No matter where you decide to study, work or travel, if you want to enjoy your experience, first you must know something about the local culture of that particular country. If you don’t, the chances are that you will find yourself experiencing culture shock and feeling a bit disappointed. What is normal and accepted in your country can be something outrageous abroad.

What You Need to Know Before Visiting a New Country

Before travelling to a new country for the first time, it's essential to gather information to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience. Here are some important things to find out about a country before your trip:

Culture and Customs: Learn about the local customs, traditions, social norms, and etiquette to respect the culture of the country you're visiting. This includes appropriate clothing, gestures, greetings, and behaviour in public places.

Language and Communication: Familiarize yourself with basic phrases in the local language or consider using translation apps to help communicate if English is not widely spoken. This can help in everyday interactions and emergencies.

Local Laws and Regulations: Familiarize yourself with the country's laws and regulations, including customs regulations, local driving laws, and any specific rules or taboos, to avoid legal issues.

Attractions and Activities: Research the main tourist attractions, cultural sites, local cuisines, and activities you're interested in to make the most of your trip. Consider creating a flexible itinerary.

Weather and Packing: Check the weather forecast for the period you'll be visiting to pack appropriate clothing and accessories. Be prepared for any weather conditions.

List of some famous country

Do you want to stay safe and have fun? Take a look at what tips and guidance I have prepared for you about Things you should know about countries

Singapore

Singapore's famous hotel Marina bay sands and Merlion statues.

Don’t feed birds, spit on the ground, eat in public transport and litter. Singapore is perhaps one of the cleanest cities in the world, so cleanliness is very important here. If you are invited to a wedding, don’t give flowers to anyone. They are usually given to people who are ill or at the funerals.

India

 Taj Mahal India's famous historical monument.

Don’t wear tight and revealing clothes as most people prefer a more conservative and traditional way of dressing. However, in big cities wearing jeans and a T-shirt is very common but most men and women still like to keep their legs covered. Also, don’t kiss in public areas and don’t try to shake hands with women if you are a man and with men if you are a woman.

France

France's famous tourist spot Eiffel tower under bright blue sky

Don’t complain about how long it takes for waiters to bring your coffee. Here you should take things easy and sit in a café watching the passers-by and enjoy the moment. Don’t talk about money and don’t expect the French to speak English.

Learning other languages is not popular in this country.

Japan

Don’t try to eat your meals on large plates and don’t give tips in restaurants. You should also give no hugs as most people try not to show their emotions openly to strangers, especially in public areas. When you use escalators, stand on the same side as the other people.

New Zealand

A group of people cycling beside a lake.

Never make jokes about Rugby, Ring of the Lords and/or the Queen of England. Local people will take it seriously. Don’t laugh at people walking barefoot. It is quite normal and common. Don’t honk when driving otherwise you will insult people. 

Norway

Houses in red and green colors built in a row under dark black clouds.

Don’t stare at naked people. It is normal for them to change clothes in public areas. Don’t talk about Church as many people in Norway don’t attend this place. When you talk to locals, there is no need to formally address anyone. Just use their first names.

United Kingdom

Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster and double decker busses on the road

Don’t break the queue and don’t ask residents how much they earn. Don’t invite people to your home unless you are very close to each other. Also, don’t confuse “England” with“Britain” or “English” with “British”. English people are from England while British are people who live in Great Britain, which includes Scotland and Wales, as well as England. The United Kingdom or the UK includes Northern Ireland. The Scots and the Welsh get extremely furious when people refer to them as “English”. They don’t live in England and have their local government.

Ireland

4 people standing on the cliff of the ocean and enjoying the view and taking pictures.

Avoid imitating the Irish accent and don’t go to bars if you can’t pay for yourself. Don’t criticize Ireland. Irish people already know that there is something wrong with every aspect of their country (the Church, the economy and the politics) but don’t welcome outsiders bringing up those issues for a discussion.

Germany

Men in black color dress and women in green color dress are dancing together

Don’t show Nazi greeting gestures with your hands (you can be jailed). Don’t stare at people (they may think you are uneducated or mentally ill). Avoid being too friendly (Germans need some time to get used to new friends) and don’t congratulate anyone on their birthdays in advance. They think it may cause an unexpected death on the date of the birth of a particular person.

United States of America

Old man standing on the grass on a day time

Don’t use American slang you have picked up after watching Hollywood movies or listening to songs by 50 Cent or Eminem. Remember that people in Hollywood movies play the roles of friends, colleagues, partners and so and that’s why they use slang. But if you are new and just met a local person you probably need to keep slang away from your speech.

Italy

2 Italian people in their Italian costumes

If you sit in a café or restaurant with your friend, don’t expect the waiters to bring you the bill. It is a bad manner in Italy to push customers to leave the place by asking them to pay. Also, don’t order any Cappuccino after lunch as Italians think that it is a major violation of Italian food rules.

China

A person sticking Chinese posters on wooden wall along with few kids.

When you are invited to a birthday party of your Chinese friend, avoid giving a clock or umbrella as a present. Don’t write anything in red ink unless you are a teacher and need to correct an exam paper. Red ink is used for letters of protest. Be prepared to learn and speak Chinese one day if you plan to stay in China for a longer time. Nobody will speak English and even if you want to drink and you show the bottle of Coca-Cola, locals will not probably understand what you are looking for.

Russia

Castle pillars with cone shaped endings.

Don’t expect people to smile at you on the streets or elsewhere across the country. Most Russians don’t like giving fake smiles and don’t laugh if there is no good reason or humour involved in the conversation. But that doesn’t mean they dislike or hate you. They are simply being straightforward and frank with you. In other words, don’t judge the book by its cover.

United Arab Emirates

A person holding an eagle in his hands in desert.

If you happen to visit Dubai and grab a map at the airport, you can throw it away after about one month. Things in this part of the world change super fast – towers, roads, shopping malls, and micro-cities are constructed faster than you could ever imagine. When it comes to don’ts, don’t eat, drink or wear tight and/or body-revealing clothes in public places during the holy month of Ramadan. Also, don’t fight with anyone whether you are right or wrong.  Both of you can be deported.