Survey reveals just what Europeans really think of American tourists

USA Today

24-07-2025

From rowdy behavior to overcrowding, tourists have earned a bad rap from locals – with Americans often seen as some of the loudest and presumptuous ones – but a new survey reveals whether Europeans actually agree.
In a survey released Tuesday, July 23, Upgraded Points asked 2,200 Europeans from 22 countries for their opinions on American travelers, from common traits to whether they find them annoying. The travel company then compared their answers to how 1,000 Americans viewed themselves to see if the stereotype of an American tourist is simply a myth.
"European countries are hotter than ever as destinations for American travelers, but popularity doesn't always equal praise," said Keri Stooksbury, editor-in-chief at Upgraded Points, in a statement. "We wanted to see if Europeans still see the stereotypical loud, overly patriotic American tourist, or if that's just part of a common misconception."
These days, the majority Americans fear their nationality comes with a stigma when abroad. Over half of the American respondents saying they "worry at least a little" about being seen negatively on their international travels.
Nearly three quarters believe Americans have a bad reputation overseas, and 80% blame recent politics, such as the tariffs, skewing what Europeans think of the U.S.
In actuality, Americans may not need to worry so much. In the survey, one in four Europeans said they have a negative opinion of American tourists and 36% said they think American tourists behave worse than others. However, depending on what country you're visiting, you may feel a bit unwelcome, the survey also found.
Here's what Europeans think of American tourists, according to Upgraded Points' survey.
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How do Europeans view American tourists?
Apparently, most Europeans find American tourists to be loud, with 70% of respondents calling this the typical trait. (Nearly the same percentage of Americans agreed on this sentiment.) On a lighter note, Europeans also said most Americans are friendly and curious.
Meanwhile, Americans seem to be more critical of themselves, with 53% thinking they're viewed as arrogant – however, only 27% of Europeans said they regard them this way.
Most European respondents said they think American tourists are loud, followed closely by the belief that Americans "expect everyone to speak English." About one third of Europeans also said Americans are overly friendly and think Americans often ignore local customs.
As for the states where the worst offenders come from, Europeans listed Texas, Florida and California.
What European countries are the least welcoming to American tourists?
Here are the countries where most of the surveyed residents feel American tourists are generally unwelcome:
What European countries view Americans the most negatively?
These are the countries that have the most negative view of American travelers, according to the survey: