Things Locals Wish Tourists Knew When They Visit

Wherever you go, you’re going to encounter social norms that are specific to that particular place. Sometimes they’re big things, like how blowing your nose in public in Japan is considered rude, and sometimes they’re little ones, like whether or not to tip housekeeping, and if so, how much.

People who live in tourist towns know all the things when it comes to, well, dealing with their towns. These are some of the things they wish tourists knew to make their lives easier when they’ve visited. They were compiled from various websites, such as Reddit, Buzzfeed, etc., and encompass questionnaires and surveys from a variety of years.

African Continent

Africa is a continent and it’s more than three times the size of the USA. there are over 50 different countries and countless cultures. what is acceptable in one place may not be acceptable in another. languages differ, climates differ and cuisines differ. — n48656c421
try to focus on something other than poverty. poverty exists world over, don’t participate in poverty tourism so you can post about it on social media and feel better about yourself. — n48656c421

Australia

The sun is not messing around in Australia. If You plan a day at the beach or out and about need to have plenty of sunscreen and reapply it regularly. The burns can be so bad they blister — Xyz
swim between the flags! australia’s beaches are dangerous. — bethanyGrace

Canada

If you are visiting Canada in the winter and are not used to winter driving conditions, please do not drive! Specifically Banff/mountain regions. You are a hazard to everyone else on the road. Driving in a blizzard or on ice takes practice and winter conditions can change within minutes. PLEASE take public or hired private transportation. — S Cav
When people are friendly with you it’s typically very genuine, but depending on where you are, they can also be exceptionally cold (Vancouver.) We’re very aware of our similarity to the US but don’t like to acknowledge it, comparisons are generally unwelcome. Waving a Canadian flag will not make you look prideful or patriotic (aside from Canada Day and during international sporting events), people will think you’re a covid denier. — JesseHawkshot
We say sorry a lot, but it’s mostly just to express that we don’t want conflict/aren’t mad – for example, if I’m standing still and someone bumps into me I will say sorry, assuming it was an accident. Not that I think I did anything wrong, more like no worries. But if they did it on purpose or are being aggressive, it’s a different story. — s99B88

France

This all tracks from when I lived in France. Parisians were generally rude, though nearly everywhere else I met warm, lovely people. In small towns, younger people always spoke English with me even though I wanted to practice my French. Older people would humour me. — loveracity
Don’t even think about trying to get lunch at a restaurant in France at any time outside of 12pm-2pm. They will either be closed or will have run out of food. — JoeResidence
The stereo type of French people not speaking and not wanting to speak English is the exact opposite — Glen1648
In Paris if you watch me taking the subway. I will hold my phone with both hands. Especially if I’m close to a door and they are open. — Little-kinder

Japan

People very rarely visit each others houses. Houses are small, walls are thin, and people are private. Even families tend to do larger gatherings at onsens or restaurants, instead of anyone’s home. If people don’t invite you to their home, don’t be offended. — ninesquirrels
So many things are still just cash only and its honestly a little frustrating having to deal with pulling out a wallet and dealing with change all the time. — Bokonon10
Things are very formulaic and by-the-letter here, and any well-meaning attempts to permit skipping protocol will be ignored. I dropped a 10 yen (7 cents) coin under a gatcha machine once and a staff member very doggedly insisted on moving the machines around to search for it. I tried to say it was ok don’t worry and she cut back with a “it’s not ok. Please wait.” — JesseHawkshow
Trash is a very, very big deal. Some places have 10+ categories of garbage, which must be sorted, cleaned, and placed out on the morning of the appropriate day, not the night before. People take this quite seriously. — ninesquirrels
re: technology: Japan has been stuck in the year 2000 since 1985 — RIPmyfirstaccount

Lithuania

most of us are really welcoming people. If you are our guest there will be food at the table, a lot sometimes. If it’s a quick and unexpected visit, you will definitely get tea or coffee and some sweets! If you are a close friend/relative, there is a big chance you’ll get some food packed to take with you — kareiJ
We tend to be direct without being rude! So, if you ask something that’s interesting to you and if you do it in a polite way, you’ll get the answer. — kareiJ

Mexico

Pedestrians never have the right or way, so use caution when crossing. — bklynparklover
We’re more formal here than the US. Dressed every day and not athleisure. Like some/ most people do hair and makeup for basic errands or family days. Shorts and flip flops are rare, even in beach towns. Think smart casual to get groceries. — blueenvy

The Netherlands

Not everything is about drugs and sex and tulips and windmills. We have beautiful landscapes and city’s. We have islands. We have so much more fun things to do and to see than get drunk and get sex. — Simon-kip
Dutch are known to be tolerante. Which differs to be all excepting. You can be and do whatever you want as long as this doesn’t bother/hinder someone else. This doesn’t mean everyone agree or accept with the choices you make. — DeletedID
we are not hospitable people by culture and we always eat dinner at 18:00, if there are visitors in the house, we always gently shoo them out if it is near 18:00, dining with a Dutch person is quite rare. — Les-Lanciers-Rouge

