Unique experiences in foreign places
We’ve all seen the articles toting the can’t-miss experiences in new places. In fact, I’ve written my own versions of that blog. I’m all about being a good combination of traveler and tourist. Of course I’m going to see the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and I’m going to visit the Colosseum in Rome. But what are some of my favorite unique things to do in a new country? Keep reading to find out!
International Fast Food Chains
This one sounds silly, I’ll admit. It also sounds like one of the most American things I could imagine doing. That being said, visiting a familiar fast food chain in a new country is something I almost always try to cross off my list.
This tradition started unintentionally. When I was doing a program through school in Italy, our hosts brought us through a McDonald’s while on a road trip. My friends and I realized that Italy’s version had different flurry flavors than ours We then started digging into more unique foods within the food chain.
As it turns out, a lot of McDonald’s (and other fast food chains) in countries outside the U.S. have their own unique menu items. Even if I don’t eat a full meal, I make it a point to stop into one if I’m passing by. It seems I’m not alone in this, as my group tour in Morocco included an impromptu visit to a Moroccan McDonald’s to try their menu as well after much prompting by my fellow travelers.
“Fancy McDonald’s” of Porto, Portugal
One of the best McDonald’s restaurants I ever visited was by the train station in Porto, Portugal. The building is designated as historical, so the chain was not allowed to remove a lot of the decor. What decor might that be? Stained glass and chandeliers!
My friend and I made a few return visits to what we lovingly called “Fancy McDonald’s.” Not only was it a neat atmosphere, but my friend is a vegetarian and they had several options in Portugal. We learned on our walking tour that week that Portugal actually serves vegetable soup even at fast food chains because it’s tradition to have that before a meal in Portuguese culture.
Visit a local grocery store
Another thing I like to do when visiting a new country is making a trip to a grocery store. Sometimes it’s just going to a convenience store, like one of the many 7/11s I went to in Tokyo. Other times, I’ve stumbled across a regular marketplace. I often want to have snacks for the room or for day tours, and what better place is there to find those? Rather than going for my home favorites, however, I try to find at least a couple of snacks from that country.
Sometimes, though, it’s fun to see the names of snacks back home, in the place I’ve landed. For example, did you know that Cool Ranch Doritos are known as “Cool American” in Iceland? Some home favorites also have unique flavors in different places, like the jamon chips I tried in Spain.
Visit a small coffee shop or cafe
If you’re like me, you find joy in a good cup of coffee. In addition to the coffee itself, I love to find a place with a good atmosphere. That is why I love to find a cafe to sit back at if I have down time on a trip.
I can tell you of a lot of good places I’ve had good coffee – Latin America and Italy being two of those places of course. My go-to way to find the best is by asking locals. That’s how I found Three Monkeys coffee in Cusco, Peru and SO Coffee Roasters in Porto, Portugal.
I have also, however, found some really wonderful shops by wandering by and stopping in. A favorite traveling experience of mine was when a friend and I did just that while waiting for a tour in Cardiff, Wales. Since it was an early morning, we stopped in a shop called The Bike Lock near the meeting point. We got chatting with the gentleman behind the bar, who told us all about the local sourcing they do and the shop’s community involvement. I immediately gave them a follow on Instagram and shared with other friends that were going to visit the area. My friend and I rather enjoyed not just the coffee, food, and people watching, but the story behind the spot.
Take a walking tour
A lot of people likely prefer that their tours be for specific sites at their destination. I used to also believe this – if I wanted a tour, it was going to be TO somewhere. However, I’ve more recently started enjoying walking tours on a lot of my travels. An added perk is that they’re usually relatively low in cost. I’ve even found a few that you can receive for a suggested donation!
All of the group tours I’ve taken usually have an orientation tour upon arrival. I’ve often learn more about the cities I’m in on some of these walks than I would have on my own.
Pre-Booked Walking Tours
I’ve also pre-booked walking tours on trips I’ve planned on my own. One of my favorite tours I took was through Airbnb experience in Porto, Portugal. We walked all around the city and saw touristy sites, but also learned about some lesser-known parts of the city. At the end of the tour, we received a picnic lunch that we could enjoy there or take to go.
Often, you can find a themed walking tour depending on the city. In Edinburgh, Scotland, a friend and I took a tour inspired by the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Since we were broke college kids abroad, this one was especially nice as it was donation-based. I’ve also seen advertisements for (and plan on doing in the future) a Jack the Ripper walking tour in London.
If you have some free time, or plan to do some solo exploring, I highly recommend taking a walking tour. You never know what you might find, or what your local guide may recommend!
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