Travel deeper, connect more, and experience places the way they’re meant to be seen.
Traveling isn’t just about seeing new places—it’s about feeling them. The best trips aren’t spent standing in long lines for overrated attractions or eating at restaurants with menus translated into five languages. The real magic happens when you stumble upon a tiny café where the owner knows every customer by name or when a local invites you to a festival you didn’t even know existed.
Authentic experiences don’t just appear on your itinerary; you have to know how to find them. It’s about blending in, knowing where to look, and being open to unexpected moments. Locals always have the best tips, but most travelers never figure out how to tap into that knowledge. The good news? It’s easier than you think. A few simple tricks can take your next trip from ordinary to unforgettable.
1. Stop asking Google and start asking locals instead.
Guidebooks and travel blogs will only get you so far. The best recommendations come straight from the people who live there. Strike up conversations with baristas, taxi drivers, or shop owners—they usually know where to find the best food, hidden bars, and under-the-radar spots, says Matt on his travel site Nomadic Matt. Instead of asking, “Where should I go?” try, “Where do you take your friends when they visit?” That simple tweak makes a huge difference.
Locals are often proud to share their favorite places, but most tourists never bother to ask. If you’re shy, start small. Compliment someone on their town or ask for a café suggestion. Before you know it, you’ll have an entire list of places you’d never find in a top-10 travel article—and that’s where the real magic happens.
2. Skip the big-name restaurants and eat where the crowds don’t speak your language.
If the menu is in perfect English and the line is full of tourists, you’re probably in the wrong place. The best local food is usually tucked away in small, family-run spots where no one is trying to impress visitors, suggests Nadia of Birds of Passage. Instead of searching for “best restaurants in [city],” look for places where locals are lining up. Food markets, hole-in-the-wall cafés, and busy street vendors often serve meals that are cheaper, fresher, and more authentic than any tourist-friendly restaurant ever could.
If you’re unsure what to order, watch what others are eating or ask for the house specialty. Some of the best meals of your life will be in places that don’t have a website, an Instagram page, or even a sign outside—just locals who know where the real flavor is.
3. Rent a bike or walk everywhere to find the hidden gems.
The best discoveries happen when you slow down and take in your surroundings, something you can’t do from the back of a taxi or a crowded tour bus. Walking or biking through a city forces you to notice things you’d otherwise miss—an art-covered alley, a mom-and-pop bakery, a tiny shop with the most unique handmade goods, according to EscapeArtisan in an article on Medium.
You’ll also end up in neighborhoods that aren’t flooded with tourists, where locals go about their daily lives. If a place catches your eye, follow your instincts and explore. Some of the best adventures begin by wandering with no set plan. Bonus tip: walking and biking give you an easy conversation starter with locals—ask for directions, recommendations, or just chat with a fellow cyclist at a stoplight. You never know where it might lead.
4. Stay in neighborhoods where people actually live, not in tourist zones.
A hotel right next to a famous landmark might be convenient, but it won’t show you what life in that city is really like. Instead, book an Airbnb or boutique guesthouse in a residential area where you can see how locals shop, eat, and go about their day. Morning coffee at a corner café, chatting with the baker down the street, or picking up fresh fruit at a neighborhood market will give you a deeper connection to a place than any five-star hotel ever could, say writers at Travel Weekly.
Plus, you’ll likely find better food, cheaper prices, and a much more relaxed atmosphere. Tourist areas are designed to cater to visitors, but real neighborhoods give you a glimpse into the culture in a way guidebooks never can. The further you venture from the main attractions, the richer your experience will be.
5. Go where the locals go for fun—even if you don’t understand a word.
A night out at a bar where you don’t speak the language or a music festival you’ve never heard of might sound intimidating, but that’s where the best memories are made. Instead of heading to tourist-packed clubs, find out where locals go to unwind. Maybe it’s a tiny jazz club with no sign outside, a neighborhood karaoke bar, or a backyard barbecue where you’re the only foreigner in sight.
If you see posters for a local event, check it out—you might end up dancing at a street festival, watching a live band in a basement venue, or joining a late-night beach bonfire. You don’t need to understand every word to connect with people. A smile, a toast, and a good song are universal.
6. Get lost on purpose and explore without a plan.
Some of the best travel moments happen when you throw out your itinerary and just wander. Instead of meticulously planning every hour, pick a general area and let curiosity lead the way. Turn down that quiet alley. Step into the tiny bookstore. Follow the sound of music echoing from a side street. Cities and towns have layers that most tourists never uncover because they’re too busy rushing from one must-see attraction to the next.
