Travelling: Doing it creatively can reveal the real soul of a city

Travelling is often sold as a race between landmarks. See the tower, photograph the square, find the famous café, repeat. 

But when flights, fuel and accommodation start behaving like luxury goods, speed loses some shine. 

A slower, more creative trip can reveal more while asking less from the wallet. It can also turn an ordinary street into the best part of the holiday.

WHAT CAN TRAVELLING LOOK LIKE WITHOUT A CHECKLIST?

Try walking. 

Seriously. 

Put away the map for an hour and follow the street that looks interesting. Walking lets you notice balconies, bakeries, murals, markets and tiny parks that disappear from a taxi window.

UN Tourism has highlighted the need to manage urban tourism for residents and visitors. That includes congestion and pressure on local resources. Its city tourism research also considers economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts.

For South Africans travelling abroad, this approach can stretch a rand further. A city walk costs nothing, apart from the occasional coffee that mysteriously becomes compulsory.

WHY IS SLOWER MOVING MAKING SENSE?

South Africa’s own tourism figures suggest that longer stays can be part of the changing picture. Stats SA recorded an average tourist stay of 21.6 nights in 2024, up sharply from 13.6 nights in 2023.

That does not mean every holiday needs three weeks and a suitcase with its own passport. It does suggest that staying longer can offer room for cheaper local transport, quieter days and side trips.

Travelling slowly can also spread spending beyond famous centres. 

A night in a smaller town, a local restaurant or an independent guesthouse gives another destination a turn. The Department of Tourism recorded 40 million domestic overnight trips in 2024/25, showing the scale of South Africans supporting local tourism.

HOW TO MAKE TRAVELLING A LITTLE MORE ADVENTUROUS

Think about the following: Swap the airport transfer for a train where practical. Take a bus to the next town. Rent a bicycle. Visit the neighbourhood beyond the postcard view.

The trick is to stop treating every destination like a museum with opening hours. Cities are living places. Their personality often appears between the attractions.

That matters because tourism supports local livelihoods. UN Tourism notes that tourism can create jobs and income for communities when managed sustainably.

So, when travelling costs more, perhaps the answer is not travelling less; it may be travelling differently.

Take the long way. 

Walk until your feet complain. 

Eat where locals eat. 

Watch the city wake up.

You might return home with fewer ticked boxes, but a far better story.