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.

36 rules found

Essential restrictionsDrivingPlace-specific guidance · 芬兰

Finland: drink-driving can mean prison

Do

  • If you drink, don't drive

Don’t

  • Drink-driving (Finland's limit is much stricter than the UK's)

Drink-driving is a serious offence in Finland and can mean prison; emergency and rescue resources are limited in remote areas of the Arctic Circle.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Finland travel advice

Essential restrictionsPhotos & dronesPlace-specific guidance · 挪威

Norway: register before flying a drone

Do

  • Register as an operator in Norway or an EU/EFTA country and buy liability insurance
  • Check no-fly zones

Don’t

  • Flying a drone without registering

Breaks Norwegian aviation rules; some areas are no-fly zones.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Norway travel advice

Essential restrictionsSafetyPlace-specific guidance · 俄罗斯

Russia: many governments advise against all travel

Do

  • Before you leave, check your own government's latest safety advice
  • Check whether your travel insurance covers you

Don’t

  • Ignoring official travel warnings and going anyway

Because of the risks from Russia's continuing invasion of Ukraine (drone attacks, air-defence activity, limited return flights and more), the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Russia; the risk of foreigners being detained has also increased. If you travel against official advice, your travel insurance may be invalid.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Russia travel advice — warnings and insurance

Essential restrictionsPublic transportPlace-specific guidance · 英国

London Underground: tap in and tap out

Do

  • Tap your Oyster card or bank card on the yellow reader both on entry and exit, even if the gates are open
  • At interchange stations with mid-route readers, tap as instructed

Don’t

  • Tapping in but not out, or not tapping before boarding

If you miss a tap you are charged the maximum fare; if an inspector finds you travelling without tapping, you may be fined or prosecuted.

Not yet verifiedSource: Wikipedia: Oyster card

Essential restrictionsDrivingPlace-specific guidance · 挪威

Norway: very strict drink-driving limits

Do

  • If you have drunk alcohol, don't drive

Don’t

  • Judging by your home country's standards that you are still fit to drive

The drink-driving limit is about a quarter of England's, and can mean a fine or even prison; on-the-spot fines for other traffic offences reach NOK 10,000.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Norway travel advice

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersPlace-specific guidance · 奥地利

Austria: be ready to show your passport

Do

  • Carry your passport

Don’t

  • Assuming your driving licence counts as ID

The law requires you to be able to show your passport at all times; Austria does not accept a UK driving licence as official ID.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Austria travel advice

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersPlace-specific guidance · 荷兰

Netherlands: cannabis is tolerated only in designated places

Do

  • Understand that 'tolerated' does not mean legal

Don’t

  • Smoking cannabis in public places
  • Buying or possessing drugs outside designated places

Using it in public is illegal; buying or possessing it outside designated places can mean prison.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Netherlands travel advice

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersPlace-specific guidance · 希腊

Greece: drunken rowdiness and indecent behaviour lead to arrest

Do

  • Behave appropriately in public

Don’t

  • Drunken rowdiness and indecent exposure
  • Wearing costumes that may be seen as offensive

Police will arrest you, and courts usually impose heavy fines or prison.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Greece travel advice

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersPlace-specific guidance · 意大利

Italy: rules around monuments and fountains

Do

  • Keep the area around monuments clean and quiet

Don’t

  • Going into or splashing in public fountains (Florence, Rome and elsewhere)
  • Swimming in Venice's canals
  • Eating and drinking next to major churches, monuments and public buildings
  • Sitting on monument steps, littering, or scratching or writing on monuments

All are local offences; urinating in public can bring a fine of up to €10,000.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Italy travel advice

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersPlace-specific guidance · 西班牙

Spain: show photo ID when police ask

Do

  • Carry photo ID

Don’t

  • Ignoring a direct instruction from the police

Police can take you to a station until your identity is confirmed; ignoring a direct instruction from the police can count as 'disobedience'. Real police check documents only and will not ask to see your wallet.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Spain travel advice

Essential restrictionsSafetyPlace-specific guidance · 西班牙

Spain: no dangerous stunts on hotel balconies

Do

  • Keep a safe distance on balconies

Don’t

  • Climbing over, crossing or jumping between balconies

The hotel will throw you out and you may be fined; travel insurance may not cover accidents on balconies.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Spain travel advice

Essential restrictionsDressPlace-specific guidance · 法国

France: face coverings are banned in public places

Do

  • Showing your face in public places

Don’t

  • Covering your face in streets, shops and other public places

It is illegal, with a fine of up to €150; the law also applies to tourists.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: France travel advice

Cultural sensitivitiesPublic transportPlace-specific guidance · 荷兰

Netherlands: cycle paths are not footpaths

Do

  • Before crossing, look for bicycles and e-bikes first — they have priority over cars
  • Use pedestrian crossings

Don’t

  • Standing or walking on a cycle path

Traffic on cycle paths is fast; crossing outside a pedestrian crossing can bring a fine.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Netherlands travel advice

Cultural sensitivitiesDressPlace-specific guidance · 梵蒂冈

The Vatican and churches: cover shoulders and knees and keep quiet

Do

  • Wear a sleeved top and something below the knee, and carry a scarf just in case
  • Take off your hat and keep quiet indoors

Don’t

  • Entering St Peter's Basilica in a sleeveless top, shorts or a miniskirt

You will be turned away at the entrance.

Not yet verifiedSource: Vatican dress code (travel guide)

Local customsEveryday mannersPlace-specific guidance · 德国

Germany: most shops close on Sundays

Do

  • Shop for food and essentials on Saturday
  • If you need to shop on Sunday, go to shops at railway stations, airports or petrol stations

Don’t

  • Planning a shopping trip for Sunday

There is no penalty — you will just find everything closed. Sunday is protected as a day of rest by the constitution, and each state allows only a few 'open Sundays' a year.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Library of Congress law blog: Germany's shop opening laws