With bustling streets, fashion capitals, crystal-blue waters, and centuries of history, Europe is by far one of the most sought after destinations. For the entirety of summer of 2023, social media platforms were  flooded with sights of Europe. But as traveling to Europe keeps increasing in popularity, one has to wonder: what’s the reason for this with Europe?

One of the reasons for the rising trend is none other than the influence of social media. As new audiences on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok interact with videos showcasing the beauty of Europe, more users are reached. The videos range from casual photo dumps to travel advisors explaining hidden beaches and picture-worthy spots.

Food also plays a major role in traveling to Europe. Not only is the food throughout Europe delicious and authentic, many have found that despite eating large amounts of food, they aren’t getting bloated but are surprisingly losing weight. One possible reason for this is the walkability of European cities. Considering tourists have multiple sights to see daily, their levels of walking contrast from the average car transportation in the US. The US is not typically deemed as a walkable country due to the lack of sidewalks and the development of highways, while the majority of Europeans walk or bike to their destinations. In addition, the quality of food is much cleaner in comparison to other regions. The European Union prioritizes “farm to food to fork” strategy, guaranteeing high standards of animal health, along with less processed food.

Sophomore Nicole Titizian traveled throughout Europe for three weeks this past summer. She recalls her experience.

“Getting to live the European lifestyle completely shifted my perspective on others,” Titzian shared. “I saw how differently people expressed themselves in Europe, and was constantly surrounded with bright energies. I always felt safe walking through the streets, even at night. I completely dreaded my flight back, because my summer in Europe filled me with so much joy.”

While Titizian recalled a life changing trip, others mentioned crowded beaches, sweaty groups of people, lack of air conditioning, and horrible weather.

Junior Kylee Alexander brings up the downsides to her summer in Greece. 

“It was hard to capture the beauty of Greece considering the insane amount of people there. Everywhere was crowded, so I couldn’t really go to the places I wished to see.”

When searching up “Europe summer”, the typical beachy sunny vibe is shown, but “Europe reality” shows hundreds of videos of disappointed struggling tourists. Some Americans have gone onto social media, recalling being treated poorly due to their nationality. They have instructed other American travelers to dress and act another way to avoid being treated as such.

However, some Europeans defend their behavior, stating that there is a clear reasoning behind their actions. Many have said that the average American tourist is loud, distasteful, impolite, and oblivious to their customs and etiquette. Several viral videos on TikTok have shown Americans at the historic Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy. Not only was it cramming with people, but some have gone so far as to swim in the fountain. Europe natives found the act to be very impolite, but expected nothing less from the “obnoxious Americans”. 

There is no doubt that traveling to Europe is one of the most popular trends today. Despite an overwhelming number of recommendations to travel, others advise for a different location, one with less people and more open-minded citizens. There is no guarantee that tourists will listen, but only time will tell as we approach the European “off-season”.

Photo by Harini Devaguptapu