Explore the world through people and stories — Locals Insider
HungaryLatest storyThe Prince and the Barre: Vyacheslav Gnedchik of the Hungarian National Ballet on Budapest and What the Audience Never Sees
Vyacheslav Gnedchik is a ballet dancer at the Hungarian National Ballet in Budapest, known for leading roles such as the Prince in The Nutcracker. Born in Minsk and formerly a principal at the Mariinsky Theatre, he also founded Balletgigs, which connects ballet artists with producers.
Hungary
Germany“He Packed It in a Supermarket Bag and I Took It Home”: Ashley Scott Müller on Collecting Thierry Mugler, and Her Berlin
Ashley Scott Muller
Denmark“Denmark Built Its Own ChatGPT. It Started With a Dictionary”: Peter Revsbech of Ordbogen on Sovereign Models, Silicon Valley — and Where to Eat in Svendborg
Peter Revsbech is CEO of Ordbogen, the company behind Denmark's largest online dictionary, where he is building Mimir, a Danish language model trained and kept entirely in Denmark. He advises Danish industry on AI, and lives in Svendborg.
Denmark
CanadaDi Wu Munk of Dots & Lines on Art, Connection and Her Favorite Asian Restaurants in Calgary
Di Wu Munk is the founder of Dots & Lines, a Calgary-based social impact startup and marketplace connecting professional artists with individuals and organizations seeking hands-on creative workshops. Originally from Chongqing, she moved to Canada with her family and launched the company shortly after arriving.
Canada
United KingdomIsles of Scilly – White Sand Islands in the UK: Where to Stay and What to Do in England’s Most Westerly Archipelago
Nick Nomi writes about travel, fashion and the creative industries, for Matador Network and ASW among others, and ghostwrites for travel influencers. He studied fashion and media at the University of the Arts London and is on the road most months, usually with music on.
United Kingdom
USA“A DJ Is a Caretaker Before They’re Anything Else”: Rimarkable on Detroit, New York and the Dance Floor
Rimarkable is an Afro-Puerto Rican DJ, producer and vocalist from Detroit, and the host of the weekly Defected Radio Show. She runs her own label, Betty Jean's Dream, teaches the next generation at NYU and in Detroit, and holds down her Fiesta Forever residency in Brooklyn.
USA
MaltaMiki’s Malta: Where a Local Swims, Eats and Drinks Through the Year
Miki is a hairdresser and color specialist, and the founder of Alpha Hair & Beauty in Birkirkara, Malta. Born in Prilep, Macedonia, he was doing his friends' hair at fourteen and never stopped; blonde is his thing.
Malta
ItalyBest Listening Bars in the World: Rafi Mercer of Tracks & Tales on What Makes a Room Worth Listening In
Rafi Mercer is the founder and writer of Tracks & Tales, a global guide to listening bars and listening culture. He spent twelve years at Virgin and a career in record shops, listening rooms and the quieter corners of the music business. He is the author of The Luxury of Listening, and hosts the Listening Club, a monthly vinyl session for members worldwide.
Italy
France“Born With Flowers in My Head”: French Riviera Gardens, Villas and Cafés by Maxim Languev, Florist and Decorator in Nice
Maxim Languev is a florist, decorator and interior designer. Born and raised in Leningrad, he has worked with flowers since 1995 and interiors since 2003; his St Petersburg flower shop has been open since 1999. He now lives in Nice, working on private, event and interior projects across Europe.
France
USARichard Stabbert on Painting Men’s Beauty in America’s Oldest Art Colony and Queerest Provincetown
Richard Stabbert is an American painter born in Red Bank, New Jersey. Self-taught, he paints the male figure in a palette of blues, pinks and ochres. His work is in the permanent collection of the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art and is shown at ArtLove Gallery, Provincetown, and Galerie MooiMan, Groningen.
USA
FranceMarie Beltrami on Fifty Years in Paris: The Surrealist Artist & Designer Behind Chanel’s Égoïste on the City She Knows
Marie Beltrami is a French surrealist artist, jewelry designer and stylist based in Paris. She moved to the city from Nantes in 1975 and spent twenty-five years as Jean-Paul Goude's chief stylist, working on the campaigns that defined an era of French advertising — including Chanel's Égoïste.
