If you're considering a trip to Europe but feeling uncertain about safety or how you'll be received as an American traveller, you're not alone. Recent media coverage has left many wondering whether now is the right time to travel.
But here's what the headlines don't capture: American travellers are having incredible experiences across Europe. It's welcoming, inspiring, and absolutely worth visiting.
We spoke with some of our lovely travellers who just returned to the USA from their trips with us. They shared their honest experiences about what European travel is really like in 2025.
- Find your dream European adventure with these Nordic Visitor tours
How would you describe your interactions with locals throughout your journey?
Laura, a school librarian and travel advisor from the US, recently returned from Norway with her husband. Despite being well-travelled, she had concerns about how Americans would be received.
“All positive. Very good,” Laura told us about her interactions with locals:
If we ever had an issue, anyone that we asked was willing to give information and communicate with us in English.
Cheryl, a retired teacher from Wyoming, went on a 12-day journey through Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway with her sister and nephew. She worried about language barriers but found something quite different.
“Every place we went, they would start out in their native language. Then we would have that blank stare, and then they would just switch to English. It was so nice.”
On trains, Cheryl even found herself befriending fellow passengers from across Europe. “I met Nora from Hungary. I met Antoine from Portugal. I met Simon from Norway. By the time we were done, we hugged each other like we had been friends forever.”
Stephanie, a marketing professional who recently travelled to Scotland, had an equally heartwarming experience:
Oh, my God. Everybody was wonderful. It was really nice that they were all so warm and welcoming.
Like many of our travellers, Kathy found communication effortless: "Everyone speaks English as well as Norwegian.”
- Discover the Nordics for yourself with these top Scandinavia vacations
What aspects of local culture did you find most welcoming during your Nordic Visitor trip?
Stephanie's comment focussed on the warm people she encountered:
I think, above all, what made me feel safe is the people. They are always there to help – it’s just a really friendly culture. It's kind of like everybody is family. That was what I really loved about the culture.
She also noticed a charming local tradition: “My favourite part about Scotland was that almost every historical landmark or hiking trail we went to always had an old man with a dog who was willing to tell you the whole history of the place. I found it so charming.”
Maggie experienced Irish culture immediately upon arrival: “On our first night, we went to a little pub in Dublin where they had live music and dancers. We were fully immersed in the culture, almost immediately! It was really fun.”
Sharon, who just returned from a small group tour of Iceland, felt accommodated during her trip:
In a restaurant, I saw the server switch from speaking Icelandic with her co-workers, to English with me, to Spanish with someone else and then German. Every Icelander that I met spoke several languages!
- Explore the Land of Fire and Ice on a bestselling Iceland vacation
What would you tell someone who is considering but uncertain about travelling to Europe?
Laura's advice is:
Do not hesitiate. We felt totally safe and comfortable. Nothing like the concerns we'd heard about.
Cheryl had similar pre-trip anxieties: “There was a part of me the week before that wondered if I had made the right choice by going. You turn on the news, and they tell you all the countries that won't be friendly to Americans. It wasn't like that at all.”
The statistics support what Laura and Cheryl experienced. In fact, Nordic countries consistently rank among the world's safest destinations.
If you are unsure about European travel, Stephanie did provide a suggestion:
If you are nervous, just make sure that you use somebody like Nordic Visitor who has the expertise to help you.
How did your personal travel consultant help you navigate any pre-trip concerns?
Cheryl: “I was overwhelmed when I went to start to plan this trip. How do you know where and how far a hotel is? What does that mean? I couldn't have even begun to start.”
Working with her dedicated travel consultant, Irja, changed her experience. “She sent me the tour packages and just talked us through what it would look like. She did video chats with me and knew exactly what we wanted. Everything that I asked... she worked through every little thing.”
Laura's consultant, Sophia, provided similar support:
She was perfect! No matter what question I had, she was very prompt in answering it. Even when I decided that I wanted to add Lofoten, she was more than happy to change plans.
Maggie praised her consultant, Jana, for her quick replies: “Very, very responsive. I really appreciated how quick her replies were. When we were asking questions about an excursion, or how the driving worked, or any concern that we had on the trip, we always got a quick response.”
- See breathtaking scenery on a tour of the Lofoten Islands
What made you feel most secure during your travels with Nordic Visitor?
Cheryl's experience shows what reliability can look like:
“When things were supposed to be there, when people were supposed to be there, they were there. When we got to the hotel, and breakfast was included, it was really included. From day 1, I just knew that the next day was going to be just as good.”
Kathy echoed this sentiment: “The accommodation. They were quality places. They were in good areas – we felt safe in all of the areas Nordic Visitor put us in.”
Stephanie commented on the organisation of the whole trip, which appeased her worries:
All of the bookings – having that all done ahead of time – I don't know how we would have done it without it.
What did you think of the Nordic Visitor travel documents, map and travel guide?
Maggie found the materials essential for daily planning: “We would take it to breakfast every morning and go through where we were going to go and decide what we were going to do. Having the map as backup was really helpful as well.”
“My mum and my sister asked me to photocopy the book, so they could remember everything they did in all the different places.”
Sharon felt secure thanks to her guide’s expert insight:
The guide just knew everything there was to know about Iceland.
