‘Stay away, it's for your own good': Locals discuss top 28 'unwritten rules' in their country that tourists always break

Author image for Eleonora Bader
Eleonora Bader
Jan 11, 2024 6:00 PM EST

Too often, I've seen tourists ignore big blatant signs in their own native language that read, 'Do not enter'. But enter, they do. Sometimes they get lucky, while other times, not so much. And I'm not speaking from a 'high and mighty' place, because I myself have ignored instructions and had to pay the price. One person posted a question to r/askreddit, asking which unwritten rules tourists always seem to ignore when they are on vacation abroad. There is a whole variety of answers from people living in different countries around the world. Some were surprising, while others I assume would be obvious to the average Joe.

Who knew that you couldn't touch a cute, purple and green octopus you found floating about on the beach? Just kidding, that one is a given. My parents always made sure to tell me, 'Do not touch ANYTHING' when we went traveling (abroad or otherwise). Scroll down for the comments, and then check out this story of a woman who never planned to pay someone she hired to create Christmas stockings for her kids.

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  • 01
    What's an unwritten rule in your country that tourists always seem to break? DrakeAU 5 hr. ago edited 3 hr. ago Do not pick up the cute blue ringed octopus, do not pick up the cute blue ringed octopus, do not pick up the cute blue ringed octopus, do not pick up the cute blue ringed octopus.
    via Canva
  • 02
    Posted by u/Fuzzy_Combination_79 8 hours ago What's an unwritten rule in your country that tourists always seem to break?
    via u/Fuzzy_Combination_79
  • 03
    delayedconfusion - 6 hr. ago Use of sun protection, I know its technically the same sun, but it works a bit different here in Australia. 4.2k Reply Share
    via u/delayedconfusion
  • 04
    20 Snowflake222.5 hr. ago Same for New Zealand. Even if it's cloudy. I heard about some European backpackers who wanted a tan, so they applied baby oil, and it almost ked them. (Don't know if this is a true story, but I've heard it a few times, and you would almost d e if you sunbathed coated in oil here.)
    via u/Snowf1ake222
  • 05
    ThisLion329 5 hr. ago Do not approach the wildlife in North America. People joke about Australia having all the dangerous animals, then will walk right up to our elk during rutting season and get gred. Same with bears, bison, moose. These animals are NOT tame. ✩ 6.5k Reply Share
    via u/ThisLion329
  • 06
    Tomatillo No4213 · 4 hr. ago Gators. Good grief, if you're at a body of water in Florida please assume aggressive gators are present and don't go near the water! It astounds me how casual people are with themselves and children around gator filled waters. 1.9k ↓ Reply Share
    via u/TomatilloNo4213
  • 07
    Ruathar · 8 hr. ago Obey the signs seems to be planet wide. 1.2k ↓ Reply Share obscureferences. 4 hr. ago That seems to be the best unwritten rule; read the written rules. ↑ 291 ↓ Reply Share ●●●
    via u/Ruathar, u/obscureferences
  • 08
    Outdoorsmen_87 - 6 hr. ago They dont stay off the wet rocks and end up in the ocean ↑ 1.2k ↓ wow wow wow Reply Share ThaneOfCawdorrr - 5 hr. ago Similarly: they walk past innumerable "DO NOT PASS THIS SIGN" signs (it's not even unwritten! It's written! Repeatedly!) to wade or SWIM in the waters JUST ABOVE A HUGE WATERFALL. 441 Reply Share
    via u/Outdoorsmen_87, u/ThaneOfCawdorrr
  • 09
    DrakeAU 5 hr. ago edited 3 hr. ago Do not pick up the cute blue ringed octopus, do not pick up the cute blue ringed octopus, do not pick up the cute blue ringed octopus, do not pick up the cute blue ringed octopus. Do not futing do this: https://youtu.be/emisZUHJAEA? si=TEXORFMrhOglxnlJ 3.2k Reply Share
    via u/DrakeAU
  • 10
    Ilostmypassword43- 7 hr. ago In England please respect the queue. Jumping the queue will bring forth a seething rage and putrid hatred that spews forth tutting and a passive aggressive muttering rant that's loud enough for others, but not you, to hear "Oh no you go ahead mate, I'll just stand back here with everyone else, good job I didn't have anything on at all...."
    via u/Ilostmypassword43
  • 11
    The queue is so deeply entrenched in the psyche of the nation that during the 2011 England riots that lasted a week, during which the social fabric broke down, looters could be seen to queue outside the shops they were rcbing. Please respect the queue! 3.8k Reply Share
    via u/Ilostmypassword43
  • 12
    algunadiana 5 hr. ago If there are red flags on the beach it means "NO SWIMMING" Which also means NO SNORKELING. NO DIVING. NO SURFING. NO PADDLEBOARDING.NO BODYBOARDING. NO SELFIES ON THE REEFS. FFS. ↑ 755 ↓ Reply Share
