Overtourism pops up in the news and on social media all the time, usually with footage of frustrated locals blocking cruise ships or holding up “go home” signs. It can look extreme, but it’s worth remembering: our holiday spot is someone else’s home. And we’ve all felt a version of that frustration — trying to walk through a packed Tokyo street, jostling for a glimpse of the Mona Lisa, or hunting for a free patch of sand on Bondi.

But here’s the thing: the antidote isn’t necessarily avoiding the big sights. It’s paying attention to the small ones. Travelling thoughtfully often just means being curious about the everyday — the breakfasts locals actually eat, the libraries they use, the buses they take, the neighbourhoods they call home.

That’s where the real joy hides. And for nerdy travellers like us, those small details are exactly where a city comes alive.

Nerd Out on Local Life: Small Joys and Everyday Culture

Start with breakfast

Brick Lane in Melbourne offers one of the best breakfasts in the CBD

We love breakfast. When we’re travelling, we often make it our main meal of the day. It lets us head out on a full stomach and turns dinner into something to look forward to. But local cafés, bakeries and bistros are also a great way to tap into everyday rituals. We’ve had natto for breakfast in Japan, dense dark rye bread with cheese in Denmark, soul food from a food truck in Portland, fermented kimchi in South Korea, and tracked down the oldest bakery in a tiny village.

Go to the library

What a shock: the librarians are telling you to go to the library. But it’s often one of the first places we visit when we hit a new city. Apart from being wonderful architectural achievements (see our list of amazing libraries from around the world), they’re hubs for information. Libraries often have exhibitions and events, hints about what’s happening in the city right now, free Wi-Fi and, more importantly, a place to sit quietly. Wherever you go, a library is a safe haven. I’ve spoken before about being overwhelmed by Amsterdam on arrival, but an hour or so in the library allowed me to centre myself.

Use public transport

The Booth bar and brewery in Seoul, South Korea

Buses and trains rarely hit you with surge pricing. And guess what? You might see more of the city this way too. You might even end up talking to locals. On a public ferry in Copenhagen, we started chatting to some folks who told us about the wonders of Louisiana Museum. It’s now one of our favourite galleries in the world. In Busan, we caught the local bus to Dakbatgol Art Village, surrounded by people on their way to work and school. As a bonus, if you buy a local transport card, it’s an easy-to-pack souvenir you can usually use again. We have a drawer full of Suicas, Oysters, Opals, Mykis, T-Money cards and more.

Breweries as community spaces

We love the brewery culture of our home in Sydney, so we always look for the local scene when we travel. Seeking out the local beer gets us out of the city centre and into industrial areas, suburbs and neighbourhoods we’d otherwise miss. Beer may not be your thing, and it doesn’t have to be. You’ll often find brew districts surrounded by local music, trivia nights, art and other community happenings. Had we not been looking for the Spring Valley Brewery in Tokyo, we never would have found Daikanyamachō, an area often called the ‘Brooklyn of Tokyo’.

Neighbourhood wandering

Paul Kelly wrote a great song about every city looking the same, which isn’t exactly true, but it does speak to the fatigue of only seeing major city-centre sights. Weesp is a great example of us wanting to see something beyond the capital and stumbling into a nerdy little paradise of windmills, colonial houses and tranquil streets. Or the time we went to a carpark in Brussels to support a raffle for women in sport, just so we could try a fresh batch of Cantillon.

This comes with a caveat, though: smaller neighbourhoods aren’t set up for tourists, so don’t go snapping private residences or intruding where you don’t belong.

Reflect on your travels

To avoid slipping into ‘checklist travel’, it’s worth taking a few reflective moments. This site started with that very idea for the two of us. Amy has written about travelling to Europe for the first time as a Gen-Xer, an experience shared by many but the reflections are wholly unique to her. I keep a diary when I travel, so I record all those random encounters, thoughts and everyday wonders that happen when you step out of your comfort zone. I’ve even reflected on the process of that reflection. Meta.

How to Be a Better Tourist (Without Being a Buzzkill)

✨ Pro-Tips

Respect local rhythms — Does your city have siesta hours? Are they in the middle of a festival? What do you do when someone is having a party above your apartment at 2am? Travel etiquette reminds us that you’re on holiday, your neighbours might have to work in the morning.
Learn a few phrases in the local language — It’s amazing how far you’ll get with a well-placed ‘Hola’ or ‘Gracias’. You don’t have to be fluent, but ‘hello’, ‘excuse me’ and ‘thank you’ in the local tongue do wonders for international relations. Don't worry about getting it wrong: you may still get an 'A' for effort.
Support small businesses and independent creators — To outweigh the negative impacts of tourism (crowds, noise, bad behaviour) you have to inject more good. It’s one of the main reasons we support independent breweries at home and abroad.
Choosing experiences over checklists — Yes, of course you want to see The Thing. It’s one of the things that attracted you to The Place. But look behind The Thing too. Instead of snapping it and moving on, find out about the areas around it.
Be camera conscious — We love taking photos. They're all over this site. But also be sure to show cultural respect, be mindful of others and photograph the little things. We all know what the Eiffel Tower looks like, after all. The same goes for people!
Relax — You're on holiday.

The Joy of Being a Curious Outsider

Buckaroo Banzai (looking suspiciously like Peter Weller) once said, “No matter where you go, there you are.” It doesn’t matter how many places we travel to, we remain nerdy, curious, and completely at peace with the awkwardness of learning. Meaningful travel is trying, failing, and stumbling into something unexpected along the way.

These trips don’t just forge new memories; they give you a more authentic connection to the places you visit and broaden your horizons in the process.

And yes, you still get bragging rights. If anyone asks whether I know where The Lord of the Rings was shot, I can happily say I’ve walked in the hairy footprints of Hobbits.

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