- Explore Iceland on a self-drive trip or small group tour
What's your favourite memory from the trip?
Laura: “I would have to say it was probably some of the iconic shots that we got. My daughter said my pictures didn’t look real because they were so perfect!”
Cheryl's standout experiences spanned across Scandinavia:
“I loved the Suomenlinna Fortress in Helsinki. All of the churches, the National Library, the Viking ship, the fjords. When travelling from Flåm to Bergen, I felt like I was home back in the Teton Mountains.”
Maggie had 2 standout memories: “I thought that the Cliffs of Moher were just magical.”
But her most treasured moment was the family time: “From a memory standpoint, I think it's really just the family driving along in the car, on a road trip. We all had such an amazing time, laughing and just being together. It was really nice.”
Kathy: “It was the northern lights tour. The skies were clouded over, so the driver took us 3 hours over into Finland. We arrived, got out, and the sky just exploded in colour. It was the most incredible experience.”
She also loved Norway's iconic rail journey: “Taking the rail trip up to Flåm, and spending the night in Flåm was amazing. We went to the sauna, took a dip in the fjord, and went on a cruise the next day. It was absolutely beautiful. The scenery on the ride up there was just stunning.”
Sharon had a special moment in nature as well:
The glacial lagoon. It was like you were floating around on a movie set. It left our group speechless.
- Experience Norway on a fjord train and cruise journey
Was there anything that exceeded your expectations?
Cheryl happily replied:
All of it, all of it, from beginning to end. I just didn't know that for 12 days it could be flawless and seamless. We took high-speed trains and ferries to get through 4 different countries. It was flawless.
Laura: “I would say the customer service, yes... Customer service is very important.”
Kathy was particularly impressed with the planning process: “From a planning perspective, it was just perfect.”
Maggie was delighted with her accommodation: “We really were impressed with the hotels that we stayed in. We weren't expecting to be right on the water in Galway Bay. But we could just walk out of our hotel and immediately wander straight down to the water.”
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What did you tell your friends or family about your trip?
Cheryl's enthusiasm was evident:
I just told them that I will never plan a trip on my own ever again! I will always choose Nordic Visitor wherever I'm going, everything was already arranged. I just had to show up and enjoy myself.
Her experience even convinced her initially reluctant husband: “When I showed my husband all my pictures, he had a little bit of FOMO – that fear of missing out.”
Laura, as a travel advisor herself, began recommending Nordic Visitor: “I have already recommended your company and this trip to one of my clients.”
Maggie: “I told my friends that I had Jana. And she just did everything for me. And it was amazing. It was so easy. They book everything, and give you the vouchers, and you just go on your way.”
- Uncover Europe your way on a self-drive, small group, or privately guided tour
Would you feel confident recommending a trip to Europe with Nordic Visitor, and why?
All travellers responded enthusiastically.
Cheryl: “I gave you five stars. Here was a little Wyoming country girl who realised this was way beyond something she had enough experience to deal with. Every part of it worked. So I highly recommend.”
Laura:
Without any hesitation. One reason is the customer service. Secondly, I would say it's a great option for a new traveller overseas. Even though what we did was self-guided, it was very much planned for us.
Kathy has already been spreading the word: “Well, I already have actually. The cost-to-benefit ratio feels very fairly priced. And I have recommended it 2 or 3 times since the trip.”
Laura, as a travel advisor herself, began recommending Nordic Visitor: “I have already recommended your company and this trip to one of my clients.”
- Learn more about what we can offer and why you should book with us
Experience Europe’s warm welcome with Nordic Visitor
These real traveller experiences show exactly why Europe wins over American visitors, as well as people from all around the world. It’s the combination of breathtaking scenery, friendly locals, and rich cultural moments that you’ll remember for a lifetime, for all the right reasons.
Let our European locals show you their home countries like never before. Beyond these inspiring travel experiences, here's what makes Nordic Visitor the perfect partner for your European adventure:
The power of local knowledge
There's a world of difference between reading about a destination and having a local craft your journey. Nordic Visitor's consultants don't just know Europe – they live there. Our local advantage includes:
- Offices in Iceland, Sweden, Scotland and Germany
- Consultants who live in the destinations they plan trips in
- Insider knowledge of hidden gems, optimal timing, and local customs
One-on-one service
From start to finish, you'll get a dedicated travel consultant who will plan your getaway. They will spend time understanding not just where you want to go, but how you want to experience it.
They can personalise your itinerary to suit your needs, ensuring you get the trip of a lifetime.
What's included in your Nordic Visitor adventure
With any Nordic Visitor package, you can sit back, relax and let us take care of everything while you focus on the fun stuff. With your tour, you'll get:
- A personal travel consultant who knows your destination
- All local accommodation and transportation are included
- 24/7 support throughout your journey
- Expert service from a 5-star rated company on Tripadvisor
- Detailed personalised itinerary with a travel guide outlining local attractions, practical travel information and more
Start your adventure today
Whether you're drawn to Norway's fjords, Iceland's dramatic landscapes, or Italy's infamous food, there's a welcoming European destination ready for you to discover.
Ready to start planning your getaway? Contact us, and our local travel consultants will craft your perfect European story.