    via u/algunadiana
  • 13
    GoldenUther29062019 5 hr. ago No littering. A lot of us here will straight up scream at you to pick your sh up if you litter in our beautiful country. Tourist or not. 722 Reply Share
    via u/GoldenUther29062019
  • 14
    DeusSpaghetti · 6 hr. ago Don't swim in brackish rivers in the Nortern Territory. Oh wait, that's a written rule tourist's always seem to break. 1.3k Reply Share
    via u/DeusSpaghetti
  • 15
    Trick Few 5 hr. ago Don't pet the fluffy cows and stay on the boardwalks in Yellowstone. It's actually a written rule, but apparently it's too difficult to comprehend. ↑ 161 ↓ Reply Share
    via u/Trick_Few
  • 16
    Suspicious_Hornet_77- 5 hr. ago Trying to pet the local moose. Look, I know it's a majestic creature right in the middle of the city but it's a really, really bad idea to start thinking it's Bullwinkle and try to get a selfie with it. On second thought...you do you. Go give him a big old skritch on the snoot. Us locals will be watching...from way over there. 554 Reply Share
    via u/Suspcious_Hornet_77
  • 17
    WassupSassySquatch - 6 hr. ago More specific to my region: stand on the right, walk on the left. Stop blocking the escalators like a human iron curtain. The poor government workers have already lost enough of their souls, don't make them mutter "on your left," as you dawdle around in bewilderment. ↑ 1.1k Reply Share
    via u/WassupSassySquatch
  • 18
    NomadicallySedentary - 5 hr. ago Use headphones phone. 120 or turn your volume off on your Reply Share
    via u/NomadicallySedentary
  • 19
    thatsaSagittarius. 5 hr. ago Where there are seals, there are great whites. Those signs aren't there for a joke. No one will rescue you because there are no lifeguards and/or the beach is closed. Also seals will k .l you. ↑ 101 ↓ Reply Share
    via u/thatsaSagittarius
  • 20
    molinana - 7 hr. ago No tipping - we don't want to start the tipping culture here! 1.1k ↓ Reply Share ultrapoo 6 hr. ago What if the cow really deserves it? Reply Share 760
    via u/molinana, u/ultrapoo
  • 21
    10- $5. Sartozz 6 hr. ago I only ever get chatted up by tourists on the train or bus. You don't chat up people in switzerland, just never. 205 Reply Share
    via u/Sartozz
  • 22
    FlibbetyGibblets - 5 hr. ago In Germany, the train or the bus wait for no one. 21 ↓ Reply Share
    via u/FibbetyGibblets
  • 23
    Guapplebock 5 hr. ago Do not put the baby bison in the back of your SUV. ↑ 17 Reply Share
    via u/Guapplebock
  • 24
    koreamax 4 hr. ago Nyc here. The escalator thing is huge but I think something kore annoying is not being aware of your surroundings when you're in a big group. Blocking the entire sidewalk with your group then randomly stopping for no reason is infuriating Reply Share 20
    via u/koreamax
  • 25
    91 Left My HeartInMunich - 5 hr. ago . I am not from Hawaii but went on a family vacation to Maui. Planned a day outing and headed to Big Beach. I was hesitant to get in after seeing all the warning signs that basically told us to F: Around And Find Out if we so should choose, and to tread lightly as the beach was considered very dangerous. Welp. Probably shouldn't have ignored those warnings. I was tossed around so vielently that I literally s! `t myself. Til this day, I am not sure how I made
    via u/LeftMyHeartInMunich
  • 26
    Thunderliger 3 hr. ago · edited 46 min. ago Not necessarily my country but more specific of the S.W. Region of the U.S. STOP.HIKING.DURING.SUMMER.WITHOUT.WATER WHAT PART ABOUT THE CACTI BEING EVERYWHERE DID YOU NOT UNDERSTAND.IT'S HOT. ↑ 18 ↓ Reply Share
    via u/Thundertiger
  • 27
    medium_buffalo_wings · 6 hr. ago Don't with Canadian geese. And it's always hilarious when they do. 81 ↓ Reply Share
    via u/medium_buffalo_wings
  • 28
    TYRwargod 6 hr. ago This isn't Europe, property lines and fences mean don't fing go there! I don't care that in your country you have the right to walk wherever you want, in this country its my patch of grass/ponds and my cows/horses and I don't want you messing with them and getting injured because you wanted to pet a calf and momma beat your a s. Reply Share 173
    via u/TYRwargod
  • 29
    sharkweekiseveryweek 5 hr. ago . In Canada you say sorry even when it's not your fault and you didn't do anything wrong. ↑ 29 ↓ Reply Share Frazzle-bazzle . 4 hr. ago The appropriate response to "sorry" is "sorry" ↑ 15 ↓ Reply Share
    via u/sharkweekiseveryweek, u/Frazzle-bazzle

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rules ask reddit Forest travels local town signs ocean tourists abroad locals regulations wildlife sunny stories reddit countries traveling holidays wilderness vacation
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