Warning: some generalizations are made in this post on purpose, to simplify things.
I am currently visiting Spain, and renting an Airbnb flat here. Both my terrace neighbors who are locals – are very loud on their terraces: watching YT from their smartphones on full volume, speaking loudly all day long, having loud dinners with what sounds like their extended family, etc. It's irritating, of course, but I am just a guest in this country, so I am not judging.
In Germany – where I live – my neighbors, in a similar setup, are barely noticeable. Only when it's a celebration like a birthday, do they become somewhat loud on their terraces. But even then it's only until around 11PM.
It made me think: in Germany, people are mostly quiet and expect others to be quiet, too. In Spain, people seem to be loud, and don't mind others around them being loud, too. These are unwritten norms that the society follows.
Another thing is the culture of staying up late – I understand that it has to do with the temperature going down late in the evening. But I don't get it how Spanish people in cities stay up late, then sleep through the noise (insanely loud scooters, for example), and then wake up early to work. I would be tired and unproductive all the time if I had to live like that.
And so I am wondering, how is it in other European countries? Does the average temperature and weather have an impact on things like this? (like, if it's hot, people stay outside more, and are used to it being loud as a result. And vice versa).
32 comments
Comparing the two countries I know most about, namely Cyprus and Germany, doesn’t make much sense to me because the population density is very different. I think that, yeah, Cypriots are on average louder, but they also live much further away than one another. The same noise levels at the source do not disturb as much when there’s a dozen meters distance between the outside walls of each house.
What I find interesting though is that quiet hours in Cyprus start at 00:30 and end at 06:00 (plus 13:00 to 16:00 during the summer) with no difference made between weekdays and weekend, while in Germany it’s much longer, namely, 22:00 to 06/07:00 (varies regionally) plus the entire day of Sunday plus region-specific midday hours.
It’s not that weird though, because I find that Cypriots sleep much later even though they start working much earlier too (starting at 08:00 is already late, typical would be 07:30; in Germany 08:00 is early and 09:00 is typical). End-effect, I think Cypriots sleep at least one hour less on average than Germans.
Well, in France the expectation is to be as discrete as possible.
But of course, this can vary from a family to another and according to one’s age.
And during summer, when everyone open windows and stay up later, are a bit more relaxed … it’s much more common (and more tolerate) to make a bit more noises as long as it’s not to late.
Dude in Romania during the summertime if you live in a house neighbourhood it will drive you nuts.
Every single neighbour does AT LEAST one bbq per week, puts on loud music and they make a shit ton of noise late into the night. Usually you get invited by other neighbours to their bbqs so at least you won’t miss out on the fun and you wouldn’t call the cops and most people don’t call the cops cause at some point they’ll also have to host a party and they don’t want their neighbours to retaliate.
For me it’s not a problem, maybe for a family with a newborn having to have their baby waken up every weekend by a drunk guy screaming it kinda is.
Also in the commie blocks it’s quite normal to hear at least one party in their appartaments and a few people chilling in front of the block entrance with beers and cigs.
At least compared to germany it’s like a 180 in terms of noise lmao
Every town and city has its own local ordinance regarding noise pollution. For instance, my town’s ordinance says:
> It is forbidden to produce any noise, during the day and night, caused without reason or necessity or which is due to a lack of foresight and precaution and that is of a nature to compromise the peace of the inhabitants. Proof of noise pollution can be provided by any means possible.
You also can’t use loud tools (lawnmower, …) before 8am or after 8pm.
Sunday’s rest is holy and in general no work that uses loud equipment is permitted, unless with the permission of the mayor.
Many towns in the local area also crack down on these “mobile disco bars” since they are an exceptional nuisance. You might sometimes come across signs like [these](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/DANlmN2PPt2ycjFgRRlpMJ7O29UmSM33vWYvkWjLZ6G6Ihn26s493gNyVrC_foq73vT0u4DFd3BWocMR1mX2LuwV82tXtew_qtMDE3qz_OwfPrgTBdiwekcGkyqz8yNEpD9o26IJ-A3kYplhGcaISAmaa-mE06n60ZiEFy4Bdsln0g).
In Ireland, people are loud at the weekends and then generally quiet the rest of the week. I know that on Friday and Saturday I’m probably not gonna sleep well if I’m not going out so ill stay up late watching movies and then sleep once the partying is done
Italians correlate noise with “life” so if you like calm and/or you don’t have “rocky ears” this country is a nightmare. I know people who complain about “too much silence”. Sadly I work with a lot of people like this in what I think is a Satan’s idea, an open space. For some there is a “space” and their duty is to fill it with themselves if you know that I mean.
