Americans Are Shocked by These 9 European Sleep Habits

Why Bother Talking About Sleep?

When you think of cultural differences between Europe and the U.S., you might imagine variations in food, work schedules, or language. But one realm often overlooked is bedroom habits—how people set up their beds, manage nighttime routines, or deal with temperature and noise. If you’ve ever stayed in a European home for a night, you might have encountered surprising norms: maybe a big duvet with no top sheet, or wide-open windows even in winter. These details can feel odd or even shocking to Americans used to certain bedding standards.

Yet these habits often reflect deep-seated cultural preferences—from how older houses were designed to how families historically shared space or aligned with nature’s rhythms. Below, we’ll delve into nine such sleep habits that highlight the European approach to bedtime. If you’re planning a trip or just curious about cross-cultural living, these insights might challenge your assumptions—and maybe even inspire changes in your own bedtime routine.

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Quick Easy Tips

Skip the Screens Before Bed – Many Europeans prioritize winding down naturally, avoiding phones and TVs for an hour before sleep. Try it for better rest.

Let the Windows Breathe – In places like Germany and the Netherlands, fresh air is king. Crack a window before bedtime—even in cooler temps.

Use Separate Bedding – In several European countries, couples sleep with separate duvets for better rest and fewer arguments over covers.

Ditch the Dryer – Air-dried linens are not only eco-friendly, but many Europeans say they sleep better with them. Give line-drying a try.

Nap When Needed – Southern Europeans, especially in Spain and Italy, embrace siestas or afternoon rests. Short naps may improve overall sleep quality.

To many Americans, the European sleep culture may seem rigid, impractical, or even “old-fashioned,” but Europeans often view American routines as chaotic and unhealthy. In much of Europe, sleep is not just a function it’s a respected ritual. From avoiding blue light to sleeping under weighted blankets made from natural materials, the approach tends to be more intentional and less hurried.

One of the biggest cultural shockers is the lack of air conditioning in many European bedrooms, especially during summer. Americans may find it unbearable, but Europeans are more accustomed to regulating temperature with thick shutters, light bedding, and early morning breezes. This difference often fuels debates over what’s “comfortable” versus what’s “natural.”

Another surprising habit is the two-duvet rule found across Scandinavia and parts of Central Europe. While it may seem like an intimacy killer to outsiders, locals swear it leads to better sleep and fewer middle-of-the-night wakeups. Some American travelers leave Europe puzzled by these practices others return and never sleep the same way again.

1. One Large Duvet? No, Each Partner Gets Their Own

The Behavior

Many Europeans—especially in northern regions—don’t share one giant comforter on a double bed. Instead, each partner often has an individual duvet or blanket. Americans might find this arrangement strange, seeing it as less intimate or “too separated.”

Why It’s Popular

• No Tug-of-War: No more fighting over covers in the middle of the night. Each partner can cocoon themselves without risking a blanket battle.
• Different Warmth Needs: If one partner sleeps hotter or colder, they can choose a heavier or lighter duvet.
• Easier Bed-Making: Each duvet is just folded or rolled. No complicated layering with top sheets, etc.

Why Americans Find It Shocking: Americans typically share one big comforter or quilt—emphasizing togetherness or efficiency. But once you experience the separate-duvet approach, you might never go back—no more accidental duvet hogging at 2 a.m.

2. The “No Top Sheet” Strategy (Just a Fitted Sheet and Duvet)

The Behavior

In many European bedrooms, you’ll find no top sheet under the duvet. The bed is typically made with a fitted sheet over the mattress, then a duvet with a removable, washable cover on top. That’s it—no middle sheet.

Why It’s Common

• Ease of Laundering: Duvet covers can be changed and washed just like a sheet. One step, less bed-linen fuss.
• Temperature Control: A well-chosen duvet (sometimes lighter in summer, heavier in winter) is enough for most climates.
• Historic Bedding Tradition: This duvet-only setup has existed for centuries in parts of Central and Northern Europe, long before Americans popularized the top sheet.