France
SwedenThe White Briefs Founder on Redefining Men’s Underwear and Guide to Sweden’s Österlen
Peter Simonsson is the founder and creative director of The White Briefs, the Swedish men's underwear and essentials brand he launched with his wife Henriette in 2008. Based in Österlen, southern Sweden.
Sweden
NorwayThe Norwegian Island With Tropical Garden, Palms, and a 1,500-Year-Old Olive: Flor & Fjære + Stavanger Guide
Hanne Kvernberg Hidlefjord is the general manager (daglig leder) of Flor & Fjære, the family-run tropical garden and restaurant on the island of Sør-Hidle in Ryfylke, a short boat ride from central Stavanger. The garden is open to visitors from May through September, with boats departing from Skagenkaien. More at florogfjare.no.
Norway
FranceFrom Renault Cars to Paris Eyewear: Dzmitry Samal of SAMAL DESIGN on Retro Futurism, Art Deco, and the Paris Boutiques He Visits
Dzmitry Samal is the founder and creative director of SAMAL DESIGN, the Paris eyewear and watch brand. Born in Belarus, he started out designing car bodies for Renault and Alfa Romeo, and it shows: his frames, handmade in the Jura, still look like they were built for speed.
France
BrazilBeyond Copacabana: The Real Rio de Janeiro Tourists Never See by a Carioca Sociologist
Vitor is a carioca — born and raised in Rio de Janeiro — with a degree in Social Sciences from the Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF). He founded and runs Hidden Rio, a conscious-tourism project for international visitors offering walking tours through Santa Teresa, Vila Isabel, Pequena África, downtown and Rocinha. Follow him at @hidden.rrio on Instagram.
Brazil
MexicoExperimental Bar, Organic Restaurant, Art Spaces in Mexico City: Canopia Founder Rocio Bribiesca Shares Her Local Favorites
Rocio Bribiesca is the founder of Canopia, a restaurant, bar and wine space in Mexico City. Trained in oenology and viticulture, she opened Canopia in 2020 with her brother Francisco, an architect specializing in bioconstruction who designed the entire space under his brand SIQE. Follow her on Instagram at @rbribc and Canopia at @canopia__.
Mexico
United KingdomFrom Shepherd’s Bush to Richmond: A London Walking Guide on the 5 Best Areas to Stay in the City
Louis is a London walking tour guide and professional actor, born and raised in West London. He is the founder of London with Louis, a small-group walking tour company specializing in story-led routes through the city's lesser-known corners — from 1970s punk and reggae in Notting Hill to the medieval bones of the City of London. Book at londonwithlouis.com or follow him at @londonwithlouis on Instagram and TikTok.
United Kingdom
MexicoBest Scuba Diving Spots in Tulum by Local Instructor Eva Lenain: Reefs, Cenotes & Tips
Eva Lenain is a scuba dive guide and instructor based in Tulum, Mexico. Originally from the Mediterranean coast of southern France, she holds a degree in Marine Biology and Conservation and has spent years researching sharks and rays around the world before settling in the Yucatán. Follow her on Instagram at @evadivetulum.
Mexico
BrazilBirdwatching in Brazil | Top Lodges in the Atlantic Forest by Local Guide Alef Felipe
Alef Felipe is a bird watching guide based in Tapiraí, São Paulo state, Brazil, and the first bird watching guide in his city. He has led birding tours through the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) for eight years. Follow him on Instagram at @aleffelipe_bird_guide.
Brazil
French PolynesiaHélène Havard on Photographing Places as Memory: French Polynesia, Cuba, and the California of Pacifica
Hélène Havard is a French photographer based in French Polynesia. Her series include Pacifica, The Quiet Season, Pacific Insomnia and Out of Time. Fine art prints in limited and open editions are available at heleneharvard.com with international shipping. Follow her on Instagram at @helenehavard_travel.
