Tourism – places, verbs & adjectives
B2 · Travel & Tourism vocabularyKey words to talk about tourist places, what travellers do on holiday, and how to describe destinations.
B2 · Tourism
Places to go
Typical locations tourists visit in a town, city, or region.
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1 Tourist attraction
tourist attractions – famous sights such as monuments, landmarks, museums, etc. that visitors come to see. They’re often busy and crowded.
There are so many tourist attractions here that a weekend isn’t enough. -
2 Seafront
seafront – the part of a town that faces the sea, usually with a promenade and cafés where people walk and enjoy the view.
We wandered along the seafront, watching the waves crash onto the beach. -
3 Backstreets
backstreets – narrow streets behind the main roads, often quieter and sometimes poorer, with few shops or tourists.
The backstreets were peaceful and almost completely empty. -
4 Amusement park
amusement parks – large outdoor areas with rides, games, and other attractions, often open only in certain seasons.
We spent the whole day at the amusement park going on roller coasters. -
5 Ruins
ruins – remains of old buildings or cities that have been damaged or destroyed over time.
The ruins of the ancient temple were fascinating to explore. -
6 Hiking trail
hiking trails – marked paths through mountains or forests which people follow on foot; some can be very long.
We followed a hiking trail that led to a waterfall. -
7 Food market
food markets – busy covered areas with stalls selling fresh and prepared food from different vendors.
We tried local cheeses and olives at the food market. -
8 Nature reserve
nature reserves – protected areas of countryside, forest, or coastline where plants and wildlife are looked after.
The nature reserve was full of birds and wildflowers. -
9 Crafts fair
crafts fair – an event where people sell handmade items such as jewellery, pottery, or artwork.
We bought a hand-painted bowl at a local crafts fair.
Verbs & idioms for tourists
Useful actions and expressions linked to holidays and trips.
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1 Go off track
go off track – avoid the usual tourist routes and explore less-visited areas.
We went off track and discovered a tiny family-run café. -
2 Make a reservation
make a reservation – book something in advance, for example a table, ticket, or room.
It’s a popular restaurant, so we made a reservation. -
3 Chill out / unwind
chill out / unwind – relax and forget about stress or work.
We just chilled out by the pool and unwound after a busy week. -
4 Stroll
stroll – walk slowly and calmly with no rush, often simply enjoying the area.
After dinner we strolled through the old town. -
5 Hit the shops
hit the shops – go shopping, especially for clothes, gifts, or souvenirs.
I’m going to hit the shops and look for local handicrafts. -
6 Sample the local cuisine
sample the local cuisine – try traditional food from the place you’re visiting.
We sampled the local cuisine at a small street stall. -
7 Pack your bags
pack your bags – put your clothes and belongings into a suitcase or rucksack for a trip or to come home.
I packed my bags the night before the flight. -
8 Take a detour
take a detour – use an alternative route to avoid traffic, roadworks, or to see something extra.
We took a detour to visit a small mountain village. -
9 Go on (a trip / tour / safari)
go on (holiday / trip / journey / excursion / tour / cruise / safari, etc.) – standard verb used before many travel-related nouns.
They went on a safari during their stay in Kenya.
Adjectives to describe destinations
Words that help you talk about the atmosphere and quality of places.
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1 Unspoilt / unspoiled
unspoilt / unspoiled – still in a natural state, not damaged or overdeveloped by tourism.
The coastline is surprisingly unspoilt, with no big hotels. -
2 Remote
remote – far from towns, roads, and services; difficult to reach.
They stayed in a remote cottage miles from the nearest shop. -
3 Off the beaten track
off the beaten track – away from popular tourist areas; not many visitors go there.
We found a beach off the beaten track that was almost empty. -
4 Touristy
touristy – full of tourists and tourist services; often used in a negative way.
The old town was pretty, but far too touristy for my taste. -
5 Picturesque
picturesque – very attractive, like a picture or postcard.
The picturesque village was filled with colourful houses. -
6 Breathtaking
breathtaking – so beautiful or impressive that it almost takes your breath away.
The view from the top of the cliff was absolutely breathtaking. -
7 Overrated
overrated – not as good as people say; given more praise than it deserves.
Everyone talks about that beach, but I think it’s overrated. -
8 Vibrant / lively
vibrant / lively – full of life, colour, and activity; lots of things going on.
We loved the vibrant nightlife in the city centre. -
9 Exotic
exotic – excitingly different or unusual because it comes from a distant place (can describe food, music, or places).
The market was full of exotic fruits and spices.
Exercises:
Tourism
Choose the correct option to complete each sentence below.
1
The Eiffel Tower is probably the most famous
in Paris, visited by millions of people every year.
Correct:
A tourist attraction = a famous place that many tourists visit.
2
Our hotel is right on the
– just cross the road and you’re on the beach.
Correct:
The seafront = the part of a town next to the sea, often with a road and promenade.
3
If you want to see the “real” city, leave the main roads and walk through the narrow
behind the cathedral.
Correct:
Backstreets = small, quiet streets away from the main roads.
4
The children begged us to spend the day at the
so they could ride rollercoasters and eat cotton candy.
Correct:
An amusement park = a large park with rides and games for entertainment.
5
After the earthquake, only a few stone
of the ancient temple were left standing.
Correct:
Ruins = the remains of an old building or city that has been destroyed.
6
This marked
takes about three hours through the forest up to the waterfall.
Correct:
A hiking trail = a marked path for walking in nature.
7
In the evening we went to the
to buy fresh fruit, spices and some street food for dinner.
Correct:
A food market = a market where people sell food and ingredients.
8
The island is a protected
so you mustn’t feed the animals or leave any rubbish there.
Correct:
A nature reserve = an area where wildlife is protected by law.
9
At the weekend there was a
in the main square where people sold handmade jewellery and pottery.
Correct:
A crafts fair = an event where people sell handmade objects.
10
We were following the map, but at some point we started to
by mistake and ended up in a completely different village.
Correct:
To go off track = to leave the planned path or route, often accidentally.
11
It’s a very popular restaurant, so you should
if you want a table by the window on Saturday night.
Correct:
To make a reservation = to book a table, room, etc. in advance.
12
You’ve been sightseeing all day – just sit by the pool,
and listen to some music this evening.
Correct:
To chill out = to relax and do nothing special (informal).
13
After the stressful exam period, it took me a few days to really
and feel normal again.
Correct:
To unwind = to relax after a period of work or stress.
14
After dinner we decided to
along the seafront and enjoy the evening breeze.
Correct:
To stroll = to walk slowly and in a relaxed way.
15
Whenever she goes on a city break, the first thing she wants to do is
and look for clothes and souvenirs.
Correct:
To hit the shops = to go shopping, especially in many shops.
16
If you really want to understand the country, don’t just eat at fast-food chains; you should
in small family-run restaurants.
Correct:
To sample the local cuisine = to taste typical food from the area.
17
Our flight leaves very early, so
tonight before you go to bed.
Correct:
To pack your bags = to put your things into bags before travelling.
18
The main road was closed because of an accident, so we had to
through the countryside to reach the hotel.
Correct:
To take a detour = to follow a different longer route than usual.
19
Every winter they
to a warm island for two weeks to escape the cold and rain at home.
Correct:
To go on holiday = to travel somewhere for rest and enjoyment.
Tourism
Match the sentences with the tourism words
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