Respect

Travellers usually wish to respect the people, culture and environment they are visiting. You are also leaving impressions of your culture on the places you visit. There are some general guidelines that help to show respect at most destinations. Accordingly, these guidelines are not repeated in the destination guides.

Conversations

“

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

”

—Proverb attributed to Saint Ambrose.

Honour

In many cultures, honour is a very important concept. Losing one's honour may make one lose friends, job and everything else. This means that anything that looks like embarrassing oneself in public, or a public insult, is bloody serious. In such cultures it is imperative that you don't push people an don't try to "win" an argument. If you do, the situation may turn into a question about authority and honour instead of the practical matter, or may cause your host to use their next month's income on treating you.

People in many cultures are indirect communicators: refusing a request may be awkward, so people don't make requests, but rather hint on that they might be interested in something. Sometimes they feel obliged to invite you or offer you something; then it is your responsibility to kindly refuse the offer. If they are serious, they will repeat it, perhaps many times. There are unwritten rules on how this should work, be cautious if you don't know the culture.

To save face, people may tell that they understand what you say and pretend they know an answer you make them think they should know. Make sure you allow them to tell the truth without losing face.

On the other hand, if you are from such a culture, try not to get offended by direct requests and direct questions, and don't feel obliged to consent. A straight "No, I'm sorry" may be what's expected if you don't get excited by a proposal. Likewise, nobody is expected to know everything and always be right, so admitting a mistake or failure is usually respected, and no big deal regarding minor issues.

Swearing

Some people in all cultures find swearing offensive, and it usually varies between people at a destination. Sometimes it differs by region, sometimes by gender or age. Take your cues from the individuals you are talking to at the time, or simply don't swear to avoid the possibility of offense. At your destination people might use language or words that you find offensive, but which they may not.

Also, slang and swear words can be poorly understood, or have entirely different connotations or meanings at a destination. To give just one example "coger" means "to take" in Spain but is an obscene reference to coitus in most of Latin America. An innocent mistake might cause snickering, but do try to avoid using the wrong slang in the wrong situation.

Jokes

Jokes that mention race, ethnicity or traumatic historical events, such as wars, disasters, and terrorist attacks, are best avoided, as are any jokes in bad taste. You can often hear locals making jokes of these genres, but somehow the jokes aren't quite as funny and can be offensive when told by a visitor – and you don't know the line between accepted and offending ones. Jokes based on stereotypes of the country you visit tend to be not funny to locals and they usually have heard them about a thousand times already.

Sensitive topics

Many people are happy to talk about politics and religion and their viewpoints. But these topics must always be approached carefully by visitors, and many people just think it easier to avoid these subjects altogether. Talking about sex is often taboo, and even if not, it makes many people feel uncomfortable; thus it is usually best avoided. Other personal question, such as about family, profession and wealth may be sensitive and avoided when talking to strangers in some cultures, while they are common when trying to make an acquaintance in others.

Political discussions

“

One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.

”

In a foreign country, it is tactful to ask questions and listen to locals' opinions of politics, and refrain from offering too much of your own editorials (although sharing your opinions on your own country's politics can be good conversation). Locals, naturally, tend to have a deeper knowledge of their own politics, and generally do not like being lectured by foreign visitors. Emphasize sharing, not preaching. A difference that often occurs is what importance democracy takes above the "achievements" or political inclination of certain non-democratic regimes. Travelers to Nicaragua may find it baffling how often Somoza (a family of dictators from 1936 to 1979) is talked about in a "he wasn't that bad" fashion or the relative prosperity in his reign is even looked upon with nostalgia, despite how brutal his dictatorial regime was.

In some countries certain political topics or viewpoints are off limits as the government cracks down on them. This is usually not evident from anything and indeed oppressive regimes usually make people think less is permitted than actually is to activate people's self censorship. Not only the thing that's said but also who says it and in what context may matter. The regime may tolerate a tour guide making a few jabs at the receding hairline of the dear great leader but will jail any oligarch who so much as says "hair" in his presence – or the exact reverse. Tread very lightly and better avoid the topic altogether. If you fear your loose lips might betray you, consider not visiting certain places altogether.

