I used to think that being a native English speaker meant I could travel almost anywhere without much trouble. And for a while, that belief held true. In cities like Amsterdam, Singapore, and Reykjavik, it felt like English was everywhere on street signs, in museums, even echoing from strangers on the subway. I got comfortable assuming I could land in a new country and still order dinner, ask for directions, or explain myself in a pinch.
But then came the moments that cracked that confidence wide open.
I remember standing at a tiny noodle stall in Tokyo, utterly frozen. The menu was a series of handwritten Japanese characters, and the kind elderly man behind the counter smiled expectantly as I stammered through a “ramen… please?” He tilted his head, clearly trying to understand, and I pointed to a photo taped to the counter hoping it was something vaguely chicken-based and not, say, fermented squid. We laughed, and somehow, food appeared.
Then there was the morning in Havana when I wandered into a corner café and attempted to ask for a coffee with milk. I thought I said it right “café con leche” but what arrived was something completely different, and I still don’t know what it was. I drank it anyway, smiling as the owner cheerfully chatted with me in rapid Spanish. I didn’t understand a word, but I felt welcome all the same.
Those experiences taught me something important: English might open a lot of doors when you travel, but some of the best ones need a little more effort and sometimes, a lot more gestures. Tools like Google Translate help, but sometimes even finding a location can be tricky when you’re dealing with signs or place names in a foreign script. (If that sounds familiar, check out my guide on how to search for places in foreign alphabets it’s been a lifesaver.)
So if you’re planning a trip and wondering what it’s like to explore a place where English isn’t widely spoken, this post is for you. These are 9 cities where I found myself out of linguistic depth, and the little things that helped me stay afloat anyway.
Cities Where English Was Tough (But the Adventure Was Worth It)
1. Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City completely won me over the food, the history, the sheer scale of it all. I stayed in Roma Norte, which is pretty international, so at first, I didn’t think language would be an issue. But once I wandered into local markets or hopped on the metro, it was clear: English wasn’t going to carry me through this trip.
I remember ordering tacos at a tiny stand where no one spoke English. I pointed to a tray of meat, said “uno,” and smiled. The vendor rattled off a question I couldn’t understand at all. I froze. Eventually, someone behind me in line stepped in to translate it turned out he was asking if I wanted it with onions and salsa. (Yes. Always yes.)
After that, I started keeping a tiny cheat sheet of food words pollo, cerdo, queso and numbers. It helped a ton. And honestly, once locals saw me trying to speak Spanish, they were so kind and patient.
Zee Tip: Memorize 10 food words and numbers 1–10 before you go. Also, Uber is gold here it saved me from trying to explain directions to cab drivers with zero Spanish skills.
2. Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok is chaotic in the best way, but it definitely threw me a bit when it came to communication. I’d read that English was common, especially in touristy areas and it is but once you step away from the malls or big temples, things shift.
I once hopped in a cab and tried to pronounce the name of my hotel. I butchered it so badly the driver started giggling and handed me his phone to type it out. After that, I always kept my hotel’s name and address screenshot in Thai script it made things a lot smoother.
Also, menus! A lot of street food spots didn’t have English translations. I ended up using the Google Translate photo tool constantly. Once I accidentally ordered something ridiculously spicy because I didn’t recognize the chili symbols but that’s part of the fun, right?
Zee Tip: Keep a few screenshots of your hotel name, destinations, and even popular dishes written in Thai. It’ll save you in taxis and at street stalls.
3. Panama City, Panama
Panama City was a bit of a curveball. With its skyline and banking presence, I assumed English would be everywhere but outside of hotels and tour companies, it really wasn’t.
I remember walking into a casual eatery to grab lunch and realizing I had no clue what anything on the chalkboard menu meant. The woman behind the counter smiled and said something super fast in Spanish. I froze, laughed awkwardly, and just pointed at something random. Thankfully, it was chicken.
What surprised me the most was how chill and understanding people were. Even if they didn’t speak English, they’d try to meet you halfway. And if you even attempted a “gracias” or “¿cuánto cuesta?”, they’d light up.
Zee Tip: You don’t need perfect Spanish but showing effort goes a long way. Just asking, “¿Habla inglés?” politely is often enough to set the right tone.
4. Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is one of the most fascinating places I’ve ever visited but language-wise, it’s not always a breeze. Most subway signs had English, which was great, but small shops, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and local spots often didn’t.
