THE TOP TRAVEL EXPERIENCES FOR EVERY COUNTRY YOU VISIT

You want to travel like a local—to skip the tourist traps, blend in, and experience the real side of a place.

But let’s be honest: you also don’t want to miss the iconic stuff. Because no matter what people say, being a tourist isn’t the worst thing in the world.

Here’s how to do both—travel like a local and enjoy every cheesy, unforgettable moment.

We've made a list of the top travel experiences to make it easy for you.

1. GET FAMILIAR WITH PUBLIC TRANSIT

Navigating this is just another walk in the park for you

Nothing says “I belong here” like pretending you understand the transit map.

Knowing how to get around the (sometimes complicated) public transit systems is the easiest way to feel at home in a new city. If anything can make you feel that local glow, it's being able to give directions to someone who has absolutely no clue where they are going.

Study up on your maps and you too can point people in the right direction... I think? Or was it back the other way?

Bonus tip: Download offline maps before you go. Future-you, lost in the rain, will thank you.

2. VISIT A LOCAL MARKET

…or 100. Markets are the heartbeat of any city. Wander through one and you’ll find local food, handmade art, and the perfect not-too-touristy souvenirs.

Think floating markets in Thailand, night bazaars in Marrakech, or farmers’ stalls in New Zealand. Each tells its own story.

3. EAT STREET FOOD

We'll eat almost anything put in front of us. Street food is often the most delicious and iconic food in any city.

Currywurst in Berlin? Absolutely. Sew-Ew from a street cart in Bangkok at 2:00am? Still yes. Sign us up for cheap, delicious, possibly sketchy food; we thrive on danger.

4. EAT A LUXURIOUS, AUTHENTIC MEAL

You don’t have to be a foodie to enjoy a luxury meal abroad. We once ate crayfish in Kaikoura (read more in our New Zealand Travel Diary)—one of our favourite meals ever.

Mixing budget bites with one splurge meal helps you experience both sides of local cuisine—the quick street corner snack and the fine-dining storytelling experience.

5. GET LOST

Ha, you thought you knew your way around? Wrong. But that’s okay—getting lost is half the fun.

Wander down side streets, peek into cafés you’ve never heard of, or explore a park you didn’t plan for. Some of the best travel moments start with, “Wait… where are we?”

6. TAKE CHEESY AND ICONIC PHOTOS

#basic

Are you going to tell me you don't want drool worthy instagram photos? If so, I think you're lying. Secretly, everyone wants one of the cheesy iconic photos whenever they travel. So hold that leaning tower in Pisa high, my friend.

7. LEARN THE BASICS OF THE LOCAL LANGUAGE

After time abroad you should hopefully have the basics down pat: hello, please and thank you, bye, and where is the bathroom?

I've never actually had to use any of these phrases, but either way it is fun to say thank you in the local language even though you probably butchered it.

8. DRINK THE LOCAL ALCOHOL

Because we love to drink. Sake in Japan, wine in France, tequila in Mexico—it’s cultural immersion, right?

Let’s call it “responsible cultural research.” Cheers to that.

9. BUY A RELATED BOOK

You caught me, I’m obsessed with books. But reading something from or about the country you’re in is an underrated travel ritual and keepsake. Every time you read it you'll be transported back.

A Murakami novel in Japan. Hemingway in Paris. A local author’s work from a street stall in Colombia. Every page becomes a souvenir.

10. HAVE ONE MISADVENTURE WORTH REMEMBERING

It's time to ponder the ancient and important philosophical question: if I don't have at least one story worth telling when I come home, did I even leave?

I want to know what you did, but I don't want to hear you read out of a guidebook. And don't your mistakes make the best stories?

Sure, follow your guide and budget and itinerary, but at the end of the day make sure your trip was yours and have stories worth remembering!

Whether it’s the food, the chaos, the locals, or the laughter, the best travel moments happen when you say yes to both sides—the authentic and the iconic.

So tell me, what’s the one thing you have to do in every destination? Share yours in the comments!