Everyday practicalities, country by country

Friday is the weekend, photographing the wrong building is a real offence, and small notes are the most useful thing in your pocket.

Ethiopia keeps its own calendar and counts hours from dawn, and you may take out two kilograms of coffee without a permit.

Type G sockets at 230 V, English as the official language, and tro-tros as the transport nobody licenses.

Greetings come before business, plastic bags are illegal, and drones need a permit arranged before you fly in. Swahili opens doors that English does not.

Sockets take C, E and G, so bring both adapters. English is official, French is the media language and Creole is what people speak.

French gets you further than English, Friday afternoon is quiet, and dressing modestly changes how the whole trip feels for the better.

Type G sockets at 230 V, English as the official language, and a country of over 200 million people that no single sentence covers.

Sockets take C, E, F and G. English, French and Kinyarwanda are all official, and the plastic bag ban is a national point of pride.

A plug nobody else uses, eleven official languages with English as the common one, a braai culture, and shops that close earlier than you expect. Bring the adapter; you will not find your own at home.

Greetings are not optional and Swahili is easy to start. UK plugs, a slow pace, and a set of manners that opens every door here.

European sockets, French as the working second language, and a week whose quiet day is Friday.

European plugs, an alphabet you cannot guess at, and Russian as the second language.

European plugs, a Latin alphabet you can read, and tea served in a pear-shaped glass.

British plugs, English almost everywhere, and a weekend that runs Friday to Saturday.

Mostly type G and D sockets at 230 V, Bengali as the language, and a Friday Saturday weekend.

Type A, C and G sockets at 230 V, shoulders and knees covered at the temples, and a calendar where the whole country stops for a week in April.

No photographs of military or government sites, drones tightly regulated, zero tolerance for drugs, and what you post online is policed. Practically: 220 V on type A and I sockets, one national time zone at UTC+8, squat toilets that stock no paper, and tap water that is not drinkable anywhere, big cities included.

Type C and F sockets at 220V, UTC+4 with no daylight saving, and a strong drinking culture built around the supra and the tamada that is easy to underestimate.

British plugs, English on every sign, and a set of small conventions that make the first day easier.

Alcohol law is state by state: Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland, Mizoram and Lakshadweep are dry year-round, Delhi sets the spirits age at 25, and the whole country goes dry on 26 January, 15 August and 2 October. Foreign visitors cannot fly a drone in India at all, and one brought in is usually sealed by customs until you leave.

Indonesia spans three time zones, runs on European two-pin sockets at 230 V, and needs a 1968-Convention International Driving Permit for anything with an engine. Bali has an official code of conduct for visitors, and once a year it shuts down completely for Nyepi - 24 hours in which nobody leaves the building, tourists included.

Fines that catch tourists: street smoking (1,000–2,000 JPY), Shibuya's evening public-drinking ban, Gion's 10,000 JPY geisha-photo fine, Nara deer protections up to 1,000,000 JPY, and Vienna-Convention driving permits not being valid. Plus type A sockets at 100 V, JST year-round, konbini hours and the famous absence of street bins.

The weekend is Friday and Saturday, hospitality is relentless and sincere, and in Ramadan the daylight hours belong to a different country than the evenings.

Type C and F sockets at 220 V, so Europeans need no adapter. The whole country is on a single UTC+5 time zone with no daylight saving, and licensed exchange offices in both cities run around the clock.

British plugs, a Friday-Saturday weekend, and a country that operates after dark for half the year.

European plugs, Russian as the working language, and a country that runs on hospitality rather than infrastructure.

Types C, E, F, A and B sockets at 230 V, UTC+7 with no daylight saving, banks and offices closing at 15:30, and night markets running 17:00 to 22:00.

Portuguese on the street signs, Cantonese in the shops, English in the casinos, and British plugs.

Drug offences carry life imprisonment or the death penalty without exception, marijuana included. Nicotine vape is a scheduled poison again after a May 2026 court ruling, so leave it at home. Flying a drone needs approval 14 working days ahead, and Sabah and Sarawak want a second permission. Sockets are Type G, 240 V.