The worst part is that every building has a set of norms where is said in what hours it is possible to do noisy activity…well it is totally unenforceable and everybody does what they want. My upstair neighbors (retired) like to move around things and cleaning everybloodything at 6 am every morning and this only an example that cross my mind… So you are not safe even at home!
Holidays? Who do you think was woke up every single night this summer because the neighbors were Italians (Milanesi to be precise)?
I know my fellow Italians would argue that noisy people are only southern Italians…well I live in Turin, few things are true about all the country and this is one of them.
Summer only exacerbate what is already a trend here, simply because people gets around more and there are even tons of tourists (who acts in Italy like social manner don’t exists because “well we are in Italy). On the beach I used to target Germans because they where more silent and I knew I could relax if they were my “umbrella neighbors”…lately I found even them got more noisy! I blame social medias and the impression of “to be always on the scene” for that.
Traditionally it has been close to what you’re generally used to in Germany. Quiet between 22:00 and 7:00 or so, preferably a bit longer. No unnecessary disturbance or noise. There are obvious differences between urban, suburban and rural areas. Unfortunately these traditional norms and respect for the law (we have laws forbidding noise at certain times etc.) are fading out as the society is becoming increasingly egoistic and culturally diverse.
Not trying to be rude and I know you’re not complaining but next time you should probably stay at a hotel or hostel to (1) not have to deal with locals’ lifestyle/customs that might interfere with yours and (2) not contribute to the massive housing crisis that Airbnb is just exacerbating (I know it’s not the only housing related problem before those inevitable comments come, but pretending it’s not a major issue people are sick of is very naive; in the center of Madrid nearly 1 in every 4 properties in the rental market is now a short term tourist rental)
Regarding noice in your appartment you’re supposed to be quiet after 22 so you don’t disturb your neughbours. You are of course allowed to have party but if you’re unlucky to have an angry neighbour you might have to turn down the volume. I’m lucky to live in an appartment complex where everyone is quite chill so as long as there’s only the occasional party no-one complains.
There’s also a lot of rules for restaurants and bars that the noice level isn’t to loud so the residents living above the restaurant/bar don’t get disturbed.
During autmn and winter we tend to be inside more (for obvious reasons) but during spring and summer there’s a lot more people out and about and they can be quite loud.
Traditionally we’re quite reserved and intolerant of noise and drawing attention to oneself.
That said, we get only a few truly lovely sunny long summer days and can get a little rowdy when we’ve had one too many Irn Brus 😉
In Portugal I’d say it is pretty much like Spain. Especially in summer… unless you are actively bothering someone by disturbing their sleep no one expects you to be quiet.
Hungary is a lot more relaxed than Germany, you are allowed to do house parties, have balcony parties etc, but not as bad as Spain. Not on weekdays for example, we also have the central european (so german) life style mostly. We are not up late, we have dinner at 18:00-20:00 etc.
But you can mown the lawn on Sunday, you can use your washing machine at 22:00, without any problem. But do it at 24:00 would be too late.
When i lived in the Netherlands or Germany, i found these rules too strict. Hungary for me is a golden way.
This is one of many cultural differences I had to accept when I chose to live in Spain. I think Spaniards are uncomfortable with silence. Fortunately they sleep in late so the banging and shouting and crashing doesn’t start until 8h. With that said, I still prefer it here. They are loudly friendly and entertaining.
In Italy there are no rules concerning noise, and if there are they don’t get enforced (obvious exaggeration, so let’s avoid “achktsually” replies). I used to live in an old apartment with terrible soundproofing, and every friday/saturday night I would have trouble falling asleep because of people talking very loudly or even yelling in the streets.
Now I’m in Switzerland, where you can unironically call the police if someone is making too much noise after 10 PM (e.g. a house party), and the police will actually show up. 10/10
Small village in England here. We have an informal rota in the summer so that at least one person is using petrol driven garden tools at all times. I think the local dogs have one too for barking at night.
In Spain it’s definetly not aceptable to make noise during the night that would bother your neighbours, it would be tolerable if it’s a party during a holiday or on a weekend and not super late at night, otherwise people would complain or even call the police.
You also must take into consideration we have a diferent schedulle so our 10 pm is not the same as yours. But we still sleep 7-8 hours at night, i don’t know where you got the information that we don’t.
Of course there is lots of cheaply build and badly insulated apartments and there are certain areas in the city center where there is many bars and tourist apartments, so people that wants to live in a quiet area avoids those. In that areas you will often see banners hanging from the balconies from neighbours complaining about noise, bars and tourism, those are from the ones that lived there before it became like that and refuse to move somewhere else or can’t afford it.
Also if you have a well insulated house with double glass you don’t have to listen any street noise like scooters during the night.
I live in a large English town.
