How NOT to Get Weird Looks in Europe

[@HailHeidi]

Hi everyone! I just want to thank everyone so far for the advice about your individual countries. Keep the info coming! This is super helpful! I appreciate you all taking the time to help me out. ❤

[@Lootensansy2308]

No friensh Fries is Belgium Fries

[@hguldmann]

important Knowledge KZbin here Robe Trotting.... Copenhagen Transportation: How To Get Around The City

[@janbergendahl]

@HailHeidi You must visit Åland island (Aaland Island) :-). Called the nordic Hawaii due to the most sun hours in northern Europe. Demilitarized zone between Finland and Sweden. We are happy to host you so feel free to send me a PM! Would love to show you our paradise. July/August best time to visit. Google it ;-)

[@Americaninparis2012]

As far as France and Germany and Italy are concerned, tipping in restaurants are not necessary although people leave few Euros if the service was good. Do not get frustrated if your server doesn't get to you right away like they do in the states. People generally do not go to restaurants, sit down and eat and pay under an hour. They take their time and enjoy their conversation with their friends and family. In France you can ask for tap water or carafe d'eau if you don't want to pay for water. Some European countries I've visited refuse to serve tap water and customers must buy bottle water.

[@kandarlive]

When it comes to Denmark I would suggest visiting other places then only Copenhagen or Zealand (Sjælland) as that is "tourist" Denmark, thereby not saying it's not worth seeing because it is, but Denmark have a lot more to offer. And while you are at it try a normal (not the fancy ones as they are not the real thing) hot dogs (in Danish : ristet hotdog) from a sausage cart in the streets. When it comes to tipping in Denmark it's not something that is expected as waiters are paid a full salary, which could also be why some waiters might seem less friendly then in the us as they don't depend on tips (of cause a lot of waiters are nice and love to serve people), however people are always welcome to tip if they want.

[@dansattah]

Tap water is one of the most regulated substances in Europe and very often safe to drink. It's just that most restaurants make their profits on the drinks, rather than the food.

[@vorrnth8734]

And on top, they use that water for cooking the food.

[@almitov]

The filtration systems are indeed not the problem. Many cities in Europe are really old and there were still older steel and/or lead pipes in use over half a century ago. Those are (supposedly) all replaced by now but the old legislation remains in numerous countries.

[@astralechat5994]

@@almitov just like in the USA

[@andrecostermans7109]

No tapwater due to tax rules . There is no registration about the amount of water used for cooking,cleaning aso ... versus the amount eventually sold to customers ... so to avoid trouble with tax inspectors , tapwater will not be sold/served ( in most cases/countries) .

[@ravenn1508]

yes sanitary regulations and we are not cavemen like usa race

[@storgall]

I'm from Prague, Czechia. I'm sad he didn't mention the law that was passed in Czechia a couple of years ago about beer and water in restaurants. It was common that the beer was cheaper than the water in there. Now we have a law, that says there needs to be at least one non-alcoholic drink cheaper than the cheapest alcohol.

[@Dimitar-T-Radev]

He mentioned it in another video when it happened. It's not relevant to this video

[@xxes11xx]

The video was filmed before this I think.

[@burak1382]

Hey Storgall! You man, truly are all over the internet 😅 I know you from at least 3 places now! Just wondering, do you remember me as well?

[@pSwIsRohlikMuhaha]

Tak to jsem ani já nevěděl:)

[@MrMarinus18]

Indeed cause they don't have to deal with people whipped up by capitalists who want to object to any rule rather it's in their interest or not. In the US often the illusion of "freedom" takes priority over the common good and even common sense.

[@SoulessStranger]

Water in Prague and other European countries is safe to drink and really well regulated. I think the issue with the water is the usual thing of "we were told to sell you expensive bottled water and nothing else" and they will not change it. Another thing might be that the restaurant paid to buy the stock of the bottled water and they want to sell it before it goes out of date, so they will force you to have it instead of the regular water. Although in many restaurants they are trying to change this now and you can get a jar of cold water with lemon to share at the table - but you pay for it naturally, it is not free.

[@arnodobler1096]

Restaurant operators in Europe live mainly from the sale of drinks.

[@winterlinde5395]

@@arnodobler1096ch habe den Eindruck, ich wackel‘ dir die ganze Zeit hinterher 😊

[@Aquelll]

Yeah it is not universally European thing. In Finland you can get free water pretty much in all restaurants. But here we are also very proud of the quality of our tap water. 😅

[@grabtharshammer]

That has always fascinated me, Bottled Water has a "sell by" date?? What even the mineral water that has been filtered through rocks for thousands of years and is then bottled as it comes out of the ground packed full of minerals and salts - HA HA

[@Brainreaver79]

restaurants make the most money selling you drinks, if you drink free tab water they dont earn enough and have to raise the prices of the food,.. so lets be real there is no free water... its just included in something else,... and america with its slave wages is a bad comparison

[@Richard-rk1ru]

Water in the czech republic is safe to drink. Like 99% of people here only drink tap water at home. The problem is that restaurants have to give you tap water for free if you ask for it, so they would rather upsell you to sparkling water with a slice of lemon for 4 dollars rather than bother with bringing you free water. Edit: It's not that common is smaller towns, but it's very common in Prague for example, where they experience a lot of tourism.

[@Drakoonful]

That is actually not true. We have no law saying that restaurants are obligated to serve you tap water for free

[@fiksch9351]

@@Drakoonful but still, charging for tap water is mainly tourist zone thingy

[@M4TT3S1]

its definitely not free.. most places serves tap water nowadays atleast in Czech Republic but they purposly make it so expensive noone will buy it. You will pay like 3-4 dollars for tap watter which is like double of how much coke or regular drink costs.. czechs always make fun of it like "who would buy it" but tbh never understood why they overprize it so much. I get it they are mostly making money from selling drinks in restaurants but make it costs the same as other drinks. Idk if they dont want to deal with potential law suits that someone will get sick after tap water or whats the catch

[@Zarniwooper]

Tap water is safe in Europe, there are few exceptions, but countries you are going, it's totally safe. Fun fact: Us Finns did a research and discovered that our tapwater has about *100x less* microbes than bottled water and about *1000x* less than in water dispensers!

[@grasgruen84]

me personally as a swiss i would not drink the tap water in italy, my parents everytime told me not to when we were there on holidays. germany and denmark should be safe :P

[@spotlight3465]

​@@grasgruen84 In Poland, clams are used to measure water purity. They are very sensitive to pollution, if some of the clams close for too long, then an alarm is triggered by sensors monitoring them. We use this system in a lot of cities. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2G1nHipaL2qnJI

[@Delibro]

I read that about German tap water too, more regulated and safer to drink than even bottled water.

[@skyshatter3633]

not everywhere tho.. year ago i was in Germany. First in Frankfurt and the tap water was dark muddy maybe it was the neighborhood, maybe it was the building. After a week there i went to Hamburg and it was the opposite. Still didnt drink tap tho i love beer and there was so much choices i didnt even consider drinking tap

[@Delibro]

@@skyshatter3633 Well, 100 years old buildings are everywhere sometimes ... Maybe not so much in Africa and the US ...

[@ldfahrni]

The guide you have found is pretty specific for Prague and the Czech Republic. I have been watching him for years and been to Prague a couple times - he's great, but you'll want to look at each locale in Europe because the culture still varies from country to country and region to region

[@craftah]

yea but some stuff are pretty much the same everywhere in europe (im not saying everything is the same)

[@hyneksedlacek6992]

​@@craftah What are you actualy sayng,then?

[@jaroslav-6027]

He predominantly talking about pubs in Prague, most of the country definitely has more beer brands on tap, also, we have different alcohol content levels on tap, so if you want a lighter beer you get a 10, if you want something stronger you get a 11 or 12.

[@karelchrastina5655]

@@jaroslav-6027He said 1 brewery, not 1 type of beer. Like you will have just Litovel or Plzeň :)

[@jaroslav-6027]

@@karelchrastina5655 true that, that's a good point.

[@daw7563]

There are big cultural differences within Europe too, you will probably find huge differences between Denmark and Italy. So a lot of what is explained in this video is not necessarily the same as the countries you are about to visit. (Beer pricing, tap water etc.)👍

[@LyricalDJ]

Definitely. I have just started watching the video and I already noticed a difference: over here (in the Netherlands) it's very common to have multiple beers available. More / less commonly offered varieties for specialised places. Yeah you'll have beer on tap (often multiple) and the basic beer is what you'll usually get if you just order 'a beer' kind of like one might see for house wines in restaurants. Also, no automatic serving of new beer and yes, there's beer out of bottles (which I personally prefer) although you don't normally have a choice. Either a beer is on tap or it comes in a bottle. Which only serves to show how different small things can be in Europe. Czech beer is pretty good, though.