The Maldives is a strict Islamic country: no alcohol imports or drinking outside licensed resorts, covered shoulders and knees on inhabited islands, and bikinis only on marked Bikini Beaches. Sockets are UK type G at 230 V, the time zone is UTC+5 (resorts often shift it), and the weekend falls on Friday and Saturday.

Saturday is the weekend, the clock is 45 minutes off the hour, the year is 2083, and the greeting is namaste with both hands. None of that is a joke.

British plugs, a Friday-Saturday weekend, and a country that is far more conservative in dress than in temperament.

Type C and D sockets at 230 V, Urdu and English both official, and a culture where loud public behaviour reads badly.

Drug penalties in the Philippines are very harsh even for small quantities, imported medicines should be checked for legality and carried in original packaging with a prescription, and smoking is restricted by nationwide smoke-free rules. The whole country runs on PHT (UTC+8), with a rainy season roughly June-November and a dry season December-May; a foreign English-language driver's license is typically accepted for up to 90 days, and air quality is variable enough to warrant checking live sources like IQAir.

A conservative Muslim country with a Friday-Saturday weekend, UK plugs, and a set of dress and behaviour rules that are worth reading before you pack.

British plugs, a Friday-Saturday weekend, and a country that runs around prayer times.

The laws are the thing. Vaping got much worse on 1 May 2026, drugs carry the death penalty, and a second vaping offence bans a visitor from returning.

A negative online review can be prosecuted as criminal defamation here and truth is not a defence, so complain privately. Filming people without consent is a criminal offence, which is why phones sold in Korea have a shutter sound you cannot mute. Zero tolerance on drugs, CBD included, and ADHD stimulants need prior approval from the drug ministry.

Buddhist-protection laws are enforced hard: visible Buddha tattoos get travelers arrested and deported, and posing with your back to a statue is banned. On monthly Poya full-moon days all alcohol sales stop nationwide. Sockets are types G/D/M at 230 V, the time zone is UTC+5:30, and drone use without prior MOD/CAASL registration is criminal.

Eating, drinking or chewing gum anywhere in the paid area of the metro is banned outright, plain bottled water included, and inspectors fine NTD 1,500 to 7,500 without exception. Drones of 250 g or more must be registered at drone.caa.gov.tw, and foreign visitors need a passport number and a valid licence to do it.

Daily budgets range from about 1,000–1,200 THB (low-cost) through 2,700–3,200 THB (standard) to 6,800–9,700+ THB (comfort) per person, varying by region. Covers common scams, temple dress codes, the ban on criticizing the monarchy, vaping risks, drone registration via CAAT, alcohol sales 11:00–24:00 from 29 May 2026, plus power (230 V, plugs A/B/C/O), the UTC+7 time zone, climate, air quality, luggage storage, and food delivery.

Alcohol cannot be sold in shops between 22:00 and 06:00, mosques have a dress code that is enforced politely, and the country would rather you called it Türkiye.

Alcohol got 30 percent dearer on 1 January 2025, Sharjah is completely dry, and the working week runs Monday to Friday with a half day.

A secular Muslim country with a serious tea and bread etiquette, two alphabets, European plugs and a working week that runs to Saturday.

Practical ground rules for Vietnam in 2026: vapes are banned, restricted (addictive/psychotropic) medicines are limited to 7 days' supply without proper paperwork, and photographing military or security sites can cause trouble. Power is 220 V/50 Hz (bring a universal adapter), the time zone is ICT/UTC+7 with no DST, and chains like AEON, Co.opmart and WinMart cover first-night supplies.

Type C and F sockets, a language related to nothing, and a head shake that means yes.

Catalan is the language, two heads of state share the job, and everything shuts for the mountain.

Sunday is genuinely closed, and planning around it is the single most useful thing a first-time visitor can know.

Three official languages with hard geographic borders, type E sockets, and a country where which language you open with is a real decision.

Type F sockets, three peoples and two alphabets, and coffee that is a ceremony rather than a drink.

