A cultural travel guide to the world

Etiquette & taboos

Etiquette & taboos

Take five minutes to read this before you go. We sort local rules into three levels: red lines that are illegal or can get you refused entry, taboos that are legal but easily offend locals, and good manners that show respect. Every rule has a source and is marked as verified or not.

Red lineIllegal, or can get you refused entry · 85 rulesTabooNot illegal, but easily offends locals · 23 rulesGood mannersRespect local ways and earn a smile · 5 rules

Good mannersPublic transportUnited Kingdom

London Underground escalators: stand on the right

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

Good mannersTippingAustralia

Australia: tipping is not required

  • When service is especially good, round up or leave a small tip
  • Feeling bad about not leaving a tip

There is no penalty; Australian wages do not depend on tips.

Not yet verifiedSource: Mozo: tipping in Australia

Good mannersEveryday mannersGermany

Germany: most shops close on Sundays

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

Good mannersTippingJapan

There is no tipping in Japan

  • Say thank you with 'arigatō gozaimashita'
  • Pressing loose change on staff

Japan is a no-tipping country and bills usually include service; if you press a tip on staff, some will politely refuse.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: Japanese table manners

Good mannersRestaurants & barsJapan

An izakaya's otoshi is a cover charge

  • Accept the otoshi as an appetiser
  • Arguing with staff about it or asking for it to be taken back

There is no penalty: before you order at an izakaya, a small dish of otoshi always arrives. It doubles as the cover charge and cannot be chosen or swapped.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: drinking in Japan