10 European Traditions That Australia Needs To Adopt

Brb, having a siesta. Travel Europe on your terms with Contiki's Independent Insider.

1. Having an aperitivo, a light alcoholic drink before a meal...

Stephanie Kraus (CC BY 2.0) / Via Flickr: koelnblogging

Where it's from: Italy and France (aperitif)

Why it's great: It's thought that a little sparkling wine or a bitter spirit before a meal will help stimulate your appetite. Plus it's often accompanied by snacks. Yum.

2. ...followed by a digestivo, an alcoholic drink sipped after eating.

judywitts (CC BY 2.0) / Via Flickr: overthetuscanstove

Where it's from: Italy and France (digestif)

Why it's great: Having a bitter or herbal spirit after a meal is supposed to help settle your stomach and aid digestion.

3. Riding bikes everywhere.

Lorena a.k.a. Loretahur (CC BY-SA 2.0) / Via Flickr: loretahur

Where it's from: Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Budapest, and lots of other cities

Why it's great: Not only is it free (once you've bought a bike), it's great for your health and the environment. The cycling culture is totally different in Europe too; there's a lot more cycling infrastructure, and cyclists are actually respected by motorists.

4. Having siestas.

Martin Thomas (CC BY 2.0) / Via Flickr: martin_thomas

Where it's from: Spain

Why it's great: Really? Do we really need to rationalise why an afternoon nap is a good thing?

5. Greeting everyone with kisses.

João Victor Xavier / Unsplash

Where it's from: France, Spain, and The Netherlands, among others

Why it's great: If we all made this the standard greeting, we wouldn't have awkward moments where one person goes for a handshake and the other person goes in for the kiss.

6. Drinking espressos at the bar.

BuzzFeed

Where it's from: Italy

Why it's great: Because what's the rush? Surely you can spare five minutes every day to stand still and drink your coffee. Plus it saves on takeaway coffee cups, which are the actual devil.

7. A proper afternoon tea.

yosi.nakao (CC BY-SA 2.0) / Via Flickr: musescape

Where it's from: England

Why it's great: Much more than a cuppa and an arrowroot biscuit in the arvo, a traditional British afternoon tea involves a freshly brewed pot of tea along with a selection of delicious cakes, sandwiches, scones, and pastries.

8. Decluttering your home through Döstädning, or "death cleaning".

Breather / Unsplash

Where it's from: Sweden

Why it's great: Don't get freaked out by the name – this relatively new ritual encourages you to get rid of things you don't want or need, so your loved ones aren't left with a big old mess to sort through when you die. Now that's love!

9. Drinking alcohol in public places.

BuzzFeed

Where it's from: Most countries in Europe

Why it's great: It's an affordable way to go out with your mates...without going out. And because it's the norm, people don't really abuse it.

10. Long Sunday nature walks with your family.

Nathan Anderson / Unsplash

Where it's from: Norway

Why it's great: Family time + enjoying the beauty of nature + exercise. Need we say more?

Start planning your perfect European holiday today with Contiki's new travel style, Independent Insider. It's group travel, designed for freedom.

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