Table Of Contents

1. Don't Ride the Gondolas
2. Don't Limit Yourself to Just the Island of Venice
3. Don't Expect (free) Public Washrooms
4. Don't Bring Heavy Luggage
5. Don't Stress About Getting Lost
6. Don't Visit on the Weekends or in Summer
7. Don't Eat in St. Mark's Square
8. Don't Dine using a 'Tourist Menu'
9. Don't Take a "Free Glass Factory Tour" in Murano
10. Don't Miss the BIG Attractions By Forgetting to Plan in Advance

Don’t Ride the Gondolas

Gondolas are one of the most iconic images of Venice, and watching the black and white striped Gondoliers cruise up and down the canals inside their red velvet-lined boats is not to be missed. What you can miss is riding inside of them. While the dream of riding inside a gondola might seem the ultimate Venetian bucket list experience, the reality is much less dreamy. Gondolas cost at least €80 ($90 USD) for 30 minutes, and the price only goes up after 7 pm. Sure, you can cram up to five or six people inside the gondolas to try to split it with another two couples on the search for romance in Venice, but trust me, the awkward 30 minutes jammed inside a small gondola with strangers isn’t as romantic as you think.

And it costs even more if you want a gondolier who will do all that beautiful singing you’ve heard so much about. Ultimately, those euros could be spent much better on a romantic dinner along a quaint canal. If you place yourself anywhere near these secluded canals, you still get to enjoy all that beautiful singing for yourself without paying a dime.

Instead: Jump on one of the local vaporettos

If you’re dead-set on stepping into a gondola to check it off your bucket list, try a ‘traghetto‘ instead. A ‘Traghetto‘ is Italian for ‘ferry,‘ and these small, black gondolas ferry passengers across the Grand Canal at seven different points. Just from one side to the other. These were used for generations before the construction of the Grand Canal bridges. They cost only €2 and are still used by locals who don’t want to waste their time walking all the way to a bridge to get across. Although the ride might be short, it’s a great way to experience riding inside a gondola without the enormous price tag. The boats are almost exactly the same as the private gondolas, just maybe missing the frills.

Don’t Limit Yourself to Just the Island of Venice

Many people arrive by cruise ship onto the island of Venice and never leave its shores. More people pour in from the train station and don’t think of heading outside the Grand Canal once they arrive. While there are many beautiful things to do in Venice, it’s a great shame to make it down here and not visit at least one other of the surrounding islands.

Instead: Explore the islands of Burano and Murano

Burano and Murano are accessible by a 45-minute ride across the water on one of the public vaporetto boats. Visiting the island is a treat, and the journey out there is a great way to experience the beautiful ocean and surrounding scenery. The islands are crucial to Venice’s art, food, history and culture. Each has its distinctive flair and feeling, vastly different from the glamour and grandiosity of central Venice. You trip won’t be the same without making it out to experience these amazing spots.

Don’t Expect (free) Public Washrooms

Public washrooms aren’t a thing in Venice. The city, now one of Europe’s most popular tourist spots, wasn’t built to be one. And as such, there is a significant shortage of public washrooms. The only truly “public” washrooms aren’t free of charge. Sometimes, they can cost up to €2. And while you can usually spare this the odd time, these costs can add up.

Instead: Find a local coffee or gelato shop

Head into a local coffee or gelato shop and spend that €2 on getting a delicious espresso or refreshing gelato. After making your purchase, ask to use their restroom, and they’ll be more than accommodating since you’ve already purchased something. Visiting these local restaurants is a much better use of your money than just flushing it down the toilet.

