There’s nothing wrong with exploring a new city like a tourist, cos obviously it’s not your city, so you are actually a tourist. But that doesn’t mean every other person should be able to point you out as a tourist. You might just be visiting, but it’s still cool that you want to blend in and experience the city like a local.
That’s what this guide is for: to help you travel like a local in any city you decide to go to. With the 16 tips below and a little bit of planning, you’ll be able to explore your destination without looking or acting like a tourist.
16 Tips To Travel Like A Local In Any City
1. Do Your Research
Before you even start your trip, you should do your research. Google your destination. Read through travel blogs, tourism sites, and local tourism pages. Here, you’ll find tips on where to stay, what to do, and where to eat.
The key here is to research like you’re a local and not a tourist. Go through social media channels and local influencers’ posts to get local recommendations for your trip.
2. Dress Like A Local
If you want to explore the city like a local, then you’ll need to dress like them. Of course, you should be true to your personality and look good, but you should also be conscious of the local cultural etiquette and fashion. No matter the city, it’s good to dress respectfully. Cos this will help, especially if you’re exploring the non-tourist path.
Like if you’re traveling to the Middle East, you’ll have to dress more modestly than if you’re traveling to the Western States. This means you have a lot of research to do, but if you dress like the locals, you’ll be able to blend in instead of standing out like a tourist.
3. Attend Local Festival
Most cities have local events and festivals happening no matter the year, and in these festivals, locals from all around tend to gather. So what’s stopping you? If you want to explore the city like a local, then you’re going to have to attend these events.
You can even go through social media or read the local tourism blog to find out the latest events. You might have to leave the city center to attend these events, but it sure will be a fun time.
4. Learn Basic Phrases
This tip is only useful if you’re traveling to a country that doesn’t speak English; if you’re not, then move along. English might be a popular spoken language, but in most cities, speaking only English is a sure way to stand out as a tourist. So if you want to blend in, you’ll need to learn some basic phrases like hello and thank you.
You don’t need to become an expert, but learning these phrases will go a long way to also interact with the locals. You can learn the basics of almost any language using language apps like Duolingo, reading translation books, or listening carefully to locals until you pick up some words.
5. Adopt Local Customs And Manners
Each city has its own culture and unspoken rules, and disregarding these rules will make you not just look like a tourist but a rude one at that. So, it’s best to observe the locals and see how they behave so you can mimic them in certain instances.
You can pay attention to people in social gatherings, at restaurants, or streets, and do the same. For example, if you see others removing their footwear to enter a temple, then you’ll also remove your footwear. From bowing as a greeting form in Japan or tipping in the United States, these manners show respect and allow you to blend in like a local.
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6. Avoid Tourist Traps
Tourist sites are probably the first places you explore in the city, from Broadway, Times Square, the Bean, the Hollywood Strip, and the Eiffel Tower. These are places that you’ve heard of but have never visited in this city, but if you want to blend in like a local, then you need to avoid these places.
Instead, go to places you’d normally go if this were your city, places like galleries, small boutiques, farmers markets, or hiking trails. Even if you want to shop for souvenirs, go to local vendors or the local market instead of the tourist shops. These tourist spots are way too expensive, so with this tip, you’re also saving money.
Suggested Reads- 10 Best Hiking Snacks For Fueling Your Next Trail
7. Eat The Local Food
If you want to experience the city like a local, then don’t sit in your room ordering food or going to popular restaurants for meals. Instead, explore and look for local restaurants that serve delicious meals. If you don’t know where to start, you can ask your host, or friends, check social media tags, or just wander.
There are so many street foods you can always try out, from samosa to tropical fruits, croissants, pizza, and crepes. Explore local markets, hidden cafes, and traditional eateries to actually eat like a local.
8. Make A Local Friend
It’s not that easy to make friends when you’re in a city where you don’t know anyone. But that’s just it. If you’re willing to risk it and start a convo, then you’ll have someone you know instead of being in your bubble, bored and alone.
Talk to the person sitting next to you on the bus about their family, their favorite restaurant, or what they love about their city. Remember, you have to look friendly too, so keep a smile on your face.
