12 Ways to Find Local Experiences (Per Travel Experts)

Experienced solo traveler Archana Ramamoorthy, MS, shares her top tip for researching places where she travels

Co-authored by Archana Ramamoorthy, MS and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: January 26, 2026 Fact Checked

Whether you want to learn more about the town you live in or feel at home in a foreign country, going local is the most authentic way to experience any new place! Not only is it fun and educational for you, but it also pays respect to the people who live in the area and supports their community. Keep reading for 12 tips on how to find local experiences, from shops to tours to restaurants, with recommendations from travel experts.

How do you find local experiences?

Experienced solo traveler Archana Ramamoorthy, MS, suggests using Facebook to find information about travel destinations and local events. Other ways to find local experiences include:

Asking a local for recommendations.
Opening Google Maps to see what's close by.
Discovering local experiences through social media.
Finding highly-rated attractions using Yelp or Tripadvisor.
Connecting with a local tour guide on ToursByLocals.
Taking a walk and exploring on your own.

1

Ask a local for recommendations.

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Ask a friend, a shop worker, or your hotel concierge. If you're looking for an authentic, local experience in the town where you live, your best bet is to ask a friend or family member who's lived there longer than you. Another option, whether you're at home or abroad, is to ask workers in the shops you visit for ideas. Finally, if you're traveling in another city or country, your hotel concierge is always a great resource for local things to do!
- For example, as you're getting coffee from a local coffee shop, ask the barista what they like to do for fun or places they think tourists tend to overlook.
- You can say, "Excuse me, I'm new here, and I was wondering what you think is the most fun thing to do around here."
- Local travel tip: Solo travel expert Jen Tenzer advises leaving time in your itinerary for following locals' recommendations. "You might research all these things [to do]... and then you get to a destination, and you talk to a local, and they tell you about something you never heard about." With the extra time on your calendar, you can actually go and do it!^{[1]
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  Expert Source
  
  Jen Tenzer
  Solo Travel Expert
  
  Expert Interview}
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Archana Ramamoorthy, MS, is an experienced solo traveler and a tech executive. She has over 15 years of experience in the tech industry, where she works hard to enable more diversity and inclusion.

Jen Tenzer is a solo travel expert who has traveled to over 50 countries (and counting). She specializes in planning once-in-a-lifetime, luxury travel experiences for her clients.

Shannon McEvoy, CTA, is a certified travel agent with over 17 years of experience in hospitality and tourism. She's passionate about helping people with travel needs and planning.

2

Open Google Maps and see what's close by.

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Enable Location Services on your device, so Google can tell where you are. Then, open the Google Maps app on your Android or Google device. In the search bar at the top, type what you're looking for (i.e., "things to do" or "restaurants"), then add "near me" at the end. The map should pop up colorful markers indicating locations close by that match your query. Tap on a marker to check the location's star rating, reviews, address, phone number, and hours of operation. You might even be able to see pictures of the place from people who have been there before!
- Local travel tip: If you have an iPhone or iPad, use Apple Maps instead.

3

Find local events through Meetup or Facebook.

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Look for events or community groups that match your interests. Ramamoorthy says that Facebook is how she finds information about places where she travels.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Archana Ramamoorthy, MS
Experienced Solo Traveler

Expert Interview} For example, if you're interested in shopping, find Facebook Pages or Groups that promote local flea markets, trade day events, and swap meets. Meetup is another good resource. If you enjoy music festivals, for example, type "music festivals" into Meetup in your town or wherever you're planning to visit. The website will generate a list of nearby concerts with dates, locations, and information on where to get tickets.
- Local travel tip: If you're in the US, look for fun or educational things to do locally on the city's Chamber of Commerce website or Facebook page. In many cities, the Chamber of Commerce is a hub for what's happening, from farmers' markets to concerts to parades!

4

Discover local experiences through social media.

