How to Slow Travel: 10 Tips to Become a Slow Traveller
- Guillermo
- Jan 27
- 7 min read
Do you think that holidays should be a moment to relax, but struggle to stop yourself from ticking off bucket lists? Do you long to immerse yourself in a different culture, but aren't sure if you have time during your trip? We're here to help you learn how to slow travel, to show you how to do less but make it more meaningful. With these easy, practical tips, you can become a slow traveller and start travelling in a more meaningful, enriching way.
Some people already travel slow - whether they know it or not: they slowed down the pace of their travel in order to get closer to the local life wherever they are. That might be by spending longer in a destination, choosing more immersive experiences with local people, or simply giving themselves time to relax. However, it's not always that easy - so if you're not sure how to travel slowly, these slow travel tips will help you get started!
10 Slow Travel Tips to Become a Slow Traveller
Whatever Plans You Have in Mind, Try to Do Less!
For slow travel experiences, it is always better to try to stay in one place rather than in two, explore one country deeply rather than a continent, or take a full continent tour rather than a world tour (if you really have a long time!). There are many benefits to slow travel, and being mindful about what you do will help you relax and enjoy the experience.
To become a slow traveller, try to stay in the same place for as long as you can, to get fully immersed in it. The closer you get to the locals, the more chances you will get to meet them, so choose your accommodation carefully.
Pick family-run guesthouses over large chain hotels, or rent a room in someone’s home (or a bed and breakfast) rather than an apartment, so you can meet local people instead of isolating yourself.
2. Explore Local Markets and Meet Local Farmers to Become a Slow Traveller
Local markets are the best way to get to know the locals’ habits and find delicious locally-sourced food. Dive into the atmosphere of a busy shopping day to see where the locals shop, stop for a drink and people watch - or even better, stop and have a chat with the people you meet!
If you have a place to cook at your accommodation, buy some fresh products and try local recipes. Chat with the stall owners to see what is in season and if they have tips for how to prepare it, or what to serve it with.
Even better than visiting local markets, visit local farmers and source your food directly from its makers. This can be hard to do as a traveller if you don't know where to go, which is why we created a slow food travel experience to visit two sustainable organic farms near Barcelona.
Come with us to meet the farmers, pick your own food, then cook it with a professional chef in a farmhouse. Our farm-to-table private cooking class near Barcelona is a unique opportunity to get close to the farmers and their amazing produce, and a must for your slow travel itinerary in Spain!
3. Eat Like the Locals
Aside from choosing the ingredients, choosing where to eat while travelling can also make a big difference to your slow travel experience. Try to find small, local, and family-run restaurants instead of international chains that you could get at home.
A good slow travel tip is to avoid restaurants with English menus or with pictures as these often cater for tourists instead of locals. Be brave and order something you have no idea about! (Or use Google Translate to see what the menu means, to avoid any unpleasant surprises!)
Better still, if you get a chance, try asking a local sitting nearby what’s his/her favourite. What are they eating? Is it good? It's another great excuse to talk to local people and learn more about the people, food and culture wherever you are - an important part of slow tourism.
If you'd like more help with what dishes to choose, food tours can be a wonderful way to learn about local cuisine, as your guide will show you the best dishes and best places to eat them. If you're visiting Barcelona, take a look at our private gourmet food tour, which will do just that!
4. Learn the Language
Learning a few words of the local language will make a huge difference to your experience, even if you don’t speak it perfectly. Try to learn at least the basics of "hello", "please" and "thank you", and your effort will be appreciated, as so many visitors just rely on English or their own language to get by!
5. Explore your Destination
Walk, cycle or use public transport to discover the surroundings of the place you’re visiting. If you’re in a city for a long time, explore its countryside for a day trip or two. You don’t need to go far, simply take the time and enjoy.
Some slow tourism destinations make this easier than others, depending on the infrastructure that's in place. Sometimes the only option is to join a tour to be able to visit more remote places, just make sure you choose a local company that can offer an ethical and sustainable experience.
6. Learn Something New with Some Local People
Are you fond of cooking? Take a cooking class to learn about the traditional cuisine of the place you’re visiting. Into hiking? Join a hiking tour to discover what is beyond the typical tourist trail.
Whatever you really like, chances are there will be a course or a class for you to learn more about it. And what better time to do something you like than on a slow travel vacation?
If you're coming to Barcelona, we have plenty of slow travel experiences offered by passionate locals waiting for you!
7. Act Like a Local
Most people who live wherever you are travelling are just going about their daily lives. Going to work, doing the shopping, meeting up with friends for dinner.... While some of those aren't relevant, see if you can find other things that local people do to relax, and behave just like them.
Go to a cafe to read a book, sit on a bench in a public park, or do whatever you like to do on a normal day at home. Create a routine, day after day, and see how it changes your holidays positively.
8. Get Lost on Purpose
Sometimes the best things happen when you're not expecting it! One of my favourite ways to go with the flow is to wander the streets of a neighbourhood and gently get lost.
Before you do this, check out the safety in the area to avoid accidentally wandering into the wrong kind of place, but once you know and feel you’re safe, forget about your map, guidebook or phone for a few hours.
Open up for the unexpected and feel the freedom of the moment. Take your time and pay attention to your surroundings. Look out for details you might have missed if you were hurrying by. If you see a nice-looking street, walk down it. Spot an interesting shop? Pop in and see what they sell. And enjoy!
9. Mix with the Locals
Attend a gallery opening, a concert, go to a football game, see a local band or whatever you’d like to do to mix up with the locals. Check the local agenda to know what’s on during your dates and immerse yourself in the local culture.
Activities on social apps like Meetup could help you to get involved, or look out for festivals, concerts and other events advertised on posters or on social media.
Even taking public transport can be an adventure that most tourists don't experience, or picking a restaurant where you can see that you are the only visitor. And don't be afraid to strike up a conversation with your new language skills!
10. Ask a Local about Their Favourite Places
Most of these slow travel tips involve interacting with local people, and that's because there is no better way to travel slowly than getting to know the people who know the place best.
Ask them about what they like to do, where they like to go on a day trip, and how they would get there. They will give you tips and insights that no guidebook ever could! If you don't have friends in the area, see if there are social groups that you can join to meet local people, and, above all, be open to talking to whoever you meet.
Some of my best slow travel experiences have happened because of the people I met and the personal connections I made. That's one of the reasons why we are so passionate about helping visitors make these kinds of connections.
We are experts in slow life in Barcelona, so let us know if you visit and we can help you find the most authentic local things to do in Barcelona and arrange sustainable, immersive experiences with local people all around Catalonia. Take a look at our private tours and experiences here.
What about you? What’s your favourite tip to be a slow traveller? Do you think we forgot any important ones? We can’t wait to hear your thoughts in the comments!
At Barcelona Slow Travel, we are a passionate slow travel company and have designed our authentic and sustainable experiences specifically for travellers who want to immerse themselves in the local culture.
All of our experiences are verified by local experts, follow sustainable guidelines and represent slow travel in every way.
Hi! As a long time Slow Traveller, Barcelona is for me an interesting case. Many people think that Slow Travel has to be in the remote corners of the globe but even a touristic hotspot such as the second biggest spanish city can be a great place to try this new travel style.