Even in countries where freedom of speech is respected, people might get offended by foreigners expressing their views on local politics, regardless of what those views are.

Also, don't assume that the political or social attitudes of locals are the same as those of members of that country's diaspora whom you may know back home. Particularly if you live in a Western country, the diaspora you know may be composed largely of political dissidents or other people who didn't "fit in" for one reason or another.

History

Being interested in the history of the country or region you are travelling to is certainly a good thing, but again historical events can be a very sensitive issue. If you've ever seen a number of people from different countries debate an event like World War II and who was most instrumental to the allied victory on an anonymous Internet forum, you probably know how this kind of topic can be controversial. Special caution is advised if your country of origin has a history that is intertwined with your country of travel through colonialism, interventions or invasions. Don't be surprised if locals know of figures and atrocities you've never heard of or see your "benevolent former leader" as a bloodthirsty tyrant or your "forgettable political non-entity" as the savior of their nation. Rutherford B Hayes is popular in Paraguay, and Winston Churchill is a villain in India. Would you know why? Exactly.

Also keep in mind that certain historical events may be perceived differently in different countries. For instance, Turkey officially denies that the Armenian Genocide ever took place, and referring to the event as a genocide is illegal in Turkey. Likewise, Japan's colonisation of much of Asia in the first half of the 20th century is remembered as a brutal occupation in most of the formerly occupied areas, in particular in China and both Koreas, but is largely regarded positively in Taiwan and Japan itself.

Deprecating comments

Some criticism of local government and other local institutions is common at most destinations. However, when this criticism comes from a visitor there is always the risk that the same criticism will be taken personally. Offense can occur even if all the visitor does is agree with the criticisms made by a resident.

Symbols of a country, such as the flag or head-of-state, or even the captain of the local sporting team, can be legitimate subjects of discussion and derision for locals, but it can easily cause offense if similar comments are made by a foreigner. While positively comparing the place you're visiting to a rival often endears you to locals, going overboard in trashing Fürth while visiting Nuremberg or bashing Costa Rica on a trip to Nicaragua may lead to negative reactions, especially if it is seen as an outsider saying something that only locals are "allowed" to say. And who knows, the people you are talking with may have ties to that supposed rival.

In some countries, criticism of certain individuals, in particular monarchs and other rulers, is prohibited by law. For example, criticism of the king or other members of the royal family is illegal in Thailand and Saudi Arabia, while criticism of national heroes such as Ho Chi Minh and Vo Ngyuen Giap is illegal in Vietnam.

Local sensitivities

Areas often have local sensitivities, due to historical conflicts and local rivalries. It can be insulting to refer to a smaller neighboring independent country or region as part of a larger neighboring one; rather, it's best to be aware, and to be accurate. Some regions have disputed territories, and even if the governments have reached an agreement, people can have strong opinions. In addition, some locales are afflicted by tension between ethnic, racial, religious or political groups. While this may be visible, and may be the subject of local conversation, it may be looked at as rude or insensitive to offer commentary; this may be so particularly if you are looked on as an "outsider" or foreigner.

Stereotypes

There are stereotypes about most nations and cultures. Some are at least partly accurate; others are utterly bogus.

Avoid inflicting your stereotypes on locals. It's almost always the case that most people in the place you're visiting are aware of the stereotype, and they likely will have heard the joke before. Some may be offended.

Be prepared for locals to have some stereotypes about, or amazing ignorance of, your culture. Gently correcting these is fine; it may even work. Getting dramatically offended about them makes you look ridiculous and is quite unlikely to change anything.

Accents

Imitating the local accent will usually be taken as an attempt to mock it, rather than as a genuine attempt to communicate. Some people pick up on the local accent and jargon without even realising it. If this happens to you, be sensitive about how it is received.