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City Travel Guides by Locals: Copenhagen, Tokyo, Paris & More
AarhusBest Seafood & Fish Restaurants in Aarhus for Fresh Oysters & Grill
AmsterdamAirbnb Rules by City in 2026: Where Short-Term Rentals Are Still Legal – and Where They’re Effectively Banned
Bangkok7 Best Cocktail Bars in Bangkok I’ve Tried and Loved — Neighborhood Gems, Rooftop Bars and World-Class Mixology
BarcelonaHadi Moussally on Paris, Barcelona, Cinema and Finding Where You Belong
BerlinInside Berlin Vintage Corner: A Local’s Fashion Refuge in a Changing City
Buenos AiresAn Insider’s Guide to Cool Buenos Aires: From Secret Tango to Best Steak
CopenhagenMy Copenhagen, in Pearls and Sparkle: Cecilie de la Prada on Dudette & the City
EdinburghEurope’s Most Walkable Cities — Where Every Street Tells a Story
FlorenceNice & Cozy Hotels in Florence for First-Time Visitors, Including New Places
Hong KongBest New Restaurants in the World Loved by Visitors and CriticsSee all Curated City Guides →By country
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USA, state by state
FeaturedInside Alpha Hair & Beauty, Birkirkara (Malta): Miki on Blonde, Balayage and Beauty with a Character
Catawiki Online Auction Review – The Best Marketplace App for Collectibles? 
Martine Rose’s Foldable Bag: Fashion’s DHL Moment
Teenage Engineering’s Wooden Choir Might Be the Coolest Gadget You Don’t Need—Until You Hear It
Best Design & Fashion Shops in Copenhagen (Local Shopping Guide)
The Best Designer Phone Cases for Travelers
The Rico Lounge Chair by Ferm Living: A Bold Danish Design Statement You Can Actually Sit In
Berlin’s Best Vintage Shops, Designer Archives & Concept Stores by its.zina
Ethics Aesthetics: Our Favorite Independent Design Shops & Fashion Boutiques
Top Avant-Garde Fashion Boutiques Around the World: Must Visit Concept Stores 2026See all Design →Travel Tips, Insights & Practical Guides for Every Trip
RewardsCapital One Lounges Review: A Rival for Amex and Chase?
French PolynesiaThe Sparkling Wine Made from Pineapples: A Weekend Discovery from French Polynesia
Travel InsightsWinter Sun in Europe: 5 Sunny Cities to Visit
Travel InsightsKiwitaxi Runs Airport Pickups in 100 Countries. Here’s What Travelers Really Want, According to Its CEO
FeaturedThe Best Airlines for International Travel
Seven Best of the Most Scenic River Cruises in Europe (10 Countries, 40+ Cities)
Six of the Best States to Retire: Backed by the Latest Research & DataCapital One Lounges Review: A Rival for Amex and Chase?The Sparkling Wine Made from Pineapples: A Weekend Discovery from French PolynesiaWinter Sun in Europe: 5 Sunny Cities to VisitKiwitaxi Runs Airport Pickups in 100 Countries. Here’s What Travelers Really Want, According to Its CEO
Travel Scams Are Surging: The States Hit Hardest by Vacation Fraud
Tripsy Co-Founder Thiago Sanchez: Your Next Trip Shouldn’t Live in a Chat Window
The Most Reliable UK Airports for Travel — RankedSee all Travel Insights →
FeaturedOur Radio Rooftop Malta Review: Menu, Prices and the 360° View
Top 10 Seafood Restaurants in Barcelona
Sushi Masa by Ki-Setsu: Chef Masa on Cooking Without Noise in Singapore
Tallest Hotels in the World with Rooftop Bars for Drinks & Views
Marseille by the Glass: 5 Cool Wine Bars Worth Stopping For
The Food Cities in Europe (and the Contemporary Restaurants with Local Ingredients – Good for Solo Dining)
Local Food Tours in Vietnam Worth Booking
Latest Michelin Star Restaurants in Rome
The Best Seafood Restaurants in Montenegro, According to Locals: Oysters at an Old Mill and Sea Bass Fresh from the Fishermen
23 Most Beautiful and Best-Designed Bars in the WorldSee all Restaurants →
Featured5 Best New Caribbean Resorts for a Luxury Escape
How to Share Holiday Rentals With Strangers? TOP Coliving Apps and Shared Vacation Airbnbs
Inside Casa Bonavita: Malta’s Luxury Boutique Hotel in a Historic Palazzo (Rooms, Spa, Prices)
Expedia Promo Codes & Discount Offers 2026: Get up to 30% + 3 Boutique Hotels From Us
Agoda Promo Codes & Coupons 2026: Save Up to 25%, Get $200 + 3 Designer Boutique Hotels in Europe
Airbnb Promo Codes & Discounts: How to Save 20% on Airbnb Booking + 4 Stunning European Rentals
Do Hotels.com promo codes work? Here’s what actually saves you money — OneKey, UK rewards, mobile deals
Booking.com Promo Codes & How to Save on Hotels + Our European Picks
Glamping in Europe: 11 Extraordinary Places Where Nature Is the Greatest Luxury
10 Best New Hotels in the World We Want to VisitSee all Stay →Find your boutique hotel in sixty seconds
Five questions, and we match you to one of 40+ hand-picked stays across twelve European cities.
