Grocery Store Tourism Is Turning Supermarkets Into Tourist Hotspots
Gen Z says the grocery store is a must-see attraction when traveling.
Published July 15 2024, 4:50 p.m. ET
There's a popular travel trend taking TikTok by storm, and it doesn't involve splurging on exotic hot spots or heading to the most popular locations. Instead, it involves checking out foreign grocery stores to see what new or different foods are available, and what the true locals like to nosh on.
While this idea may seem pretty basic, it's actually a really unique way to gain insight into a different culture and to try new things. That's probably why grocery store tourism has gained so much popularity among Gen Z travelers, who seem to be the latest ones to pack their bags and hit the road. You can learn more about the trend below.
In one example of grocery store tourism, a couple visits a Zurich grocery store.
The idea of grocery store tourism makes a lot of sense when you watch videos like the one shared by @mrsryleepaige. The American native says that she loves stopping at grocery stores when she travels, noting how different things can be from place to place. She specifically pointed out how the dairy and eggs aren't kept in refrigerators in Switzerland, something that is standard in the U.S.
One TikToker calls grocery store tourism a "cultural" experience.
Walking around a grocery store in a new town can give you a firsthand look at different cultures, offering some serious insight into the things that they eat and use. In fact, @ccamillap says that the experience is often her favorite part of going on vacation!
People say that they learn so much about different countries this way.
As @caroluzitus travels, he tries to hit as many grocery stories as he can, including this great little spot in France. It looks like he enjoyed checking out the different products, even gravitating towards a package of crepes, a French food staple.
Sometimes the shopping experience can be eye opening.
The two women in the video shared by @hai.yanna giggled their way through their grocery store experience, which included looking at all of the different products the store carried, which sometimes included unusual ingredients!
The trend isn't just for Americans.
Even non-Americans like @rudik_d have gotten in on the trend. She documented her trip to Erewhon in Los Angeles, which she called the most expensive grocery store in the U.S. She explained how LA locals like the Kardashians and Miley Cyrus are known to shop at the overpriced grocery chain.
It's clear from these videos that while the trend may be mostly rooted in curiosity about what people around the world are eating and buying, it seems like you really can learn a lot about a place by the things they carry on the shelves in their grocery stores. Not only that, but it looks like this may be a great spot to pick up the perfect souvenir for those hard-to-shop-for friends and family members who ask you to bring them something back from your travels!
