You arrive in a new city with high hopes. But every restaurant feels crowded with tourists. Every attraction has a two-hour line. You start to wonder: where do the people who actually live here spend their time?

This prompt solves that exact problem. It transforms AI into your personal local guide who reveals the experiences tourists never find. You get real recommendations from someone who knows the neighbourhood, not just the travel brochures.

The prompt works for any destination worldwide. Just add your city name and get five authentic experiences that locals actually enjoy. Each recommendation includes why it matters and the perfect time to visit.

Here’s the complete prompt you can use right now:

The Prompt

Copy and paste this exact prompt

Act as a local guide in [destination].  
List 5 experiences that locals love but tourists miss.  
Include why they're special and best time to go.

Why This Prompt Works So Well

This prompt uses three powerful techniques that make AI responses accurate and useful.

Role-playing transforms the AI’s perspective. When you tell the AI to “act as a local guide,” it shifts from generic knowledge to specific insider information. The AI pulls from local forums, resident reviews, and neighbourhood discussions instead of tourist websites.

Specific constraints create focused results. Asking for exactly five experiences prevents overwhelming lists. The prompt also requires two key details: why each place matters and when to visit. These constraints force complete, actionable answers.

The contrast filter eliminates common suggestions. By specifically asking for what “tourists miss,” you filter out famous landmarks and popular attractions. The AI focuses on neighborhood spots, local traditions, and hidden corners that guidebooks skip.

The Problem With Traditional Travel Research

Most travel planning starts with the same sources. You check TripAdvisor’s top ten list. You read Lonely Planet’s must-see attractions. You follow Instagram’s most-photographed locations.

This approach creates a predictable problem. You end up at the same places as every other visitor. Restaurants are full of travellers, not locals. Attractions are crowded and expensive. You leave wondering if you really experienced the destination at all.

Local knowledge is hard to access from outside a city. Real residents don’t write travel blogs. They don’t leave TripAdvisor reviews for their favorite neighborhood spots. They simply live their lives, enjoying places that never make tourist lists.

This information gap means visitors miss the authentic experiences that define a place. They skip the morning market where chefs shop. They never find the park where families gather on weekends. They don’t know about the tiny gallery that local artists actually respect.

How to Use This Prompt Step by Step

Using this prompt effectively takes just a few simple steps.

Step 1: Replace the destination placeholder. Change “[destination]” to your specific city or neighbourhood. Be precise. “Tokyo” gives broad results. “Shibuya, Tokyo” delivers neighborhood-specific suggestions.

Step 2: Paste the prompt into your AI tool. Use ChatGPT, Claude, or any other conversational AI. The prompt works with all major platforms because it uses clear, straightforward language.

Step 3: Review the five experiences carefully. Read why each place matters to locals. Check the recommended timing. These details help you understand if an experience fits your interests and schedule.

Step 4: Research each suggestion independently. Cross-check locations on Google Maps. Look for recent reviews. Verify opening hours. AI provides great starting points, but current details matter.

Step 5: Ask follow-up questions for depth. If one experience sounds perfect, dig deeper. Ask about specific dishes to try, the best day of the week to visit, or what locals typically do there.

Real-World Examples That Show the Value

Let me show you how this prompt works across different types of destinations.

For a major city like Barcelona, the prompt might reveal the neighbourhood of Gracia. Tourists crowd Las Ramblas while locals enjoy this village-like quarter with its quirky squares. The AI explains that August brings the Festa Major de Gracia, when residents compete to decorate entire streets in creative themes.

In a beach town like Tulum, Mexico, you might discover that locals skip the hotel beach zone entirely. They head to hidden cenotes in the jungle that require a local guide or specific directions. The prompt reveals which cenotes have the clearest water and fewest visitors.

For a food-focused trip to Bangkok, the AI might point you toward Or Tor Kor Market instead of the famous floating markets. This is where Bangkok’s best chefs shop for ingredients. Locals visit early morning for the freshest produce and ready-to-eat dishes made by market vendors.

In a smaller destination like Asheville, North Carolina, the prompt could reveal the local tradition of drum circles in Pritchard Park every Friday night. Tourists focus on the Biltmore Estate while missing this free community gathering that defines Asheville’s creative culture.

Each example shows how the prompt uncovers experiences tied to local life rather than tourism infrastructure.

Tips for Getting Better Recommendations

Small adjustments to your approach can dramatically improve your results.

Be specific about the type of experience you want. After getting the initial five suggestions, ask for refinements. “Show me food experiences” or “Focus on outdoor activities” narrows results to match your interests.

Ask about multiple neighborhoods within one city. Large cities have distinct local cultures in different areas. Get recommendations for three separate neighborhoods to understand the city’s diversity.

Request seasonal variations. Ask “What changes in summer?” or “What do locals do in winter?” Different seasons bring different local traditions and gathering spots.

Include your constraints upfront. If you have limited mobility, mention it. If you’re traveling with kids, say so. The AI can filter suggestions to match your practical needs.

Combine this prompt with budget questions. Follow up by asking “Which of these five are free or under $10 per person?” Locals often enjoy affordable experiences that tourists overspend to find.

Ask for the local context behind each suggestion. Request the history or cultural significance. Understanding why locals value a place makes your visit more meaningful.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even a simple prompt can go wrong if you make these typical errors.

Using vague destination names creates generic results. “France” is too broad. “Paris” is better. “The Marais, Paris” gives you neighbourhood-specific gems. Always be as specific as possible.

