Let’s play a quick round of two truths and a lie to break the ice:

• Our favorite pet is a cat.
• We’ve traveled to over 10 countries.
• We studied foreign languages in school.

If you guessed that our favorite pet is a cat—you caught the lie. The truth is, we’re not really pet people. Between bouncing from country to country and constantly being on the move, taking care of an animal just doesn’t fit our lifestyle. No offense to pet lovers—we’ll happily share a drink or a travel story with you, but we know nothing about animals.

Now, you might be wondering why we’re starting with a game. During a recent bar crawl we joined in Lima, Peru, this was how everyone in the group introduced themselves. It turned out to be the perfect way to break the ice, and it reminded us why bar crawls are one of our favorite things to do whenever we arrive in a new city. They’re not just about the drinks—they’re about connection, discovery, and fun.

The social aspect is one of the biggest draws. Travel can be exhilarating, but it can also feel a little lonely—especially if you’re on your own or traveling as a couple. A bar crawl instantly brings you into a circle of people who are ready to laugh, swap stories, and share an adventure. And while many assume these events are just for tourists, we’ve met plenty of locals who come out simply to have a fun night. Some of our best conversations have been with people who live in the city and wanted to share their favorite slang, nightlife spots, or cultural quirks. Meeting other travelers is equally inspiring—more than once, we’ve walked away with new destinations on our bucket list after chatting with someone we just met.

Bar crawls also serve as a mini-tour of the city’s nightlife, giving you the chance to hop between popular spots, quirky hidden gems, and sometimes even rooftop lounges with incredible views. The drink specials and food discounts are an added bonus, making it easy to sample the city without overspending. 

In Lima, for example, we tried the city’s signature cocktail—the pisco sour, made with pisco (a Peruvian grape brandy), lime, bitters, and a frothy egg white top. At first, it didn’t sound like our kind of drink—sour flavors aren’t usually our favorite, and adding egg didn’t seem appealing. But thanks to the crawl’s drink special, we gave it a try and ended up loving it. We even ordered pisco sours again later in the trip, a choice we probably wouldn’t have made without that first introduction.

And if alcohol isn’t your thing, you can still join in. Many bar crawls offer mocktail options, and the food specials are often just as memorable as the drinks. Whether you’re sipping a creative non-alcoholic cocktail or sampling local bites, you’ll still get the same sense of connection and cultural flavor.

As the night goes on, the energy builds. By the final stop, you’re no longer strangers—you’re new friends. We’ve ended evenings in salsa clubs, laughing at our clumsy attempts to follow the rhythm as locals tried to show us the right steps. Other times, it’s been live bands or late-night street food with people we’d only met hours earlier. Those are the moments that linger—the laughter, the unplanned connections, the cultural exchange. They’re the reason bar crawls stand out as more than just a night of drinking.

If you’re considering joining one, a little preparation makes the experience even better:

• Eat before you go – A solid meal helps you pace yourself and enjoy the night.
• Wear comfortable shoes – You’ll be walking (and probably dancing).
• Bring small cash – Handy for tips or late-night food.
• Stay open-minded – Talk to locals, try a new drink (or a mocktail), and lean into the experience.
• Pace yourself – The best memories come from connection, not excess.
• Plan your ride home – Know how you’ll get back safely at the end of the crawl.

At the end of the day, bar crawls are a doorway into a city’s culture, flavors, and community. Whether you’re clinking glasses with locals, swapping travel tips with fellow adventurers, or dancing long past midnight, you’ll leave with stories that stick. For us, they’ve become a tradition on the road—and one of the best ways to make a new place feel like home, even if just for a night.