19 destinations to live like a local.
19 locally curated experiences.
Turkey Adana, Middle East
Kebab Capital Pride: Locals fiercely defend Adana kebab as Turkey's best - never suggest another city makes better kebab or you'll start a passionate debate. Şalgam Obsession: Purple fermented turn…
Thailand Bangkok, Southeast Asia
Traffic Standstill Reality: 2-hour commutes for 5km distances normal, locals time their lives around traffic patterns and work remotely when possible. Street Food University: Every soi (alley) is a…
Thailand Chiang Mai, Southeast Asia
Temple Etiquette: Remove shoes before entering, dress modestly (cover shoulders and knees), locals appreciate respect. Songkran Water Festival (April): City shuts down for 3 days of water fights - …
Peru Cusco, South America
Altitude Shock Reality: 3,400m elevation hits visitors hard, locals chew coca leaves daily and have enlarged lung capacity from birth. Inca Stone Foundations: Colonial buildings built on perfect In…
Japan Hiroshima, East Asia
The 8:15 AM Silence: Every August 6th at exactly 8:15 AM when the bomb fell, Hiroshima stops completely - trains halt mid-route, construction workers freeze, even pachinko parlors go silent for one…
Vietnam Hue, Southeast Asia
Imperial Etiquette Remains: Locals still bow when passing royal tombs, speak quietly in Citadel grounds - 150 years after monarchy ended, respect continues. Royal Cuisine Complexity: Hue's imperial…
Turkey Istanbul, Eastern Europe
Call to Prayer Schedule: 5 daily prayers starting before dawn - beautiful but loud if staying near mosques. Haggling Expected: In Grand Bazaar and markets, start at 30% of asking price. Tea Culture…
Japan Kyoto, East Asia
Geisha vs Maiko Spotting: Real geisha wear subdued makeup and kimono, tourists in rental kimono are obvious (and that's okay!). Temple Photography Rules: Some temples forbid photos inside, others c…
Pakistan Lahore, South Asia
Food as Religion: Locals argue about paaye (trotters) and nihari (slow-cooked beef) with religious fervor, breakfast debates can last hours. Walled City Maze: 13th-century labyrinth where locals na…
Peru Lima, South America
Gray Sky Syndrome: Overcast 8 months yearly, locals call it 'eternal winter' despite no rain. Ceviche Time Rules: Only eaten at lunch, never dinner - locals will judge you for ordering it at night.…
Laos Luang Prabang, Southeast Asia
Alms Giving Ritual: Monks collect food at dawn - tourists should observe respectfully from distance, not participate. Curfew Culture: Everything closes by 11 PM - locals go to bed early, wake up ea…
Portugal Porto, Western Europe
Fado vs Fado: Porto fado is different from Lisbon - more melancholic, locals prefer Coimbra-style university fado. Port Wine Rules: Never call it 'porto wine', just 'port' - locals get defensive ab…
Ecuador Quito, South America
Soroche Reality Check: At 9,350 feet (2,850m), Quito's altitude hits hard - locals chew coca leaves, drink aguas aromáticas (herbal teas), and walk slower than anywhere else. Visitors pant climbing…
Bosnia & Herzegovina Sarajevo, Eastern Europe
Coffee Culture Obsession: Bosnians drink coffee for hours - it's social ritual, not caffeine fix. Sarajevo Roses: Red resin fills mortar shell craters in sidewalks - locals call them 'roses'. Tram …
Cambodia Siem Reap, Southeast Asia
Sampeah Hierarchy: The traditional Cambodian greeting involves placing palms together and bowing - but the higher your hands go toward your forehead, the more respect you're showing. Locals know ex…
Fiji Suva, Oceania
Fiji Time Reality: Schedules are suggestions, not commitments - buses arrive "when they arrive," shops open "around" posted times, and locals embrace this unhurried island pace that drives Type-A v…
Georgia Tbilisi, Central Asia
8,000-Year Wine Heritage: Locals invented winemaking in clay vessels called qvevri, buried underground for fermentation. Polyphonic Singing Tradition: UNESCO-recognized Georgian polyphony, locals h…
Indonesia Ubud, Southeast Asia
Spiritual Alternative to Beach Bali: Locals chose jungle over coast maintaining Balinese Hindu traditions tourists in Canggu ignore. Daily Temple Offerings: Canang sari placed everywhere multiple t…
India Udaipur, South Asia
Lake Level Obsession: Locals constantly discuss Lake Pichola's water level - summers drain it to mud flats revealing temple foundations, but monsoons can fill it within 72 hours, and hotel rates va…