Luxury TravelInside the Luxury Aman Nai Lert Bangkok: A Photo Story from the Suite, the Spa, and the Massage Room
Luxury Travel25 Best Luxury Wellness Retreats Worldwide
French PolynesiaTop 3 Luxury Spa Retreats in French Polynesia Listed by Locals Insider
Luxury TravelThe Best 5 All-Inclusive Overwater Villas in the Maldives for 2026 Vacation
FeaturedThe New Luxury Entry Point: 10 Fashion Brand Cafés & Restaurants Around the World (From Dior, Tiffany to LOEWE)
Portugal’s eight new spa retreats for design, slow living, and eco-luxury moment
Jettly Review: Can We Really Book Private Jets On-Demand?Inside the Luxury Aman Nai Lert Bangkok: A Photo Story from the Suite, the Spa, and the Massage Room25 Best Luxury Wellness Retreats WorldwideTop 3 Luxury Spa Retreats in French Polynesia Listed by Locals InsiderThe Best 5 All-Inclusive Overwater Villas in the Maldives for 2026 Vacation
Where to Find Luxury Villas in Mykonos with Private Pools? Our TOP Locations
The World’s Most Luxurious Airline Suites for 2026 — SWISS, Etihad, Qantas & More
New Luxury Hotels for 2026: TOP 10 Spectacular Resorts OpeningsSee all Luxury Travel →Work from anywhere, legally
Visas, taxes, the eSIM that works on landing and the insurance your permit asks for.
Visa & eVisa checker→esims→VPNs→Travel Insurance→Digital Life→Price up front, driver waits with a sign, fare unchanged if the flight is late. How the code works
“Everyone Wants Valletta at First”: Neil Gatt Coleiro of Malta’s Frank Salt Real Estate on Who Moves Here, and What They Change Their Minds About→
Best Countries for Digital Nomads in Europe by Taxes & Lifestyle (Our 2026 List)→
Cyprus for digital nomads: tax, rent, and how it compares to Malta and Andorra→
“We Built It for Nomads Like Us”: Inside Genki’s Global Coverage Model→
Best Digital Nomad Insurance 2026: Plans, Health Coverage & Costs | Which Nomad Insurance Fits Your Life?→The States, guide by guide
Curated guides to what's worth doing, seeing and eating in each state.