[@Misterjingle]

Even within countries, the culture can be very different depending on the region. The south of Italy will not have the same customs as those of the North, someone from Bavaria will be different from someone from Berlin, a Frenchman from the north will not have the same culture as a Frenchman from the Mediterranean, etc. So many different cultures

[@daw7563]

I can recommend "Wolters world" who has many good-to-know videos about different countries - and from a US american perspective.

[@janbergendahl]

Agree, Sweden, Norway and Finland are much more like US. This have to be a Czech thing..

[@cynic7049]

@@LyricalDJ All you say is the same here (Sweden) as you mentioned for the Netherlands, which make it very likely that it is in Denmark.

[@wosmahl]

To clarify some points: 1) usually pub has a single brewery on tap but that single brewery makes multiple different beers, therefore there might be 1-5 different beers available. There are also more specialized pubs that have 10+ beers available. 2) you can modify your food to some extent. Often, the side is sold separately so you can mix it with main dish as you want or you can ask. its ok to ask for fries instead of mashed potatos for example or burger without cheese etc.. but dont overdo it. 3) water is very safe to drink in Prague. Most restaurants today allow you to buy a pitcher of water with lemon or something for reasonable-ish price. Im pretty sure its tap water in this case

[@andycopland3179]

Same in the UK with beer.

[@rumorum]

That's quite regional. In the Pilsen region, there is only beer from Pilsen. We consider the others to be waste.

[@KeesBoons]

Heidi. There is only 1 thing you have to do in preparation for your "Europe" tour. Just be open minded and expect differences everywhere you go in Europe. I've lived my entire live in Europe (Netherlands specifically), been to a number of countries, but am still regularly surprised by differences if I go somewhere I haven't been before, or if it has been a long time since I was there last. Just enjoy.

[@kheldaur2107]

For Heidi: I decond this. I´m from Finland, but have visited other european countries a few times in my life (Spain, Portugal, Greece, Sweden, Estonia and Poland), and every one of those countries is amazing and so different from each other. Fun experiences is going to be had when you visit different countries. Have fun. PS. If you ever want to experience something magical in the winter time, Finnish Lapland is a must.

[@joeandersen9038]

If you go to The Netherlands, make sure you are not mistaken for a german. They will give you no service, as in total ignore.

[@Unni_Havas]

There is one thing. If you got out to eat. Don't order extras and think you will bring the leftovers home with you. If you ask for a doggie bag or to go bag for your leftovers when you are in Europe, you will get some very weird look. Me and my family visited my dads cousins in America. We went to a restaurant and when our relative asked for a doggie bag for the leftover, we just wanted to sink through the floor. But judging by the waitresses response that seemed to be a normal request in the US.

[@Unni_Havas]

@@enricacantori2984 I don't speak Italian.

[@MissSladousek]

@@Unni_Havas In the UK or Czech Republic it's completly fine, though it's more common in the UK than the Czech Republic. It depends on the dish (you not gonna take leftover Svíčková home.. extreme faux pas but some chips and fried cheese or burger etc is fine, also on how "sofisticated" the restaurant is). In Switzerland, I've done it and it was fine, but not very common. Either way, bad look from service staff, even if you ask for something slightly odd, is a sign of a bad worker....that applies to all of Europe (not including the Balkans lol).

[@vlastimil-furst]

Hi Heidi, Honest Guide is a nice choice. It's more useful if you plan to see Prague or Czechia in general, but Czech culture has similarities with that of surrounding countries. So, if you come to Germany or Austria, you can expect it there to be more similar to Czechia than to USA. I also liked how Jen Preston, American living in Czechia, said in her channel (Dream Prague) what's the difference between Europeans and Americans in spending time (and money) on the vacations. I think there is some wisdom in it, and if you can absorb some of it, you might enjoy it better when you come for a visit. I hope you'll enjoy it in Europe, wherever you go.

[@papaquonis]

Since you're going to Denmark, I can assure you our tap water is very clean and safe. I can't speak for the other countries you're visiting, but I would assume it's safe as well. Also, tipping is very rarely done and it's always optional. Most places would never expect you to tip at all, but it's probably a bit more common if you go to very nice and expensive restaurants.

[@stevthethief]

Greetings from germany to our friendly neighbours :-) Our tap water is safe to drink, too!

[@peterfischer2039]

@@stevthethief Yeah the tap water in some places is even better quality than our bottled water.

[@dockingtroll6801]

The union of restaurant workers and servers in Denmark, made an agreement a long time ago, that the wages are included tip, so the salary went up and tipping is no longer expected as they are already well paid.

[@Riddle99-v7q]

Ayy nice profile pic! Radiohead rules.

[@Akab]

@@dockingtroll6801 it was expected to tip in Denmark once? Interesting

[@kanavispila]

Most restaurants in Finland I've been to have free water. Usually jugs in fridges you can take to your table or already at the table

[@iPanicyt]

In Denmark you ONLY tip if you think the server has done an exceptional job that you want to go out of your way to reward. You cannot give the server too much, but enough to buy a beer is likely way more than needed, but a good range. Servers have a multi-year mandatory education and are paid very well in the vast majority of places that serve food at night

[@karlheinz9432]

bears are not expensive Denmark?🤔

[@some_phantom2599]

@@karlheinz9432 bears can't be had for any amount of money in Denmark; beer is somewhat expensive though 😉

[@Unwoken_European]

I dont do tips. Maybe few euro cents but no percentage.

[@WhatDayIsItTrumpDay]

So you're saying that TIPS in Denmark are handed out about the same frequency as I "Like" KZbin videos? Which is rarely, if ever? I only click that Like button if I'm exceptionally impressed with the content of the video.

[@mortenhansen2578]

@@WhatDayIsItTrumpDay true - it is very rare I tip. I am confident that the staff are paid a decent wage. Labour unions are widely accepted, and usually doing a good job to secure decent payments to the staff.

[@spyro257]

if u wanna know more about Denmark, there's 2 channels, Americans that moved to Denmark about 5-6 years ago, called Robe Trotting, and Travelin' Young, they have quite a few vids

[@Masticore_]

You seem so genuine and willing to learn about other cultures, I feel like that rarely happens in videos like these, I love that also, as a german, I can agree with pretty much everything he says, but I don't know about France or Italy you should never think "X is the way they do it in europe", europe is very different depending on where you go

[@Misterjingle]

In France, tap water is free. You have a lot of different beers on the menu. Customizing the menu is not really a thing. No smile in Paris, a lot of smiles in southern France or smaller cities. You can stay 3hours in a restaurant, no big deal. You can tip if the service was amazing, but Its not expected.

[@noefillon1749]

There is quite a lot of differences with France actually

[@fabucla]

As a German myself, i would not like receiving a drink i did not order. At least if i am not a regular customer there.

[@danielberger1378]

@@fabucla It's also a regional thing... In Cologne for example, they do that as well. I was very surprised by that when I was there, but the waiter kindly explained to me how it's working there.

[@krystofmares8857]

Hello, czech guy here :) 7:22 the water is safe here, but the law stands. At least in the cities. 18:09 In fastfood, we also give out napkins, in restaurants you can find them next to the cuttlery. 19:57 the small coffes are strong enough. it's not a drink, it's a coffe. Also, from the video, I have the feeling that the type of restaurants He eats/drinks at czech and in US are mostly different. Also, starbucks coffe can be called coffe-milk sometimes :)

[@bohumilbartos1274]

Serus more🤣

[@WhatDayIsItTrumpDay]

Re: Starbucks. Yeah, if you go into one and order just a regular coffee, it'll blow many bartistas' minds.

[@hellraiser8175]

I know that the tap water quality in the Nordic countries are actually healthier to drink than most bottled water you can buy in the stores...which is why you won't really find regular bottled water in stores

[@Masterfighterx]

There is (at least in Denmark) quite a lot of bottled water in stores, it varies from the big to small stores on the selection of course, but I rarely buy it and only really do if I have next to no options.

[@mixlllllll]

​@@Masterfighterx Same in Finland. You will find bottled water from the stores, but most people drink just tap water at home. Bottled water maybe on the go.