Linguistics

“

אַ שפּראַך איז אַ דיאַלעקט מיט אַן אַרמיי און פֿלאָט
A language is a dialect with an army and navy.

”

—Max Weinreich

Whether the local speech is a distinct language or a dialect of one language is often a sensitive issue, and the choice of terminology is often a political one. For instance, Spanish nationalists usually consider Catalan to be a dialect of Spanish, while most Catalans consider it to be a language in its own right that is distinct from Castilian Spanish. Danish, Swedish and Norwegian are largely mutually intelligible but are considered to be separate languages, while Cantonese and Minnan are not mutually intelligible with each other or with Standard Mandarin, but are usually considered to be dialects of Chinese – supporters of Hong Kong and Taiwan independence reject this view and consider them to be distinct languages in their own right.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the classification of the Ukrainian language has been a sensitive issue. While most linguists classify Ukrainian as an East Slavic language together with Russian and Belarusian, most Ukrainians reject this view and consider it to be more closely related to Polish than to Russian. On the other hand, Russians may reject the notion that Ukrainian is a language, instead considering it to be a Polonized dialect of Russian.

Geographical names

The names of various geographical features can also be a highly sensitive issue. For instance, referring to the sea between Japan and Korea as the "Sea of Japan" is very offensive in South Korea, and South Koreans instead refer to it as the "East Sea". Likewise, referring to the sea surrounded by China to the north, Vietnam, Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia to the west, the Philippines to the east and the island of Borneo to the south as the "South China Sea" is very offensive in the Philippines and Vietnam, and Filipinos and Vietnamese instead call it the "West Philippine Sea" or the "East Sea" respectively.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 (and to some degree, the Euromaidan revolution in 2014), the choice of geographical names has become a sensitive and politically-charged issue in both Russia and Ukraine. For instance, the river known internationally as the "Dnieper River" should always be called the "Dnipro River" when you are talking to Ukrainians, as the former was derived from the Russian name and is thus offensive to Ukrainians.

Even when there aren't any major political disputes, using the wrong name may cause irritation, such as when Swedes, thinking they are showing respect towards their Finnish company, use Finnish names instead of the Swedish ones when talking with a Swedish-speaking Finn.

Dress

See also: Clothes

Nudity

Regardless of the legal position at destinations, public nudity is generally only acceptable in designated locations. Just what constitutes nudity is sometimes different from country to country and culture to culture.

While in parts of Europe (specifically former East Germany) nudism is frequently practiced at the beach and topless sunbathing is possible for both genders, behavior like female public toplessness would surely cause offense (or even a prison term) in countries such as Malaysia, let alone Saudi Arabia.

Attitudes to public breastfeeding vary a lot between communities. Even where there are explicit laws protecting it, there may be strong social stigma against it. You may be expected by social custom or even law to cover the area in some way or keep out of sight or it may be seen as a non-issue and people who get huffed and puffed over it derided.

Everyday clothing

You might not want to dress like locals, and there is often quite some leeway for foreigners, but you do not want to offend more than necessary. Check what locals will expect.

In some societies dressing appropriately is an important virtue, and as you are a person wealthy enough to travel, sloppy dressing might be seen as an insult. There can be expected or enforced dress codes at restaurants and other establishments. Also in the street, short shorts may be seen as imprudent (for men as well as women), as may sleeveless shirts and too deep cleavage.

In some Muslim countries, most notably Saudi Arabia and Iran, it is mandatory for women to cover their hair in public, while Afghanistan takes it even further by prohibiting women from showing their faces in public.

Beachwear

Don't wear beachwear away from the beach, unless you see local cues that it is okay.

While the bikini is nowadays acceptable on westernized beaches in most of the world, in many places locals may wear a t-shirt with their swimwear and even more covering dressing may be expected. There is also often a difference between very touristy beaches and places mostly frequented by locals. While as late as the 1920s, a photograph showing the then President Friedrich Ebert in swimwear caused major scandal in Germany, in general, dress codes for male swimwear are much more relaxed around the world.

