Travel isn’t just about seeing the great sights, it’s also about getting to know the culture, meeting people and finding hidden gems that don’t make it into glossy brochures. The difference between vacations that feel unforgettable and those that feel like a checklist is frequently how deeply you experience the place.
More and more travelers are looking for ways to get away from the crowds of tourists and experience life as a local. Learning how to travel like a native can dramatically change your vacation, whether you’re going to Europe for the weekend, Asia for a backpacking trip or South America for a slow-travel trip.
This is your full guide to insider insights that will make you feel like you’ve lived in the places you visit your whole life.
You can do the following when you travel like a local:
Look for information outside of Google’s first page
It’s easy to just go with the first few results of a Google search, but that usually means going to the same places as everyone else. To find real travel experiences, look deeper:
- Read local blogs in the language you speak and utilize a translation tool.
- Join Facebook groups or Reddit communities where people in your area give advice.
- Instead of merely looking at city hubs, look for local highlights on Instagram and TikTok.
- In Barcelona, for instance, most tourists stay in Las Ramblas, but locals suggest exploring Gràcia where quiet cafes, live music and weekend markets give you a taste of true Catalan life.
Pick a place to stay nearby
- Skip the chain hotels and stay in places that help you connect with the community:
- Family-run guesthouses are not only less expensive than luxury hotels, but they also offer great service.
- Staying at an Airbnb with locals lets you see how people in the area live.
- Eco-lodges and homestays are great places for travelers who want to practice sustainable tourism.
- For example, staying in a traditional riad in Marrakech or a homestay in the countryside of Vietnam will make your trip much better than staying in a five-star hotel.
Learn how to use local transportation well
- Tourists usually only utilize cabs and private transports, whereas locals take public transportation every day. Taking the subway, bus or even tuk-tuks in Southeast Asia is a great way to save money and see how the city works every day.
- Learn how to use programs like Citymapper, Moovit or Google Maps without an internet connection. When you know how to use the trains in cities like Tokyo or Istanbul, you feel less like a tourist and more like a local.
- And sometimes, the best way to go about is on foot or by bike. This lets you see back alleys, hidden courtyards and real street life.
Learn Some Simple Local Words
- Even if you don’t become proficient, knowing a few words like “hello,” “thank you” and “how much” can make a big difference in how people talk to you. People like the effort, and it typically leads to more real encounters.
- Duolingo, Babbel and Google Translate are among apps that might help you get ready quickly. If you could order coffee in Italian at a Roman café or haggle in basic Thai at a night market, it would seem like you were there right away.
Eat Where the Locals Do
- If a place is busy during lunchtime, it’s definitely real. Just follow the locals.
- Ask the person who is hosting you, the cab driver or the store owner where they eat.
- Street food is typically the best part of food tourism.
- Think about getting pho from a street stall in Hanoi, tacos late at night in Mexico City or fresh fish in a Greek village taverna. You won’t recall the expensive pasta on a tourist square, but you will remember these meals.
Take part in local events and festivals
- Each town has its own unique celebrations that show who they are. Plan your trip around local festivals, farmers’ markets, art shows or sporting events.
- When you go to Spain during the off-season, a small-town fiesta is a whole different experience than when you go during the peak tourist season.
- Going to a cherry blossom picnic with natives in Japan is a great way to learn about seasonal customs.
- In the U.S., going to flea markets or high school football games in your area is a great way to get involved in your community.
Take it easy and enjoy slow travel
If you want to travel like a native, one of the best things you can do is get rid of your rushed plan. Slow travel is all about quality over quantity: fewer places to visit, longer stays and stronger connections.
Why not spend two weeks in one part of Europe instead of visiting five nations in a week? You may learn about its history, food and customs. You won’t feel tired when you leave, you’ll feel like you belong.
Buy things in local markets
Markets provide you a glimpse into daily life. They demonstrate what people eat, wear and value, from the colorful marketplaces in Morocco to the farmers’ markets in California. Buying souvenirs here also helps local artists instead of stores that make a lot of things.
Look for street food, spices, textiles or crafts made by hand. Every item has a narrative that is much more interesting than anything you may buy at a duty-free shop.
Follow the rules and customs of the area
- Being a good guest is also part of real travel. Every culture has rules on how to dress, act and behave in public. Read about the following before you get there:
- Expectations about clothing, like covering your shoulders in temples.
- Dining customs, such as taking off your shoes before going inside a Japanese home.
- Ways of talking to people (like not pointing your foot at people in Thailand).
- Respect fosters trust and makes it easier to get along with people.
Get to know the people who live there
Real travel is all about making connections. Instead than just talking to other travelers, try talking to locals as well:
- Apps like Meetup and Couchsurfing can help you find places to hang out in your area.
- Take a cooking class, a walking tour or a craft session with people from your neighborhood.
- Talk to people in coffee shops, pubs or bookstores.
- You can learn more about a culture in one night with new friends than you can in weeks of sightseeing.
- Get involved in community or volunteer projects
- Volunteering is a great way to connect with others on a deeper level. This is responsible tourism in action. It includes things like teaching English in rural areas or working at animal sanctuaries or eco-farms.
- It not only gives you significant experiences, but it also makes sure that your presence has a good effect.
Take More Than Just Pictures
Tourists typically want to get the perfect Instagram picture, whereas travelers who value authenticity focus on being in the moment. Yes, take pictures, but also:
- Keep a trip journal.
- Get minor things like bus tickets or receipts from the market.
- Talk to people in ways that will turn into stories later.
- With this attitude, your vacation will be less about getting likes online and more about growing as a person.
Places Where You Can Really Get to Know the Locals:
Some places are just better for traveling like a local. Here are a few examples:
- Lisbon, Portugal: Famous for its secret bars and neighborhood fado music.
- In Kyoto, Japan, tea ceremonies and traditional ryokans can help you connect with your cultural heritage.
- Medellín, Colombia: Known for its districts that are full of life and its community-driven change.
- Athens, Greece: The city is alive with street art, markets and quaint tavernas, not just ruins.
- Vietnam’s Hanoi: motorbikes, markets and bowls of boiling pho that never end.
To travel like a local doesn’t mean giving up comfort or skipping key locations. It means making your trip more interesting. You can meet new people and learn more by venturing off the usual path, talking to locals and taking your time.
When you pack your luggage next time, keep this in mind: the best mementos aren’t pictures or magnets, they’re the things you do while you’re on vacation that you’ll remember forever.