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Follow travel influencers who live in or have visited your destination. People who create travel content and post it on social media can be a great resource of information. If they've been to the place you want to go, you might be interested in going to some of the local spots they visited.
- Keep in mind that many travel influencers are sponsored by hotels, event organizers, and brands to say good things about certain locations and experiences. Do independent Google research to make sure the local places they recommend visiting are actually worth your time.
- Local travel tip: Follow travel content creators in a specific niche that interests you, like food tours or bookstores. A popular example of a food tour influencer is TikTok creator Keith Lee (@keith_lee125). He has over 17.4 million followers and has made his name reviewing food from restaurants all over the United States.

5

Find highly-rated attractions on Yelp or Tripadvisor.

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Certified travel advisor Shannon McEvoy, CTA, advises travelers to browse Yelp or Tripadvisor "to see what attractions are most popular."^{[3]
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Expert Source

Shannon McEvoy, CTA
Certified Travel Advisor

Expert Interview} These websites list places and things to do in cities across the globe, reviewed by people who have actually been there and done those things. After all, if you find a local experience that hundreds of other people enjoyed, why wouldn't you enjoy it, too?

6

Connect with a local tour guide.

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See the area through the eyes of a real local. Search websites like ToursByLocals or Airbnb Experiences for guided tours anywhere in the world! View old monuments, hike through the countryside, eat the native cuisine, participate in local customs, and so much more, all with someone who lives there showing you the way.
- Local travel tip: Stay safe by checking the ratings of an experience before you book it. Make sure it has at least 4 or 5 stars and has 50-100+ reviews. If you find it on ToursByLocals or Airbnb Experiences, search for it on Google to verify that it's real and that the area where it's located is safe for tourists.
  - A safe neighborhood will have a lot of foot traffic and/or highly-rated hotels and shops. You can also ask other locals what they know about it.

7

Take a walk and explore.

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Throw out the guidebook and discover new experiences by yourself. Walk in the neighborhood outside your home, hotel, or hostel, or drive around and keep your eyes peeled for interesting places to visit. Just remember how to get back to the place you're staying or keep Location Services enabled on your phone, so you can easily find your way back if you get lost.
- Local travel tip: Instead of walking, use public transportation and see the city the way locals do. Who knows what you'll find to do along the way! Plus, according to Ramamoorthy, public transportation is generally safer, especially for solo travelers.^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Archana Ramamoorthy, MS
  Experienced Solo Traveler
  
  Expert Interview}

8

Enroll in a local class.

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Physically experience local culture through art, cooking, and more. Find inexpensive (or free!) courses on arts and crafts, culinary traditions, local dances, and more, at a nearby college or community center. You can also book classes taught or hosted by locals in niche areas of interest using websites like Airbnb Experiences.
- For example, if you visit the country of Türkiye in the Middle East, you might be able to take a class on how to make Turkish coffee, a local beverage.

9

Volunteer for a local cause.

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If you're passionate about certain causes or issues, like homelessness, environmentalism, historical preservation, or Indigenous rights, chances are plenty of other people in your area do, too. Search Volunteer.gov or Idealist if you're in the US, or International Volunteers HQ (IVHQ) for volunteer opportunities abroad.

10

Shop at local small businesses.

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Browse locally owned bookstores, boutiques, bakeries, and coffee shops. There's nothing more authentic than goods that have been handmade or handpicked by the locals. Historic downtown areas are always great places to find small businesses to patronize. You can also check the Chamber of Commerce website (if you're in the US), local Facebook Groups, and social media for homegrown shopping recommendations.
- Shopping at small businesses also supports the local community and sustainability!^{[5]
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11

Eat at locally-owned restaurants.

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McDonald's is fine and everything, but if you want to sample the local flavor wherever you are—literally—avoid the chain restaurants. Instead, look on Google and social media for family-owned restaurants, food trucks, and food stands. These places are most likely run by people who have lived in the area their whole lives. By eating there, you'll have the highest chance of trying authentic local dishes!

12

Learn the local language or lingo.

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You could be missing out on some wonderful experiences simply because you can't read or understand the local language. Take a language course, or learn a few new words each day with Duolingo. If you don't have time to learn, use a translator app like Google Translate, which translates conversations in real-time and decodes foreign words in pictures you take with your phone.