Houses of worship

In general there will be a dress code for houses of worship. It can be summed up as "conservative and not too casual" but the details may vary. In particular, Christians were traditionally expected to dress in their best clothes when going to church on Sunday. In synagogues men must cover their heads, whereas in churches it is customary for men to take off any headgear. To enter a mosque or a Hindu or Buddhist temple, he should remove his shoes. In mosques female visitors are usually expected to don a headscarf even if they aren't Muslim, and all women are expected to cover their head in a shawl or veil when visiting Russian churches. Both men and women are required to cover their hair in a Sikh gurdwara.

In very touristed areas such rules are often spelled out near the entrance, sometimes even in more than one language; off the beaten track the unwritten rules are often very much unwritten, but still taken very seriously. Many denominations welcome visitors from other faiths, though some do not; in particular, non-Muslims are prohibited from entering mosques in some places.

Get around

Walking

In crowded places, step to the side when stopping, so others may pass. On busy escalators, airport travelators, and similar constructions there is often a convention to stay to one side if standing, so those walking can pass. Which side is which varies, from city to city, and country to country. It may or may not correspond to which side of the road you drive on. Stay alert to what the locals are doing.

Don't just assume that walking on a public park lawn is permitted. In many cities, you will see people doing various activities on the public park grass. However, in many places, it is generally forbidden to walk on a lawn in a public park, and could be acceptable only as an exception. When travelling, don't expect to be informed by a sign that walking on a lawn is forbidden – you may have missed it, or it is regarded as self-evident – just treat it as such, unless you have good reason to believe otherwise.

Public transport

See also: Public transport

Different countries and cities have implicit etiquette rules for public transport, which can be rather different (acceptable distance, eating and drinking, phone calls, where to walk and stand, etc). There are similar rules for flying.

Especially at rush hours, public transport can get very crowded. It is a common courtesy to let people off the train/bus/tram before boarding yourself. If people are visibly impaired in their mobility (wheelchair-users, people with small children etc.), don't get into their way. You may try to help if needed and possible, but sometimes it is better to leave that to locals. Don't just grab a wheelchair or the arm of somebody to be helped, but ask whether you can help. Also make sure children and their parents have room to board and get off as a group.

When in doubt, copy what everyone else is doing. If everyone on the escalator is either standing on the right or walking on the left, then don't stand in the middle. Many buses have a system where one door is for entering and the other for exiting.

A big pet peeve of riders and drivers alike is blocking the door area. In general the vehicle can't move when the doors are blocked. In modern vehicles this is sometimes ensured with a photo sensor and if you don't get out of the door area the doors can't close and the vehicle cannot move. Also, don't stand so that you obscure the view of the driver. Move far enough from the doors, so that people getting on after you (and after those) also can move away from that area.

In some cultures, the normal thing to do is to sit where others sit, while elsewhere people want as much private space as possible. In some places there is official or semi-official sex segregation, but also elsewhere choosing a seat next to somebody of the opposite sex may be sensitive. Note body language.

If there are arm rests, overhead lockers or reclining seats, there are probably unwritten rules on how not to inconvenience your co-travellers. Check that what you intend to do is OK for those who might be bothered. Also, if you have bulky luggage, you might want to check how to make as small a fuss as possible.

Driving

Despite the frequent "people in country x drive like crazy" assertions out there, there are actually traffic rules and unwritten rules of courtesy that many local drivers stick to. Especially when driving with a local license plate, you'd do well to read up on those and follow them. One example of such a "common courtesy" rules is signaling dangers ahead to drivers coming the other way; another is indicating when it is okay to overtake your slower vehicle. Driving "like the locals" without seeing the local hints will make you a truly dangerous driver.

On another note, while driving more defensively than the locals might make you slower or lose you a parking spot every once in a while, it'll be better for your sanity and safety, and people's opinion of you in the long run. Better to have people blow the horn than to have an accident. You might also consider using local drivers.

