Russian travel blogger Elena Liseikina has identified seven tourist habits that consistently irritate local residents at holiday destinations, highlighting unauthorised photography as a major point of friction in traditional regions. Writing on her blog, Travel with a Camera, on the publishing platform Dzen, she shared observations gathered from her journeys across Russia.
According to Liseikina, taking photographs of people without asking permission is an especially sensitive topic in the Caucasus. She noted that travel guidebooks for Dagestan explicitly advise visitors not to take pictures of local residents, particularly women and children, without prior consent, as locals can view the practice as a sign of disrespect.
Liseikina explained that resolving the situation is straightforward, advising tourists simply to ask politely and smile, which she said almost always results in a positive response. Dagestan is a republic located in the North Caucasus region of southern Russia along the Caspian Sea, where traditional community values and cultural customs remain strong.
Annoying Beach and Street Behaviour
Beyond unauthorised photography, Liseikina outlined several daily habits that cause annoyance in resort towns. She reported that local residents dislike seeing holidaymakers visit shops while wearing swimwear or using beach attire as everyday clothing in public spaces.
Beachgoers also draw frustration by playing music out loud through portable loudspeakers and by reserving sun loungers early in the morning before using them. In addition, Liseikina noted that groups of tourists frequently obstruct local walkways by standing together with large suitcases or heavy backpacks.
The blogger further noted that hosting loud parties in rental accommodation creates tension with local neighbours. She also highlighted that residents react poorly when visitors publicly evaluate or criticise regional accents, local dialects, and traditional food.
Welcoming Guests While Respecting Daily Life
Despite these points of friction, Liseikina emphasized that local residents do not harbour anger toward tourists simply for visiting their towns. She explained that communities welcome guests because tourists spend money, keep local cafes active, and support seasonal businesses during the travel season.
She concluded that visitors do not need to remain quiet and invisible during their stays, noting that travelers remain free to ask questions, make mistakes, take photographs, enjoy their trips, and bargain where appropriate. The key distinction, she said, is for tourists to remember that they have not arrived inside a scenic picture, but rather into another person's everyday reality.
Previous Flights Advice
The travel advice follows a previous post in which Liseikina listed five Russian cities that tourists could fly to for the price of a train ticket. In that breakdown, she noted that flight tickets to Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan on the Volga River, started from 4,500 rubles.
