Europeans don't travel like the rest of the world when they are on vacation in Europe.
In fact, we in Europe take those things for granted, but if you have visited Europe, you will recognize some typical European vacationing traits.
Generous Vacation Time
Most European countries have similar mandated vacation rules. That means every employee gets 5 weeks off in a year, and that doesn't include sick days leave.
Labor laws are strict and made for the people so that they get to spend time with their family in the summer months when schools are closed for summer holidays.
For example, in France, everybody takes off in August, and with that, I mean everyone except the ones who make money on the domestic tourists.
August has about 4 weeks, and people will be on vacation for 4 whole weeks. They will be off to the beach or mountain lake tourist towns on the first day of their vacation, and they will be back home a day before they have to go back to work.
No Stress, No Itinerary
When Europeans vacation, they generally follow a no-itinerary trip. Only a handful of Germans would stick to a strict day-to-day hiking itinerary; the rest of the continent is on an I-won't-do-anything-for-a-few-weeks 'regimen.
They will have breakfast late, walk to the beach and lie in the sun the whole day, or they will randomly decide on a cycle tour, and then they might stop at some obscure landmarks on the way.
They flow with the day. If the weather has changed, they just do something else. It's freeing to travel that way.
Walking or Cycling everywhere
Most Europeans will drive to a chosen vacation destination, and many bring along their cycles.
They will mostly stick to that one destination or add 2-3 more, and in each place they will usually get around walking or cycling. The car is then rarely used.
Day cycling tours with the family or with friends are one of the most popular activities.
Wellness Getaways
Every European, at some point, plans a wellness getaway. Occasionally, they are incorporated in a prolonged vacation trip; other times, it's just a single day or weekend dedicated to wellness.
Many Europeans will head to a public thermal spa, but wellness goes beyond that.
Vacationers in Europe choose to skip sightseeing and instead focus on eating great food, going on walks, joining a yoga or meditation group, and other wellness exercises.
Dining Outdoors
This is clearly a summer activity, and most Europeans vacation during the summer months.
People will either sit in a restaurant outdoors, eat in a campground outside, or plan a picnic at the beach or on a hill with a view.
They do that for lunch and dinner, and yes, it can get hot outdoors, but restaurants don't have air conditioning in Europe, so most people are just happy to sit in the shade, hoping for a breeze.
Immersing in Local Festivals
Cultures, customs, and traditions are wildly different across the continent. Villages, towns, districts, and complete regions may celebrate festivals that are not known across Europe.
For example, a Swede won't know about Southern Italian customs, and an Austrian won't be able to talk about Romanian festive summer traditions.
Yet, every time Europeans travel, they look for local festivities and fairs that they can join and experience. Europeans love to learn about other European customs, and they will be at the center clapping along during a traditional parade.
Chasing the Sun
Technically, chasing the sun is a Northern European problem, and Southern countries are the ultimate victims.
Every June, July, August, and partially September, you'll see mostly hordes of British, Dutch, Germans, Swedes, Norwegians, Swiss, and Austrians traveling to places where the sun shines all the time.
They'll all head to Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Southern France, Croatia, and Turkey, and they will be lying in the hot, sizzling direct sun until they get lobster red.
They will also show up at the beach club at 7 am to place a towel on a sun lounger to reserve the spot while they go about their morning routine.
Complaining about Other Tourists and Locals
One thing every European always does on vacation is to complain about other visitors, and sometimes also about the locals.
Germans are notorious for their direct views when they suggest betterments to their hosts, and the French like to feel superior wherever they travel.
They are not the only ones. I mean, every European likes to complain about people from other countries; it's just how Europeans are wired.
Staying at a Campsite That Feels Like a Resort
This point doesn't apply to every European (and that's the only one, I promise), but I had to add it here because a vast majority of middle-class Europeans do this.
In summer, campsites in popular tourist hotspots are not just some small RV parks. They are vast camping lots with thousands of caravans, camping vans, and tents.
Some offer a mix of forest, lawn, and beach camping grounds, and they will provide bathrooms, laundry areas, kitchen facilities, tennis courts, TV rooms, gaming room facilities, and much more. Others even have a private beach, lakeside fronts, full-fledged grocery shops, clubs, and bars on the premises.
They also organize big social outdoor evenings with special concerts, shows, and anything to bring the vacationers together to socialize.
It's like hanging out in a village for a month or so, and most people come back to the same place every year when they meet their friends again.
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