Sacred places

See also: Religion and spirituality

Sacred places include constructed religious sites, cemeteries, tombs and memorials, and land significant to indigenous cultures. Some of these sites are interesting destinations for travellers.

Access to some of these sacred places can be restricted entirely, or even restricted to people of a certain religion or gender, and these restrictions should be observed.

Dressing conservatively and showing respect are appropriate anywhere, but details vary by place; see Houses of worship in Dress above. It is a very good idea to learn a bit about the local rules before venturing near a sacred place.

Keep voices down anywhere; in some places, silence is required. Mobile phones should be silent. Children are not normally excluded, and rules regarding dress or noise are often not as strictly enforced for young children. Often there is some tolerance of very young children crying, but usually less so for older children running around.

Religious buildings and sacred places may be actively used for ceremonial purposes or for services, in addition to being destinations for travellers. It is better to wait for a service or ceremony to conclude before visiting.

Symbols and gestures

Some symbols may have positive connotations and religious symbolism for certain communities, but could have strong negative associations for others.

Perhaps the most well-known of such symbols is the Swastika. It is used as a religious symbol by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains, and is a highly revered symbol in much of Asia, where it represents peace and the balance of opposites, and is often displayed as a good luck charm. On the other hand, it is associated with Nazism, antisemitism and white supremacy in most Western countries, thus making it very offensive, or in some countries even illegal to display the symbol. Asian visitors to Western countries should avoid displaying the symbol to avoid offending local sensibilities, or even getting into trouble with the law. Conversely, Western visitors to Asian countries should be aware of its religious significance, and not kick up a fuss over seeing widespread use of the symbol.

Use and interpretation of gestures also depends on the culture. For example, the "thumbs up" gesture is used in the west for hitchhiking and to signal approval or success, but in Iran it is quite rude, approximately equivalent to the western gesture with the middle finger.

People

Visits

Perhaps the highest rate of intercultural pitfalls occur when being invited to someone's home. While people will be somewhat prepared to excuse innocent mistakes if they invite someone from a very different culture into their homes, problems may arise when one or both sides simply assumes certain things are "just the way things are". For example, in many countries it is customary to remove shoes before entering someone's home. If you see street shoes near the entrance, this should cue you in to take off your shoes, or at least to ask whether you should take off your shoes. Ask a second time if the culture is known for phrasing stuff indirectly. House shoes may be issued to guests, or you may be expected to go in your socks. You may also be expected to have brought your own indoor shoes.

In general bringing a gift for your hosts is a good idea, but which gifts are considered appropriate varies from culture to culture and sometimes from individual to individual – treat particularly lightly with flowers or booze, as the former might send an unintended romantic message and the latter might be seen as morally offensive.

A particular pitfall is that what seems to be an invitation may be simple courtesy, with no actual intent to host you.

Social dining

There is a fairly standard set of dining etiquette that is observed throughout Europe from Portugal to the Caucasus, which is also followed by majority European diaspora countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Generally the knife is held in the right hand and the fork in the left, and it is rude to rest your elbows on the table; rest only your wrist. Some things, like bread, are handled by hand, while most food should not be touched.

Chopsticks are commonly used in China, as well as in neighbouring Japan, Korea and Vietnam. While there are some minor differences, chopstick etiquette is generally similar across these countries. Most notably, never stick your chopsticks upright into a bowl of rice, as that is associated with funerary rites. In many cases, it is rude to start eating before the most senior person at the table has started eating.

In most societies, there are such rules about who should start taking food and when eating can begin. Mostly the host will make a sign about who and when, but it is safer to let them do it very clearly before taking the hint. An awkward fact is that you as guest may be the one to start, without your recognising any of the food and how it should be eaten.

There are often special rituals when it comes to alcoholic beverages. Often just taking a sip on your own is against the etiquette.

In some cultures, making noises while eating, such as slurping, means that you appreciate the food, while in others it is frowned upon. The sound of your knife against the plate can irritate some. Try to eat silently unless you note that noises are accepted. Conversation is part of most dining, but in some circles it is left to after the eating.

