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.

TabúVestimentaSri Lanka

Sri Lanka: cover legs and shoulders and remove shoes and hats at Buddhist temples

  • Cover your legs and shoulders, and take off your shoes and hat before entering a shrine
  • Nude or topless sunbathing

At Buddhist temples you must cover your legs and shoulders and remove shoes and hats, or you will offend worshippers; nude or topless sunbathing is not allowed.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Sri Lanka travel advice

TabúTemplos y lugares religiososNepal

Nepal: temple etiquette

  • Wear clothes that cover your knees and shoulders in temples
  • Take off your shoes when asked
  • Wearing shorts or a vest at holy sites
  • Entering areas reserved for Hindus

It offends worshippers; some areas of Hindu temples are closed to non-Hindus.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Nepal travel advice

TabúFotos y dronesUzbekistan

Uzbekistan: check before you take photos

  • Ask before taking photos near airports, border posts, military bases, bridges, police stations and metro stations
  • Photographing government buildings

It may annoy the authorities; posting content on social media that disrespects the flag, food or customs can lead to fines or detention.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Uzbekistan travel advice

TabúModales cotidianosMorocco

Morocco: avoid public displays of affection

  • Show restraint near religious sites and in tourist areas
  • Kissing or hugging in public

It causes offence; same-sex intimacy can be prosecuted in Morocco.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Morocco travel advice

TabúModales cotidianosMorocco

Morocco: during Ramadan, don't eat or drink in public by day

  • Check opening hours during Ramadan
  • Dress according to local custom
  • Eating, drinking, smoking, chewing gum or swearing in public during the day

It offends people who are fasting.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Morocco travel advice

TabúVestimentaUnited Arab Emirates

UAE: cover shoulders and knees in malls and other public places

  • Women should cover shoulders and knees
  • Wear swimwear only at the beach or pool
  • Wearing see-through clothes or clothes with offensive images or words

It offends local people; some venues have their own dress codes.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates travel advice

TabúVestimentaEgypt

Egypt: dress modestly and avoid public displays of affection

  • Dress conservatively in villages, mosques and markets
  • Kissing or hugging in public (holding hands is usually fine)

Behaviour accepted in resorts may be seen as offensive elsewhere.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Egypt travel advice

TabúModales cotidianosTürkiye

Türkiye: during Ramadan, don't eat or drink in public by day

  • During Ramadan, check shop opening hours and be patient with people who are fasting
  • Eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public during the day (including in a car)
  • Playing loud music, dancing or swearing

It offends people who are fasting.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Turkey travel advice

TabúVestimentaTürkiye

Türkiye: dress properly in mosques

  • Cover shoulders and knees; women cover their hair
  • Ask permission before photographing people
  • Wearing shorts or a vest in a mosque or holy site

It offends local people; inappropriate dress is more likely to cause offence during Ramadan.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Turkey travel advice

TabúSeguridadCanada

Canada: keep your distance from wildlife in national parks

  • Follow park rules
  • Take all rubbish and food with you so you don't attract animals
  • Approaching wildlife, including marine animals and birds

Keeping a safe distance is a basic park rule.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Canada travel advice

TabúModales cotidianosPhilippines

Philippines: avoid too much intimacy in public

  • Behave appropriately in public
  • Overly intimate behaviour in public

It may be treated as 'grave scandal', punishable by a fine or 6 months in prison.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Philippines travel advice

TabúFotos y dronesCambodia

Cambodia: ask before photographing monks

  • Ask before photographing people, especially monks
  • Photographing monks and religious figures without permission

Respect local customs.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Cambodia travel advice

TabúVestimentaCambodia

Cambodia: cover shoulders and knees at Angkor Wat and other religious sites

  • Cover your shoulders and wear trousers or a skirt below the knee
  • Wearing shorts or a skirt above the knee

You may be refused entry to Angkor Wat and other religious sites.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Cambodia travel advice

