Rick Steves' Simple Clothing Tip If You're Worried About Looking Like A Tourist In Europe

When traveling through Europe, blending in can help you avoid unnecessary travel headaches. If anybody can tell you're tourist with just one look, you could become a target for scams, get pickpocketed, or simply feel out of place. Certain clothing choices can help you not look like a tourist no matter where you are in the world, and European travel expert Rick Steves has some easy-to-follow advice for how to not let your clothing choices impact your trip.

On his website, Steves explains that, "[Europe's] definition of casual is a bit dressier than ours." For example, graphic tees in Europe are less common than in other parts of the world, but these may not stand out too obviously unless they feature American sports team logos or other non-European cultural signifiers. Europeans wear shorts fairly seldomly as well. In general, such subtle differences don't mean you need to veer far off from everyday styles in order to blend in. Steves often opts for "decent pair of slacks and a good-looking sweater or collared shirt." The overarching theme of Steves' clothing tips is to keep it simple. Solids and elevated basics will do the trick.

Another reason why Rick Steves keeps his clothing options simple is because he is a staunch believer in packing light. His aforementioned wardrobe staples of slacks and collared shirts are versatile. They pair easily with other articles of clothing. This way, you can mix and match to avoid packing an entirely different outfit for each day of your trip. They can also be dressed up for a nice dinner or dressed down for a park stroll.

While Steves definitely abides by clothing do's and don'ts in Europe, he remains realistic about his status as a tourist. With language barriers and body language differences, Europeans can usually spot tourists based on much more than just what they are wearing. Plus, when striving to be a welcomed guest in another country, there are more important things to do than choosing the proper attire. "To blend in and be culturally sensitive, I watch my manners, not the cut of my clothes," says Steves. This means researching and following local etiquette norms, learning a few essential words and phrases in the local language, and keeping your impact on local life to a minimum.