Accepting AI suggestions without verification. Places close. Neighbourhoods change. Always confirm current information before visiting. Check opening hours, current reviews, and accessibility.

Ignoring the timing recommendations. If the AI says to visit at sunrise or on Tuesdays, there’s usually a good reason. Locals know when places are less crowded or when special events happen.

Forgetting to consider your own preferences. A suggestion might be authentically local but still wrong for you. A 5am fish market is local culture, but if you hate early mornings, you won’t enjoy it.

Treating all five suggestions as equal. Read the descriptions carefully. Some will resonate with your interests more than others. Focus on the two or three that genuinely excite you.

Missing the follow-up opportunity. The initial response is just the start. The real value comes from asking deeper questions about the suggestions that interest you most.

How to Customize This Prompt

You can adapt this basic prompt to match different travel styles and needs.

For food-focused travel, modify it to: “Act as a local food guide in [destination]. List 5 restaurants or food experiences where locals eat regularly but tourists rarely discover. Include signature dishes and best time to visit.”

For adventure travel, try: “Act as an outdoor local in [destination]. List 5 hiking trails, climbing spots, or outdoor activities that locals enjoy but aren’t in major guidebooks. Include difficulty level and best season.”

For cultural experiences, use: “Act as a cultural insider in [destination]. List 5 art galleries, music venues, or cultural events that locals attend but tourists usually miss. Include what makes each unique and when to go.”

For budget travelers, adjust to: “Act as a frugal local in [destination]. List 5 free or very cheap experiences that locals love but tourists overpay to find elsewhere. Include why they’re special and best time to go.”

For family travel, modify to: “Act as a local parent in [destination]. List 5 experiences that local families enjoy with children but tourists don’t know about. Include age appropriateness and best time to visit.”

Each variation maintains the core structure while targeting your specific travel priorities.

Understanding the Local Perspective

This prompt works because it accesses a fundamentally different knowledge base than typical travel queries.

When you search “best things to do in [city],” search engines return results optimized for tourists. These pages are designed to attract visitors and generate revenue. They feature attractions with admission fees, restaurants with tourist-friendly menus, and experiences designed for outsiders.

When you ask AI to think like a local guide, you access different information sources. The AI draws from local Reddit threads, neighbourhood forums, resident reviews, and community discussions. These sources reveal how people who live in a place actually spend their time.

Locals optimize for different values than tourists. They want convenience, authenticity, and good value. They avoid crowds. They return to places that deliver consistent quality. They know the unwritten rules and best-kept secrets.

This shift in perspective is what makes the prompt valuable. You’re not just getting different recommendations. You’re accessing an entirely different way of experiencing a destination.

Making the Most of Your Local Discoveries

Once you have your five local experiences, use them strategically in your trip.

Mix local experiences with tourist highlights. You probably still want to see major landmarks. That’s fine. Use local experiences to balance your itinerary. Spend mornings at famous sites when they’re less crowded, then visit local spots in the afternoon.

Use local experiences to understand the culture. Observing how residents live teaches you about a place in ways museums can’t. Pay attention to how people interact, what they value, and how they spend their leisure time.

Build connections through local spots. Strike up conversations with shop owners, other customers, or people at shared tables. Locals in their favorite places are usually happy to share recommendations.

Document your experiences differently. Take photos that capture the atmosphere rather than perfect travel shots. Write notes about what you learned. These memories often become more valuable than photos of famous landmarks.

Share your discoveries thoughtfully. If you blog or post on social media, be considerate. Some local spots stay special because they’re not overrun with visitors. Share experiences without necessarily revealing exact locations that could be harmed by overtourism.

Why This Approach Matters for Better Travel

Using AI to find local experiences represents a shift in how we can travel.

Traditional travel research has always been limited by what gets published and promoted. Guidebook writers visit major attractions. Travel bloggers go where they can photograph beautiful scenes. Tourism boards promote what generates revenue.

This creates a feedback loop where the same places get more famous while equally worthy spots remain unknown. Cities develop “tourist zones” that feel increasingly separate from where locals actually live.

AI tools trained on broad internet data can break this pattern. They can synthesize information from countless sources that individually have small audiences. They can combine knowledge from local forums, resident reviews, neighborhood blogs, and community discussions.

This doesn’t mean AI always gets it right. As mentioned earlier, verification is essential. But it does mean you have access to insights that were previously hard to find without local connections.

The result is travel that feels more authentic and less scripted. You encounter a destination as a place where people live, not just as a collection of attractions. You see how culture actually functions in daily life rather than in staged performances.

Start Discovering Hidden Local Gems Today

You now have everything you need to find authentic local experiences in any destination. The prompt gives you a simple starting point. The techniques help you refine results. The examples show what’s possible.

The next time you plan a trip, skip the typical “top ten” lists. Use this prompt instead. Get recommendations that reflect how locals actually experience their city. Follow up with questions to go deeper.

You’ll spend less time in tourist traps and more time in places that reveal what makes a destination special. You’ll have stories about hidden corners instead of just photos of famous landmarks. You’ll experience travel that feels real and personal instead of packaged and predictable.

Try it for your next destination. Replace the placeholder with your city name. See what locals love that you might have missed. Transform your travel from tourist to informed visitor who knows where to find authentic experiences.

The hidden gems are waiting. You just need to know where to look.