Tour guides are mandatory IMO if you plan on sightseeing. Otherwise, I like just walking in a direction. I'm not sure if it's the best approach. There are plac

Tour guides are mandatory IMO if you plan on sightseeing. Otherwise, I like just walking in a direction. I'm not sure if it's the best approach. There are places that are incredibly welcoming to tourists - youth hostels, museums, religious buildings, the occasional barber. I try to visit a barber or some grungy restaurant in every new town, outside a tourist district. It's a good sample of the locals.