Step1

Read about the history. The boarders of European countries have changed drastically over the past century, and have especially changed in Eastern Europe since the fall of communism. Many sections of Europe were turned into battlegrounds during WWI and WWII. These facts, among many others, have shaped modern-day European culture (as the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and the quest for religious freedom have helped form American culture). Knowledge of the history can give the traveler a reference point as to European views on politics, religion and social issues.
Step2
Look at the map. Unlike North America where there are three substantially-sized countries, Europe has many small countries, some only as large as one or two states in America. These close quarters allow citizens of Europe to travel from country to country fairly easily. In fact, many Europeans commute to other countries every day for work. For example, a person may live in Germany but have a job in Austria or Switzerland.
Step3
Recognize there’s more than one culture. Each European country has its own language or in some cases, languages and/or blends of languages, distinct customs, foods and other unique cultural aspects. The close geographic proximity of these countries gives Europeans the ability to experience the cultures of their neighbors rather easily. This makes cultural diversity a big part of what defines "European culture" and is important to understanding life in Europe.