Give yourself permission to explore slowly, without a map or a checklist. The unexpected encounters—the friendly shopkeeper who gives you a free pastry, the hidden garden you stumble into, the café where you meet someone with the best travel tips—are the moments that make a trip unforgettable.
7. Learn a few key phrases and use them often.
You don’t need to be fluent in the local language, but knowing even a few words can completely change your travel experience. A simple “hello,” “thank you,” or “this is delicious” in the native tongue can break the ice and show respect. Locals appreciate the effort, even if your accent isn’t perfect. Bonus points if you learn how to ask, “Where do you eat when you want something good?”—this one question can lead to incredible food discoveries.
Language apps like Google Translate or Duolingo can help, but sometimes just carrying a small notebook with key phrases is all you need. If you make a mistake, laugh it off—most people will find it endearing. The more you use what you know, the more doors will open to real local interactions.
8. Say yes to unexpected invitations.
One of the fastest ways to find authentic local experiences is to accept when people invite you into theirs. Maybe it’s a shopkeeper who offers you tea, a local you just met inviting you to a family dinner, or a bartender suggesting a hidden spot only regulars know about. These moments can lead to some of the most unforgettable parts of your trip.
Locals are often proud to share their culture, and a simple yes can turn into an experience you’d never find in a guidebook. Use common sense, of course—trust your instincts and be safe—but don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Some of the best travel stories start with an unexpected invitation that leads to an adventure you never saw coming.
9. Shop at local markets instead of souvenir shops.
The best way to get a feel for a place? Visit its markets. Farmers’ markets, flea markets, and craft fairs are where real life happens—locals shopping for groceries, artisans selling handmade goods, and food vendors cooking up authentic dishes you won’t find on tourist menus. Instead of grabbing a mass-produced souvenir from an airport gift shop, find something meaningful—a woven scarf made by a local artisan, a unique spice blend from a market stall, or a painting from a street artist.
These places also offer a great way to chat with vendors and get recommendations for other hidden gems in the area. Plus, your money goes directly into the local economy rather than a big tourist chain.
10. Take public transportation and see the city through a local’s eyes.
Hopping on a subway, bus, or even a shared tuk-tuk instantly immerses you in the daily life of a place. While taxis and rideshares might be more convenient, they don’t offer the same cultural insight as sitting next to locals on their way to work or chatting with a friendly seatmate who has lived in the city for years.
Taking public transit forces you to notice small details—how people interact, what kind of music plays over the speakers, what snacks are sold at the station. If you’re unsure how to navigate the system, ask someone! Many locals are more than happy to help a traveler figure out the best route, and you might just get an insider tip on a place you would’ve never found otherwise.
11. Join a local class, workshop, or community event.
Want to truly connect with a place? Learn something new while you’re there. Take a pasta-making class in Italy, join a surf lesson in Costa Rica, or sign up for a pottery workshop in Japan. These experiences go beyond sightseeing—they immerse you in the culture in a hands-on way. Even better, they often put you in direct contact with locals who are passionate about what they do.
Community events, like dance nights, art festivals, or even local trivia nights, are another great way to feel like you’re part of the destination rather than just passing through. Whether it’s cooking, crafting, or learning a traditional dance, these moments create memories that stick with you long after your trip ends.
12. Follow local influencers and bloggers instead of tourist websites.
Tourism websites are fine for the basics, but if you want the real insider scoop, find locals who actually live there. Many cities have Instagram accounts or blogs run by people who highlight hidden gems, pop-up events, and under-the-radar spots that guidebooks miss. Search hashtags like #LocalLife[CityName] or #HiddenGems[CityName] to find recommendations straight from the people who know best.
Another trick? Look up where local foodies and photographers eat, shop, and hang out. Their posts often reveal secret speakeasies, hole-in-the-wall cafés, and breathtaking spots that tourists rarely stumble upon. The best part? These recommendations are always up to date, so you’ll never end up at a once-great restaurant that turned into a tourist trap.
13. Travel slower and stay longer.
Rushing from city to city in a whirlwind itinerary might check off a lot of sights, but it won’t give you a real feel for a place. The longer you stay in one destination, the more you start to notice the everyday rhythms of life—where locals gather for morning coffee, which alleyways hold the best street art, what hidden bookstore opens only in the evenings.
Staying put for a while also gives you a better chance to build connections, whether it’s with the café owner who starts recognizing your order or the friendly neighbor who tips you off to the best sunset spot. Slow travel isn’t about how many places you visit—it’s about how deeply you experience them.