Why Americans Find It Shocking: The top sheet is so standard in the U.S. that skipping it can seem incomplete, or “like the bed is missing something.” But for many Europeans, simpler is better, leading them to wonder why Americans complicate bedding with extra layers.

3. Hardcore Shutters for Pitch-Black Rooms

The Behavior

Walk through many European neighborhoods, and you’ll notice exterior shutters on windows—often fully closed at night. Europeans can be serious about blocking out streetlights and early morning sun, leading to a very dark bedroom.

Why It’s Normal

• Light Sensitivity: Many prefer total darkness for deeper sleep. Shutters (called persianas in Spain, volets in France, or Rolladen in Germany) are designed for absolute light-blocking.
• Security & Temperature: Shutters can also help with security, noise, and insulation, making them multi-purpose.
• Cultural Habit: For centuries, shutters have protected interiors from intense midday sun or from cold nights—residents have grown used to using them daily.

Why Americans Find It Shocking: Americans often rely on curtains or blinds, which don’t always achieve total blackout. The notion of completely shutting out outside light at night—making the room pitch-black—may feel claustrophobic to some, but it’s routine in many European homes.

4. Windows Open at Night, Even in Winter

The Behavior

In countries like Germany, Austria, or the Nordics, people might crack open the bedroom window for fresh air, even during chilly winters. The idea is that a small ventilated breeze ensures a healthier sleeping environment.

Why It’s Embraced

• Fresh Air Philosophy: Many Europeans believe in the health benefits of circulating air to avoid stuffiness, especially in older buildings.
• Dry Indoor Heat: Radiator or central heating can make interiors too warm or dry. A crack in the window balances humidity and temperature.
• Traditional “Air Out” Habit: It’s common each morning to open windows wide, letting out stale air—nighttime airing is just an extension of that logic.

Why Americans Find It Shocking: Americans might see it as a waste of heating energy or fear letting in cold drafts, insects, or noise. But for Europeans, comfort often trumps the slight extra heating cost, and they trust well-fitted shutters or insect screens to manage bugs.

5. Strict “Quiet Hours” in Residential Zones

The Behavior

Many European apartment buildings or neighborhoods enforce quiet hours—for instance, from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.—during which loud noises, music, or vacuuming might be frowned upon or even restricted by law. This ensures everyone can rest peacefully.

Why It’s Respected

• High-Density Living: People reside in close proximity, with thin walls in older buildings. Respecting neighbors’ sleep is paramount.
• Legal Framework: Some countries have official regulations on noise pollution. Repeated violations can result in fines or neighbor complaints.
• Social Norm: Disturbing someone’s sleep is seen as truly rude. So locals adapt by limiting rowdy activities to daytime or weekends.

Why Americans Find It Shocking: In the U.S., especially suburban areas, 24-hour big-box stores and flexible schedules might lead to nighttime chores or parties. In Europe, ignoring quiet hours can quickly sour neighbor relationships.

6. Afternoon Siestas or “Riposo” in Southern Countries

The Behavior

In southern Italy, parts of Greece, or rural Spain, midday can bring a riposo or siesta—where shops shut down, families eat lunch, and some might catch a short nap. This can shift sleep schedules, with people staying up later at night.

Why It’s Normal

• Heat Avoidance: Historically, midday heat is too intense for work, so pausing for rest was logical.
• Flexible Evening Culture: People might not go to bed at 9 p.m. if they took an afternoon doze. They dine at 9 or 10 p.m. and retire closer to midnight.
• Productivity: Some claim a short afternoon sleep re-energizes them for the second half of the day.

Why Americans Find It Shocking: The idea of a scheduled midday break—like shutting the entire town—clashes with the typical American 9-to-5. Many see it as unproductive or old-fashioned. Yet for local communities, it’s a time-honored tradition that fosters better rest overall.

