Tour guides taking travellers out of their comfort zone and into the heart of their cities: hip hop in New York, gangs in LA, renting a friend + more.
New York
Undoubtedly the capital of hip-hop culture, New York City’s nooks and crannies hold street-art gold. Graffiti Tours New York is dedicated to showing curious out-of-towners some of the most famous murals in the area, sharing urban legends and detailed histories of the artists and areas they visit. Meanwhile Hush Tours explores the rapping and DJing community hot spots, providing lessons on the ins and outs of street culture and organising meet and greets with local hip-hop stars. Ideal for those keen to uncover a more musical side to the city.
Berlin
Urban art exhibitions in abandoned buildings or futuristic, sci-fi bunkers more your thing? Gung-ho explorers looking to get under the skin of Berlin’s rich underground culture will enjoy the Alternative Berlin tours. Featured in The Guardian, the ultra connected Alternative guides provide the best insider look at clubhouse bars and historical neighbourhoods the city is famous for.
Melbourne
A city boasting over 180-plus laneways, it’s no surprise Melbourne’s street-art tours have taken off. Hidden Secrets Tours explores not only the lanes and arcades that surround the CBD but the cafes and businesses that were inspired by the creative milieu.
Shanghai
For mainstream tours, group buses are still de rigueur, but visitors to Shanghai keen to shake off the “tourist” tag should try Shanghai Sideways. From the sidecar of a vintage motorcycle, the tour will take you on a fast-paced journey through city; from the futuristic Pudong district to the romantic 1920s architecture of the French Concession.
Los Angeles
The movie star glitterati add a lot of sparkle to Los Angeles, but those keen to get a little more grit into their trip should investigate an LA Gang Tour . US Marine Alfred Lomas offers visitors a high-end bus tour of the city’s historic mean streets; through South Central, stopping to view the graffiti murals at Watts Arts Gallery and on to Florence Avenue, site of the LA Riots.
Global
Inspired by the new trend of collaborative consumption Rent a Local Friend hooks travellers up with totally authentic tours from city locals. The guides act as a friend for the day, taking their group to the most relevant and happening places only a local would know.
Been on an alternative tour lately? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below or via @qftravelinsider on Twitter.