Cyrillic script, type F sockets, and a nod that means no.

Learn the coastal rhythm: everything shuts in the afternoon, dinner is late, and what you wear off the beach is a legal question rather than a style one.

British plugs, British driving, Greek language and a siesta that is real.

Type E sockets at 230 V, statutory quiet hours from 22:00 to 06:00 that the police will enforce in an Airbnb, and shops over 200 m² closed by law on selected public holidays.

Direct without being rude, punctual to the minute, cashless, and quietly informal. Say tak, do not queue-jump, and do not stand in the cycle lane.

Type F sockets, near-universal English, a digital state that assumes you have an ID code, and a quietness that is politeness rather than coldness.

Sauna is not optional and is not a spa. Strong drink is sold only by the state monopoly. Silence is not awkwardness. Shoes come off indoors.

Type C and E sockets at 230V, CET with summer time, and one social rule that matters more than any other: say bonjour before you say anything else.

Everything closes on Sunday - shops, supermarkets, pharmacies - with stations and airports the only exception. Type C and F sockets at 230V, and English is common but thins out fast outside tourist settings.

Type C and F sockets at 230 V, and clocks an hour ahead of central Europe. The rule that catches people out is plumbing: used toilet paper goes in the bin beside the toilet, not down the pan.

A language related to nothing you know, a strong cafe and bath culture, and a restaurant bill that often has the tip already on it.

Type C and F sockets at 230V, GMT all year with no daylight saving, and English spoken by essentially everyone. The rule that catches visitors out is the naked communal shower before entering any geothermal pool.

Type G plugs at 230 V, pubs that stop serving earlier than you think, shops that shut on Sunday afternoon outside Dublin, and a smoking ban that has been in force since 2004.

Italy enforces strict administrative regulations to protect its historical and environmental heritage: It is illegal to sit, lie, or consume food and drink on historical monuments, steps, and fountains including the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum, and the Trevi Fo

Type F sockets, a language unrelated to its neighbours, and a reserve that is politeness rather than hostility.

German-speaking, Swiss-plugged, and small enough to walk across in a morning.

Type F sockets, one of Europe's oldest living languages, and a Catholic country where the church is a national institution rather than a museum.

Three official languages, half the workforce commuting in from three countries, and type F sockets.

English is official, sockets are British, and the island is far more Catholic than a beach holiday suggests.

Romanian and Russian side by side, type F sockets, and wine at the centre of everything.

French in practice, French sockets, and rules about what you can wear in the street.

Type F sockets, two alphabets, and a coastline that runs on a Mediterranean clock.

Type C and F sockets at 230 V, central European time. The rules that catch visitors out are cannabis-related: coffeeshops are legal and the street outside them is not, with a EUR 100 fine for smoking in the centre of Amsterdam.

Cyrillic script, type F sockets, and a capital covered in statues that are barely a decade old.

Type C and F sockets, English spoken by essentially everyone, and shops that shut on Sundays. The rule that catches visitors is alcohol: the supermarket stops selling beer at 20:00, and anything stronger only comes from Vinmonopolet.

Type C and E sockets at 230 V, and a statutory Sunday trading ban that closes supermarkets and shopping centres on most Sundays - only Żabka-sized convenience stores, petrol stations and pharmacies stay open.

Type C and F sockets at 230 V, and a clock an hour behind central Europe. The restaurant couvert is the one that catches people out: the bread, olives and cheese put on your table are not free - send them back if you do not want them.

Type F sockets, a Latin language among Slavic neighbours, and a country that is far more modern than its reputation abroad.

Italian in everything but sovereignty, and the oldest republic in the world.

Two alphabets in daily use, type F sockets, and rakija you will not be allowed to refuse.

Type E and F sockets, 230 V, shops shut on public holidays, and a language where the greeting changes depending on how well you know someone.

Type F sockets, near-universal English, and a country that will correct you if you call it Slovakia.

Street drinking is fined from 600 € (up to 3,000 € in Balearic party zones), smoking is banned on many beaches and terraces, and walking around town in swimwear costs 120–500 € in Barcelona, Málaga or Palma. Camera drones need AESA registration and insurance. Sockets are type C/F 230 V; smaller shops still close for siesta.

