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.

19 rules found

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · 德国

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

Essential restrictionsSafetyCountry-wide guidance · 德国

Germany: Pedestrians, stay out of cycle lanes

Do

  • Before crossing or stopping for photos, check whether you are on the pavement or a cycle lane
  • When cycling, keep right and overtake on the left
  • On shared paths, give way to pedestrians and slow down
  • Children under 8 must cycle on the pavement; those aged 8 to 10 may choose

Don’t

  • Don't stand or walk in cycle lanes (a blue round sign with a bicycle marks a dedicated lane)
  • Don't cycle on the pavement unless a sign allows it

Cycle lanes are part of the road: stepping into one can bring a fine and, more importantly, a collision with a fast-moving cyclist. Cycling on the pavement without permission is also fined; amounts are as officially published.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Live in Germany: Cycling in Germany

Cultural sensitivitiesDressCountry-wide guidance · 德国

Germany: Dress modestly in churches and remove your hat

Do

  • Dress respectfully; formal wear isn't needed, but avoid revealing outfits
  • Take off your hat, silence your phone and keep your voice low inside
  • Carry a light scarf or jacket to cover your shoulders when needed
  • Where a church posts its own rules at the door or online, follow them

Don’t

  • Don't wear revealing clothes such as bikini tops or very short sports shorts
  • Don't give loud commentary or take photos during a service

German churches are generally more relaxed about dress than those in southern Europe, and visitors in shorts are a common sight in Munich and Cologne. However, staff at places such as Berlin Cathedral may refuse entry to visitors in overly revealing clothing.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Pieter on Tour: Church etiquette in Europe's sacred spaces

Cultural sensitivitiesPhotos & dronesCountry-wide guidance · 法国

France: Check the signs before taking photos; no flash or selfie sticks

Do

  • In permanent galleries, handheld photos for personal, non-commercial use are allowed
  • Check the signs at temporary exhibitions, which often ban all photography for copyright reasons
  • Put your camera away in rooms marked with a no-photo sign
  • Check each museum's official rules on large bags and the cloakroom

Don’t

  • Don't use flash at any time; strong light can damage old paintings and artefacts
  • Don't bring a selfie stick to the Louvre or other museums that ban them
  • Don't block paintings or walkways for long
  • Don't touch the exhibits

Security staff enforce the flash and selfie-stick bans; you will be stopped, and banned equipment may have to be checked in or left behind.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: American Friends of the Louvre: FAQ

Cultural sensitivitiesEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · 法国

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 · 法国

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 sensitivitiesDressCountry-wide guidance · 法国

France: Dress modestly in churches and remove your hat

Do

  • Dress modestly, covering shoulders, knees and midriff
  • Take off your hat, silence your phone and keep your voice low inside
  • In summer, carry a light scarf to cover your shoulders when needed
  • Check the signs before taking photos; ask staff if unsure

Don’t

  • Don't walk in front of people who are praying
  • Don't touch statues or eat inside the church
  • Don't use flash or take photos where it is forbidden

French churches rarely check clothing at the door, but revealing outfits are seen as disrespect toward a place of worship, and some churches may require modest dress and refuse entry to those who are not. Follow the notice at the door or the church's website.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Viator: Know before you go to Notre-Dame

Cultural sensitivitiesPhotos & dronesCountry-wide guidance · 英国

UK: Check the signs before taking photos; most venues ban flash and selfie sticks

Do

  • Read the signs at the entrance and beside exhibits; rules vary by venue
  • Take photos for personal, non-commercial use only
  • Follow any separate no-photo signs at special exhibitions or for loaned works
  • Apply to the venue in advance for commercial filming, following its official procedure

Don’t

  • At the National Gallery and Westminster Abbey, don't use flash, tripods or selfie sticks
  • Don't take photos during services at Westminster Abbey or in its restricted chapels
  • Don't photograph other people, especially children, without consent
  • Don't block paintings or walkways for long, and don't touch exhibits

Staff will stop you if you break photography rules, and you may be asked to leave if you ignore them.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Official site: National Gallery visitor photography

Cultural sensitivitiesEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · 英国

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

Cultural sensitivitiesRestaurants & barsCountry-wide guidance · 英国

UK: Order at the bar and take turns buying rounds

Do

  • Order and pay at the bar; British pubs rarely offer table service
  • In a group, take turns buying a round of drinks for everyone
  • Name the drink and size, such as a pint of lager, not just "a beer"
  • To thank the bar staff, you can add "and one for yourself" to your order

Don’t

  • Don't keep accepting drinks without ever buying a round
  • Don't dither when ordering; others are waiting behind you

