How to live like a local on your next trip

Words: Sarah Jappy
Illustration: David Doran

Tourist hotspots are popular for a reason, but sometimes you want something different. To help you swerve the hordes and tap into the beating heart of your destination, here are nine tips for holidaying like a discerning local.

1. Don’t skimp on the planning 
To paraphrase an old saying: ‘Fail to plan, plan to… end up surrounded by other tourists.’ Get ahead of the crowd by doing proper research in advance rather than leaving your trip in the fickle hands of fate. With that extra time, you can plan your itinerary based on varied sources from official tourism websites to local blogs, forums, travel articles or advice from expat communities. Check peak months and consider visiting popular spots in shoulder seasons to enjoy a more local-feeling experience.

2. Don’t book everything in advance
Although we recommend proper planning (see above), overdo it and you’ll leave no time or space for the kind of impromptu discoveries that make travelling so ineffably magic. Be brave and don’t book every hotel, meal or activity ahead of time, meaning that you can flex your plans based on expert recommendations from the people who know your destination best – the locals (see tip #4). This could result in your trip taking an unexpected direction, potentially the bit you’ll love the most.

3. Swap the well-trodden path for fresh/er ground
Bold thought: why not go somewhere less… popular? “Go to the second- or third-best town,” suggests Richard Campbell, founder of 10Adventures. He points to Tuscany and well-trodden spots such as Siena and San Gimignano: “Would you believe you can explore incredible villages with stunning architecture, wonderful food, and almost no other tourists, often just a few kilometres away?” If you’re visiting a city, consider staying in a residential neighbourhood, not the city centre.

4. Don’t forget to ask the locals 
Nobody knows a place better than its residents, so don’t be scared to ask. Dust off some polite local phrases and get chatting. Rather than just asking where to go, phrase the question better. Bryce Collins, marketing director at Intro Travel, suggests asking locals, “Where would you take your mother?” He explains: “Bartenders and baristas perk up when you frame it that way. They’ll steer you to the place they’re proud of, not the one that’s big on Instagram.” Annie Sim, founder and CEO of The Table Less Traveled, likes to ask, “Where did you last go to dinner?”

5. Don’t just rely on tour buses and taxis to get around
Quickness and convenience don’t always need to come first on holiday – some of the best discoveries lie outside a comfort zone. You could try hopping on public transport, especially if it includes options such as trams or cable cars that you don’t have back home. Do plenty of leisurely walking, too, so you can discover snack stops, grocery stores (see what the locals are stocking up on) and off-the-radar restaurants. If you do get a taxi, politely quiz the driver for the kind of recommendations they’d share with a friend.

6. Don’t always get off at the ‘right’ stop
Remember, the journey is the destination, so don’t be afraid to let yours meander slightly. Build in time to wander – it’s when you might stumble upon some of the trip’s treasures. Bryce Collins suggests riding one stop further than your chosen landmark, then walking back. “City metros and trams usually have a ‘tourist-tax’ zone right around the big sights,” he says. “Get off one stop past it and stroll in – prices drop, cafés calm down and you still end up at the landmark.”

7. Don’t let language barriers bamboozle you
Swerve restaurants and activities that only tailor to an English-speaking audience. Travel planner Tanya Taylor has this sound advice: “If you’re in a non-English-speaking country and looking to experience the local culture, trust the spot that looks busy with locals and has handwritten menus in the native language. They will be thrilled to help you and you can use language apps to translate the words on a screen.” 

8. Not every meal needs a view 
Prioritising scenic settings with every meal may mean compromising on flavour – and that’s tragic. Stroll away from landmark attractions and the busiest streets, wandering down unremarkable side streets to find the kind of restaurants that locals frequent. Don’t be put off by understated-looking façades – mega-watt cooking may await within. Pay attention to local mealtimes, too. If, for example, lunchtime tends to be around 2pm or 3pm, avoid places that look busy with tourists before then. 

9. Don’t underestimate the wisdom of the gut
Got a niggling feeling that you’re not in a great spot, or something’s not right? Don’t ignore it. Trust your instincts and tap into how the environment makes you feel. Are you feeling a little stressed due to crowds and noise? Are you clutching your map a tad too fervently? Is it time to put the phone down and just absorb your surroundings? Do some conscious breathing, go for an aimless wander, stop to smile at the locals in their gardens or at play. A holiday doesn’t need to be composed of essential checklists and ‘must-dos’. Take the time to find your own.

As the UK’s national flag carrier, British Airways serves more than 200 destinations across more than 65 countries, including routes with our partner airlines.

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