Type C and F plugs at 230 V, alcohol only from the state monopoly and only until 18:00 on weekdays, shoes off indoors, and a coffee break with its own name and social rules.

Four national languages, Sunday closing, and rules about rubbish and noise that visitors treat as suggestions and locals do not.

Three-pin plugs, four countries, one weather forecast that is always wrong, and a set of pub conventions nobody will ever explain to you.

The dress code turns people away every day, and it applies to men as well as women.

English is the official language, the plugs are American, and everything runs slower than you planned.

Two official languages but only one province where it really bites, legal cannabis with an age that changes at provincial borders, and alcohol rules that are stranger than anything else in the country.

US plugs at 120 V, no street addresses anywhere, early mornings and early nights, and a national attitude called pura vida that will slow your schedule whether you like it or not.

Two plug types, very little English, and a country where planning ahead is the whole skill.

Spanish only outside the resorts, US-style plugs, and power cuts frequent enough to have their own word.

American plugs and dollars, a country the size of Wales, and very little English.

American plugs, an eternal spring at altitude, and Spanish that everyone comes here to learn.

American plugs, Spanish on the mainland and English on the islands, and two countries in one.

The sockets look American and run at 50 Hz, ganja is decriminalised but not legal to smoke in public, and public holidays do not all move to the Monday.

North American Type A and B plugs at 127V, two time zones, and toilet paper goes in the bin. Cancun does not change its clocks, so the gap to Mexico City shifts twice a year.

American plugs, Spanish everywhere except the Caribbean coast, and the cheapest country in the region.

American plugs, Spanish with a lot of English, and a country that is genuinely two hours wide.

American sockets at 120 V, English everywhere, and left hand traffic in left hand drive cars.

A passport gets you on a domestic flight now that REAL ID is enforced, the drinking age is 21 and enforced on people who look 40, and nothing is within walking distance.

Type C and I plugs at 220 V, dinner at 22:00, a two-hour lunch, and Spanish that sounds like Italian and uses "vos" instead of "tu". Almost nothing opens early.

Bolivia runs at 220-230V on Type A and C sockets, so an American 110V device will fit and die - except in parts of La Paz, which are still on 115V. UTC-4 all year, and toilet paper goes in the bin.

Voltage changes between cities - 127V in Sao Paulo and Rio, 220V in Brasilia - on Type N sockets. Toilet paper goes in the bin, not the bowl, and swimwear stays on the sand.

Chilean Spanish is the fastest in the region and full of its own slang. Lunch is the meal, dinner is late, and the country closes for a week in September.

US sockets at 120V, no clock change ever, and no seasons - only altitude, which decides whether a city is 12 degrees or 32. There are 18 public holidays and most are moved to Monday.

American plugs and voltage, Spanish that is unusually clear, four climates in a small country, and a pace that does not hurry for anyone.

220V on Type A and C sockets - an unusual combination that destroys 110V devices with a flat American plug. UTC-5 all year, and toilet paper goes in the bin.

Sockets take C, F and L, which includes the Italian three-pin. Spanish here uses vos, and everyone is carrying a thermos.

Rules that surprise visitors: signed alcohol-free zones (204 AUD beach fines), the world's harshest vape laws (prescription-only, nicotine pouch imports banned from 24 July 2026), CASA drone rules with registration over 250 g, and jaywalking fines of 75–220 AUD. Plus type I sockets, free tap water, time zones and opening hours.

Type I sockets at 240 V, English everywhere, and "Fiji time" as an actual scheduling assumption.

Type I sockets, which need an adapter almost everywhere else in the world. NZST is UTC+12, moving to UTC+13 from the last Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April. Shops close around 17:30.

Australian type I sockets at 240 V and no daylight saving. Ask before photographing anyone - in much of the country a photograph is something you negotiate and often pay for, not something you take.

Type F sockets, Albanian and Serbian both official, and the youngest population in Europe.