In many parts of the world, it is still common to eat by hand. In most such places, you should only use your right hand to handle food, as the left hand is reserved for handling dirty things.

Acknowledging others

In large cities it would generally be impossible to acknowledge everybody that you pass. However, when there are few people around, say on a non-urban track, it is commonplace to make some acknowledgment of a person as you pass. A greeting in the local language, or if you don't speak the local language, a look or a nod is usually sufficient.

Standards vary by context. In the Paris metro, people mostly ignore each other, but upon entering a local shop you must greet the shopkeeper with a quick "bonjour" or "bonsoir" before making any sort of request or purchasing anything, and you are expected to have them guide you. The context may also change rapidly: you might be expected to ignore people, but if your eyes meet, the expectation might be reversed.

Everyday environment as sight

Where people are living in an area regarded as a sight, such as an old town, the locals may be intimidated on a regular bases by tourists staring at them, not respecting their privacy, and asking for help and services. While tourism may be a great source of income, people still want to live their private lives, and tourists may also be the source of severe problems, such as inflated prices and environmental degradation.

Try to follow advice on responsible travel, respect people's privacy, use commercial services that benefit the local community, and avoid depending on local goodwill.

Cultural differences

Sometimes, even if you speak another country's language fluently, cultural aspects can still throw you off. For instance, while the polite way to respond to a compliment in much of the English-speaking world is with a simple "Thank you", in many East Asian cultures such as China and Japan, accepting a compliment will make you come off as arrogant, and it is customary to politely turn them down instead.

Similarly, customs on giving and receiving gifts can vary widely. For instance, while in places like the United States and Australia you are expected to open a gift in front of the person who gave it to you and say that you like it very much (even if you don't), in Singapore it is rude to open a gift in front of the person who gave it to you, and you are instead expected to wait until the person has left and open it in private.

Addressing people

Naming conventions and modes of address vary greatly between countries. See the specific country articles for details. For instance, while it is a major faux pas to address someone in Japan by first name unless they are young children (elementary school or younger) or very close friends to you, using first names is the norm in Thailand and Iceland even in the most formal situations. In most Western countries, the default is to use a title + last name in formal situations. For instance, John Smith would usually be addressed as "Mr. Smith". The main exception is British knights and dames; they are always addressed as Sir/Dame + first name even in the most formal situations.

Not only the names and titles used matter. In many countries, service staff, manual labourers and some other groups are viewed as lesser people by the well-off. If you have such prejudice, watch out when travelling. Being respectful to everybody is hardly a faux pas anywhere.

There are certain modes of address that are use for certain office holders. Here we list some of the more special ones:

Your Excellency — presidents, prime ministers, ambassadors
Your Majesty — monarchs
Your Highness — members of the royal family
Your Honour — judges
Your Holiness — the Pope

If you are on a journey where you expect to meet any such title holders, you should probably research appropriate conduct. This may be specific to your situation. For example, an American citizen should not bow or curtsy to a British monarch.

Environment

See also: Sustainable travel, Leave-no-trace camping, Scuba diving#Respect

The volumes of visitors to sites of environmental significance can often threaten the environment they came to see. The same can be true for cultural sights. In natural environments, stay on walkways, don't make new tracks, don't remove natural features, and dispose of any litter/trash in the appropriate bins, or take it with you.

Photography

Taking pictures of people requires sensitivity. Photography of people as part of a scene is generally okay. Photography of people involved in an attraction is generally okay also. Whether legally required or not, it is best to obtain permission to photograph individuals going about their daily life. Sometimes this can just take the form of a smile while pointing at your camera. In some countries it is common for someone being photographed in this way to ask for money. Taking pictures of children is often sensitive, and can worry their parents.

In some areas, photographing military installations, government buildings, border areas, airports or even bridges can get you in trouble. Some governments are distinctly paranoid and may consider such photos a threat to national security.

Law enforcement

Obey laws

If one of your priorities is to show respect, which is generally conducive to having a good time, just obey the laws, whatever they are – find out in advance! If you are inclined to break any law of some place, seriously consider whether you should go there at all.