Don’t Bring Heavy Luggage

Many travellers will repeatedly be told not to bring roller bags or heavy luggage to small European towns. But this advice is never more valid than in Venice. Packing those heavy, rolling suitcases will be a nightmare here. There are no cars which you can throw your bags into to make their way to your hotel quickly. Walking down cobblestone streets with a rolling suitcase makes enormous noise. Which the locals are not a fan of. Even if you can get a private water taxi, unless your hotel is right on the Grand Canal, you’ll still have to walk a fair way from the nearest boat dock to your accommodation. And these private water taxis cost €13 upfront, plus another €1.80 for each minute of travel. Less reputable boat drivers will often charge you per piece of luggage. 

Instead: Travel Light or Store Your Luggage

Now I’m not a light packer by any means, but I know when it needs to be done! And choosing to pack light made all the difference in the world when visiting Venice. But there is another solution for those who are excited to bring back boatloads of souvenirs but don’t want to be limited to a small backpack. You can always store your large suitcase in the luggage lockers at the Venice train station when you arrive. And transfer the essentials into a small carrying bag and you’ll be on your way! This will allow you to shop to your heart’s desire but will give you the freedom of getting to and from your destinations without any stress or struggle.

Don’t Stress About Getting Lost

Following maps on paper or via google maps is very difficult in a city like Venice. Sometimes the pathways are quite literally underwater. During the wet season in Venice, vast portions of the city get flooded, and raised paths are used to get around safely. But not everywhere has these raised walkways, so often streets will simply shut down, and you must take complicated detours. Venice’s streets will notoriously change their name halfway along, sending tourists into a tizzy. But don’t stress. Venice is a small island. Walking from one end to the other only takes about an hour, so you’re never that far away from where you want to end up.

Instead: Embrace the Wander

Keep in mind if you’re headed in the right general direction, you’ll eventually make it there. Learn to love exploring and find little treasures along hidden passageways. These are the fantastic discoveries about Venice which make it so unique. I would even challenge you to spend an entire day without your phone guiding you. Use that simple paper map you get at tourist information and see how far that gets you. When you get “lost,” just ask a local for directions. While you’re at it, ask them for a dinner or food recommendation and see if you can start a conversation. Locals might bristle at tourists initially (they are, after all, overrun with them) but they LOVE their city. And are incredibly giving and kind when they see someone genuinely trying to engage.

Don’t Visit on the Weekends or in Summer

If you have the option of when you can visit Venice, try not to visit on the weekends. This is not only because there will be a massive influx of tourists but because many of the main tourist sights (like churches and cathedrals) are closed for local services. Hotels will also be much more expensive during the weekends as even Italians travel on these days a weekend mini-breaks.

If you want to enhance your experience, avoid travelling during the summer. Summers in Venice are incredibly muggy as it’s so close to the seaside. The crowds make the temperatures seem ten times hotter than it is really is. Cruise ships are in and out of the ports, and the weight of these daytrippers can be felt not only on the ground but in the local’s attitudes.

One of the comments I always hear about Venice is that it smells. And yes, those old swampy canals can smell in the summer heat. But that’s just like any other large city in the summer. New York’s piled-up garbage is no picnic in 40-degree weather, either. Don’t blame the city, blame the sun.

Instead: Visit Venice in its offseason

Pack warmly and visit Venice in the winter. You’ll be shocked to see how different the city is compared to the stories of those who came in the summer. Winter in Venice is a strangely magical place. The city’s locals seem to come alive, despite the colder weather. The silent side canals and ancient architecture shuddering in the brisk wind are hauntingly beautiful and well worth checking out. The spring and fall are equally stunning, but you’re better off coming in the fall when you can avoid flooding that plagues the springtime.

Don’t Eat in St. Mark’s Square

Restaurants in any big city, especially near those HUGE tourist attractions, are rife with scams. And many overcharge customers to a staggering degree. Those beautiful cafes in St. Mark’s square, which make for lovely photographs, should be avoided at all costs. Mainly due to those costs. These cafes are overpriced and tack on a “sitting” surcharge simply because of the location.

