What is the difference between European and US cities?

Answer 1

Every city in Europe is different, as is every city in the USA. Europe has many countries and they differ from each other. So there is a lot of variety, meaning it is hard to compare between European and American cities. There is no set standard. Typically though, cities in Europe are a lot older than those in the USA. Many were cities hundreds of years before the USA even came into existence. A lot of cities in the USA are laid out in a very structured way, giving you blocks. European cities have different gaps between their streets, long streets, short streets, wide streets, narrow streets, straight streets and curved streets. All of this can make many European cities more interesting to explore, as even on the same street, you don't know what might be around the next bend. With so many streets being so different to each other, this also makes them interesting.

There is a wide variety of buildings on streets, of different ages, styles, heights etc. Sometimes you will see a very old building, much different to the others on the street, sometimes looking a bit out of place, yet adding a certain character to the street. Streets much more commonly have names, rather than numbers, and those names often have an interesting history or reason for the use.

The types of shops on European streets would be different. Some brand names that are big in the USA would not be in Europe, though some would. So a lot of the big stores would be unfamiliar to an American. Some will be found in lots of European countries, while others would be big names in just the country you are in.

As the countries in Europe are so different, there would be noticeable cultural differences from one country to another. The people are different. The atmosphere on the streets are different. The kind of street entertainment would be different. Different types of music and sports and other cultural elements in the countries are different to each other and to the USA and those things affect what you might see and hear around you.

Like in different parts of the USA, things like weather would affect how cities are designed. Cities in the warmer southern parts of Europe would have a lot more things like tables and chairs set up outside bars, restaurants, cafés etc. than you would have in cities in northern Europe. Things like shutters on windows are commonly seen and used on buildings in southern parts of Europe, but not as much in northern Europe.

The history of each country will have an important impact on a city, in things such as the names of the streets, statues and monuments on the streets, the museums and what you find in them and the same with things like art galleries, theatre and other cultural buildings. Customs are different in European countries compared to each other and to the USA.

So overall, European cities can be very different to American cities, but also to cities in other European countries. You really have to experience them and visit lots of cities in different countries to see what they are like, and the same in the case of cities in the USA which can be very different too.

Answer 2

European cities tend to have older architecture, narrower streets, and more emphasis on public transportation. US cities tend to be newer, more spread out, and rely more on cars for transportation. Additionally, European cities often have a stronger emphasis on pedestrian-friendly spaces and outdoor cafes.