Guía cultural de viajes por el mundo

Etiquette & taboos

Normas y tabúes

Dedique cinco minutos a leer esto antes de viajar. Clasificamos las normas locales en tres niveles: líneas rojas, que son ilegales o pueden hacer que le nieguen la entrada; tabúes, que no son ilegales pero ofenden con facilidad; y buenos modales para adaptarse a las costumbres. Cada norma tiene su fuente e indica si está verificada.

Línea rojaIlegal o puede hacer que le nieguen la entrada · 85 normasTabúNo es ilegal, pero ofende con facilidad · 23 normasBuenos modalesAdáptese a las costumbres y ganará una sonrisa · 5 normas

Buenos modalesTransporte públicoUnited 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'.

Sin verificarFuente: Wikipedia: London Underground

Buenos modalesPropinasAustralia

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.

Sin verificarFuente: Mozo: tipping in Australia

Buenos modalesModales cotidianosGermany

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.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: Library of Congress law blog: Germany's shop opening laws

Buenos modalesPropinasJapan

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.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: JNTO: Japanese table manners

Buenos modalesRestaurantes y baresJapan

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.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: JNTO: drinking in Japan