Rick Steves Has The Perfect Advice For Looking Like A Local In Europe

European travel is a dream for many Americans, particularly for those whose ancestors have links to the continent. Travel can feel like a rite of passage that allows them to connect with their roots and visit the places where former generations were raised before migrating to America. However, even when returning to the land of one's heritage, reconnecting doesn't always come easy. In fact, to many Europeans, Americans can often stand out as obvious tourists, which can affect how they are received on their travels. Indeed, it is a subject that European travel expert Rick Steves knows well, and he's shared several tips for those seeking to explore Europe while blending in with the locals that give you the chance to travel around the continent without signaling your tourist status.

When it comes to shedding your tourist image, it seems that it's not only Steves who is willing to offer advice to American travelers headed across the Atlantic. There is something of an industry on YouTube of Americans who have been settled in the Old World for several years, and who are ready to share their tips for common clothing mistakes to avoid in Europe. But the truth is you could easily become paranoid about every piece of attire if you think too hard about it; as Steves says on his website, the trick is to keep things simple.

So, what is it apart from speaking English and having an American accent that makes travelers from the U.S. stand out in Europe? Are American sartorial choices really so different from those across the pond? According to Rick Steves, there are plenty of subtle differences between American and European dress on the whole, several of which you are unlikely to spot yourself as you go about your travels. Above all, Steves claims that casual dress in Europe tends to be slightly more smart than in the U.S., with cargo shorts rarely seen on women, who tend to wear skirts more often than American women. Opting for capri pants over shorts is another way for American women to look more European.

Similarly, men can also give themselves a more European vibe by not wearing shorts, especially in countries like Italy. Instead, choose light slacks with a collared shirt, which will see you fit in in most environments. If you intend on visiting churches, mosques, or synagogues, Steves reminds tourists to dress modestly, and for women to pack a light scarf to cover their hair and arms when required.

It might make you a little uncomfortable to feel like you're sticking out while traveling in Europe, but at the end of the day, does it really matter too much to look like a tourist when you're, well, a tourist? The reality is that wearing clothing that suits the local dress codes is far more important than clothing that makes you fit in, especially while traveling. Additionally, you want to plan your packing so that you are traveling as lightly as possible, packing neutral, versatile clothing that you can wear wherever you might find yourself.

And Rick Steves offers some overall advice when it comes to deciding what to wear in Europe, noting that comfortable clothing that doesn't offend others is usually good enough. He added in his blog post, "No matter how carefully you dress, your clothes will probably distinguish you from Europeans. And so what? To blend in and be culturally sensitive, I watch my manners, not the cut of my clothes."