there preferring indoor shoes.
Hosting customs differ
More than half of respondents considered bringing a gift to a host standard practice, while about a third reserved gifts for special occasions. Finland was the only country where most respondents said they would never bring a host a gift. Wine or flowers were common choices in 17 countries, although respondents in nine of those countries said they would save them for a special occasion.
Finishing a meal was seen as a sign of respect for the host in all 27 countries. The survey found that 82% of men said they always finished their food, compared with 75% of women.
Punctuality was the preferred approach in 23 countries. Respondents in Czechia, Germany, Poland and France said they preferred to arrive early, while Greece showed a strong preference for being on time. Preply also reported that single respondents were twice as likely to arrive late, and that respondents with children found strict schedules harder to keep.
The Preply survey asked residents about everyday etiquette. Its findings offer a snapshot of responses rather than a single set of rules for every person or situation.
Clayton Ward