How to Learn More about a Destination: Live Like Locals

Of course there are big, famous sights to see when we travel to a new destination. But is that how you really get to know a place and its people? I have found that seeking out opportunities to live like locals, to follow in their footsteps and do the things they do, is a great way to dig a little deeper and learn more.

Some people economize on accommodation and food so they can spend more on experiences. I tend to do the opposite. I want very comfortable, quiet accommodation – staying in hotels is something that has been a treat for me my whole life. If it’s not nicer than what I have at home, I don’t want to pay for it. When staying somewhere for a week or more, I will rent an apartment, which offers additional options.

While I might splash out on a Broadway-type show (I saw Wicked in London) or a helicopter tour (hovering around mountaintops in Vancouver) from time to time, I really love getting closer to a destination and the local people by attending events that they, themselves are interested in. And how better to endear yourself to people and make deeper connections than by demonstrating your interest in them and their communities by seeking to learn more about them?

Most of these options are relatively inexpensive and offer a huge return in terms of meeting local people, discovering what's important to them, and learning more about how they live.

8 Ways to Live Like Locals

Here are my suggestions for places, events, and experiences you might not think to seek out when you travel solo.

1. Niche Museums  All around the world, there are museums dedicated to very specific, sometimes unusual, subjects. If you had suggested to me that I should visit something like a textile museum before I had visited one, I would have yawned. But, one day I was in Washington, DC with time to kill before a dinner reservation. I stumbled upon an exhibition of quilts. It was fascinating to learn the importance of this art form in American history and how something we might think of as simply bedding had served as a creative outlet for (largely) women, as well as a vehicle for communicating social and political statements at different points in time. There are textile museums in many countries. If that’s not your cup of tea, consider the Museum of Toilets in New Delhi, the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, The Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb, or the Tenement Museum in New York City.
2. Dine with a Local  In many countries around the world, Eatwith provides a platform to connect locals who wish to entertain strangers in their homes over a meal. Aside from being a lot of fun, it’s a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and get a glimpse of local life. In Paris, Janice was treated to a musical performance by her host. In Porto, in addition to meeting other travelers and sharing travel tips, enjoying a fabulous dinner with Portuguese wine pairings, and getting great recommendations for the remaining days of my trip, my host met up with me the next day to treat me to a birthday drink at a popular local spot. I would do this again in a heartbeat. Here’s a code for a $12 discount when you’re booking: 9E4710A2.
3. College/University Events  If you are in a destination with a post-secondary institution, you may find a wealth of interesting experiences from lectures to student theater or art shows to panel discussions and more. As a bonus, many of these will be low-cost or free. You can see what the next generation is working on, what issues are preoccupying their minds, and enjoy the art they are creating.
4. Public Transport as Tour  In many cities there are bus, ferry, or tram routes that naturally follow a route that will give you a free tour of the city. I once spent a day hopping on and off the 506 Carlton streetcar in Toronto. It took me from one end of the city to the other, passing through a wide variety of cultural neighborhoods: Little India, East Chinatown, Cabbagetown, Little Italy, Little Portugal, Chinatown, and more. In Prague, get a window seat on Tram 22 or 17. Here’s a detailed description of Tram 17. In Berlin, try the 100 Bus. Aside from the views, using local transport provides an opportunity to see locals going about their days because it’s not a tour, it’s how they get around. Three things to keep in mind: avoid peak usage times or rush hour, be alert for pickpockets, and make sure you understand how ticketing works (How and where do you pay? Can you get off, then back on with the same ticket? Is there a time limit?).
5. Community Theater Plays, comedy shows, and open mics are a fabulous way to be entertained while also learning more about the community itself. I once attended a play in a community center in Belfast that was followed by a fascinating discussion with the audience about local issues (in this case, it was human trafficking). It changed the way I saw things as I walked around the city afterwards. It also led me to reflect on the differences and similarities in the issue between there and my home city. Cities also have hidden gems, if you look for them. If you visit the Toronto area in the summer, I urge you to try to get to the Guild Festival Theatre in Scarborough. You will not only live like locals, but you might run into Janice and me there! It's an outdoor Greek theater set among the trees and flowers of Guild Park (shown above). You can have a drink or a snack and chat with others before the play begins and enjoy the performance as the sun begins to set.
6. Events at Libraries  Libraries are about so much more than books! In many places, the library is an important part of local life. In Toronto, I have been to many presentations that have been both learning experiences and entertainment: panel discussions, book launches, civic events, even musical performances. Janice was a guest speaker at an event in a library in London. Around the world, you can find all sorts of activities that are created for locals, but that you can attend as well. That’s the thing about libraries; everyone is welcome. And most of it is free.
7. Bookstores Bookstores are a great place to see what people are reading, writing, and thinking about. Word on the Water is a bookstore on a barge in London. Kramers is a bookstore, restaurant, and community meeting place in Washington, DC. The Hay Castle Bookshop is an outdoor bookstore in Hay-on-Wye in Wales where payment is on the honor system. Midtown Scholar in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is an incredible place to read, engage in discussion, attend events, or just get in out of the cold, if that’s what you need. It’s a big store with an even bigger heart.
8. Municipal Events  Local governments sponsor a large number of events for their citizens, and they are open to all. Live like locals while enjoying the events their cities put on for them. Kiosques en fête in Paris offers music, dance, theater, author readings, sports, citizen meetings and more in 40 garden kiosks in squares and Parks around the city. Pride events, food and cultural festivals take place all over the world every year. Many cities have public art installations and even art walks, like the one mentioned in this post: Solo Getaway Magic: Sunsets and Seafood in Florence, Oregon.

Suggestions from Readers

I asked members of the Solo Travel Society, our Facebook community what they seek out to help them live like locals and get to know a destination better when they travel alone. Here are some of their recommendations.

• Local walking tours and concerts. While visiting a church in Brussels last summer I happened on a concert being given there by a women’s a cappella group. It was wonderful! Christi
• Always a supermarket and a market. Plus a cafe full of locals to people watch and hopefully chat with. Sharon
• I always research the smaller museums before I go anywhere. Even most smaller towns and cities have them, and often give insights into local history, culture and preoccupations you might not be exposed to otherwise. You can start here, https://museu.ms. And don’t overlook the private ones. Lois
• Free walking tours by a local, and getting recommendations from the guide (or any other local I talk to) for where to eat and what else to see. Elna
• Fabric shops. I meet local people who have a similar interest. Carroll Ann
• I always try to do a cooking class (in a persons home if it’s an option) or food tour. If I’m renting a car, I like to drive out to the countryside and see what the rural places are like. If not, I’ll often take a train or bus out to a smaller town and poke around. Sometimes in a city, I’ll go to a bus stop and get on whatever bus comes along next and ride its entire route till it circles back around to my original stop…or if it doesn’t make an entire loop, I’ll change buses till I can get back. It’s kind of become a game to see if I can find my way back before dark. You see all the parts of a city a normal tourist doesn’t see. Jamie