Should you Worry about Looking like a Tourist when you Travel?

Is Travel About Looks or Learning?

**Coliseum from Colle Oppio Park, Rome**

The following question was asked on social media:

Which is worse, looking like a tourist or going to Rome, Paris, and Egypt, but missing the Coliseum, the Eiffel Tower and the Pyramids?

Author & Photographer: George Mitchell

George Holding Koala, Healesville Sanctuary, Melbourne, Australia

George’s Bio

Our recommendations are not influenced by affiliate links – we have none. Our advice is derived from our personal experience and knowledge based on living in Rome for four years and studying its art, architecture, and culture. We also gave a course on Discovering Our Ancient Routes in the Mediterranean at the University of Alberta.

Looking Like a Tourist

Why should you worry about looking like a tourist? You probably would look like a tourist even if you were trying not to. Do you carry a camera? a guidebook or map? a backpack? Shorts, Hawaiian shirts, and flip flops scream tourist.

If you are worried about pickpockets, keep alert of your surroundings at all times. Do NOT put valuables in the outside pockets of your backpacks or your clothes. One pickpocket tried to take the wallet from the back pocket of the jeans of my father-in-law, Dave, when he visited us in Rome. Normally, that would be a very bad place for a wallet. But Dave had secured the pocket with a safety pin – Dave 1 Thief 0. We still don’t recommend this, and you should use a money belt for your valuables.

Most people don’t care what you are wearing unless it is offensive to their culture or religion. In fact, it may be easier to engage with the locals if you look like a lost tourist asking for help.

Purpose of Travel

We have lived and travelled in many countries for 23 years, including a three-year Round-The-World trip and living in Rome and London for seven years. While we worked in Europe, we still visited the major tourist sites with camera in hand – a dead give-away.

Connecting with the Locals

Probably the most impactful aspect of any trip is meeting the local people. This is the best way to learn about the culture. The key is to have an open, friendly face. Even more important is to have a genuine interest in the people you meet. Be open to different beliefs and cultural values.

Seeking What is Unique

While we all want to have a good time, why would you not seek out the places that are quintessential to that country? We strive to do things that are unique to each country. The point of travelling is to learn about the culture, cuisine, people and history of your destination. We gave courses at universities about our experiences.

Museumed Out

**Boxer at Rest, Capitoline Museums, Rome**

The main problem is that tourists get “museumed out” or “templed out”. They end up more exhausted than this Ancient Greek boxer after his match. The only way to get more out of your trip is to learn why the artifact or place is so significant. How did each major site, leader, or artist have an influence on the next major site, leader, or artist? This is what we learned from travelling around the world for three years without ever getting “templed out”.

The following are some examples of why these sights should not be missed.

Domed Out

Why is the Pantheon the most important temple to visit, possibly in the whole world? It should not be because of name recognition. It is much more than being one of only three intact temples in Rome. How has it influenced modern architecture? Without the Roman invention of concrete, we would not have the massive buildings of today.

The first dome built since Ancient Rome was the Duomo (the dome) in Renaissance Florence. The Duomo was modelled after the Aya Sofya Church in Constantinople (Roman Empire), which was modelled after the Pantheon in Rome.

The Pantheon was the largest dome ever built until the Astrodome in Houston!!! Without the Pantheon in Rome we would not have domes today!

Planned Out

Our city centres are laid out today the same way they were designed by ancient urban planner, Hippodamus, in 494 BC. We have a rectangular grid of streets and a downtown/civic area (e.g. agora and temples) just like in Miletus & its Roman Theatre, ancient Turkey.

Why do Istanbul, Ephesus and Venice have so many magnificent monuments and buildings? Because they were a terminus of the Silk Trade Routes.

Every major tourist sight today was the result of that place being a major capital, commercial or religious centre in the past.

Sports Fanatics

**Vomitorium, Theatre of Miletus, Turkey**

When you visit the Coliseum imagine that the architects have to allow 60,000 unruly fans to quickly exit. The word fan originates from the Latin word for fanatic.

The English word “vomit” originates from the Latin vomitorium, “to spew forth”? No, a vomitorium is not the room where you throw up! Now visit the Coliseum and realize how all our arenas are based on that design. There are vomitorium passages situated inside the arena under each tier of seats.

These are just a few examples of how the things you see when you travel have real meaning for the life you are leading today. So go forth and learn!

Final Comments

You should you worry about looking like a tourist? You probably would look like a tourist even if you were trying not to. Most people don’t care what you are wearing unless it is offensive to their culture or religion. In fact, it may be easier to engage with the locals if you look like a lost tourist asking for help.

Please subscribe to Terra Encounters because we offer valuable insights to improve your understanding and enhance your travels. We offer itinerary-based guides packed with the best sights and hidden gems. Let our knowledge help you fully appreciate every moment of your amazing journey.

Get travel tips and advice delivered directly to your inbox. The best part is that it is free.

This was only a taste of Rome. What questions do you have? If you have been to Rome, share your experiences with us. How long is/was your trip?

Itinerary Map & Resources

Roman Itineraries Map — our custom Google Map

Google Maps Ratings

Google Maps provides a rating from 0 to 5 for all sights, hotels and restaurants (but not cities). All of our recommendations are appended with the rating (prefixed with a G) from Google Maps. As it is based on feedback from tourists and locals, it is much more reliable than travel booking websites. We consider a score of 4 to 4.39 to be Very Good; 4.4 to 5 to be Excellent.