[@essi2]

Most of the bottled water you get in stores in Norway is carbonated or flavoured. The regular water which is basically tap water is also available, but has gotten swamped by flavoured alternatives in the past 10 years.

[@pallew]

Bottled water is everywhere in Denmark

[@akyhne]

All the young generation in Denmark (teens, students etc.) runs around with bottled water, they paid overprice for. It has nothing to do with health risk, but probably just a convenience thing. And some of them comes with a flavor. I don't get it! They are extremely overpriced. I believe the cheapest are around DKK 7 (a dollar/euro), which is half the price of tap water for a cubic meter (a thousand liters or 4.000 bottles of water).

[@justtubbo]

In Denmark, absolutely no small talk, unless spoken to first by a Dane. :D Also, don't try to order in your travel book Danish, just stick to English. Another thing is, don't ask how we're doing if you don't actually want to know. We're actually a friendly bunch, when you get to know us (best place to do that, is at a bar or pub), but don't try to force it, let it happen naturally. :)

[@kcim123]

Water from the tap in europe is very clean and completly safe. If it so happens it isnt in that particular place there will be a sign that it's not drinkable, but thats very rare. The reason restaurants dont do that is that bottled water can be sold and marked down in the inventory. Money and convenience for the shop, also maybe some regulations.

[@Jorgerally35]

8:25 policy to make you waste more money on products. But recently, they have banned this practice and now it is mandatory to have tap water available in some countries.

[@Onnarashi]

The whole bit about getting beers you haven't ordered may be a Prague/Czech thing, because I don't think that would happen here in Norway. Beer here is also expensive, unlike in Czech Republic where it's very cheap by comparison.

[@oleandersen2228]

It doesn't happen here in Denmark either. Your server may ask if you want another, or you order another yourself.

[@imcrazedandconfused]

It does not happen automatically in Germany, BUT if you are in Cologne, it is the same thing with the beer called "Kölsch". This is served in 0,2l small glasses, and you get served with a new one, until you lay something on top of the glass, indicating that you are done.

[@dave_h_8742]

Does not happen in the UK either, it was a first for me to hear that happens in Prague.

[@eddie2850]

Here in the Czech Republic it only works that way if you are a regular at the pub and they know you. Otherwise, they ask you too. It's a bit exaggerated in the video.

[@acmik1]

@@eddie2850 A note to make this clear. This happens in (quite a few) very traditional pubs. Not everywhere. Just do not be surprised, when this happenes. It's an inherent part of beer culture.

[@stephandagelet5545]

Hey Heidi, first off all..I love your video's! Now, the tips; when I was a terrace waiter back in the 90's, I picked a glass (gallon) vase from the basement of the restaurant (**) and putted this on the counter. My boss looked strange when I did that so I said; that is the tip jar. No nutcase, the tips are for you and only for you, he said and I respond; so the cooks, householding, other personal or what ever isn't working as good as me? He looked at me as he saw water burning, grabbed his wallet and thrown €100,- in the vase! 6 months later we all had a great weekend in Austria, skiing in the snow and had a lot of fun. Caring is sharing!

[@stephandagelet5545]

sorry for my poor English 😟

[@beldin2987]

The only town in germany where it is "normal" to get a new beer as long as you don't say you don't want more, is Cologne. However there the beer comes also only in tiny 0.2 liter glasses. Everywhere else you just normally have to order the next one. Also that guy talks about the Czech Republic and not whole Europe.

[@arnodobler1096]

Düsseldorf too

[@DalaiDrama-hp6oj]

You normally don´t have to talk for them to stop, they might be faster than your tounge is anyway 💫 Just put the coaster on top of your glass when finished!

[@Grasnek]

​@DalaiDrama-hp6oj I was just wondering how you're supposed to stop that infinite supply of beer! Are you even allowed to or is that blasphemy? 😂

[@HalfEye79]

@@Grasnek I don't know if that is common, but I heared that if you place the coaster on the glass, that means, that you don't want another one.

[@defycgn]

I‘m from cologne, it‘s a common thing to put your coaster if you are finished drinking beer. Could be the ‚Köbes‘ jokes around with you because of that but it‘s not meant to be rude.

[@SergeMatveenko]

Europe countries are very different. Czechia, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France, Balkan countries. Those have really different cultures, traditions, habits. Good luck with your trip!:)

[@BalbinderBhatia]

Hi There, the water in Prague and most European countries is safe and drinkable. Also, we have lots of public drinking fountains that operate in the summer months. You can also now get tap water in a lot of cafes and restaurants around the city. It will be near the bottom of menus, and they will charge you for it, but it's a lot less than the commercially bottled water they sell, and you can order a glass or a carafe, usually with ice and lemon.

[@fxaman]

The thing with another beer you didn’t order is connected to the fact that czech people drink beer A LOT. Most people mainly in the evening don’t come to the pub just for one beer. So in some traditional pubs they will keep bringing you beers until you tell them that this is your last one. But honestly, this rarely ever happens nowadays.

[@Forseti2]

"the last one" - is never the last one 🤣

[@pavelduda9234]

Yes thats true. They will ask you in most of the pubs if you want to have another one however sometimes it is more like rhetorical question so you have to be quick to answer otherwise another one lands in front of you in the split of second 😂

[@petruher9480]

actually...in more local places, when you leave an empty glass on your coaster, it means you dont want another one. If you put that empty glass out of the coaster, its a signal you want another one. That's the best service you can get.

[@gwaptiva]

It's ok in German restaurants to ask for the removal of one thing, or ask for fries instead of boiled potatoes or something, but as soon as you then ask to exchange the steak for a burger and the fries for a sesame seed bun....

[@TuntematonX]

And almost everywhere you can get changes due to a food allergy. Even if they can't serve you they'll probably recommend another local restaurant. It happens a lot in other industries aswell.

[@davidpelc]

Its pretty normal also here in Czech Rep. in restaurants to choose potatos, of fries or dumplings (Knedlík/Knödel). Expecialy children like more fries than boiled potatos of course. ;)

[@shaman4611]

One simple trick to get a glass of tap water is to order coffe and also ask for a glass of water, you will get both for the price of coffe which is usually less than bottled water.

[@foycz1821]

8:15 ... we don't have a problem with water filtration, all the water that flows from the taps is drinkable... we even flush the toilet with drinking water... there is no risk of any infection here... it's just business

[@justacasualguy13]

im from finland and a lot of things he is mentioning do not apply here, so there is a ton of differences within these things in europe depending on the country, and in some places depending on where in a country you are. some things that are different here are: water is usually free in restaurants, we have a lot of different beers in bars and they cost way more than in Czech, coffee is usually served in a regular cup but there are starbucks like places where the coffee comes in much bigger cups and has all kinds of flavours stuffed into it (though they arent what comes to anyones mind when they think of coffee)

[@herrbonk3635]

But just 30 years ago, there were not "a lot of different beers" and no Starbucks in Finland (I was there in the 70s, 80s and early 90s). And if you ordered a vegetarian pizza in Björneborg/Pori, you got carrots and peas on it :) No, hate though! I find it charming.

[@justacasualguy13]

@@herrbonk3635 30 years is a long time, nothing you listed is accurate today, or for the past 20 years really. and yeah there are no starbucks here to my knowledge, but places like espresso house fill the role here. though i would like to specify that "a lot of beers" doesnt mean like dozens in a single bar, but there are usually at least a few options but some places do have a lot more. main point is that there arent really any bars that have just a single beer on the list.

[@foobar1500]

@@herrbonk3635 I think there are four Starbucks or so in Finland, and same applies to Sweden. I believe they mostly live off tourists; they're just unnecessary in general. Finnish/Nordic coffee house chains are just very competitive in comparison to Starbucks. I admit that even as a Finn I do spend time in Starbucks when I'm in faraway foreign cities I don't know very well and have to wait for somebody... Very much in very large portion of Europe was definitely different even back in the nineties, or especially before that, not just Finland. Also, there are variations; I believe every pub I actually frequent has at least dozen beers on tap, and often fifty or significantly more on bottle - but then there are places where they have two or three taps and couple bottled options... Those places tend to carter a more "professional" crowd though, at least in bigger cities.

[@herrbonk3635]

@@foobar1500 You are probably right. I can't remember I ever visited a Starbucks in Stockholm-Uppsala. But those local chains you are talking about (Waynes and stuff) are not something I visit either. I prefer a real konditori for coffee and pastries with friends. (A bakery that serves coffee in an elegant or cosy setting; an old swedish and european tradtion.) To me, the 1990s wasn't wildly different to today (except for crime rates). At least not in Sweden. I remember we had many pubs (often jazz pubs in my case) that served a couple dozens brands of beers in bottles "already" around 1986-87. Not so many on taps though. That was mostly _en stor stark_ :) Especially so at places with a lot of students, like pubs in Uppsala.

