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.

4 rules found

Essential restrictionsPhotos & dronesCountry-wide guidance · Japan

Stay off private land, and ask before photographing children or people

Do

  • Ask parents' permission before photographing their children
  • Ask geiko, maiko, and other working people before photographing them
  • Check for 撮影禁止 (no photography) signs, and ask staff if there are none
  • Photograph trains and stations themselves without disrupting operations

Don’t

  • Do not enter private homes or land for a shot
  • Do not photograph the inside of homes
  • Do not aim your camera at individual passengers on trains or buses
  • Do not step into rice paddies, flower beds, or along railway tracks for photos
  • Do not use selfie sticks or tripods in crowds or dangerous spots
  • Do not chase or stop geiko or maiko

Trespassing on private land is illegal and can get you told to leave or to delete your photos. Shooting in no-photo areas will be stopped, and photographing children is seen as an invasion of privacy.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Aichi Now: Sightseeing Manners

Essential restrictionsPhotos & dronesCountry-wide guidance · Thailand

Drones must be registered in Thailand

Do

  • Register with Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) within 30 days of arrival or purchase, even if you don't plan to fly

Don’t

  • Bringing in an unregistered drone

Fines of up to THB 100,000 or 5 years in prison, or both.

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

Cultural sensitivitiesPhotos & dronesCountry-wide guidance · France

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 sensitivitiesPhotos & dronesCountry-wide guidance · United Kingdom

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