Anytime you enter a cafe, ask if there is a “cover charge.” If you ask, they must fess up to this, so never be embarrassed. If the cover charge isn’t too bad and you feel like the overpriced drinks are worth the view, then absolutely go right ahead. But to save yourself a surprisingly large bill, always check before sitting down.

Instead: Head down any small side street adjacent to St. Mark’s

It’s always incredible to me the fantastic places you can find just steps away from the crowded tourist traps. Look for locals migrating, and you’re heading in the right direction.

If you’re insistent on eating at one of those picturesque restaurants, ask for their “al banco” or bar menu. This menu is often a completely different price point compared to their “al tavolo” or table menu. The only caveat is you’ll have to sit or stand at the bar. But sometimes I find this the best seat in the house as you get to watch the cooks or bar tenders at work and decipher the most popular dishes you yourself might want to try.

Don’t Dine using a ‘Tourist Menu’

Venice was perhaps the city in Europe where I saw the most prominent use of “tourist menus.” It is no secret that Venice isn’t the place to come for the best Italian cuisine, but there are incredible meals. If you know where to look. But Tourist menus are truly the worst ways to experience Venetian cuisine. They are built up of easy-to-please, faux-Italian meals. It’s watered-down cooking and mediocre at best. Avoid menus printed in various languages; although this is very inclusive, it often denotes that it’s not a traditional or local restaurant.

Also, be wary of anything that comes for “free.” Venice has been notorious for putting platters of oysters down in front of customers who didn’t order any without saying a thing. Assuming it’s perhaps a free entree, tourists gobble them up. Then at the end of the meal, you get an unexpected bill. If anything arrives at your table that you didn’t order, question it immediately. If they bring up some unspecific cost, say, “no, thank you,” and send it back!

Instead: Look for Handwritten Italian menus

The key to finding a good restaurant in Venice is looking for one without a paper menu at all. Just a chalkboard where they write their daily specials, using only the fresh catch of the day. Even if you don’t speak Italian, there are always a few words you can learn to identify what different dishes contain. As you tour around Venice, check out what the locals are eating and be sure to order that. A few local specialties in Venice are deeply rooted in their proximity to the ocean. Try any seafood-based risotto like moleche (small green crabs), which are popular in the springtime. Or creamed dried cod spread across fresh bread. And ‘Bigoli in salsa‘ is an appetizer pasta made using only three ingredients; onion, anchovies and white wine. Simple and delicious!

Don’t Take a “Free Glass Factory Tour” in Murano

Venetian glass is renowned all over the world. But with popularity comes those trying to take advantage of just that. Throughout San Marco, you’ll see hawkers advertising “free trips” to Murano to visit glass factories. Remember: nothing in this world is free. These dodgy companies will take you to some less-than-reputable glass factories in Murano. Once you arrive, the salespeople will put immense pressure on you to purchase some of their glass. Often guilting you into it since they provided you with a 45-minute trip to Murano for “free.”

This is not only really stressful but also prevents you from buying a piece of glasswork you genuinely fall in love with. These places are also known for purchasing much of their glasswork from China, and the artisans you see working in the factory are often just there for show. The best way to be sure what you’re buying is real is to check the price; too good to be true is often just that.

Instead: Take the public ferry to Murano and explore for yourself

The public vaporetto from Venice to Murano costs around €10. Sure, it’s not a “free” trip, but you’ll definitely feel free by being able to explore this gorgeous island on your own. There are dozens and dozens of authentic glass shops in Murano. Each artisan has their own unique style and heritage. Many artists have had the trade passed down from generation to generation.

And not all glass from Murano has to be prohibitively expensive. Sure, there are chandeliers which cost upwards of $100,000, but there are also gorgeous glass earrings which cost less than €10. I bought a few pairs, which are my favourite souvenir of the trip. I even picked the colours and watched the artist make the earrings right before my eyes. A real memory to bring back with me!