[@Goursome]

8:46 It is considered a bit rude to get a bottle out of your bag to drink instead of buying it from where you're eating at.. But it's a great idea and sometimes we do it as well!

[@thekz2]

About the coffee: I'm American but I lived most of my childhood and teen years outside of the US and the biggest difference for me is not the sizes but the way it is made. My non-US friends often make fun of me, they say our coffee is not coffee but a sweet drink because of how low caffeine it has. While "their" coffee is small by American standard it is MUCH stronger.

[@flitsertheo]

The coffee is only strong enough if the metal spoon melts .

[@josryg]

from a danes perspective. here is what is different. 1. the waiter will not come with a new drink. you have to ask for it 2. bars and resturant will likely have our 2-3 variants of beer on tap, maybe 1 or 2 from a local brewery. 3. you can order tap water in Denmark, not free but really cheap. in denmark the water is very clean,. and if we visit the germany or czech republic we have to buy bottled water. 4. you will get good service in Denmark at a restaurant. tip is optional. 5. coffee normally comes filtered in a normal size cup. but you have a lot to choose from.

[@katschaccc]

Here in Germany you usually get one packet of sauce for free at McDonald's sky extra cost extra. And at McDonald's you don't get even paper straws anymore just the milkshake comes with a straw. Bars often have one kind of beer because they have a contract with them. You will love our closed bathrooms. 😂

[@lithiusdialumini]

Water is very safe in Czech republic and I would say even better than bottled (depending on how the bottled was stored). You can fill bottle from almost any tap. If you don't mind, it is safe to fill a bottle from tap at washroom (restaurants, gas pumps etc.) of course only if the washroom looks clean :) Maybe you get a odd look, but a lot of people are doing it. That is why if the water is unsafe to drink, then it is clearly labeled. Regarding coffee it depends on a preparation. Small coffee is typically an espresso, small and strong. Filtered coffee or batch brew is not very common here, but that is served in a big cups.

[@homobohemicus]

Greetings from beautiful Prague... I saw in a previous video that you are visiting Europe.. Do try and stop by in Prague.. It´s an enchanting city and loads to do.... and its close to many other cities (train 4hrs to/from Berlin, Vienna, Munich....🖖 Have a safe trip

[@nielsmeijer492]

I'm visiting Prague for the first time this summer, but only for a day tho! Do you have any suggestions on cool things to do that aren't completely crowded with mass tourism?😁

[@homobohemicus]

@@nielsmeijer492 Definitely... tons of tons of places to visit that are not in Prague1 (city center), where you can get a really local vibe.. What do you usually do when travelling (interests)? I would venture more to Prague 2 (Vinohrady above Museum), Prague 10 (Vršovice) and the very cool Prague 6 (Holešovice close to the Stromovka park and the direction of the zoo) ... staying there as well is a quick hop to the city centre as well so having accommodations there is a very good options too

[@QuinlanLJ]

I'm from Slovenia and I never understood this bullshit about water not being free at reastaurants. Now, I do have SOME experience with that (mostly just quasi fancy restaurants), but most of the time I've never had to pay for water. I don't know what kinds of fancy restaurants people like that guy go to, but most restaurants just give you tap water and not charge you for it. They only charge bottled water.

[@Wolfhead86]

So HailHeidi + family is coming to Denmark. Well as a Dane let me give you tips on the subjects you touched upon in this video. Beer: It can be expensive and cheap. It depends on the place. We normally have multiple beer selection. You'll need to order a new beer every time you want one. You can get both Draft and Bottled beer. Food service: Tipping is only if you feel you got a good service, so it's not requirement. You'll tell the waiter when you're ready to pay, and they'll get you the bill. The only thing I have experienced, when it comes to 'food customization' is how you want your meat and fries. You can sometimes do small talk with the staff of a food place. But it is more normal that personal talks are for people you know. Coffee: We have both variants. Toilets: We have more private stalls here in DK. Hope you and your family will get a great trip here in Denmark. PS Many Danes can speak English. So don't be afraid to ask the locals if you'll need help.

[@dockingtroll6801]

If you think X is a good amount of money to bring to Denmark.... double it..... you will still be surprised at how expensive everything is..... anyway wish you and your loved ones a great trip over here.. and soo much looking forward to the vids that will be coming ;-)

[@erikstenviken2652]

@@dockingtroll6801 when i go to germany from sweden, i just skip denmark. I buy as little as I can there. But diesel is cheap ;)

[@bentchristiansen8795]

and also try to not go to those hyped up places you might find in the guide .. ask a local and you will have a better and less expensive experence ... well im sure you are going to tivoli and hey that is gonna cost you

[@Grasnek]

@erikstenviken2652 i was on a ferry between Helsingør Denmark and Helsingborg Sweden once (long time ago, I think back in 2002). I saw people buy a pedestrian ticket and bring a small cart. Briefly between the countries the shop was tax free and they'd buy a stack of trays of beer cans. We checked the price, I believe tax free it was still like 50 to 100% more expensive than here in the Netherlands! That blew our minds!

[@dockingtroll6801]

@@bentchristiansen8795 Exactly, havent been there in years, but just checked the price of entrance... yup roughly 25 dollar for ONE ticket.....jeeeezzzz.....

[@jetfowl]

For southern European countries (Portugal, Spain, Italy, etc)... standard coffee *IS* espresso. You have to make a special order to get anything else. Also, filter coffee pretty much does not exist. That is, outside of a hotel/AirBnB that caters to Americans.

[@MalakianM2S]

Here in Spain, drip coffee (filter) is a thing that you have in your house, and yes espresso is the coffee you will get in bars and restaurants. Starbucks is sadly a thing here though.

[@nicolailillelund1981]

I'm happy that you'll be visiting my country Denmark. And yes there will be huge differences between the countries you mentioned. And that's not a bad thing at all. Honest offer, if you need pointers for your Denmark trip, hit me up. Denmark is so much more than just Copenhagen.

[@oleandersen2228]

Totally agree. Bornholm!

[@alexpegac1491]

I am from Vienna, Austria. It's pretty similiar to Prague,CZ. Also I have been to Germany, Italy, Denmark, France, Spain, Greece, Hungary, Sweden, Slovakia, Malta, Portugal, UK etc etc. 90% of the Pubs or restaurants have a deal with one, or maximum 2 beweries and you can get only one sort of beer brand from tap.

[@Misterjingle]

In France, tap water is free. You have a lot of different beers on the menu. You can customize a bit the menu, but It really depends on the restaurant. I think tap water is safer to drink in Europe than in the US. No smile in Paris, more smile in southern France or smaller cities. You can stay 3hours in a restaurant, no big deal. You can tip if the service was amazing, but Its not expected.

[@IllyaKonakov]

Not only tap water, but bread is free as well in French restaurants and cafes. As for the beer choice, it’s quite a rare case to have “a lot of different beers” in France if we’re talking about the beer on tap. Usually it’s 2 to 5 sorts of draught beer, all others would be bottled ones.

[@withoutshadowww]

Quite the same in Southeastern Europe/the Balkans.

[@monacophotographyevents2384]

Smiles in Southern France? I would have to disagree with that, at least where the French are concerned. One will get smiles here in the South of France (again, not from the French), mainly because it's very international here

[@Misterjingle]

@@monacophotographyevents2384 If you are from Monaco, it’s a different story on the French Riviera. I talk about Provence, Toulouse, Basque Country, etc that kind of south. People there are friendly. The French Riviera is the exception 😅

[@monacophotographyevents2384]

@@Misterjingle I have to say, that here on the Riviera, the foreigners are friendly, but the French are not. To be honest, I've lived and worked all over the World, and found the French (in all regions) to be the most unfriendly and arrogant people I have ever met.

[@kamikarl-tx8ym]

In the city in Europe where I live you could even drink the water from the toilet. Is the same water that comes from the tap and is drinking water from mountain springs.

[@Schalalai]

Hi Heidi - Don´t know if you heard about it already, but if you visit Germany there is a new Ticket for Public Transportation. From 1 May, passengers will be able to use the 49-euro subscription ticket on local and regional public transport nationwide. If you planning to travel through Germany it would be perfect.

[@HailHeidi]

Thank you for the head up!

