The traveller vs. tourist debate is always raised on social media. This so-called debate only ever appears on Facebook and Instagram, where viral travel quotes and graphics constantly compare the two types of travel against each other.
These posts typically portray travellers as adventurous people getting off the beaten track and immersing themselves in culture. In contrast, tourists are mocked as mere checklist enthusiasts snapping photos at famous landmarks.
Who is a traveller and who is a tourist?
Here’s a common description of these two types of travellers:
- Travellers tend to prioritize slow, immersive experiences. They might spend hours chatting with locals, learning a few phrases in the native language, or wandering off the beaten path.
- Tourists prefer structured trips. They stick to popular destinations and carefully planned itineraries. They aim to see as much as possible in a limited time.
I hate this distinction, I hate seeing it, and I honestly find it elitist and insulting to all people who travel. You only ever hear this from travellers who want to make themselves feel elite and superior, implying their way is the only “right” way to travel.
While slow, immersive travel has its merits, there are many factors that go into travel, such as time, money, responsibilities, and more. With unlimited time, you can be more immersive, with limited time, there’s nothing wrong with focusing on major sights.
Don’t fall into the trap of avoiding tourist sites just to feel like a “real traveller.” By doing this, you’re only trying to appease someone else’s opinion and not doing what you want to do.
If you don’t visit the major sites as a tourist or a traveller, you’re probably missing the point of why you travelled to this destination in the first place. It only becomes famous and well-known because there is an attraction or place there that people have visited and raved about.
It’s easy to be a travel snob and project our travel expectations onto others. Some people may like to just travel to a beach resort in Thailand and lie on the beach drinking cocktails. Others may want to go to Rome and explore the Colosseum and the Vatican. These two types of vacations are very different, but they are not wrong if that’s what you like doing.
The idea that travellers are “better” than tourists overlooks what makes travel special for all of us — the opportunity to step outside our normal routine and explore the world. The experience is yours alone and there is no need to define it or defend it to anyone.
But here’s the truth, whether you identify as a traveller, a tourist, or somewhere in between. Both types of travel will bring happiness and meaning to the people experiencing them.
For some context, I have been both a tourist and a traveller. I have spent 14 months non-stop on a journey in Asia and Europe, and taken short trips like a week in places like Bali and Berlin ticking off the top sites. I will continue to be both, adapting my travel style based on time and budget.
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What is the difference between a tourist and a traveller?
The common distinction is that travellers seek slow, immersive experiences while tourists prefer structured trips hitting major sights. In reality most people are both depending on how much time and money they have. The distinction is largely meaningless and is mostly used by people who want to feel superior about their travel style.
Is it okay to be a tourist?
Absolutely. Visiting famous landmarks, following a planned itinerary and seeing the major sights is a perfectly valid way to travel. Places become popular because they are genuinely worth seeing. There is nothing wrong with going to Rome and visiting the Colosseum or going to Paris and seeing the Eiffel Tower.
Should you avoid tourist spots when travelling?
No — not unless you genuinely don’t want to see them. Skipping major attractions just to avoid being called a tourist is letting other people’s opinions dictate your holiday. See what you want to see and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks.
What is travel snobbery?
Travel snobbery is when experienced travellers look down on others for how they choose to travel — dismissing package tourists, people who visit popular attractions, or anyone who doesn’t travel the way they do. It’s elitist and unhelpful. Everyone travels differently based on their time, budget and interests.
How do you travel like a local?
Staying in residential neighbourhoods rather than tourist districts, eating at local restaurants rather than places aimed at tourists, using public transport, and spending more time in fewer places rather than rushing between sights all help you experience a destination more like a local. That said, there’s nothing wrong with mixing this approach with visiting the major attractions too.