Don’t Miss the BIG Attractions By Forgetting to Plan in Advance

Venice is a small but busy city. Tourism is booming in this historical hub, and no matter when you arrive, there will always be tons of people. If there are one or two attractions you have your heart set on, don’t be shy about booking these tickets in advance. St. Mark’s Basilica ticket MUST be booked in advance. And even advance bookings get sold out sooner than you’d think. Some of the more popular museums often face the same issue during peak season.

Instead: Book your tickets online in advance

Despite the city feeling trapped in the past, the Venetian tourism industry is smack dab in the 21st century. And all the big attractions and museums offer advanced ticket purchases online from anywhere in the world. This will not only secure the fact you’ll be able to visit a particular place when in town, but also means you’ll be able to bypass the huge lines. Yes, you can always wake up early in the morning to be the first ones at the gate, but it’s your vacation, and you deserve to sleep in and relax! I’d recommend booking these at least two months in advance just to ensure you aren’t disappointed, especially in the summer.

Venice is a city that demands careful planning and thoughtful exploration. By avoiding these 10 common mistakes and embracing the alternative activities suggested, you’ll be well on your way to having an unforgettable experience in this unique and magical city. Remember to take your time, soak in the beauty of your surroundings, and explore beyond the typical tourist hotspots to truly get a sense of what Venice has to offer. By doing so, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for this incredible destination, and create memories that will last a lifetime. So pack your bags, plan your itinerary, and get ready for an adventure that you’ll never forget!

Happy Travels, Adventurers

The post Avoid These 10 Common Mistakes In Venice And Discover These Ultimate Activities Instead! first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Table Of Contents

1. Don't go up Tokyo Tower or Tokyo Skytree
   • Instead, travel over to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
2. Don't get caught up looking up restaurants on Yelp or Tabelog
   • Instead, walk in anywhere with a line!
3. Don't go out of your way to visit only the popular shrines
   • Instead, skips the lines and find a hidden neighbourhood shrine
4. Don't Always Head to Coffee Shops in the Morning
   • Instead, head to your local conbini
5. Don't buy your souvenirs at souvenir shops
   • Instead, head to the nearest 100 yen shop!
6. Don't drink in the Golden Gai
   • Instead head down to Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho
7. Don't get lured into going to a Maid Cafe
   • Instead, try visiting another experiencial themed restaurant!
8. Don't visit Takeshita Dori if you're looking for Tokyo's Underground Fashion Scene
   • Instead, head over to Shimokitazawa
   • And finally…don't spend all your time in Tokyo!

Don’t go up Tokyo Tower or Tokyo Skytree

A view from atop the city, especially somewhere as large and spread out as Tokyo, is always a valuable experience. But the lines and cost for Tokyo Tower or Tokyo Skytree far exceed the enjoyment you’ll get once you get to the top. If you’re only in Tokyo for a week, chances are you don’t want to spend some of that time, lined up for a trip up an elevator.

Instead, travel over to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Head on over to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and take the elevator up to the rooftop where you get an unbelievable view of the city, PLUS a view of the Skytree itself. If you’re looking for a view that comes with a stylish rooftop garden then header over to the Tokyu Plaza Omotesando in Harajuku where the 7th floor provides a stunning green space with ample room for relaxing. Despite the fact that there is a Starbucks which the gardens back out on, you can grab your own food and drinks up to the top. It really is the perfect place for a conbini picnic (“conbini” is a short term word for Japanese convenience stores).

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Don’t get caught up looking up restaurants on Yelp or Tabelog

Often when travelling, you want to make the most out of your experiences and don’t want to waste your money on a touristy or subpar restaurant. For this reason, even I find myself obsessively looking up reviews of where I want to eat whenever I’m travelling. Sometimes this is done in advance but when I’m stuck reading review after review in the middle of my adventure I can’t but help feel like I’m wasting precious travel time. In Japan, this is just not necessary. You can close your eyes and twirl around to walk straight into a restaurant with the best food you’ve ever eaten!  

