10 Popular Tourist Attractions Where Side Hustles Thrive
Tourist hotspots aren’t just beautiful places to visit and indulge in local cuisine, they’re also ideal places for side hustles to take off. If there’s a steady stream of visitors, there’s opportunity. Many locals (and even visitors) in these bustling tourist destinations have found a creative way to make extra income.
You can turn the tourism tide in your favour whether you are thinking of diving into a side hustle or just want to understand how others have turned the pie. Take a closer look at some of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, where side hustles have become almost as popular as the landmarks themselves.
Alfama District – Lisbon, Portugal
Locals in Lisbon’s historic Alfama district — where tourists go to hear Fado music or admire the narrow cobbled streets — have cleverly transformed their homes into temporary art galleries or restaurants. Full of pop-up food stalls serving up authentic Portuguese pastries, this area is a hub for side hustlers who rent out audio guides or even personal tours on foot to help you explore the city more intimately.
St. Mark’s Square, Venice, Italy
There are side hustlers in Venice’s St. Mark’s Square, with winding canals and breathtaking architecture. Gondoliers are the most traditional example, but some have added services like storytelling, telling historical tales as they paddle. Some rent out period costumes to tourists who want to take Renaissance-era-style photos and Artisan vendors sell handmade glass jewelry; a perfect mix of business and Venetian tradition.
Chatuchak Weekend market, Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok’s Chatuchak Weekend Market is a haven for bargain hunters and a goldmine for side hustles. There are established vendors with permanent stalls, but many are small-time vendors selling everything from hand-painted postcards to artisanal soaps. Sellers can test out their own crafts or travelers can snap up handmade goods in the vibrant market’s energy.
Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo, Japan
According to CNN, Shibuya Crossing is Tokyo’s busiest intersection and one of the busiest in the world. It is also an active marketplace for side hustlers. Locals provide quick and quirky services to fast-paced tourists beyond the bright lights and towering billboards. Renting out dogs as a local friend to explore with, or even themselves as ‘companions’ for a fee. Another regular is pop-up food vendors selling travelers sushi or fried street snacks.
Jemaa el-Fnaa, Marrakech, Morocco
In Marrakech’s energetic square of Jemaa el-Fnaa, side hustle is thriving. This spot is the heart of Moroccan culture and entrepreneurship. From snake charmers mesmerizing onlookers to gifted henna artists beautifying visitors with intricate designs, a side hustle can thrive. Many locals provide tea-tasting sessions or offer freshly made sweets to give tourists a taste of Moroccan flavors.
Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey
In the labyrinth of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, tourists are not only attracted by colorful spices and carpets, but also by a plethora of side hustlers. Inside the more permanent shops, there are sellers of personalized name art, instant repairs for clothing or shoes, and even personal shoppers who will guide overwhelmed tourists through the maze, outside the permanent shops. Locals have also taken to offering quick haggling lessons, a trendy gig, if you will.
Copacabana Beach at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Copacabana Beach is more than a sunbathing spot, it’s an open air marketplace for hundreds of side hustlers. All materials are available on the beach as vendors walk by with cold drinks and snacks, temporary tattoos and massages. If you’re after something a bit more experiential, some locals will organise impromptu samba lessons or beach yoga sessions for tourists to jump right into the culture.
Pyramids of Giza, Cairo, Egypt
Side hustlers offer services like camel rides, and photography sessions with a promise to snap that perfect shot of you ‘holding’ the pyramid, near the ancient Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The local guides offer unofficial but valuable tours full of stories and anecdotes not always found in the guidebooks. Souvenir sellers can be found all over selling their handcrafted trinkets that make for great keepsakes.
Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, Paris, France
The Eiffel Tower and the artistic district of Montmartre are far more than a romantic getaway, it’s a side hustler’s dream. Painters creating quick portraits or caricatures on Montmartre, and street musicians keeping the air thrumming with tunes are some special additions to the ambiance of the Eiffel Tower. Couples wanting that perfect Instagram shot can even get instant photo shoots from photographers.
Times Square, New York City, USA
Time Square is a great place to start a side hustle. The options range from costumed characters charging for photos to street performers with mind-blowing talents. It helps that there are usually large crowds to market to. Locals rent out mobile charging stations for exhausted tourists or hawk their own artwork or souvenirs, sometimes working right next to the big-name stores that line the square.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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