It depends on the time of day, and where you are. Generally people won’t be annoyed by reasonable noise (not loud music or shouting) until sunset or around 10pm in your own garden. If you live near a pub, you have to expect noise, but most pubs (have to) close around 11pm. The pub was there before you were, but that doesn’t stop people complaining.
There aren’t any strict rules about noise on Sundays either, and there aren’t any legal restrictions on noise, though the police can stop you from making a disturbance if they get a complaint.
In Spain those loudy neighbors aren’t that common and they would receive complaints.
You are describing a typical Airbnb hell, those are far from what we locals like to live in.
In Portugal I’d say it is pretty much like Spain. Especially in summer… unless you are actively bothering someone by disturbing their sleep no one expects you to be quiet.
Spain is known for being LOUD. Spaniards are a very noisy lot, all year round, but especially in summer time. Nothing you can do about it.
Identical to Spain. In my previous flat I had to go upstairs to warn my neighbor in the middle of the night just so many times. My current apartment people are highly respectful. We generally have a noise problem in the society such as people listening to loud music in their cars. I belong to a minority who wishes things were like in Germany. But I heard people are directly calling cops there without even knocking on your door and that’s a bit off.
In England and Wales, noise from your home must not exceed 34Db, which is about the volume of someone whispering, betrween 11pm and 7am. If you persistently break this, the local council may subject you to enforcement notices if your neighbours complain.
Edit: Accidentally deleted the time band
It’s quiet in Lithuania, we have laws for it. No noise after 7 pm and neighbours WILL call the cops on you if you are noisy. One house down the street had a wedding on Friday, huge party, lots of people, party through the night. I didn’t do anything because it’s a wedding, let people have fun, it doesn’t happen often. Saturday, party continued. Sunday, still a ton of people at midnight. I got up because I couldn’t sleep, went to the window where I could see that house, ready to call the cops. Seconds later I saw flashing blue lights, someone else did it first.
>But I don’t get it how Spanish people in cities stay up late, then sleep through the noise
I’ve visited Naples a couple years ago and that’s what I did. It was super hot during the day, like 36 C or more, no wind, pure torture. Sleeping wasn’t an issue because the windows had pretty good sound insulation and we had AC.
It appears that many locals did the same. It was weird seeing children play football at 2am, when it was a bit cooler.
As you noticed, the main social normals around noise in Spain are: “This needs more cowbell!”
We have none, it’s just everyone being as loud as possible.
Bron in Sweden but now living in Switzerland. Social norms for behaviour in public spaces and your apartments/home is very similar. Behave in a respectful way in which you would assume that others are not disturbed. Silence after 22.00 and headphones in public spaces, talk in a low tone.
Unfortunately now both in Sweden and Switzerland I notice alot of kids/teens/youngs that listen to music or watch videos without headphones, sometimes even in the presence of parents that allow the behavior!
Play TikTok or music without headphones in public transport and stations and I will eviscerate you. Only tourists do that. But that’s not noise indeed, it’s also about what sound is being played
Here in the states, you have to be quiet at 10:00. However neighbors, especially if they’re watching a soccer game from around the world, and super-especially if they’re from that country, can scream all night. It it must be explosive group screaming and shouting – everyone must start screaming all together. It’s the law.
Also, neighbors from other countries are allowed to set off fireworks any time of the day or night. It’s the law.
Austria:
– Everything others do is unacceptable, as soon as you can hear it, when you turn off all devices, shut up, hold your breath and listen.
– Everything you do is not loud and nobody has the right to complain.
– Airplane noise is bad, except the days you fly to your vacations.
– Car noise is bad, but only from the first day of your retirement on.
Finnish summers, you have party all the time, inside and outside, 24/7. In Winter, there are parties inside, but obviously also depend highly on who your neighbours are. Police doesn’t care about the ‘silent hours’ in the night.
The Netherlands.
19:00 no more commercial noise.
22:00 no more personal noise.
I guess until 06:00 or something.
Unless there’s a license issued.
(Airport, pubs, etc)
Vehicles, animals and people can’t be a noise hindrance, even during the day.
Germany has better rules and more calm imho.
Slovenia – Slovenians are mostly OK, quiet, polite… but let’s just say that before I moved somewhere I always checked surnames on the doors. If they resembled mine (other former YU republics…) I skipped the opportunity. I value my peace and quiet too much.
In Poland it’s expected to be rather quiet.Even loud talking is considered rude if there’s many people around.
Also while traveling on bus or train people are mostly quiet, there are “silence zone” wagons where using mobile phones is not allowed.Iys just
Can expect Police called by your neighbour, if you make noise after 22.
My Italian friend described her stay in Poland as “video without sound” 😉