Instead, walk in anywhere with a line!

Don’t waste your time trying to find the perfect place to eat, instead, wander until something calls your name and draws you in. If there is one particular restaurant you ABSOLUTELY have to find, then make sure to make reservations because popular joints in Tokyo often fill up in advance very quickly.

Don’t go out of your way to visit only the popular shrines

Meiji Shrine is often at the top of every traveller’s list, but honestly, there are so many other shrines just as impressive all over Tokyo that you will just happen upon. Although it is perhaps the biggest and most notable, there are so many other I would rate much higher. Don’t stress and go far out of your way or wait in long, long line for these so-called “must-see” shrines. 

Instead, skips the lines and find a hidden neighbourhood shrine

The best part of the Meiji Shrine are the sake barrels in front which can be visited before entering the shrine without waiting in a long line. The most beautiful shrine I found in Tokyo was one I had never heard of before all the way in Akasaka. I won’t tell you where (although I do talk about it in some of my other blogs) since I want you to go out and find your own unique place! If you do – let me know in the comments!

Don’t Always Head to Coffee Shops in the Morning

While there are some incredibly cool coffee shops in Tokyo, they are generally pretty expensive since coffee-shop coffee is considered a luxury. A Starbucks frappucino will run you about 9$ USD for a tall! 

Instead, head to your local conbini

There are dozens upon dozens of flavours and strengths inside hot and cold cans as well as gourmet brewed fresh coffee which you can buy at the front of the store. If you add milk to your coffee, it even comes out frothed and foamed! I think I prefer the coffee at 7-Eleven to Lawsons or Family Mart but they’ll all really good. There are even cold Starbucks coffees and blended drinks available in regular and specialty flavours at a fourth of the price you’d pay in Starbucks shops – so skip the lines and buy them here! 

Don’t buy your souvenirs at souvenir shops

I’m not talking about something unique like a handmade Kimono from Kyoto; I’m talking about the little knick-knacks you might find in those cheezy tourist shops purposefully placed right in front of popular attractions. They will always be priced for convenience, not value.

Instead, head to the nearest 100 yen shop!

100 yen shops are the coolest place to find all sorts of things to use both on your trip and when you get home. If you are a crafty person, you’ll find some adorable and CHEAP items here like notebooks, stickers, washi tape and more! It was honestly hard for me to hold back from buying up the entire section. But best of all are the things for sale here for our purposes are the souvenirs. You can find delightful Japanese themed magnetics, ceramic bowls with cherry blossoms, bamboo chopstick sets and more – all for only 100 yen (plus tax).

TIP: most 100 yen shops only take cash. If you don’t want to spend all your cash here, try the DAISO in Harajuku. Since they deal with such large purchases due to being in a tourist-traffic area, they are currently accepting credit cards.

Don’t drink in the Golden Gai

Golden Gai is one of those long talked about tourist attractions that is the only real “scammy” areas in Japan. Golden Gai is located in Shinjuku and is known for its narrow, winding alleys and teeny-tiny bars. They charge outrageous prices just to get in the door of some of these establishments. Each one has a different theme and fits about 6-8 people. Some of the bars roundly object to foreigners, so much so that they have signs outside saying “no nonnatives” or “For Japanese speakers only”. The ones that do let tourists inside have overpriced drinks, and any sense of authenticity has long since been lost.

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Instead head down to Shinjuku’s Omoide Yokocho

Omoide Yokocho or Memory Lane is a gritty little district also in Shinjuku, and has the funny English nickname “Piss Alley”. Despite the name, this place is happening! It is full of locals and tourists alike, making new friends and drinking delicious cups of sake and Japanese craft beer at reasonable prices! This is a great area to meet new Japanese friends who can introduce you to all sorts of hidden gems. If you’re looking for other great nighttime activities be sure to check out alltherooms’s blog! Valentina does a fantastic job at listing all the best Tokyo experiences from fine-dining to miniature-sized pubs to robot dinosaur battles!

