Visiting a place of worship respectfully as a traveller

Written for UpdateSee: the essentials, without the noise.

Temples, mosques, churches and shrines welcome visitors who arrive with a little preparation. Cover shoulders and knees, carry a scarf for places that ask for covered hair, remove shoes where others do, and switch the phone to silent. Watch what the people around you do with doorways, seating and photographs, and follow their lead rather than the guidebook.

Temples, mosques, churches and shrines welcome visitors who arrive with a little preparation.

Avoid visiting during the main service unless you intend to take part, and never step over people who are praying. A small donation in the box is appreciated and never required. The quiet of an unfamiliar sacred space, approached with care, is often the most memorable part of a trip, and it costs nothing but attention.