Bathroom Etiquette Around the World So You Can Know Before You Go

Learn where not to flush toilet paper, when to squat instead of sit, and more

international bathroom behavior.

Navigating local customs while traveling internationally can be tricky. Knowing when to tip and whether it’s polite to shake hands with a stranger is challenging enough, but even trickier is figuring out the toilet etiquette in your destination. When do you flush the toilet paper, and when do you throw it away? Should you be prepared to squat or sit? And in which countries do you have to pay to use the facilities? It can feel uncomfortable — impolite, even — to ask the locals about bathroom customs.

 

Although many locals will give tourists a pass for being ignorant about bathroom behavior, it’s still a good idea to study up on what to do when nature calls — not least because a faux pas could have very embarrassing consequences, like a clogged toilet.

 

Before you start packing for your next trip abroad, read up on some of these facts about bathroom etiquette around the world.

Restrooms in some European cities have tip jars.

In years past, people often had to fork up coins to use public restrooms in touristic European cities like London and Paris. These days, many of those coin-operated facilities have been made free for ethical reasons. There are exceptions to the trend — Amsterdam, for one, is still a land of pay-to-pee toilets — but payment is more often optional now. When the restroom is attended (i.e., staffed by a cleaner), it's customary to tip. A word of warning: attendants will sometimes put big bills in the tip jars to confuse tourists. A small tip equivalent to between $.50 and $1 is sufficient.