[@Never_again_against_anyone]

Have a good time traveling! As you did not mention something specific, I keep it short and general (Germany): 1. Do not expect DB to be on time. Those times are long gone. Feel free to complain about it; we Germans know that our trains are often a nuisance and many of us enjoy complaining about it. 2. Do not plan to go shopping on sundays. We are infamous for having most shops closed all sunday. 3. Do not expect to do everything without cash. No need to haul ridiculous sums around, but having some emergency bills is a good idea. 4. Do not get irritated by staring. No, we do not all do that, but some elderly have staring powers that even irritate us natives. 5. Do not walk around in sportswear if you do not mean to out yourselves as Northamericans. We rarely do that. 6. Do not feel pressured to tip. We have an attitude like that described by the Czech guy. It is an compliment for very good, satisfying service and nobody will blink an eye if you do not. They will rather think your budget is tight or that you are a cheapstake than that you are pissed because of bad service. 7. Take your time. Sure it is hard. Just try not to be stressed all the time by all the things you want to see. There are so many pictures in the internet... Take some of that time for experiences. 8. If you try and learn some tourist level German do not be disappointed if you do not need it. Many of us are happy to use any occasion to actually speak English. They are too scarce. I probably still have forgotten quite a lot. Just keep an open mind.

[@Machvillum]

Since you're going to Denmark, I've (as a dane) decided to comment on every subject in the video: 1. Beer: In Denmark, you will only get what you order, so you don't have to worry about getting another beer when you're done with the one you ordered. Also, typically we have a lot of different draft beer, and you'll be able to get a bottle. Prices differ a lot, higher than in Prague, but lower than the US. Tax is included in Denmark. 2. Food: Typically, you get what you order at a restaurant, they don't ask you to customize your food... Though, it's always possible for you to customize it, iot. comply with allergies, dietary requirements etc. 3. Water: Free tap water, clean, everyone drinks tap water, nothing more to say. 4. Service: Regarding this, Denmark is more like the US than the Czech Republic. But, we don't leave a tip, like never, and the bill doesn't arrive unless you ask for it. 5. Packaging: Denmark is just like the Czech Republic regarding this. 6. Coffee: Yet again, Denmark is like the Czech Republic. We do have starbucks, though, I'm not able to comment on their "coffee", since I don't go there. 7. Restrooms: Here it really depends where you go, but most of the places in Denmark, are like the Czech Republic. I do hope that helped a bit, and enjoy your stay :)

[@alindgaard]

I do not agree. Some "tip", but most do not. The tip you give usually does not go to the staff as money either. The "tip" money is usually spent on inspiration trips, weekend trips, sample tastings, team building trips for the staff. Naturally, I cannot speak for all Danish restaurants. Maybe it's only normal in Jutland

[@Machvillum]

@@alindgaard I stand corrected then, I personally can't recall seeing anyone give a tip in Denmark, but I'm not an expert in this field of matter :D Bottom line is though, that it will not be looked down upon if you don't leave a tip :)

[@pallew]

I'm Danish and I tip once in a while. I would say tipping is very common in my family

[@TomicaCZ]

Hi, from Czech Republic! I've accidentally stumbled over this video... I saw your Nightwish reaction last week and i came for more, but instead of that my mind was blow when I saw reaction to Honest Guide, so yeah, I've clicked on that :) I as a czech have a couple of answers for you: - 0:50 - When you finish your beer, they are usually ask you if you want another one... very rarelly they bring you new one withou asking. But still, that might be shocking to foreginers. I thing that's because the beer is cheap (often cheaper than water) and one of the best in the world. The beer is basically Czech's national drink and we drink it a lot. - 7:56 - If they cannot sell you tap water, that's because of regulations... We have this system, that checks sold items and staff basically cannot sell you something that's not in the system. Anyway tap water is drinkable (at least in cities) - I drink it every day and no extra arm or something has sprouted from my body yet. - 17:50 - On the topic of coasters... I've even been in one pub in Prague where they give you ceramic coasters - it was unusual... someone might say fancy. I don't know, I prefer paper ones but it was a cool change :D - And yes "we do scams" was meant to be that they fight street scammers (scammer taxi drivers, fake money changers, tourists traps etc.)

[@Lorentari]

In Denmark you will get water for free when you order a meal or ask for a drink - if you order wine they'll often also bring water by default In Germany chances are that you will not get free water (Tap water is completely drinkable) Btw: In italy you may not be able to drink the water from the tap as a tourist, depends on where you'll go in Italy, so consult a tourist information website - Denmark and Germany has some of the world's cleanest water so you are all good on that front.

[@domvelis]

8:30 Usually the restaurants has some partners and deals with several brands. That's why someone serves Kozel beer, but another pub will give you Pilsner right away. Same thing with the water. The tap water is 100% safe but as mentioned, they have a deal with the brand, and so they literally HAVE TO force you their bottle of water.

[@LucyCaptain]

Regarding water filtering - we do not filter out water,in Czech & Slovak Republic, the tap water is full of minerals and perfectly fine (even considered healthy) to drink :) Hope you enjoyed your trip!

[@14lachris]

In denmark they do not bring you anything unless you asked for it

[@adamcherry1117]

About the small coffees we have: they are extremly powerful in taste, especially in Italy, you dont even need much more than that. But also in many places you can ask it with more water and its no problem for them

[@shaszun]

Me as a tourist never drink tap water in a new places. It might be drinkable, but that doesn't mean your body won't react bad to it for 1-2 days until it get used to it.

[@chubaxco]

Some of these issues only applies to Czech Republic, issue with the tap water is similar here in Spain. Tap water is absolulty perfect to drink, but you need to ask specifically in a Restaurant for Tap water.

[@germangarcia6118]

Well, I wish that was true, but not everywhere in Spain the water is good. The Mediterranean coast has cities with absolutely terrible water. And they haven't fixed it in 30 years.

[@louiseharpur8742]

I'm in Ireland and I've eaten at restaurants/cafes all over the country and have never been anywhere that doesn't serve tap water by the jug, usually one of the first things that's set on the table after being sat down

[@dirkschwartz1689]

The Honest Guide is a specific Prague and Czech channel, but most things in this episode are also true for Germany. Tap water is also very safe in Germany. European restaurants often make a large part of their revenue selling drinks, especially beer for which they have large contracts with their main (or only) brewery. So there is no incentive for them to give you free tap water.

[@SailorBorshaIsMovieMoses]

I don't know which country in Europe you're visiting (or if you're visiting more than one), but as far as tips goes, Croatia accepts tips. In fact, it's kind of assumed that you would tip a waiter or server or luggage carrier, or taxi driver. We love getting tips, and they are appreciated, and most people go above and beyond to make you feel welcomed and to have the best experience possible. As far as drinkable water goes (I'll be talking about Croatia since that's where I'm from) but pretty much all water is drinkable. You can, however, get bottled water anywhere, and it's relatively cheap. Carrying your own bottle is practical and even better because you can fill it up anywhere also. Best advice though, as far as drinkable water and anything else goes, I'd advise asking wherever you're staying (whether that be a hotel or a private accommodation) is to ask your host, concierge, receptionist, or even tour guide about drinkable water, places to fill your water bottle up, and even tipping.

[@tubekulose]

You're gonna go to FOUR countries this summer? Wow, that's quite an undertaking. When I go on a trip it usually takes me at least five days to explore a single major city. 😲

[@keithparker2206]

Only FOUR? Next month I will be going to Holland, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Switzerland - just the normal 3 week holiday!

[@tubekulose]

@@keithparker2206 That's a lot! Will you visit Vienna on your journey too? I'm asking cause it's my home city (most beautiful city in the world 😁) and it's where I'm writing from this very moment. 🙂

[@keithparker2206]

@@tubekulose Have been to Wien many times (a beautiful city) but this time round, we are only changing trains on our way from Bratislava to Salzburg. Itinerary is Amsterdam, Graz, Bratislava, Salzburg and then two weeks on the Bodensee which we consider our second home. The advantage of staying in Lindau is that you have four countries within an hour's train ride! 😌

[@tubekulose]

@@keithparker2206 Wonderful! Every city you mentioned is worth seeing indeed. Lindau is a good choice for a "headquarter". What's your connection to the Bodensee?

[@keithparker2206]

@@tubekulose We have been visiting Lindau on an annual basis since 2016 after we found it on the return home from our annual trip to Rupertikirtag in Salzburg. We have been visiting Germany and Austria every year since 1996 (apart from when the Covid restrictions applied).