One time I wandered into a ramen shop where everything from the menu to the vending machine was only in Japanese. I panicked a little, then picked a button that had a tiny picture of what looked like noodles. It worked out fine, but it felt like a gamble.
People in Tokyo were incredibly polite, but many didn’t speak much English beyond the basics. I quickly learned that pointing, smiling, and bowing could get me surprisingly far. And when in doubt, I just let the vending machines decide my meals.
Zee Tip: Download Google Maps and Google Translate for offline use before your trip. And don’t be afraid of food vending machines they’re lifesavers if you’re shy about ordering.
5. Bogotá, Colombia
I didn’t realize how little English was spoken in Bogotá until I got there. I had this idea that major Latin American cities would have a fair number of bilingual people, but that wasn’t my experience especially in neighborhoods outside the tourist core.
I tried asking for directions to a coffee shop one morning using what I thought was solid Spanish. The guy I asked blinked, paused, and answered in Spanish that was way faster than anything I could keep up with. I just smiled, nodded like I understood, and turned the corner to figure it out on my phone.
Eventually, I got used to relying on visual cues and pointing at places on a map. Honestly, the people were so warm that even when we couldn’t speak the same language, we could usually figure things out with some effort and a few laughs.
Zee Tip: Have a map app open and zoomed into where you’re going. Pointing at it helps more than trying to pronounce things when nerves kick in.
6. Beijing, China
Beijing was probably the biggest language challenge I’ve ever faced. The signs, menus, instructions most of it was in Chinese characters, and unlike with romance languages, I couldn’t even guess what things meant. I felt like a complete beginner all over again.
Once, I tried to ask a shopkeeper where the nearest subway entrance was. I pointed at the Chinese word for “subway” on my phone, and she nodded but then rattled off an entire paragraph in Mandarin. I just smiled and thanked her, then wandered off in what I hoped was the right direction. Spoiler: it wasn’t.
There were moments like that almost every day. But what helped was being prepared. I downloaded the Pleco app and saved important phrases in Mandarin, plus a few Chinese characters I could recognize. That, combined with a calm “let’s figure this out” mindset, made things easier.
Zee Tip: Screenshot everything your hotel address, your destination, even restroom signs in Mandarin. And don’t stress if communication feels hard most locals will still try to help, even if it’s just by pointing or drawing a map on paper.
7. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo wasn’t on my radar at first, but I ended up there on a spontaneous trip and loved how vibrant and full of life it was. But language-wise? Not as smooth as I expected.
In the touristy parts, you’ll find people who speak some English, but once I ventured into local neighborhoods or tried to chat with museum staff or shopkeepers, English pretty much disappeared. I remember trying to ask someone if a certain street was safe to walk at night, but the conversation went nowhere. In the end, we both just shrugged and smiled and I turned back around.
One thing that helped a lot was miming things out or drawing quick sketches. It felt silly sometimes, but it got the job done. And the locals were warm and didn’t make me feel embarrassed for not knowing Spanish.
Zee Tip: If you’re planning to travel independently in the DR, brushing up on your Spanish will help a lot. Even just learning how to ask for directions or order food can change the whole vibe of your trip.
8. Havana, Cuba
Cuba is such a unique experience. It’s not just the vintage cars and pastel buildings it’s the energy, the history, the rhythm of life. But it’s also one of the hardest places to navigate if you’re expecting English signs or staff that speak your language.
I ran into language hiccups constantly, especially since internet access is limited in many areas. That meant I couldn’t always rely on Google Translate like I usually do. One time I tried to ask for “toilet paper” at a small store. The woman behind the counter looked confused, and I just stood there miming a roll. She burst out laughing, handed me a pack of napkins, and gave me a thumbs-up.
That’s the kind of interaction that stuck with me. Language barriers in Havana made things slower, funnier, and in a way, more human.
Zee Tip: Download everything before you go offline maps, phrasebooks, even a few screenshots of useful icons (like bathrooms, food, Wi-Fi). Also, cash is king, and knowing how to say basic money terms in Spanish makes things a lot smoother.
9. Rome, Italy
I hesitated to include Rome at first because you’ll definitely find English speakers at tourist sites, hotels, and major restaurants. But outside the main attractions especially in residential neighborhoods or small, family-run spots it’s a different story.
One afternoon, I tried to buy a SIM card at a phone shop in a quiet neighborhood. The guy at the counter spoke zero English, and my Italian was basically nonexistent. It took us 20 minutes, a lot of pointing, and a mini game of charades to figure it out. We were both laughing by the end of it.
