A cultural travel guide to the world

Etiquette & taboos

Etiquette & taboos

Understanding local customs is where a journey begins. Find the topics that matter to you and feel at ease wherever you go.

7 rules found

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · Germany

Germany: Keep quiet on Sundays and at night

Do

  • Do noisy chores such as vacuuming, spin cycles and drilling on weekday daytimes
  • At night (usually 10 pm to 6 or 7 am), keep sound low enough that neighbours can't hear it with the door shut
  • When you move in, read the house rules (Hausordnung) posted in the building
  • If you hold a party, tell your neighbours in advance and turn it down by 10 pm

Don’t

  • Don't use power tools such as drills or lawnmowers on Sundays and public holidays
  • Don't throw bottles into public glass bins on Sundays or at night (check the sign on the bin)
  • Don't make noise during the midday quiet period (often 1 to 3 pm) where it applies

Quiet hours are set by state law, local bylaws and house rules rather than a single national law. Repeated disturbances can lead to complaints from neighbours, action by the public order office or police, and fines; amounts are as officially published.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Germany Focus Guide: German Ruhezeit and Sunday etiquette

Cultural sensitivitiesEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · France

France: Keep your voice down in public and never jump the queue

Do

  • Queue patiently and leave a little space in front of you
  • Speak quietly on public transport and in museums and libraries
  • Let passengers off first and don't block doors or aisles
  • Keep to the right on pavements and escalators
  • Offer your seat to older people, pregnant women and people with disabilities
  • Say Bonjour to staff when you enter a bakery or shop

Don’t

  • Don't cut in or push
  • Don't take calls or play music on speaker
  • At markets, don't pick produce yourself; let the vendor choose for you

Cutting in or being loud won't get you fined, but it is considered rude. Some guides note that queues at stations or markets can be looser; still wait your turn and don't push.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: We3Travel: 16 French etiquette tips for Paris

Cultural sensitivitiesEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · France

France: Say Bonjour when you enter a shop; friends greet with la bise

Do

  • Say Bonjour when you enter a shop and Au revoir when you leave
  • Friends and acquaintances greet with la bise, a light touch of cheeks
  • The number of kisses varies by region; follow the other person's lead or go with two
  • In formal business settings and first meetings, use a brief, firm handshake
  • Use vous with new acquaintances, elders and service staff; switch to tu only when invited

Don’t

  • Don't start asking a shop assistant questions without greeting them
  • Don't initiate la bise in business settings or at a first meeting
  • Don't hug strangers

Nobody will penalise you, but skipping the greeting in a shop is seen as rude, and getting la bise wrong shows you don't know local ways. Two kisses are usual in Paris and the north, three in parts of the south, and customs vary elsewhere.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: La Minute Française: Guide to la bise

Cultural sensitivitiesEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · United Kingdom

UK: Join the back of the queue and never jump it

Do

  • Join the back of the queue: first come, first served
  • Leave a comfortable gap to the person in front
  • If unsure where the queue ends, just ask "Is this the queue?"
  • If someone pushes in, a polite word is enough; there is no need to argue

Don’t

  • Don't jump the queue
  • Don't save places for friends arriving later or wave others in ahead of you
  • Don't talk loudly while waiting

Queue-jumping is not punished, but it is seen as one of the worst breaches of British manners. People rarely confront you directly, yet the whole queue will mutter and glare.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Explore: The unspoken UK queuing rule

Local customsEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · Germany

Germany: Greet with a handshake and use Herr or Frau with the surname

Do

  • Greet new people with a firm handshake and eye contact
  • Say Guten Tag in formal settings; Hallo is fine among friends
  • Address people as Herr or Frau plus their surname
  • Switch to first names only when the other person suggests it
  • In Bavaria you can reply with Grüß Gott; in the north, Moin is common

Don’t

  • Don't hug or kiss on the cheek at a first meeting
  • Don't use first names before a relationship has been established

Getting it wrong is rarely a big deal, but being too casual at a first meeting can seem rude. Guten Tag is the safest choice in formal settings.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Fly Homes: How to greet in Germany

Local customsEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · United Kingdom

UK: Greet with a handshake and follow how people introduce themselves

Do

  • Greet new people with a firm handshake and eye contact
  • If someone introduces themselves by first name, use it
  • With older people or in traditional settings, start with title and surname
  • Address peers below duke as "Lord" plus their title, and a duke as "Duke"
  • Use please and thank you freely

Don’t

  • Don't go in for a cheek kiss with someone you have just met
  • Don't offer a limp handshake; it can suggest you are holding back
  • Don't ask new acquaintances intrusive personal questions

Nothing happens if you get it wrong, but a surprise kiss may make people recoil, and being either too stiff or too familiar makes others uneasy.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Commisceo Global: British business etiquette