We all like to think we’re the kind of traveller who blends in effortlessly wherever we go.
However, if we’re being honest, most of us have had at least a few cringe tourist moments that we’d rather forget. Whether it’s getting lost in translation, snapping too many photos, or sticking out in ways you didn’t even realise, here are a few telltale signs you’ve been that tourist at least once.
1. You’ve held up foot traffic staring at a map.
There’s nothing wrong with needing directions, but if you’ve ever stopped in the middle of a busy street, cluelessly turning your map or phone in every direction, you’ve definitely been that tourist. Bonus points if you’ve loudly debated with your travel buddy about whether you should go left or right.
Locals can spot this behaviour from a mile away, usually as they sigh and swerve around you. The trick? Step to the side before pulling out your phone, unless you want to be remembered as a human traffic cone.
2. You’ve taken pictures of absolutely everything.
That cute café? Snapped. The street sign that’s slightly different from the ones at home? Snapped. The plate of food you just have to document? Snapped. If your camera roll is 90 percent holiday photos and 10 percent actual memories, you’re definitely guilty. There’s nothing wrong with capturing the moment, but if you’re seeing a place more through your phone screen than your own eyes, you might need to chill on the shutter button.
3. You’ve spoken slower and louder, thinking it would help.
Source: Unsplash If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “DO… YOU… SPEAK… ENGLISH?” at twice the volume and half the speed, congratulations — you’re officially that tourist. It’s a universal reflex, but let’s be honest, it rarely helps. Instead of treating the language barrier like a volume issue, a better approach is learning a few key phrases, using gestures, or pulling up Google Translate. At the very least, locals will appreciate the effort.
4. You’ve worn something that screamed “not from here.”
Source: Unsplash That massive backpack. The zip-off cargo pants. The sunhat that could double as an umbrella. If your outfit made you look more like an explorer than a casual visitor, you probably weren’t blending in as much as you thought. Comfort is key when travelling, but if locals are side-eyeing your entire look, you might have gone a little too far into practical tourist territory.
5. You’ve mispronounced a famous landmark.
Whether it’s calling Versailles “Ver-sails” or butchering Edinburgh beyond recognition, we’ve all had that awkward moment where a local kindly corrects our pronunciation. To be fair, some place names are tricky, but if you’re heading somewhere well-known, it might be worth a quick YouTube pronunciation check before confidently announcing where you’re off to next.
6. You’ve clapped when the plane landed.
It’s a rare species of tourist that still claps when the wheels touch the ground, but if you’ve ever been that person, we need to talk. Unless the pilot just pulled off the landing of a lifetime, there’s really no need for a standing ovation (unless you’re in America, and this does actually feel like an accomplishment these days). Sure, it’s a cultural thing in some places, but in most cases, it just makes you stand out as the excited tourist who clearly doesn’t fly that often.
7. You’ve struggled with foreign currency.
Standing at the checkout, trying to figure out which coin is which while a queue builds behind you? Been there. If you’ve ever held up an entire shop trying to count out the right change, you’ve had a true tourist moment. It’s especially fun when you accidentally tip someone an absurd amount because you miscalculated, or worse, pay in the wrong currency altogether. No shame, we’ve all been there.
8. You’ve eaten at a restaurant just because they had an English menu.
There’s a big, exciting world of food out there, but when you’re hungry, tired, and overwhelmed, sometimes that English menu is the easiest option. If you’ve ever gone for a safe, tourist-friendly restaurant just to avoid the stress of pointing at random dishes, you’re not alone. The real pros, though? They embrace the mystery meal. Sometimes, the best food experiences come from taking a chance on a menu you can’t fully understand.
9. You’ve stood in a queue for an overrated attraction.
If you’ve ever spent hours waiting in line for something, only to realise it wasn’t really worth it, you’ve officially fallen into the classic tourist trap. Whether it was a restaurant that went viral or a must-see landmark that wasn’t all that exciting, we’ve all been there. The best travel experiences often come from exploring beyond the obvious spots. Sometimes, skipping the long queues and wandering side streets leads to something even better.
10. You’ve taken an embarrassing number of selfies.
If your holiday album is 90% pictures of you standing in front of things, congratulations, you’re that tourist. One or two? Fair. But when your entire feed is just slightly different angles of you in front of every landmark, it might be time to mix it up. There’s nothing wrong with a good selfie, but don’t forget to capture the destination itself. After all, the real magic is in what’s around you, not just your face.
11. You’ve ignored local etiquette without realising.
Source: Unsplash Every place has its own unspoken rules, and if you’ve accidentally broken one, you probably got a few disapproving looks. Maybe you wore shoes inside somewhere you shouldn’t have, spoke too loudly in a quiet space, or tipped when it wasn’t expected. The good news? Most locals understand that tourists don’t always know the customs. A little research before you go can save you from awkward cultural missteps.
12. You’ve treated public transport like a sightseeing tour.
If you’ve ever pointed out landmarks loudly on a subway or tried to chat with strangers on a bus, you might have unintentionally outed yourself as a tourist. Locals treat public transport as a necessity, not an experience. While you’re busy snapping photos out the window, they’re just trying to get to work. A little awareness goes a long way — sometimes, it’s best to keep the excitement low-key.
13. You’ve panicked over a foreign toilet.
Automatic flushing, pay-to-enter stalls, toilets that don’t flush the way you expect — travelling exposes you to all kinds of unexpected bathroom situations. If you’ve ever spent way too long trying to figure out how to flush or panicked over the lack of toilet paper, you’re definitely not alone. It’s a humbling moment when something as simple as using the bathroom turns into a full-blown challenge. The best approach is to always have emergency tissues on hand, just in case.
14. You’ve fallen for a tourist scam.
Overpriced taxis, free bracelets, suspiciously friendly street performers—if you’ve ever walked away from an encounter realising you just got scammed, welcome to the club. Every seasoned traveller has at least one story. It’s a rite of passage, really. The important thing is learning from it, so next time, you can spot the trap before you fall right into it.