TabúVestimentaVietnam

Vietnam: cover shoulders and knees at temples and cultural sites

  • Cover your shoulders and knees when entering religious and cultural sites
  • Wearing a vest or shorts into a temple

Respect local customs.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Vietnam travel advice

TabúTransporte públicoNetherlands

Netherlands: cycle paths are not footpaths

  • Before crossing, look for bicycles and e-bikes first — they have priority over cars
  • Use pedestrian crossings
  • Standing or walking on a cycle path

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

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Netherlands travel advice

TabúPropinasUnited States

USA: tipping is almost always expected

  • Restaurants with table service: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill
  • Bartenders: US$1–2 a drink, or 15–20% of the bill
  • Taxis: 15–20% of the fare, at least US$1
  • Hotel housekeeping: US$2–5 a day
  • Not tipping at restaurants with table service

Not illegal, but seen as very rude.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: Emily Post Institute: tipping guide

TabúVestimentaVatican City

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

  • Wear a sleeved top and something below the knee, and carry a scarf just in case
  • Take off your hat and keep quiet indoors
  • Entering St Peter's Basilica in a sleeveless top, shorts or a miniskirt

You will be turned away at the entrance.

Sin verificarFuente: Vatican dress code (travel guide)

TabúModales cotidianosMalaysia

Malaysia: pass things and eat with your right hand

  • Use your right hand to eat with your fingers, to pass and receive things, and to shake hands
  • To point the way, make a loose fist and point with your right thumb
  • Pointing at people or things with your index finger

Not illegal, but seen as rude.

Sin verificarFuente: Tourism Malaysia: travel guide

TabúVestimentaThailand

Temples and the Grand Palace: cover shoulders and knees

  • Wear sleeved tops and long trousers or skirts below the knee
  • Take off your shoes before entering a hall
  • When seated, don't point the soles of your feet at a Buddha image
  • Entering in a vest, shorts or see-through clothes
  • Covering a sleeveless top only with a shawl may not be accepted at the Grand Palace

You will be refused entry and will need to rent or buy a sarong at the gate.

Sin verificarFuente: Grand Palace dress code and visiting rules (travel guide)

TabúModales cotidianosJapan

Take off your shoes when you see a genkan (entrance step)

  • Take off your shoes at the entrance of homes, some restaurants, temples and hot-spring facilities
  • If unsure, look for a shoe rack or slippers at the entrance
  • Stepping onto tatami or indoor wooden floors in shoes

It is seen as very rude.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: JNTO: Japanese etiquette

TabúTransporte públicoJapan

No phone calls on trains and the shinkansen; queue to board

  • Put your phone on silent; on the shinkansen, take calls in the area between carriages
  • Queue at the marked spots on either side of the train door, and let people off before you get on
  • Give priority seats to older people, pregnant women and passengers with limited mobility
  • Talking on the phone or playing sound aloud in the train

Not illegal, but you will get looks and a reminder from the conductor.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: JNTO: Japanese etiquette

TabúAguas termalesJapan

If you have tattoos, check the rules before using a hot spring

  • Before you go, email the facility to ask about its rules
  • Small to medium tattoos can be covered with skin-coloured patches (some onsen sell them)
  • Choose a tattoo-friendly onsen, or book a private bath (kashikiri-buro) in advance
  • Ignoring 'no tattoos' signs and getting in anyway

Most onsen do not allow guests with tattoos to bathe, but rules vary by facility and are often more relaxed for foreign visitors.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: JNTO: tattoo rules and etiquette at onsen

TabúAguas termalesJapan

Wash your body thoroughly before getting into a hot spring

  • Before getting in, sit on the small stool in the washing area and wash your whole body with the shower or a bucket, leaving no soap
  • Leave your small towel at the edge of the bath or fold it on your head
  • Getting into the bath without rinsing first
  • Dipping your towel in the bath water
  • Leaving a used towel in the washing area

Not illegal, but other guests and the staff will see it as very rude. Most onsen require you to be fully naked in the bathing area.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: JNTO: a beginner's guide to onsen