7. Less Reliance on AC at Night (Even During Heatwaves)

The Behavior

In many European regions, people still avoid running full-blown air conditioning all night. They might rely on fans, open windows, or natural ventilation to cool off, even in summer nights hitting 80°F (27°C).

Why It’s Practiced

• Cost & Ecology: Electricity can be pricey, and people are more conscious of energy consumption.
• Cultural Tolerance: Generations grew up coping with warmer nights, using thinner sheets or sleeping with shutters partially open. They see it as normal.
• Health Beliefs: Some worry that continuous A/C dryness or blasts can cause colds or stiff necks.

Why Americans Find It Shocking: Americans often love a crisp, cool bedroom—65°F (18°C) or lower. Skipping A/C might feel stifling. But Europeans generally find ways to manage heat with fans, shutters, or even a quick cold shower before bed, seeing A/C as a last resort.

8. Minimal Pillow Use or Firm Mattresses

The Behavior

European bedding can be surprisingly spare: a single rectangular or square pillow per person, sometimes firmer than American pillows. Mattresses might also be firmer, with fewer plush toppers.

Why It’s Preferred

• Simplicity & Support: Many believe a firmer mattress is healthier for posture and a single pillow is better for neck alignment.
• Less “Fluff”: Overly squishy bedding is seen as unnecessary or not conducive to good sleep.
• Historical Roots: Traditional bedrooms often had basic wooden frames, straw mattresses, or simpler bedding. This preference for “just enough” comfort persists.

Why Americans Find It Shocking: Americans are used to cloud-like mattresses or big pillow mountains. Checking into a European hotel and finding a single, firm pillow might feel minimal, but it’s standard—some travelers even request a second pillow if they need more head support.

9. Crisp Morning Ventilation: Throwing Windows Wide Right After Waking

The Behavior

Finally, many Europeans have a routine of immediately opening windows upon rising—even in cooler climates—to air out the bedroom thoroughly. This might last 5–10 minutes, even if it’s chilly outside.

Why It’s Done

• Fresh Air Priority: They believe stale, stuffy rooms hamper well-being. A quick “airing” disperses CO2 build-up from nighttime.
• Moisture & Odor Control: Letting out humidity from breathing, ensuring linens stay fresher.
• Energy Efficiency: A short daily airing can be more efficient than having windows partially open all night.

Why Americans Find It Shocking: Some American households keep windows sealed year-round, relying on HVAC systems. The idea of letting in a blast of cold morning air—especially in winter—strikes them as wasteful or uncomfortable. But for Europeans, it’s a normal, healthy daily ritual.

Two Worlds, Different Approaches to Comfort

Why do these 9 sleep habits exist in Europe, baffling many Americans? Fundamentally, it’s about cultural evolution, architecture, climate adaptation, and deeply rooted traditions. Each region shaped these norms across centuries of family living, small dwellings, minimal technology reliance, and a desire to remain integrated with nature or community rhythms.

From shutting out all light with sturdy shutters to skipping big glasses of ice water before bed, these small differences might initially feel “rude,” “outdated,” or “inconvenient” to outsiders. But each habit has its own logic be it health, energy saving, or simply a well-tested routine. And as travelers or expats, understanding these differences can reveal not just a better night’s sleep, but a broader perspective on how environment and tradition mold daily life.

Takeaway: If you find yourself in a European bedroom for the night be it an Airbnb in Berlin or a family home in Tuscany embrace the local approach. Maybe you’ll discover new comfort in a pitch-black room, or appreciate the dryness of a duvet-only bed. Or you might find it all too alien and realize you prefer your American top sheet and plush pillows. Either way, you’ll come away with fresh insight into how seemingly mundane routines like the way we tuck in at night reflect deeper cultural stories. Sleep well, or as they say in Spain, “Dulces sueños!”

Traveling soon? Before bedtime, observe how your hosts or local neighbors handle their windows, shutters, and bedding. Adopting small gestures like airing out the room in the morning or shutting thick blinds at night can help you acclimate better and appreciate the local sense of restful living. Safe travels and sweet dreams!