Summary: Tourist traps are not always bad, they are just optimised for the wrong thing. This article gives a few reliable signals for spotting them, and explains how local-perspective guides change what you find.
The signals worth trusting
- Menus printed in ten languages, with photos of every dish, usually means the pricing and the food are aimed at visitors.
- A location directly on the main square or the last street before a landmark often means you pay for the address.
- Staff standing outside to pull people in is a strong hint that repeat local customers are not the business model.
Why good trips still fall into traps
Ranking systems reward volume and recency. A place that serves thousands of visitors a year accumulates more reviews than the small restaurant two streets away, so the algorithm sends you to the crowd.
That is not a failure of the traveller. It is a failure of the recommendation source.
A better default
Start from a guide written with local perspective, then walk a few minutes off the main drag. The difference between a mediocre meal and a memorable one is often one street.
BackpackGo city guides are built around exactly that, and its place pages include the menu so you can judge before you go.