Even when the locals show contempt against the law enforcement organizations – they don't always have such a great reputation – respecting local laws in most cases shows respect to the community. Even when a law is decidedly wrong also according to locals, as a visitor you can't realistically do anything about it, except to keep yourself out of trouble.

Treat the fact that you can decide whether you like the laws or not as a luxury. A simplified way to see it is this: the law enforcement is there to enforce laws that you've consented to upon entering the country. If this is too simplistic for you, at least appreciate that the other side generally applies said logic: this is why foreign lawbreakers are often received with heightened antipathy, and are given no leeway.

Show deference

It's best to show deference to local law enforcement. Almost anywhere, members of law enforcement have the authority to arrest or otherwise hassle you, such as, typically, by making you wait for longer than you're accustomed to. Be calm and patient, and don't complain (it will save you time and trouble down the line). Keep your guard up by not letting yourself be seen as annoying. Particularly avoid insulting them, behaving in a way that could be perceived as threatening, or running from them. If you move your hands in a way that could be interpreted as reaching for a weapon (e.g. getting your ID out of your pocket) clearly say what you are doing, as nervous police have more than once misinterpreted such a situation.

In areas and languages where a distinction between "formal you" and "informal you" exists, always address police and similar forces with the "formal you" even if they address you with "informal you".

Understand their limitations

In many areas around the world, however attractive they may seem, and however open and welcoming the local population may be, law enforcement is not all that accustomed to dealing with foreigners. As a general rule, if you don't have a good reason to think that law enforcement is interested in helping you in a non-emergency, don't expect helpfulness on their part. For example, in some areas, even within the same country, it's normal to ask the police for directions, but elsewhere this is not the norm at all.

Respect that for a member of the local police, communicating with you efficiently, in a language that you understand, may not be within their ability—they could become frustrated or act a little confused, but you shouldn't. Remember to stay composed and politely reserved, and let them finish whatever they are saying, even if you don't understand a word of it. The majority of the time when they stop you, the police will simply want to know who you are, and what you're doing, sometimes out of banal curiosity. For this reason, it's important to always carry your passport with you. Talk in short sentences and don't try to express anything more advanced than: "I am a visitor to your country (tourist, for example); I'm carrying a passport; I am staying in a hotel".

Armed guards

In most places law enforcement officers are armed. Use common sense, and put in some effort in understanding the security context: In some European countries, entrances to certain buildings that attract a lot of visitors, such as synagogues, are guarded by rifle-toting gendarmes. It's fine to walk past them and enter. But in the vast majority of other situations, if a guard with an assault rifle is standing by an entrance to a building, simply stay away; don't approach, or look like you would approach. There may be a law enforcement member somewhere nearby willing to help you, but that heavily armed guard is very likely not the right person to try talking to. Likewise, if that building is the one you specifically want to enter (a police station or a town hall, for example), treat that as probably not being the proper entrance (maybe it's on the other side).

In some areas, various non-government groups may also be armed and dangerous. See War zone safety.

Border officials

For more information on what happens at the border, see the Border crossing article.

This also applies to border officials, since they can easily delay your trip, mess up your luggage or even your body with intrusive searches, deny you entry to their country, and make a note in their computer system that will get you denied, detained or even arrested if you return.

Racial and national identity

In most countries, racial and national identity is a sensitive topic.

As a general rule, do not make assumptions about someone's nationality, ethnicity, or faith, based on another of the three, nor on their appearance (for example, skin color) or language. Try to avoid generalized attribution of traits to any of those groups.

The racial and ethnic categories that you are accustomed to may not be the ones used at your destination. For example, people from the U.S. might call all of the 1.7 billion people in eastern Asia "Asians", but people from China and Japan see themselves as being very different from each other. Similarly, in some cultures, people of mixed racial or ethnic descent may have higher – or lower – social status than in your culture. Also, some people have no personal connection to their apparent origin.