5 Ways to Avoid Looking Like a Tourist

You can hear one coming a mile across the Piazza. The befuddled rustling of a map, the squeaking of a stuffed-to-the-gills backpack, the soft thud of a camera swinging around a neck, it could only mean one thing; a tourist is approaching. Identified easily, he or she should be prepared for anything from an eye roll to downright mockery from the local population. And while one of the best parts of traveling is the ability to submerse oneself in a host city’s culture, many people unknowingly choose to be labeled as an outsider from first camera click.

Here are some tips so that even if you’re 10,000 miles from home, you don’t have to look like it:

1. Find a good travel bag (and please note we did not say a backpack…unless you are actually studying abroad) and hide in it as many travel “necessities” as physically possible.
2. Lose the map. Figure out your route in the morning then put it away until you absolutely have to use it. Nothing says “I don’t live here” like an improperly folded, 18-section map bunching out of a back pocket. Or even worse, one of these.
3. Stow your camera. It’s no less accessible in a front pocket then around your neck so toss it in the bag until a photo-op emerges.
4. Steer clear of any style or label that associates you with a specific locale. The desired reaction from that Grecian God at the end of the bar should be, “Why hello! You look so international I can’t tell where you’re from.” (Insert sexy accent and/or intoxicating foreign language here). If traveling to Paris that means trading cross-trainers for some sleek Pumas, flip flops for ballet flats, and your oversized college t-shirt for a plain black one.  And when traveling to Seattle switch any neon colored, not-found-in-nature fabric clothing for items made with natural fibers, exchange man-capris for either full length pants or shorts (but not too short! Upper thigh makes Americans very nervous.) And it might be a good idea to double check that all those knockoff “name brand” shirts with English writing don’t say anything unintentionally offensive.
5. Be observant. Nothing makes you look like you don’t belong more than shouting in quiet places, wearing shorts when everyone else has their knees covered or leaning in for a kiss when a handshake is expected. Take note of your surroundings, the people and their interactions and you’ll be less likely to stick out like a sore thumb.

Have any other tips to avoid looking like a tourist? Add them in the comments!