CaliforniaCoast, parks and wine country
New YorkThe Empire State, beyond the city
FloridaBeaches, springs and the Keys
ArizonaCanyon country and desert towns
ColoradoMountains, hot springs and trails
LouisianaMusic, food and the bayou
TexasHill country, coast and barbecue
NevadaDesert, neon and state parks
WashingtonRainforest, islands and coffeeBest Travel Gadgets, Bags & Accessories, Field-Tested
Top 10 Carry-On Luggage Brands to Buy Online: Our Stylish Designer Picks for 2026
Peak Design’s Bags & Camera Gear Picks + 50% Discount Promo Codes
The Best Nomatic Luggage, Bags, and Travel Gear + Promo Codes and How to Save On Your Next Order
Samsonite Promo Code 2026: Verified Discounts 30% to 50% off + Best Luggage & Travel Accessories Review
Calpak Discounts and Promo Codes + $25 Refer-a-Friend Bonus
July Luggage Picks & Promo Codes: How to Save Money on Your July Luggage Order
Bellroy’s Travel Picks and Coupon Promo Code for up to 40% OFF
Away Promo Codes & How to Save Up To 25% + Our Picks, Like Leather Duffle & Compression Packs
TUMI Mediterranean Carry On, Travel Jewelry Case + Discount Codes & How to Save Up to 40%
Tired of Crying Babies on Flights? These 6 Noise-Cancelling Headphones Fix ItSee all Gadgets & Accessories →Healthy Travel: Wellness Retreats, Spas & Jet-Lag Fixes
FeaturedSPF, Heat and Pigmentation: A Malta Beautician’s Guide to Skin in the Sun
How to Fight The Jet Lag With An App Built by NASA Astronauts? Timeshifter Review
How to Breathe, Meditate, and Relax with the Calm App? Here is Our Review + 40% Off Deals
How to Find Vegan Dining Anywhere in the World? HappyCow Review
Wellness Retreat Finder: Match Yourself to the Right European Reset in 60 Seconds
Traveling With ADHD: Simple Systems That Make Every Trip Easier
How to Improve Sleep Quality When Constantly Switching Time Zones
How to Balance Alcohol, Social Dinners, and Recovery While Traveling
How to Avoid Burnout While Traveling Long-Term – 7 Real Tips
Biggest Health Mistakes People Make While Traveling Long-TermSee all Healthy Travel →Best Travel Apps, Tested and Reviewed by Our Writers
The Swirl, the Vivino Alternative That Wants to Change How We Choose Wine — And Where Its Founders Send You for Wine in Sweden
How & Why to Use Miles & More for Tracking Airline Miles from Lufthansa Partners -Review
Airhub Drone App Review: Compliance, Plans & Pricing
Drone Assist Review: The UK’s Top Free Drone Planner
How to Apply for a Visa Online via the Atlys App (Review & Prices)
How to Identify Any Plant on a Walk: PictureThis App Reviewed
Why Travelers Still Use iTranslate (Even With AirPods Now Doing It Hands-Free)
How to Discover Good Wines from Anywhere — Including Denmark, Poland, Malta, Canada (Vivino App Review)
Google Lens: How to Translate Any Menu & Identify Objects with AI Camera in 2 Seconds
Spotted by Locals Review & Pricing – City Guides & Tips Written by Real LocalsPlaying while you travel? Alongside the stories, we keep an eye on the gambling side. For readers in the UK there's our ranked overview of trusted UKGC-licensed online casinos and the best UK betting sites and apps, every one licensed by the Gambling Commission. In the US, where the rules differ state by state, we cover the best social and sweepstakes casinos and the prediction market apps now legal nationwide.
Which country matches your travel style?
Six questions, sixty countries, one honest answer — built from the guides we actually write.
Question 1 of 4
What weather are you actually chasing?
Pick the climate you want to wake up in.
Question 2 of 4
What pulls you somewhere?
Choose up to two.
Question 3 of 4
What should be outside the window?
The landscape you want around you.
Question 4 of 4
What are you spending?
Roughly, per day, on the ground.
Locals Insider Travel Magazine: Authentic Places, Guides & People's Stories
Locals Insider is a travel and lifestyle magazine for globally mobile people. We are always on the move. Alongside personal, local guides to the world's best places to stay, eat and unwind — from boutique hotels and seafood spots to luxury wellness retreats — we review the apps, connectivity, insurance and money tools that make travel actually work. Curated by travel insiders and writers who've been there. Because you don't have to live somewhere to experience it like a local.
In our view, being a "local" doesn't mean living in a place or knowing everything about it. Things change so fast that we sometimes feel like strangers in our own cities. We believe you become a local for a day or a week whenever you travel with curiosity and pay attention.
And we explore the world through people, because places are people first. Behind every good thing is someone who made it. So we talk to founders, designers, artists, café owners, chefs, architects — anyone who makes the world a more beautiful place — and by learning what they do, we get to see their world: the places they love, and the places they've created.
Behind Locals Insider are Alex Copenguy & Martin Danemaq. More about us →
The world, one local at a time
Daily places, people and finds from our contributors — on Instagram as @locals_insider.
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