The best way to explore a new place is to have a local at hand who knows all its secret little streets, delectable foods and urban legends that you won’t find in guidebooks. However, it’s not always the simplest thing to arrange, so we’ve prepared for you a detailed step-by-step action plan. As we have proven many times, the world lurks with free stuff if you only know where to find it. 

How to find a local guide for free in 7 simple steps:

1. Call a friend who lives there. This may seem obvious but it’s worth reminding that we have several hibernating friendships that may be brought back to life if you just send a quick message and ask a show you around the place you are visiting. 

2. Ask on social media. Maybe someone you know, knows a local (a friend of a friend of a friend…). Your social network expands further than you expect. Post your request on social media and see what’s going to happen.

3. Book a free walk with a local guide through Global Greeters – a website that brings together locals and tourists with similar interests; you can also volunteer as a tour guide for the city you live in).

4. Post in the group of the respective city on Couchsurfing.com. While Couchsurfing is usually used to find a free place to stay, the website has many more socializing options. You can see lists of locals and visitors to a particular city as well as people who are available to meet you for a beer, to visit the Cairo Museum with you or to show you around. The groups are another useful feature where you can discuss important issues or post a request to meet a local.

5. Post in the city groups on Facebook saying you are looking for a local to show you around and tell you stories. Search for groups like “[City] locals”, “[City] expats” or anything related. 

6. Many towns organize free guided tours through their information centers (check and book well in advance).

7. Join a free walking tour (they have these all around the world. Google “[City] free tour”). The tour is free but you are expected to leave a tip at the end if you enjoyed it. The great thing about free tours is that they tend to be general or specialized, like Free Food Tour, Free Street Art Tour, etc. 

Read more: 7 free travel tools you may not be using

If you like the idea, don’t forget that you can always become a volunteer guide for your own city!

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Only in Zagreb, you can see… The Museum of Broken Relationships.

Stop by and check our redesigned souvenir shop! 🙂 #brokenships #museumofbrokenrelationships #shopdesign

A post shared by Museum of Broken Relationships (@brokenships) on Jun 14, 2017 at 11:43am PDT

When I want to take a walk in nature I go to… Sljeme (the highest peak of Medvednica Mountain, just north of Zagreb); Maksimir Park.

Few people know that… Zagreb is a city of dragons and tunnels. Dragons are well-incorporated into Croatian culture – in Zagreb, there are two sculptures of St George slaying a dragon, a reference to the famous myth in which he saved the princess of Silene from the jaws of the beast. Dragons have found their place in many local brands’ logos, too. And there is even a secret society in the city called the “Order of the Brethren of the Croatian Dragon”.

Another mystical element of the city is its secret tunnels. It’s believed that there are underground passages throughout the whole old city – some of them are open to tourists and you can join an organized tour to explore them.

Zagreb is also home to the shortest cable car in the world. The Zagreb funicular is only 66 m (216 ft) long and connects the Upper and Lower towns.

Make sure you try… zagrebački odrezak (breaded and fried veal steak, filled with ham and cheese); štrukli (dough with different fillings).

Mouthwatering štrukli / Wikipedia

The best place for coffee and cake is… Kava-tava place.

The best view of Zagreb is from… the Zagreb Eye; the Upper Town.

Zagreb as seen from the Zagreb Eye / Zagreb 360°

Whenever I want to enjoy some tranquility I go to…  Zrinjevac Park.

When I was a kid my favorite place to go was… Trg Bana Jelačića (Ban Jelačić Square); the Upper Town.

>>> Read more from our Through the Eyes of a Local series.

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