When most people think of travel, their minds jump to famous landmarks, popular tours, and well-known attractions. While these spots are worth a visit, they rarely reveal the soul of a place. True immersion happens when travelers step beyond the postcard moments and experience life the way locals do. From savoring home-style food to learning the daily rhythms of a neighborhood, traveling like a local allows a deeper, richer connection to the destination.
This type of travel doesn’t require insider contacts or years of familiarity—it just requires curiosity, openness, and a willingness to go beyond the obvious. With the right tools and guidance, like those offered by Expedia, anyone can unlock experiences that feel authentic and meaningful, no matter where they go.
Skip the Tourist Traps
Tourist-heavy spots exist for a reason—they’re iconic, convenient, and often beautiful. But when every traveler flocks to the same street, the result can feel more like a theme park than a living, breathing culture. To travel like a local, it helps to step away from those areas. Instead of spending all day in the busiest plaza, explore the side streets, the neighborhood markets, or the residential areas where real life unfolds.
These are the places where small bakeries sell pastries baked with family recipes passed down for generations, where children walk to school in uniform, and where neighbors gather to chat in the evening. A destination’s authenticity lives here—in the details tourists often miss. By planning with platforms like Expedia, travelers can find accommodations and activities located in neighborhoods that showcase the everyday character of a city rather than its polished tourist facade.
Embrace Local Food Culture
Food is often the quickest path into the heart of a community. Restaurants near major attractions may cater to tourists, but tucked-away eateries and street food stalls reveal the true flavors of a place. Eating where locals eat not only saves money, but also ensures you’re tasting dishes that reflect culture, tradition, and history.
Ordering the special of the day at a small family-run diner, trying the breakfast locals grab before work, or joining a street food tour led by someone who lives there all bring authenticity to your experience. And it’s not just about the food itself—it’s about the interactions. Conversations with the cook, recommendations from a fellow diner, or even the ritual of ordering coffee the “local way” open windows into the culture.
Through Expedia, travelers can often find food tours and cultural experiences curated by locals themselves. These small, immersive activities are more than just meals—they’re stories told through flavors and traditions.
Learn the Rhythms of Daily Life
Every destination has its own pace. In some cities, mornings are lively, with bustling markets and lively chatter. In others, the energy picks up late at night, when plazas fill with music and conversation. To travel like a local, it’s important to observe and adapt to these rhythms.
Wake up early to see a city stretch into the day. Ride public transportation during peak hours. Wander into a park on a weekend to watch how families relax and play. These moments may not be in any guidebook, but they’re the heartbeat of a place.
Sometimes, even something as simple as shopping at a local grocery store or attending a neighborhood event provides a perspective tourists rarely encounter. Resources like Expedia often highlight cultural activities or seasonal events that allow travelers to step directly into the life of the community, making it easy to time a trip around meaningful local traditions.
Engage With the People
Perhaps the most valuable part of traveling like a local is connecting with the people who call the destination home. A short conversation with a shopkeeper, a friendly chat with a taxi driver, or asking a passerby for recommendations can often lead to experiences more memorable than any attraction.
Locals know the shortcuts, the hidden gems, and the small businesses worth supporting. They’re often eager to share their culture with curious, respectful visitors. Even learning a few words in the local language—simple greetings or polite phrases—can spark smiles and meaningful exchanges.
By being open, travelers shift from observers to participants in the cultural tapestry of a place. And with thoughtfully chosen stays and activities through Expedia, it becomes easier to create space for those organic encounters to happen naturally.
Beyond Sightseeing
Traveling like a local is less about doing and more about being. It’s about slowing down, noticing, and immersing yourself in the details of everyday life. It’s also about leaving behind the expectation of seeing “everything” and instead savoring whatever you do experience fully.
At the end of the trip, the memories that linger often won’t be the postcard photos—they’ll be the café owner who taught you a new phrase, the bus ride where you shared snacks with strangers, or the festival you stumbled upon by chance. These moments create a sense of belonging that no tour could replicate.
Travel, after all, is not just about where you go but how you experience it. When you choose to travel like a local, you give yourself permission to see the world with new eyes. And in doing so, you return home not just with souvenirs, but with a deeper understanding of the culture, the people, and yourself.
Last modified: September 1, 2025