It reminded me that even in popular European cities, you can’t always count on English. But that’s not a bad thing it just means you get to stretch a little, try new things, and connect in different ways.
If you’re planning a visit, I shared everything I loved (and a few things I’d skip) in this full guide on the best things to do in Rome.
Zee Tip: Learn a few Italian pleasantries like “buongiorno,” “grazie,” and “mi dispiace, non parlo italiano.” It’s respectful and softens the mood instantly.
How I Prepare for Cities Where English Isn’t Common
After a few awkward standoffs at market stalls, confusing subway rides, and moments of pure panic when I couldn’t read a street sign, I started building a little system for myself. It’s nothing fancy, but these small habits have honestly saved me more times than I can count.
Here’s what I do now before heading to a place where English isn’t widely spoken:
I download offline translation apps (and test them beforehand)
Google Translate has been my go-to for years but only once I started downloading languages for offline use did it really come in handy. I learned this the hard way in Havana, where internet access was spotty, and suddenly I couldn’t translate anything.
Now, before I even get on the plane, I make sure the local language is downloaded. I also play around with the camera/photo translation feature in menus and store signs. It’s not perfect, but even getting a gist of the words can help you avoid ordering pig’s blood soup by mistake (yes, that happened).
Bonus tip: If you’re traveling somewhere with a completely different script (like Mandarin or Thai), practice pointing your camera at signs before you leave home so you’re not fumbling on arrival.
I always travel with offline maps
I love getting lost on purpose when I travel but only when I know I can find my way back. In cities where you can’t ask someone for directions (or they can’t understand you), offline maps are a lifesaver.
I usually download the area I’ll be in using Google Maps or Maps.me, which shows smaller roads and even some hiking trails. This has saved me in places like Hanoi where the alleyways have no signage, and even in Rome where GPS inside old buildings can get spotty.
Zee tip: Star your hotel, major landmarks, and the airport on your map in advance. It saves you from typing or searching when you’re jetlagged and confused.
I write down key phrases and save them in Notes
I don’t try to learn a whole language before I travel, but I do like having a few go-to phrases ready. Things like:
- “Where is the bathroom?”
- “How much does this cost?”
- “I don’t speak [local language], do you speak English?”
- “No meat, please” (life-saving for vegetarians!)
I used to rely on translation apps for this, but having them saved offline in a Note or even scribbled on paper has helped in situations where Wi-Fi failed or I didn’t want to be that tourist glued to their phone in front of a street vendor.
Sometimes, just saying “hello” or “thank you” in the local language makes people light up. It’s a small gesture, but it breaks the ice and makes interactions smoother.
I screenshot everything like, everything
I’ve gotten into the habit of screenshotting my hotel booking, the address in the local language, the name of the place I’m going to, and even things like a menu if I know I’ll want to reorder something later.
I usually create a small album in my phone photos called “TRIP INFO” so I can pull it up fast. This saved me in Tokyo when I couldn’t explain where I was staying to the taxi driver, but showing him the Japanese version of the address did the trick.
Screenshots > relying on the cloud. Trust me on this one.
I learn a few words that matter to me
I don’t try to memorize long vocab lists. Instead, I focus on what I personally need based on how I travel.
If I’m going to eat out a lot, I learn words like chicken, beef, rice, spicy, no meat, and water. If I know I’ll be using public transport, I learn “ticket,” “station,” and “exit.” If I’m traveling solo, I learn how to say “I’m meeting a friend” or “I need help” just in case.
Even if I pronounce it wrong, people usually get the gist and they appreciate the effort.
I get a local SIM or eSIM if I’m hopping around
I used to rely on public Wi-Fi when I traveled, but after a few too many café-hunting missions just to check a map, I gave in and started buying SIMs or eSIMs.
Having data means I can use maps, translate on the fly, check train schedules, or message someone if I’m late. It gives me more confidence to wander off the beaten path because I know I can always find my way back.
If you’re traveling to multiple countries, apps like Airalo or Holafly let you buy an eSIM before you leave. No more scrambling at the airport kiosk with jetlag brain.
Traveling to a place where English isn’t widely spoken can feel intimidating but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, these trips often turn out to be the most meaningful and memorable ones. You become more present, more resourceful, and way more appreciative of even the smallest interactions.
So if you’re thinking twice about visiting a place just because of the language barrier, I say go anyway. Just bring your curiosity and maybe a translation app or two.