Don’t get lured into going to a Maid Cafe

Maid Cafes are all over the place in neighbourhoods like Akihabara. You’ll see cute, young girls dressed in maid uniforms on the street handing out flyers, inviting you into their cafes. If this sounds a bit, well, sketchy then you might be right. Inside these maid cafes, you’ll find cutesy interiors where the maids putter about serving overpriced food and drinks. Some of the meals are decorated or moulded to look like adorable animals, but the food itself is rather bland and unimpressive.

Pictures with the maids are often an additional charge, and you can even pay them to sing you a song at your table. While they’ve fallen out of favour with locals, they are still gaining popularity with tourists for the weirdness of the experience. And while it’s not a total scam and is indeed a bizarre experience, there are plenty of other fantastically themed restaurants where you can find the same impressive theming without forcing women to dress in degrading uniforms.

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Instead, try visiting another experiencial themed restaurant!

If you’re looking for experiential restaurants there are lots of fun ones to choose from! The Zauo Fishing Restaurant is another unusual kind of eatery. Here you have to catch your own dinner. You get a rod and some bait and attempt to catch the exact fish you want to eat. If you manage to catch something, they’ll cook it up any way you like. If you don’t manage to catch anything, not to worry, there are still lots of menu items you can order as well! The LockUp is a haunting restaurant where you’ll be chased by monsters, drink spooky cocktails and dine on wild dishes – an experience you won’t soon forget.

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Don’t visit Takeshita Dori if you’re looking for Tokyo’s Underground Fashion Scene

Harajuku is still a wildly exciting place to shop, but the more avant-garde dressers and shops have been replaced with big brands and hoards of tourists. While I still have fun visiting Harajuku, don’t come here expecting to see Lolitas, goths and punks roaming the streets.

Instead, head over to Shimokitazawa

Shimokitazawa is where you’ll find some of the best-curated vintage shops in all of Tokyo. The fashionable kids who have fled Harajuku, away from the tourists, are now all set up in Shimokitazawa. There are dozens of eclectic restaurants, cafes and best of all – clothing shops, open up and down the hilly alleyways of this delightful district.

And finally…don’t spend all your time in Tokyo!

Even if you only have a week in this great city and can’t make it out to other cities like Kyoto, Hiroshima and Fukuoka (although if you can swing it, I highly recommend you do!), there are dozens of small towns only a few hours train ride away from Tokyo. These places which will transport you away from the hustle and bustle of the big city and into the peaceful countryside. Nikko, Enoshima, Hakone and Kamakura are just some of the beautiful cities which will give you a glimpse into another side of Japan. Perhaps something which will give you a taste of the other side of this magical island and force you to find time to return! 

And if you’re anything like me, it will be again, and again, and again, and again…

The post Navigating Tokyo Like a Pro: A Guide to What Not to Do and What to Do Instead first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

I hear it all the time. “I can’t go there! I don’t want people to think I’m a tourist!” Like that’s the worst thing in the world? There are hundreds of blogs and articles on the internet titled Non-Touristy Things to Do in Such and Such City. And fair enough, there probably are some on this blog too. Travellers want more and more to stand out less and less, which is understandable. No one wants to stick out a like a sore thumb or be that obnoxious visitor with their selfie stick swinging wildly in peoples faces. But what happens when you blend in too much or avoid places which you might think are “too touristy”?

Remember, most places are touristy for a reason! Attractions that are special, unique and one of a kind draw people in from all over the world because it’s something they can’t find at home. Sometimes the tourists visiting might just be from the town an hour down the road, but where they’re going feels like a different world to them. If all you want to do is find a dive bar or coffee shop frequented by locals, you might have a great time but miss out on something extraordinary.

