Etiquette & taboos

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

33 rules found

Essential restrictionsDrivingPlace-specific guidance · Finland

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 · Norway

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 · Russia

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 · United Kingdom

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 · Sweden

Sweden: winter tyres are compulsory in winter

Do

From 1 December to 31 March, make sure your hire car has winter tyres

Don’t

Driving on ordinary tyres in winter

It is a legal requirement.

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

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersPlace-specific guidance · Sweden

Sweden: drugs, including cannabis, are strictly prohibited

Do

Stay away from drugs of any kind

Don’t

Possessing, using or carrying drugs, even in small amounts

Up to 10 years in prison and heavy fines.

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

Essential restrictionsSafetyPlace-specific guidance · Norway

Norway: fires are banned in many hiking areas in summer

Do

Check the local fire ban before you set out

Don’t

Lighting a campfire where fires are banned

Police enforce the ban.

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

Essential restrictionsDrivingPlace-specific guidance · Norway

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 restrictionsSafetyPlace-specific guidance · Portugal

Portugal: starting a fire is illegal even if it's an accident

Do

Watch for warnings in the wildfire season (April–October) and call 112 if you see a fire

Don’t

Lighting fires in the countryside

Can be punished with a fine or prison.

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

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersPlace-specific guidance · Portugal

Albufeira, Portugal: code of conduct in public places

Do

Behave appropriately in public

Don’t

Behaving inappropriately in streets and squares

On-the-spot fines of €150–1,800.

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

Essential restrictionsSafetyPlace-specific guidance · Portugal

Portugal: don't go past cliff warnings

Do

Keep away from cliff edges and watch for falling rocks (especially in the Algarve)

Don’t

Ignoring warning signs and going near the cliff edge

The authorities can fine people who ignore warnings.

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

Essential restrictionsSafetyPlace-specific guidance · Portugal

Portugal: learn the beach flags

Do

When the yellow flag is up, only paddle at the water's edge
Swim at beaches with lifeguards

Don’t

Going into the water when the red flag is up

A red flag means no swimming; take extra care on unstaffed beaches.

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

Essential restrictionsDressPlace-specific guidance · Switzerland

Ticino and St Gallen, Switzerland: face coverings are banned

Do

Showing your face in public places

Don’t

Covering your face in public places

Fines of CHF 100–10,000.

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

Essential restrictionsSafetyPlace-specific guidance · Switzerland

Switzerland: no fires during fire bans

Do

Watch for local fire-ban notices

Don’t

Lighting a fire during a fire ban

Starting a forest fire in a fire-ban area, even accidentally, can mean a fine of up to CHF 20,000.

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

Essential restrictionsDrivingPlace-specific guidance · Switzerland

Switzerland: buy a vignette before using the motorway

Do

Buy and display a motorway vignette

Don’t

Driving on a Swiss motorway without a vignette

You may get a heavy fine.

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

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersPlace-specific guidance · Austria

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 restrictionsDrivingPlace-specific guidance · Austria

Austria: buy a vignette before using the motorway

Do

Stick the motorway vignette on the inside of the windscreen

Don’t

Driving on motorways and expressways without a vignette

You will be fined.

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

Essential restrictionsSafetyPlace-specific guidance · Netherlands

Netherlands: don't swim in Amsterdam's canals

Do

Swim in designated swimming areas

Don’t

Jumping into a canal to swim
Urinating by a canal

Swimming in a canal brings a €160 fine; urinating in a canal is also fined.

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

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersPlace-specific guidance · Netherlands

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 · Netherlands

Netherlands: everyone over 14 must be able to show ID

Do

Carry your passport

Don’t

Going out without any ID

€100 fine for those over 16, €50 for those aged 14–15.

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

Essential restrictionsPhotos & dronesPlace-specific guidance · Greece

Greece: don't photograph military installations

Do

Put your camera away when you see military-zone signs

Don’t

Approaching or photographing military installations, vehicles and buildings

It is illegal.

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

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersPlace-specific guidance · Greece

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 restrictionsSafetyPlace-specific guidance · Greece

Greece: no fires, no barbecues

Do

Follow fire warnings when hiking

Don’t

Lighting fires or barbecuing in the countryside

Starting a wildfire is a criminal offence, even if unintentional.

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

Essential restrictionsDrivingPlace-specific guidance · Italy

Italy: don't drive into historic-centre limited traffic zones (ZTL)

Do

Park outside restricted zones and walk into town

Don’t

Driving into a ZTL zone without a permit

You will be fined.

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

Essential restrictionsPublic transportPlace-specific guidance · Italy

Italy: validate your ticket before boarding

Do

Validate your ticket in the machine before using public transport

Don’t

Travelling with an unvalidated ticket

Inspectors will fine you on the spot.

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

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersPlace-specific guidance · Italy

Italy: don't buy from unlicensed street vendors

Do

Shop at proper stores

Don’t

Buying from unlicensed street vendors

It is illegal, and local police may stop and fine you.

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

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersPlace-specific guidance · Italy

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 · Spain

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 · Spain