Cultural differences between New Yorkers and Europeans

1/ New Yorkers Love Helping Tourists

• New Yorkers are genuinely friendly toward visitors. Worried about getting lost? You’ll always find someone ready to help. New Yorkers jump in immediately and do everything they can to solve your problem.
• Try this: pull out your New York subway map on the street, and someone will approach you within minutes asking if you need help.
• New York police officers are equally helpful. Don’t hesitate to ask them, even about minor directions.

2/ New Yorkers Love France

• Among Americans, New Yorkers have a special admiration for France. When they ask where you’re from and you say “France,” their faces light up—either because they’ve been there or dream of going. Those who know France will probably say “Ahhh Parees” (yes, that’s how Americans pronounce Paris 😉 ).
• If you’re from the French Riviera, New Yorkers will be equally enchanted when you mention it.
• If you’re from Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, or Canada, tell us how you were received! Swiss visitors will get comments about chocolate, the Alps, or skiing. US Open fans might mention Roger Federer. Share your experience via our contact form. 🙂

3/ Everything Is “Great” in New York!

• Get used to it: New Yorkers love superlatives. In the US, every little thing is “great.” It’s probably the word you’ll hear most in New York! 🙂 Use it yourself. When someone helps you or mentions a place, address, or attraction, the response is always “great, thanks.”
• When your server asks if your meal is good, don’t overthink it: “It’s great!”

4/ New Yorkers Love Compliments

• Just as everything is “great,” New Yorkers hand out compliments freely. I still remember a New Yorker who stopped me on the street to compliment my camera with a “great camera.” Really, I should have thanked Canon—I had nothing to do with it!
• While Europeans often seem reserved at first, New Yorkers are much warmer. Don’t hesitate to approach them. Offer a compliment yourself—it’s often the best way to start a conversation with a New Yorker.

5/ New Yorkers Adore Children

• Your kids will be treated like royalty in New York! You’ll notice this especially in New York restaurants: everything is set up for kids, and you won’t get disapproving looks the way you might elsewhere.
• For more ideas, check out our guide to visiting New York with children.

6/ The Quirky New York “Hello”

• If you learned English in school, you know “Good morning” and “Hello.” But in New York, that’s not how people greet you.
• When you enter a shop, bar, or restaurant, you’ll hear “Hi, how are you?” It’s direct! But don’t launch into a detailed health report. Just say “Fine, thank you.” Or go with “Great” if you’ve picked up on that word! 🙂
• Forget the British “How do you do”—it’s outdated and never used in New York. To learn more, read about the differences between British and American English.

7/ New Yorkers Apologize Constantly

• Here’s another striking cultural difference: New Yorkers apologize whenever they brush past you or accidentally touch you. You’ll hear “oh sorry” a lot. Do the same if you forget to hold a door or pass in front of someone unintentionally.

8/ Don’t Joke With Authorities

• While New Yorkers are generally easygoing, there’s one group with whom you should always stay serious: immigration officers, customs agents, and police.
• When you go through immigration on arrival, answer questions straightforwardly and skip the jokes (see my article on questions asked by US immigration).
• Same goes if a police officer asks for ID: stay serious and polite. Leave jokes aside—your words may be taken literally. In New York, the law is the law, and authorities don’t appreciate humor about it.

9/ No Kissing Cheeks in New York!

• Here’s one last quirk: in New York, like the rest of the US, the European cheek kiss doesn’t exist! Among friends, it’s replaced by the “hug”—a greeting that takes some getting used to. A New Yorker will put their arms around you and gently pat your back to show friendship.
• You’ll probably also hear “great to see you.” If someone hugs you, do the same and pat their back gently—not hard. After decades of practice, I still feel awkward about where to put my hands during a hug… You have to hold tight but not too tight, not too fast but not too long… Good luck! LOL 🙂