[@veronikaolivova7481]

The reason why you can't sell tap water in Czech republic is ,because you can sell only water which has been tested to hygiene standards.But somewhere they've brave enough to sell tap water anyway.

[@andreakurt9267]

I live in Poland and can share a couple of things. First, at bars and pubs there are usually a few kinds of beer that you can order, 3-5 choices, also some of them are available in a bottle, not necessarily from a tap. The exception is the specialized places for drinking beer or other drinks, there's much wider variety. Second, customization of a meal is rather uncommon here, although it can be done for a customer's wish. On the other hand, when you order, let's say, a steak, there is a short list of what you might want on the side, always listed on the menu: rice, fries, potato purée, roasted potatoes or something else, and the same with salads that go on the side. I once worked in a restaurant here as a kitchen stuff, helping preparing food, and I remember one case when a customer ordered a pizza and wanted to replace almost every topping on it. The chef, although he eventually made that pizza, first told the waitress to deliver the customer a message "go f**k yourself", which I believe was never delivered to the customer :D

[@xMartasowo]

i would love to see more reactions from u on honest guide videos bc its amazing to see others react to it and i so wanna know what u think of other things we got here

[@TGorefiend]

Well we Czechs are beer nation, beer is called "liquid bread" here. And if you go to pub, you most likely don´t stick with only one beer. There is also a phrase "We are going for couple of beers." This means the first and the last, anything between them doesn´t count, so it can easily mean 5 or 10🙂

[@laurajanco2i]

I'm Italian and I wanted to say that food here can't rarely be costumized, but if you feel uncomfortable with an ingredient you can ask them to take it out from the thing you order (or even add something different, even if it's less common). Beer is draft in most cases, bottles in rare cases and they will come with a glass next to it. Tap water is a no in restaurants, because they always bring you bottled water (mostly in glass) that you have to pay, but it's not because tap water isn't safe. Actually, here in Italy people can even drink from little fountains found around in the cities and plenty of times, water will come directly from the mountains, it's extremely fresh. Service here is not rude or stuck up (unless the customer is rude). In the north there are restaurants, pubs and a lot of "trattorie"(taverns) or fairs, where they make typical food of the zone. The hosts and owners will be really welcoming and will also give you your space to eat. In the south, the service is more passionate and there's more involvement with the waiters who like to chat with you, they will most times give you more food than you ask (at the same price), because they want the turist to fill their belly. It's also a typical thing for an Italian (especially in the south), to have gatherings with their families and to be fed a lot by their mothers/grannies who always think you're starving even after 2 servings😂 From north, center and south, the food is various and there are a countless of different traditions, people and cultures. You'll never get bored. The bill either comes after coffee (one thing they ask you after lunch or dinner every single time, is if you want coffee, it's always a part of the menù), so when you finished everything and you actually ask for it, or sometimes right at the beginning when you order at the counter, especially if you reserved a spot. Tipping is not at all required and it's only done for gratitude if the service was strickingly good in your opinion, or if you're/become friendly with the waiter (it's about sympathy). There's no pressure. Napkins and packages are a thing even here in Italy, but it depends on the restaurant. Usually pepper, oil and salt, are already on your table as soon as you arrive (obviously not in a McDonalds') About coffee and cups, it's like in Prague (I didn't understand the blogger's "grande or XXL" pun about Italians drinking, but that might just be me, someone fill me in😅). The cups are small and if you ask for iced coffee in restaurants, you're definitely NOT gonna get it😂. Italians are very serious about their coffee and a cup of coffee is way different from what you'd order there in the US. I think the only way to get those big glasses with water and ice, is to go to Starbucks. For example here, "long coffee" is coffee with an addition of water, not water with an addition of coffee. Plus there are many types of coffee, for example, espresso (which is dark coffee), cappuccino, coffee with grappa (brandy), mocaccino (which is a mix of cappuccino, cocoa and cream), caffè macchiato (which is coffee with a small portion of milk) etc... Absolutely don't ask for "a latte" here, if you want the American version, because "latte" in Italian means white milk. The bathrooms are big like the ones in Praga. They'd have at least 3 stalls (unless the restaurant is small or poor) and they give you a lot of privacy. Most times you can't even hear your neighbor, fortunately😂

[@monikadeinbeck4760]

He talks about Czech republic but all he said applies to Germany, too. Some apply to all EU, some to central Europe, while the south is different. (for instance, southern Europe is more wine country, so drinking habits differ)

[@germangarcia6118]

Beer is the most consumed beberage everywhere... but yeah, there are many things said in this video that don't apply in the Mediterranean. They definitely won't bring you a second beer without asking for it first.

[@escalanteofficialx]

@@germangarcia6118 Actually, they do not bring you another beer without asking here unless you're a pub regular. So this was slightly overblown in the video. I'm from Prague, too, so this isn't some custom specific from Prague. They always ask If you have another one.

[@eaglemob]

In Portugal they don't bring you drinks without you ask for it. You don't have to leave tip. Tap water "AT HOME" is safe to drink, in Hotel or Restaurant i would advice to not drink, or ask before if is safe. Greetings from Algarve-Portugal.

[@evanflynn4680]

Advice: Be a Traveller, not a Tourist. What this means is that you should be excited to experience the differences in the places you go, not annoyed that it's not like home. Different countries do things differently, and it works for them. Their priorities are different, so finding why they like things that way is how you learn to love it as well. While in France, go to a boulangerie for lunch, buy a baguette, wine, cheese, and fruit, then sit in a good spot to people watch and enjoy yourself. Take it all in and relax. Lunch is the main meal of the day in France, so take a good hour, at the least, to properly enjoy your meal. Also, France has some of the best bread in the world, and a boulangerie can only be called such if they bake their bread on site. Many people speak English, but it's polite to ask if they speak it in French, so it's "parley voo on glay" spelt phonetically. In Italy, not as many speak English, but it's still probably the most common second language that people use. Italians are weird. Especially in Rome. Their relationship with road rules is that they're mostly guidelines, not strict rules. You're gonna see some weird stuff on their roads. Keep your receipts when buying food, because you order your food, take your receipt, collect your food and go to the cashier. They do it this way, so the person handling money isn't also handling the food. They also don't do food like the Italian restaurants in the rest of the world. They don't have lots of different ingredients or flavours in the same dish. You order pasta with tomato sauce, the only ingredients in that sauce will be slow cooked tomatoes and maybe olive oil. No onion, herbs, or anything. But that sauce will be the best pasta sauce you've ever had, slow cooked for hours. Also, ask about the bread, if it's complementary or not. It's up to 5€ per person for bread charge, so make sure it's complementary or just one serving shared between you. Don't ask for pepperoni pizza unless you like bell pepper pizza. Ask for salami pizza. It's the closest they have. If going to Venice, get a mask. They're only about 12 euro, but they're hand-made and beautiful. Go to the Murano Glass Factory and get something to take home. You can get relatively cheap things like paperweights or drop earrings, all the way up to thousands of euros for their bigger pieces. If you go to Florence, go to their leather shops. More affordable things could be a wallet or purse. Shoes and jackets or coats can sell for thousands. Getting a belt is also a good idea, as it will last years longer than the cheap stuff. Look out for pickpockets anywhere in Europe. Don't let anyone get too close. Have your jacket cover your handbag and keep it zipped or buckled closed when you're not using it.

[@m1g4s]

The water is extremely safe. And this is probably a country thing, because where I'm from it's very usual to ask for tap water

[@senchaholic]

The problem with those "bathtubs" of coffee, is that the coffee will get cold faster. But here in Europe, we also tend to drink stronger coffee. Even here in Sweden, coffee will most of the time be brewed strong. US and UK are infamous to many Europeans for their week coffee. My parents once went to the UK and ordered coffee and was disappointed. My dad joked with the staff that he didn't order tea, but coffee.

[@Salix631]

In Ireland you will get a jug of water (often with ice/lemon/lime) and glasses placed on the table, or there will be a station with water and glasses for self service. Unless there is a local warning in effect, which would be unusual, tap water is drinkable. Because of storage systems the water in hotel bathrooms is not advised for drinking, and in private houses drinking water is usually only from the kitchen cold tap. Apart from tourist areas where US visitors have changed the vibe, the vast majority of places do not expect tips.

[@tancik_29]

8:25 Generally the tap water in most of Europe is drinkable (does not matter if the water is from wash basin, sink, drinking fountain...). It is filtered and safe to drink. In restaurants there is some kind of stupid hygienic polici so they are not allowed to serve you tap water, but it would be drinkable with no problems.

