Travel Like a Local: 10 Tips From Real Locals Around the World

We asked verified Local Friends on Roavi one question: "What's the one thing tourists should do differently in your city?" Here are their answers.

1. "Eat where there's no English menu" — Medellín "If the menu is in English, you're paying tourist prices for mediocre food. Walk one block further. Find the place with the handwritten menu. That's where the flavor is."

2. "Don't take photos of everything" — Santo Domingo "Put your phone down for the first hour. Just walk. Listen to the music coming from windows. Smell the food. Feel the humidity. THEN take photos."

3. "Ask people, not Google" — Buenos Aires "Google Maps will take you to the rated restaurants. Ask your barista, your Uber driver, your hotel clerk where THEY eat. Those recommendations are always better."

4. "Take public transport at least once" — Mexico City "The Metro costs $0.25 and gives you a cross-section of the entire city in 30 minutes. You see neighborhoods, people, and daily life that you'd never see from a taxi."

5. "Go to the market" — Bangkok "Every city has a central market where locals shop. That's where the best food is, the real prices are, and the culture shows itself. Skip the night market designed for tourists."

6. "Learn 5 words" — Cali "Hello, thank you, please, how much, delicious. In the local language. That's it. Those 5 words change every interaction."

7. "Arrive on a weekday" — Cartagena "Weekend crowds change the energy of a city. Arrive Tuesday or Wednesday. The city breathes differently. Prices are lower. Locals have more time to talk."

8. "Follow the noise" — Santo Domingo "If you hear music, walk toward it. In the Dominican Republic, music means people, and people mean food, dancing, and stories. The noise IS the experience."

9. "Stay in one neighborhood" — Bogotá "Don't try to see the whole city. Pick one neighborhood and spend all your time there. Walk the same streets twice. Become a regular at one café. Depth beats breadth."

10. "Find a local friend" — Everywhere "The single biggest upgrade to any trip is knowing someone who lives there. Everything else — restaurants, bars, hidden spots, safety — flows from that one connection."

Find a Local Friend in any city on Roavi. Travel the way locals recommend.