The 6 Most Annoying Things You Can Do as a Tourist Abroad

Visiting a new country is a privilege, but heading abroad — especially for the first time — can also be overwhelming. With so much to discover, tourists may find themselves experiencing sensory overload. Though your new surroundings are bound to have a profound impact in such circumstances, it’s important that your reaction doesn’t provoke annoyance among the local population. Take a look at six of the most annoying things tourists do abroad so that you can try not to follow suit. 

Clog Up Tourist Hot Spots With a Photo Shoot

While there’s no harm in grabbing a quick selfie or souvenir photo, some tourists take the concept to extremes. It’s not a problem, so long as others aren’t impacted. But in popular spots, roads and sidewalks can quickly become clogged, and the lack of respect shown for others can really start to grate. Sometimes, locals fight back: In 2023, the city of Portofino, Italy, introduced no-waiting zones; later the same year, a road was closed in Pomfret, Vermont, to deny visiting fall foliage selfie-takers the chance to disrupt local traffic. 

Confuse Your Heritage With Your Place of Birth

Travelers often seek to find common ground with those they encounter along their journey. United by shared interests or backgrounds, they feel an affinity to the place they’re visiting, and those valuable connections create lasting memories. However, a word to the wise: Having a great-great-grandfather who was born in Ireland does not make you Irish. Your family might, of course, enthusiastically and diligently maintain certain traditions and customs that celebrate your heritage and have helped mold your identity. Nevertheless, semantics matter — being Irish American (of Irish descent and living in the United States), for example, is different from someone who was born and still lives there. During a visit, don’t be shy about revealing your heritage, but be clear where your own story began — the locals will appreciate you for it.

Try To Cover Too Much Ground in Too Little Time

If you live in North America, you might be aware that the amount of paid time off employees receive is typically stingy in comparison to what people get in other parts of the world, such as Europe. Chances are, you’ll also be used to making long journeys. So, when your vacation allowance is dwindling, it can be tempting to plan as much sightseeing as possible on a long-haul trip. However, where population densities are higher, so too is the concentration of visitor attractions and the traffic you’ll encounter between them. Thus, you may want to reconsider if your planned itinerary covers six European countries in only two weeks — hurriedly rushing from site to site not only will cause stress, but also might irritate those who realize such places are far more rewarding when given more time.  

Tip Where It’s Not a Thing 

Adding a tip for your server is routine in some parts of the world, and in the U.S., many service sector workers have come to rely on gratuities. However, this practice is not universal, and elsewhere, a higher minimum wage means that employees aren’t so reliant on tips to top up their wages. In some countries, tipping not only is not expected but also can be considered rude. but in places where international travelers have repeatedly ignored this cultural norm, businesses have often sought to capitalize on the practice. To locals, however, a newly installed tip jar in a café can feel unwelcome. After your check has been settled, generously depositing a fistful of notes or coins could annoy the regular clientele if they think they might be judged for not following suit. 

Complain There’s No Ice

If you’re used to being presented with a large glass of iced water at a restaurant or filling your cup full of ice cubes at a soda fountain, it can feel strange to be in a place where that’s not the norm. In Europe, for example, if you want a glass of water, you’d be expected to ask for it, and if you don’t specify that you mean tap water, you’ll be charged for a bottle. And though a cold drink is likely to be served chilled, don’t expect the glass that accompanies it to contain more than a few cubes of ice (if any). Instead of complaining about it, politely ask for ice, and locals will usually be happy to oblige. 

Be Too Loud

Culture and background have an influence on how loudly it is deemed appropriate to talk. A volume that’s normal to one nationality can be considered rude by another. Being unaware of your indoor voice can be a huge faux pas when traveling overseas on public transit, dining out, or visiting quiet attractions such as museums. Likewise, no one wants to relax beside the pool and have to listen to other people’s conversations over their own. Avoid incurring the wrath of fellow tourists and locals alike by respecting the fact that it’s their space, too. Listen for a minute and gauge what’s appropriate for where you are, then set your own volume to match.