Chat with your host, the Uber driver, and the waiter at the restaurant, and before you know, you’re already getting to know some people. You can also join online local communities on Twitter, Reddit, and Facebook to get advice on where to eat, what to do, and hangouts to attend.
9. Explore Through A Food Tour
Ummm, if you’re supposed to explore like a local, then why are you going on a food tour? Isn’t this a touristy thing you should avoid? Well, food tours are practically the fastest way to learn about the city and enjoy good food.
Sure, it will be mostly tourists on the tour, but you’re also going to get amazing insider travel tips from the local food guides. Most food guides are very nice, considering they love good food, so you’ll have fun, make tourist friends, and enjoy delicious meals.
10. Walk With Purpose And Confidence
It’s quite easy to spot tourists in most cities, you just have to look for people who stop anywhere to check their maps, hesitate, or look like they don’t know where they are going. If you want to blend like a local, then you’ll have to walk with purpose and confidence even if you don’t know where you’re going.
This confidence in your walk will also save you from getting picked on by scammers or pickpockets. And if you really need directions, then just walk into any nearby cafe or discreetly use your phone’s audio maps for directions.
11. Use Public Transport
There’s no better way to explore the city than with a local using public transport. It’s also a cheap way for you to explore and join the locals as they go about their daily lives. Most cities have good subway or bus systems that can get you to the areas around the city centers.
Then you can use the trams to get to places you didn’t know about. It might be scary if you’re in places like India to get on a bike, rickshaw, or boda-boda, but if the locals use this every day, then you have nothing to worry about.
12. Take A Walk Or Bike Ride
If you want a different mode of transportation, you can rent a bike. Renting bikes is very easy, and you can see the bike rental spots almost everywhere. Biking will even allow you to see hidden gems you wouldn’t have found before. But even if you can’t ride a bike, you can walk. Walking is not only an exercise, but it will save you money trying to get from one spot to another. While walking, you can explore neighborhoods, local markets, and touristy places.
13. Stay Locally
You might be tempted to book a hotel in this city, but do you want to experience the city like a local? Nope. You’re going to have to explore sites like Airbnb, Couchsurfing, and house surfing to experience real local life.
When you’re staying in local areas, you’ll be able to eat, drink, shop, and explore the areas where the locals live daily. If you’re traveling as a group and you’re staying for a while, then you can also consider renting an apartment. It must not be in the main city center, so stay somewhere different and more peaceful.
14. Download Local Apps
Nothing will show you’re a tourist more than getting lost in a city, struggling to understand the language, or overpaying for a service. And that’s cos you didn’t research or download the city’s local apps.
You’ll need translation apps, offline and audio maps, food delivery, and exchange rate apps, so you’ll be able to navigate better. These apps will give you accurate info so you can know the time for the public bus or train and not disturb others on the street.
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15. Learn how to order local favorites
Even if it’s only a few phrases you end up learning, you should make sure you know how to order the local favorites. It doesn’t matter if you don’t say it as correctly as they do. Making your orders in the local language or phrases will make the waiters, bartenders, and other locals friendlier to you.
And once they see you’re attempting to blend in, they’ll even give you more suggestions on the best spots you can explore.
16. Get Lost
Most tourists stick to the tourist spots, so you can dare to be different and just explore the town. Wear comfortable shoes, pick up your water bottle, send someone to your live location, and be prepared to get lost.
Take a wrong turn, walk down the alley, explore places that fascinate you, and dance with the musicians at the park. This is a good way to get familiar with the city. And if you don’t recognize your way back home, you can then take a bus or tram.
Conclusion
Experiencing the city like a local doesn’t mean you’re pretending; it means you want to experience the culture and local life without being looked at as an outsider. By learning their customs and speaking some basic phrases, you’ll be able to form a genuine connection with the locals and make lasting memories.
Traveling like a local in any city takes a lot of commitment and extra effort, but the experience is truly worth it. With the 16 tips in this guide, you’re going to step out of your comfort zone and start living like a local whenever you travel.