And the truth is, despite new low-cost airlines, not everyone gets to travel frequently. Those “digital nomads” have the luxury of time to explore every inch of a particular country AFTER they’ve seen all the iconic sites. But some people don’t have the money to travel to the same destination every year or the vacation time to spend in one place for a month. Some people are lucky to get a week off all year, and they want to use it the best way they can. And if you’re only going to be able to visit Australia ONCE, you darn tootin’ should see the Sydney Opera House and go to a kangaroo zoo to pet one of those unique creatures! Yes, it’s the picture everyone gets, but once again – why do you think that’s the case?

I think we need to help redefine what it means to be a tourist instead of hiding from the term. Embrace it, but be a good one. Help make it less taboo. Be friendly and curious, yet respectful and trusting of the place you’re visiting. Find a balance between going to famous places and dipping your toe into a local hole in the wall where you can’t speak the language. Locals will help you navigate your way through new culinary treats!

In the age of Airbnb, there is a sense that staying in a hotel has become a pedestrian way of travelling. That is, by staying in a hotel, you aren’t embracing the city in the same way. Like you’re copping out. There are some fantastic rental apps out there where you can find some incredible homes or apartments to stay in while visiting, but more and more, these services are creating huge issues for the locals you’re trying to blend in with. Rent is skyrocketing in places like New York and San Francisco partially due to Airbnb. Hotels have never caused such issues. So while it might feel more authentic, you need to be aware that your “authentic, non-touristy” experience might be causing huge problems for the people you’re trying to engage with. 

Culture shock is real. If the comfort of a hotel with familiar amenities and a concierge who speaks English makes you more at ease, why pass that up just for the sake of looking cool? If you don’t want to stay at a chain hotel, there are hundreds of boutique or independent apartment-style hotels you can reserve instead. Often the draw of an Airbnb is that they’re located outside the dense tourist areas, but these days you can find incredible luxury accommodations in parts of the city you’d never expect (and usually for half the price of staying at a chain hotel in the centre of town).

If you want to avoid the feeling of being overwhelmed by other visitors, don’t just skip it all together. Try not to miss out on things that are meaningful to you just because you’re worried about doing something everyone else is too. There’s probably a good reason there are so many people there. What you can do is be strategic!

Tips on the best day/time to arrive to avoid the crowds or secrets to skipping the line altogether are all over the internet (a few of them right here on this very blog!). Some busy attractions have lesser known entrances with shorter lines. When I visited the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, we walked right past a queue of hundreds of people standing in the hot sun waiting to buy a ticket. All I had to do was buy my ticket in advance a month before we left for our trip. When we walked in, the crowds from outside were nowhere to be seen. Sure, there were tourists inside, but since they control the number of people who enter at any given time, it still felt peaceful and it was one of, if not THE, most incredible pieces of architecture I’ve ever seen.

Another great tip to be an engaged tourist is to hire a local guide! They will take you to all those iconic sites you don’t want to miss out on and tell you all about them based on their own experiences. Yes, you’ll be walking down the same Charles Bridge in Prague frequented by thousands of tourists every day, but no one gets to hear the same story you’ll be listening to as you walk down it. One of the most memorable guided tours I took was in Budapest with a very passionate guide who told us story upon story, including his family’s history and how all the political uprisings affected the people of Hungary over the years. You can’t get that kind of stuff in the guidebooks. Larger, organized guided tours are fantastic too, but having a 1-on-1 relationship with your guide for the day will allow you to ask more questions and learn more about the place you’re visiting.

So go ahead, be a TOURIST. Embrace the word. Fill it with all your own meanings and interpretation. Be inquisitive, fill that bucket list, don’t be afraid to ask questions or make mistakes. Engage with the city, the people and the culture. Take your photo holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa, smooch under the Eiffel Tower and cross the street with friends on Abbey Road. Do it your way, for yourself and don’t worry about anyone else.

…Just don’t eat at the Hard Rock Cafe.

The post It’s Okay to Be a Tourist. first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.