health
February 21, 2026
Sex first, dinner later: what can singles in Oslo, Berlin, Paris and Rome teach me about dating?
My fellow Brits seem weighed down by endless swiping – I went to the Europeans for a fresh perspective
TL;DR
- British dating apps are experiencing user decline, with many attributing dating struggles to a cultural emphasis on finding a life partner and financial necessity for cohabitation.
- Berlin's dating scene is characterized by a casual, 'leisure activity' approach, with many embracing polyamory and seeing sex as separate from commitment.
- Parisian dating culture, while discreet about infidelity, values passion and intellectual connection, viewing marriage as one part of an evolving story rather than an endpoint.
- In Oslo, independence is key, leading to a culture where sex often precedes dates, and an 'exit door' is kept open to avoid emotional pain.
- Rome maintains a more formal dating style, with emphasis on elegance and savoring romantic moments, though multigenerational households can complicate privacy for intimacy.
- The author reflects on how observing these European dating styles offers a liberating perspective, suggesting that dating habits can be culturally determined and thus changeable.
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