Nobody will penalise you, but drinking without buying is seen as freeloading. If you leave before your turn, make sure you buy the first round next time you are out together.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Matador Network: English pub rules

Cultural sensitivitiesDressCountry-wide guidance · 英国

UK: Dress modestly in churches and remove your hat

Do

  • Dress modestly; avoid revealing tops and very short shorts or skirts
  • Take off your hat, silence your phone and keep your voice low inside
  • Dress more formally for a service, wedding or funeral than for a visit
  • Where a church posts its own rules at the door or online, follow them

Don’t

  • Don't treat the church as just a sight or talk loudly
  • Don't walk around or take photos during a service

UK churches rarely turn visitors away over clothing, and Westminster Abbey asks only for modest dress suited to a working church. Revealing clothes, or moving around and taking photos during a service, are still seen as disrespect toward a place of worship.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Official site: Westminster Abbey FAQ

Local customsEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · 德国

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 customsTippingCountry-wide guidance · 德国

Germany: Tell the server the total including tip; don't leave it on the table

Do

  • When paying, tell the server the total you want to pay, tip included
  • For example, on a €24.80 bill, say "28"
  • Around 5%–10% is usual; for small bills, just round up
  • By card, choose a tip on the terminal, or pay the bill by card and tip in cash

Don’t

  • Don't leave the tip on the table
  • Don't feel bound by the terminal's preset percentages
  • Don't add 15%–20% as you might in the US

A tip is a voluntary thank-you: no one will reproach you for not tipping, and you can skip it for poor service. German restaurants generally don't add a separate service charge, and prices usually include tax.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: German to Go: In cafés and restaurants

Local customsRestaurants & barsCountry-wide guidance · 法国

France: Put bread on the tablecloth and tear it by hand

Do

  • Wait until everyone is served and the host says Bon appétit
  • Put your bread straight on the tablecloth beside your plate
  • Tear off bite-sized pieces by hand
  • Rest your wrists on the table edge with your hands in view
  • Make eye contact when toasting and say Santé
  • Ask for une carafe d'eau for free tap water

Don’t

  • Don't put bread on your plate or cut it with a knife
  • Don't bite into a whole piece of bread
  • Don't plant your elbows on the table during the meal
  • Don't cut lettuce with a knife; fold it into a small parcel with your fork
  • Don't switch your fork to your right hand after cutting, American-style

Nothing happens if you slip up, but you will come across as unfamiliar with French table manners. Tap water is free; bottled water is charged.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: La Minute Française: French dining etiquette

Local customsTippingCountry-wide guidance · 法国

France: Service is included in the price, so tipping is optional

Do

  • Look for "service compris" (service included) on the menu or bill
  • If service was good, you can leave a small tip (pourboire) as thanks
  • Round up to the nearest euro for coffee; leave €1–2 per person at ordinary restaurants
  • At upscale restaurants, leave 5%–10% for especially attentive service
  • Tip in cash where possible, so it is sure to reach your server

Don’t

  • Don't assume you must pay an extra service charge; it is already in the price
  • Don't wait for the bill to arrive on its own; signal when you are ready to pay

Tipping is entirely voluntary and not tipping is not rude; knowing what "service compris" means saves you from paying twice. French law requires restaurant prices to include service (commonly said to be about 15%), and meals are unhurried, so servers rarely bring the bill unasked.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: AFAR: When and how much to tip in France

Local customsEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · 英国

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

Local customsTippingCountry-wide guidance · 英国

UK: Tipping is optional, so check the bill for a service charge first

Do

  • Check whether the bill already includes a discretionary service charge, often 10%–12.5%
  • If there is none and service was good, leave around 10%
  • In cafés, rounding up is a welcome thank-you
  • If service was genuinely poor, you may politely ask to remove the service charge

Don’t

  • Don't tip again when a service charge is already on the bill
  • Don't feel obliged to tip for fast food, takeaway or drinks at the bar

Tipping is entirely voluntary and nobody will chase you for it, but tipping on top of a service charge means paying twice. Since 2024, UK law requires employers to pass all tips and service charges on to staff.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Official site: Visit London tipping guide

Local customsPublic transportCountry-wide guidance · 英国

London Underground escalators: stand on the right

Do

  • Stand on the right on Underground escalators and leave the left for people in a hurry

Don’t

  • Standing still side by side on the left of the escalator

There is no penalty, but you block people behind you. The habit dates back to 1921, when Underground announcements first told passengers to 'stand on the right'.

Not yet verifiedSource: Wikipedia: London Underground