[@sanoakley]

Hi there! You made me laugh when you got confused about Janek talking about scams. Of course he meant they are discovering scams happening in Prague and not scamming people by themselves :) cheers from Prague ❤

[@FenrisUlfven]

When I was in Prague in my work several years ago, our group got a very nice waiter at a small local restaurant. Maybe because he was fascinated that our group consisted of several nationalities (a britt, a french, a german, 2 swedes and a finn)

[@assassinlv8274]

Tips for Italy from someone who was there for 2 weeks: In Rome there are Fontanelle (drinking fountains) all around the city where is coming very much fresh water. And for eating see different "Osteria" in Trestevere region (west side of the river) - That's outside tourist spots and you'll find more local foods and is cheaper.

[@assassinlv8274]

Also do not order in Italy in Bar (that's a place where also you get coffee) "Latte".. Latte = Milk Cafe Macchiato = Espresso with milk Latte Macchiato = Milk with espresso (you would usually call this Cafe latte)

[@BigAndTall666]

"fontanelle" is also the soft spot on a newborn baby's skull...

[@drakulkacz6489]

Yes, these guys show the scams and all the tourists traps and they even work with city council and even police to stop it. They channel is very good if you want to come here. Best regards from Czechia.

[@Deus_Ubique]

hallo ! austrian here, found your channel today and love it ! to the topic(s): the countries who drink the most beer on this world (by FAR, per capita) are are 1. czech republic 2. austria 3. poland 4. romania/germany 5. romania/germany i am not sure with the order on 4 and 5. since you've been in germany and you liked the beer... i can assure you: czech beer is brilliant. it stands out. i am not that familiar with romanian beer, but polish, german (especially bavarian), austrian is also absolutely top notch, but none can hold up to the czech standard. this leads to the fact that many people in europe just make beer-vacations in czech republic. so my best guess it's often common or they are used to people that don't just drink one of those little 0.5litre glasses. (similar in bavaria, germany for example. oktoberfest for example is pure beer-tourism). that may be a reason why they often just expect you to drink another beer anyway. (hell, the waiter who brings me a second beer without asking me, is for sure getting a high tip!) the same also happens in bavaria and in austria (but not that common). so that may be an explanation :) i personally love this behaviour and i am very pleased they serve me the next without my order. this said: hail to the czech ! gonna visit prague again. soon. and i'll enjoy this nice city and the delicious brewed stuff ! the water: don't know why this is the case in czech (i dont go to czech to drink unrefined water. beer it is!). in austria/germany i usually get tap water. sometimes of course you can't just go to a bar and order water ONLY. but if u order anything else, they most likely also serve you tap water too. by my experience. also water is in most countries absolutely safe to drink. especially near the alps (it's fresh springwater from the alps) or in the nordic countries. this has most of the time even a better quality in tastes better then packaged water. but generally speaking: you can drink the water from the tap in pretty much all of europe without even thinking about. this is also often duo very high standards to environmental protection (we are very obsessed with this) and springwater landscapes that are often protected. tipping: very much like in this vid here. i'd describe myself as a very generose tipper (for europeans) and often tip 10-20%. the better the service, the better the tip (also gets to 100% in few situations). if the service is shitty, i won't tip at all (seldom the case) and want to have my exchange back to the last cent. (but then i also don't come back to this location usually) i don't see a reason to tip another 20-25% just because on a 100€ bill if the service isn't nice/attentive at all.

[@varajalka]

I have never tipped or been requested to tip in Finland and once saw a waiter get visibly upset when a foreigner was insistent on tipping. It's seen as rude in some cases since it can feel like looking down on the waiter.

[@peterdoe2617]

WOW! I'm german. And just learned something about Finland! Tipping here is not mandatory. But a gesture to the waiter that you felt especially well-treated.

[@riittaniemi6231]

I have tipped in Finland many times, never seen or heard it being rude here. Tipping is not common, totally optional, but always appreciated.

[@fbabarbe430]

​@@riittaniemi6231North America has servants, Europe has waiters. That's the difference.

[@Quent1nB]

I remember being in Cali, and there was a place in Venice beach where they included taxes in prices AND being friendly (just the right amount) AND not rushing anyone with the bill. It was the perfect mix of EU and US culture.

[@Bramfly]

I’m sure you are well aware that Europe consist of dozens of different countries each with their own language, customs etc etc. 🙂

[@germangarcia6118]

Yeah, well. For once the one to blame for the generalization is the European in the video. It's he who titled it *in Europe* and not in the Czech Republic, which is the only country he's talking about.

[@JB-nl3xy]

@@germangarcia6118 well to be fair, he made it quite clear by mentioning it about 10 times during the video itself. The title is the only generalized thing, the content of the video really isn't.

[@germangarcia6118]

@@JB-nl3xy IDK man. I don't do well with clickbait. I think I'm getting old. People now seem to see it as normal, but I don't like it.

[@captainbigos9267]

I don't think the author of the original video is aware of that as he seems to think that his small country represents Europe in general.

[@Thuras]

Here in The Netherlands you are not being asked what you want customised on your menu, however you definitely can request alterations

[@escalanteofficialx]

It's actually the same here in CZ. People regularly go for e.g. rice instead of dumplings, as long as it actually goes well with the meal. As long as they have the rice on the menu, they will gladly let you have rice instead the dumplings. Because why should they let you go away with no spend...💁‍♂ My father wants no single piece of onion in his meals and they always gladly comply. Honest Guide is a great channel, no debate about that, but sometimes they make things feel like blown out of proportion, ocasionally even presenting long gone bad habits of waiters as solid thing of present time.

[@sweetowl4179]

Here my general advices about Italy, here is probably more than I didn't think about, but I hope it will be of some help. If you have specific questions feel free to ask. FOOD First general advice (which I think is valid for most if not every country) don't look for food in touristic places you will risk to pay more for food that it's not even that good, go where the locals eat. Also I advice to try the local traditional dishes, for example "carbonara" or "cacio e pepe" in Rome, "lasagne", "tortellini", "mortadella" in Bologna ecc. There are literally hundreds of dishes so I can't list them here, I advice you to do some researches beforehand. About pizza, if you want the real good pizza you should take it in center or better south Italy, area around Naples is the best of course; as a general rule of thumb, the more you go north the more pizza is bad. I've read people complaining about a terrible pizza they had in Venice... yeah I'm not surprised, especially because they probably got it in a place made for tourists. The Neapolitan pizza is what you want, with a thick crust and mottled mozzarella (that's the result of using fresh mozzarella and not the low string cheese like in US style pizza). If you go to a bar (a bar here is not the same as in the US where it's a place made mainly for alcohol consumption, here people go in a bar even for breakfast) and order a coffee without any specifications, you'll get an espresso, you can also ask for a macchiato (espresso with a bit of milk cream, which I think is similar to what you call "latte" in English, but remember that latte in Italia is the word for milk so if you ask for latte you get a glass of milk XD), a cappuccino (big cup of milk mixed with an expresso and cream on top, we usually don't take it after noon so you may get a weird look if you do) etc., even in this case the list is too long to write it here. Just pleeeease, don't look for a "Starbucks style" coffee. COMMUNICATION & PEOPLE Can't deny that here the average level English is low, you shouldn't have problems while you are in touristic areas but be prepared to struggle a little bit. People should be friendly and welcoming enough, especially if you show interest in the language and culture, but assholes are everywhere and sometimes you get the jerk who is having a bad day and gives you a hard time if you don't pronounce a word correctly. We are not all like that I swear. PLACES Obviously many tourists point to famous cities like Rome, Florence, Venice, Positano etc. but especially if in high season they can be very crowded due to tourism and with very high prices. Of course they are beautiful cities with many things to see, but small towns or even rural villages are no less and it could be a nice and alternative experience if you do some research on which ones to visit. I personally love small medieval towns. Beaches in south Italy can be awesome (Calabria, Puglia, Sardegna, Sicilia ecc.) but so are Alps in the north or even the Appennini (smaller mountain chains that splits Italy in two), keep them in consideration. Depending on where you are, if you visit in full summer you must be prepared to very high temperatures, even 35°C (95 °F) or more occasionally. So I recommend some research on this matter too. TRANSPORTATION Public transportation is mostly fine and fairly cheap, imho a better choice than taxis which can be very expensive (also don't try to stop one on the road, here you have to look for a "taxi area" or call a number). Trains here are also good, at least for medium and long traits, while some regional trains can be old and not top notch.

