Rick Steves Has An Important Tip For Anyone Paying To Use Bathrooms In Europe

It goes without saying that, for many American travelers, planning a trip to Europe can often feel like stepping into another world. Especially considering the etiquette and customs that make being there so wildly different from the U.S. — even when it comes to using the bathroom. Thankfully, European travel expert Rick Steves, whose TV shows have kept travelers informed since 1991, has plenty of top travel tips to share, even on what to do when nature calls while you're out exploring.

For example, in many places throughout Europe, you have to pay to use public bathrooms — and that means you will often need to carry change when it's time to go. That said, Steves cautions that not all WCs are coin operated. Instead, some might have an attendant sitting by the entrance whose job is to ensure you leave the correct fee on a plate before using the bathroom. "The local equivalent of about 50 cents is plenty," Steves writes in his blog. He also claims that attendants are sometimes known to leave bigger bills on the plate to make it appear that the fee is higher, solely to confuse tourists.

Even when entry to the bathroom is apparently free, it is still worth making sure you have change. "Sometimes the toilet itself is free, but an attendant in the corner sells sheets of toilet paper," Steves warns. He also argues that, even if everything is provided for free, it is still worth tipping the attendants who help to keep bathrooms clean and functional. "The keepers of Europe's public toilets have earned a reputation for crabbiness. You'd be crabby, too, if you lived under the street in a room full of public toilets. Humor them, understand them, and carry some change so you can leave them a coin or two."

Unsurprisingly, Rick Steves is loaded with information when it comes to the experience of finding a bathroom while traveling in Europe — and making sure you can use it with ease. His topline advice includes acknowledging the fact that public toilets are often sorely lacking when it comes to maintaining their supplies of toilet paper. His advice? Carry pocket tissues. Similarly, Steves also recommends keeping in mind that not all European countries have plumbing capable of dealing with flushed paper. In fact, in places like Greece and Turkey, you may cause a blockage if you do so. Instead, be sure to use the waste bins.

Be aware, too, that different European countries prefer different flushing mechanisms. This means that the handle or button used to activate the flush may not be immediately discernible to the American eye. Steves notes that, in some older bathrooms, you may still flush using a string that empties the cistern above. Along with this, he also notes that you might encounter gender-neutral bathrooms — or gendered bathrooms with attendants of any gender — as well as bathroom facilities that might feel unexpected, such as squat toilets. 

However, Steves reassures travelers that, overall, the main tourist hotspots in Europe are typically well supplied with public bathrooms. And, if you are having trouble locating one, you are well within your right to politely ask whether you can use one in a restaurant, bar, or cafe, or else seek out one in a public building.