New Zealand

Never sit on tables, desks or kitchen benches, it’s tapu (sacred) to Māori (bums where you eat = gross anyway). — ponderosa

Norway

If you’re “different” in any kind of way, people will and do talk shit about you. People will discriminate. — Normal-Mongoose3287
Cash is almost never used, and a lot of places will even see you pull it out and ask you to use card instead because they don’t want to deal with it. — sagestruggler
People are nice to you because you’re a foreigner and they want to make a good impression, most people are not really very friendly and helpful towards each other. — Normal-Mongoose3827
The whole country sort of shuts down during July as everyone’s on vacation. Yes, the entire month. — netpuppy
all stores are closed on Sundays. If you need to buy something, you better hope you can find it in the convenience store and you’ll have to pay way more than in a regular store any other day. If not, tough luck, wait until Monday and plan better next time. — Rakpthurz
People don’t don’t offer help because they “respect your privacy” (lmao), they don’t because they’re waiting for someone else to offer. — Normal-Mongoose3827
Although the country is small, there is a distinct difference between people from the Randstad, the south and the north. The Randstad is known as the economic heart with most of the big cities, the south is known as warm and social, the north is known as cold and distant. — ValeNova

Poland

Polish tend to be racist. Most will not do anything harmful, but, if you are anything other than white, you will be gazed at even in bigger cities. — Mencjusz

Portugal

Avoid the small towns in the interior if you are not a white person of the lighter variety. — DeletedID

Singapore

You can walk out at 3am to the most “dangerous” part of town and nothing will happen to you. — _malaikatmaut_

South Korea

South Korea is almost entirely cashless, but doesn’t have contactless payments — emimagique

Spain

shops close in the middle of the day, not because of the siesta, but because it is a MANDATORY lunch break forced by the companies, to hire only 1 person for the morning and afternoon shift. — NewNameAgainUhg

Philippines

Most Filipinos love gossip, but I can assure you that we are very welcoming, generous to the point that even if we don’t have money, we will find ways to give you good food as a welcome. Strangers can also be trusted. The only problem here is the corrupt government, heavy traffic, pollution and so dusty especially in Manila. — kendiching

Taiwan

Despite being a rich country, plumbing is still stuck in the 1900s in many places and you’ll need to throw your toilet paper in a bin next to the toilet after wiping your a**. —
Royal-Procedure6491
Cash is still the number one form of payment and many places may not accept cards at all — thickboyvibes
Just because it’s the only country in the region that made gay marriage legal doesn’t mean that you’ve got loads of gay folks doing PDA out in the street. The culture is still quite reserved and introverted. No matter your orientation, you’re going to get scowled at if you’re making out with anyone in public. — Royal-Procedure6491
The number 4 is unlucky and left off many elevators just like 13 in the States — thickboyvines

Turkey

Avoid restaurants in touristy places, avoid places who actively try to attract tourists, avoid taxi as much as possible. And Istanbul is a city full of hills hence be prepared for some cardio. Avoid talking about politics. Those are the first ones come to my mind. — goldysir

United Kingdom

Most places only accept payment by card but corner shops often have a minimum spend for card. — Crizzy444
Stand on the right of the escalator, walk on the left. — Crizzy444
The UK – people will go to the pub to meet with their friends but usually not to make new ones. I always see people on Reddit wanting to go to “a real British pub” on their holiday and “get to know the locals”, completely unaware that if a total stranger is talking to you in the pub, they are probably the local nutter. — Ok-Cup-1472
You can ask for tap water anywhere that sells alcohol and they must legally give it to you, even if you aren’t a customer. — Crizzy444
It makes me laugh when Americans say “British people are so polite. When they walk past you in a store they say ‘excuse me’ in their clipped accent!” Completely oblivious to the fact that a British person saying “excuse me” is the equivalent of someone else saying “GTFO of the way”. British people will stand silently behind you waiting for you to notice them trying to pass and move out of the way. Saying ‘excuse me’ is a last resort and an admonishment for being unaware of your surroundings. — UnderTheHarvestMoon
Jaywalking is not a crime. It’s perfectly legal. Just do it safely.– Crizzy4444

Seemingly everywhere

PICK YOUR LARGE CITY is not an example of the entire COUNTRY/STATE (i.e. London/England, NYC/New York, Hollywood/California, Paris/France, Amsterdam/The Netherlands).
PICK YOUR COUNTRY is huge. Don’t expect to see it all (i.e. Australia, United States, China, Canada)

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