[@cricio9139]

Non sono d'accordo con la friendliness, siamo diventati un popolo di stronzi

[@jeroenmeester9528]

Denmark is expensive, you should skip it and come to the Netherlands, if you walk on one of our dikes at high tide you can really see that a third of the country is below sea level. We also have those centuries old windmills, more amusement parks, of which de Efteling is probably the most famous, Giethoorn, and tobacco free joints in our coffee shops. On top of that the Netherlands is the best non native English speaking country in the world. But be warned, once you're in the Netherlands you might never want to leave again 😜

[@HandleMeUp]

In France, you can ask for "une carafe d'eau" which is a water pitcher and you'll get it for free. I've been to so many restaurants in different regions in France, and never been asked to pay for water. And I was shocked when I visited Italy where I had to pay for little bottle of water. But keep in mind that it depends on the restaurant, not all places are the same.

[@eluane_cv]

Yes cause the law obligates

[@403000]

True. In Italy the commercial water (water in bottle, sparkling or not) costs some money. Otherwise, tap water from waterworks is for free and it is absolutely safe. In a restaurant or in a bar, for a glass of water from waterworks, just ask ‘acqua naturale’ which means from the waterworks or, as you said, a ‘carafe’ of ‘acqua naturale’.

[@BananLord]

I think that in Romania if you go to a classy pub/bar in Bucharest or Cluj, you might find some of those sell bottled artisanal beer, since we also have an annual event/fair about artisanal beer in Bucharest.

[@imcrazedandconfused]

PS: I am pretty sure, you will love Denmark and it's people. Honest, not always initially friendly (compared to the US kind of, ehm, more "fake" style smalltalk. Sorry, we know, we know, just different culture), funny and social people. Make yourself feel comfortable there (hyggelig). They have a very nice and kind of unique food culture, you - might - gain a few gramms of weight, though, LOL. (Yeah, great hot dogs, cakes etc...) Have a great time on your trip!

[@rrrado1]

When we try to find water in the city we go to a places called shops where you can exchange money for water for example, in bottles most likely. We have things called vending machines where you can also exchange money for drinks, water included, even sparkling or not. As you probably noticed (or not) there is thing called money appearing, that's the key to get water, you don't have to fill bottles in your hotel, hiring camels, digging in the ground or catching rain. Good luck with your adventures and have a lot of fun!

[@squarecircle1473]

Its very important to know that cultural differences between individual european countries can vary widely. So if you want to be informed, you are best off looking for videos about the specific country/countries you are thinking of visiting :) I think, if you have to make a broad generalization, then I would say eastern european countries are somewhat similar to one another, northern european countries are somewhat similar to one another, and southern european countries are somewhat similar to one another. So you will find some similarities between denmark and germany. And between france and italy. But not really between italy and germany, for instance. But that is only speaking in very broad terms. :)

[@fbabarbe430]

The south of Germany has North Italiaan aspect. The Eropeen countries have with in their borders also differences.

[@twwraistlin]

When you get to Denmark, theres a place I've heard much about, although I havent tried it myself. Restaurant Nögen in Århus, a restaurant with no menucard because the menu changes daily depending on which ingredients they can get that day. It's supposedly a gourmet-restaurant with emphasis on reducing foodwaste and as such they buy ingredients discarded because of "bad looks".

[@barbariandude]

This video is very much mistitled. This isn't cultural differences between US and EU, this is cultural differences between US and CZ. Most of what he talks about here is completely different elsewhere in Europe. About the customization of food point, in Romania, ordering a shaorma requires some experience and knowledge! What type of meat do you want? What vegetables? What sauces? French fries or not? Etc, etc.

[@tobytja]

8:30 - The reason is the restaurants have to way to actually record the expense. They have to record every expense and tap water is so cheap that even one liter (usually about 5 glasses) would be less than one crown, but it’s still an expense. Our tap water is very much drinkable and is checked regularly by bureaus for hygiene, if something bad gets into the tap water somewhere it’s usually discovered in several days and fixed. But in some towns/cities the water is so bad (taste) that you can drink it only if your taste buds are already gone 🙂

sadly you are not visiting Czech Republic or Slovakia :) but enjoy your visit, any country in Europe has something interesting and beautiful

[@IgavOn]

this just makes me more excited for my vacation. Going to Denmark, Germany and Switzerland next month

[@houghi3826]

This is in Prague. Prague is not Europe. Each country and often city is different. Most places will not bring a new beer when the beer is empty. The water is clean, but you do not tip, so you do not just pay for the water, but for the service as well. The restaurant makes money and pays its staff by selling stuff. So giving water for free means no income, but the waiters still did the work. Eating out in Europe is more a social thing. You spend time with friends or family, so take your time. Fast food places are often not even considered a restaurant. And even for coffee we go and sit down. It is time to relax. When you plan, plan a lot of "free time" so you can do things that come up and you can enjoy your stay, instead of just having had a lot of things checked off your list. Having enjoyed 5 things is better than having see 25 things. Coffee is generally way stronger in Europe. But know that the countries in Europe are all very different and even inside countries customs can change from city to city. Also know that the capital cities are often not seen as a representation for the country.Amsterdam is not the Netherlands. London is not England or the UK, Paris is not France. And do not worry if the people in Paris hate you. It is not because you are American, it is because they hate everybody, including other people from Paris. (That last is a joke, kinda.)

[@Pidalin]

Not even in Czechia and Prague with that another beer, it's like that only in very alcoholic places where people just go to have their 10 beers and it's expected from everyone to have like 5+ beers, but you don't have to go to such pubs. This will never happen to you in a normal restaurant or in some better pub, this is only in those liquor holes or how to call that. 😀

[@zuzanadrapalova2146]

Hi, I'm from Czechia too and you can get free water somewhere. It is actually quite common in cafés, not so much in restaurants. And it is more common now to get a tap water in a jug quite cheaply. I'm always very annoyed when they don't have this option available.:D But water is safe to drink from tap almost everywhere in Europe.

[@stephenstalker5358]

Here in the UK, it is a legal requirement that anywhere serving alcohol MUST provide customers with free tap water (even if you haven't bought any beer). Thus is one of the major requirements in order to be a liscenced premise.

[@davidvarga2916]

In Slovakia if you want free water you can either find a drinking fountain in the middle of towns or find a spring. There are plenty of villages that are built on natural springs. You can even find loads of them while hiking in the middle of hills and mountains.

[@zedaadega7420]

@HailHeidi Have no worries about visiting Europe. Pay no attention to the guy in the video saying you have to pay for a beer that you didn't order, because no barman can do that in the EU, we have rights, you know? It was probably just a local custom for local customers, in that particular café. Once I ordered a Brandy and a decaff expresso in a hotel in Spain, and they gave me a tea! WTF!? That happened in Salamanca. I'm portuguese, and spoke spanish and made a complaint, but the waitress said "No te entiendo!" I had to point to the Soberano "cognac" bottle and to the expresso machine to make myself clear. But still I had to pay 1,80 € for the tea I didn't drink. I lost 1,80€ that day. But on another occasion I was staying in a nice luxury hotel in Mérida, with a castle view, and before having dinner, I went to the bar and said "Yo quiero un cognac como Dios manda, para un senõr, servido en la más grande copa de cognac", and after hearing this expression coming from a foreigner, they called all the "camareros", and they brought me a huge brandy glass, they filled the glass three fold, untill I shouted "It's too much"! They offered the triple brandy... I learned some 1970's spanish expressions by watching the TVE series "Cuentá-me como pasó", those waiters in Merida liked it, but the waitress in Salamanca gave me a tea. The moral of this story: Just be yourself... :)

[@Vakaria-plays]

I see a lot of people saying you can drink the water. YES AND NO! different bacteria is found from country to country, i live in Denmark, and can drink tap water, but i might get sick if i drink the tap water in Greece, or in Spain. Will you get sick by guarantee? No of course not, and you can use the tap water for toothbrushing purposes easily, but be careful about large consuming, better to buy spring water on bottles as that has been fully purified.

[@okofreak01]

Also regarding the water, most european cities have a small water fountain every few hundred meters which is perfectly drinkable so you won't have to worry too much about being thirsty :) There are also maps which have all the water fountain in a city/country you can find on the internet which are very helpful.

[@immitable]

On the tipping thing, in Europe waiters get paid actual wage by their employer, health insurance, paid leave etc - all included. In the US waiters live off tips, they only get paid like 2 $ an hour or so - if any