Cafes tend to draw both locals and tourists, giving you an interesting blend of people and personalities. Many people think of cafes as an excellent meeting place to get together and hold conversations. You can eavesdrop on what people are saying and gather fascinating (and true) stories from people’s lives. If it’s cold or wet outside you can people watch inside a cafe, but cafes with outdoor patios let you surround yourself with conversations while also witnessing strangers pass by on the street.
Though a park may have intermittent moments of silence, it will most likely have steady waves of people passing through over time. [3] X Research source Parks tend to draw people of all demographics: the young, middle-aged, and elderly, families and single people alike.
Take note of the things people photograph at a given tourist attraction. You may even want to spark up a conversation with tourists, asking questions like, “What drew you to this location in the city, and what does it mean to you?” Tourist attractions tend to have a steady stream of people entering and leaving, which means that if you sit or walk around for any length of time you’ll see a perpetually-changing crowd of people.
A square or plaza is an excellent place to watch locals rushing to or from work on their lunch breaks, as well as visitors from out of town who are trying to take in the city. If you live in an urban area, any square or plaza in your city will most likely be bustling and crowded, especially during work hours on weekdays and mornings/afternoons on weekends.
Pedestrian streets are usually lined with cafes, bars/restaurants, and little shops. These types of locations tend to draw a lot of traffic, whether people are visiting specific locations or simply taking in the environment (like you). Don’t be surprised if you see a lot of other people watchers on a pedestrian street. If you don’t live near a pedestrian street, you can try your local mall. Malls foster a similar atmosphere and tend to draw a lot of people.
Public transportation offers a perpetually-shifting demographic of the city’s residents and tourists alike. [8] X Research source Most people enter and leave public transportation based on their neighborhoods and their destinations. By noting where the most people exit a subway or bus, you can get a good idea of which parts of the city hold the most common destinations.
Walking gives you the advantage of an ever-changing crowd of people to watch, coupled with the changing scenery and atmospheres as you walk from one neighborhood to the next. Walking may be more ideal for people-watching destinations like urban plazas or tourist attractions. People watching while you walk can help you get some exercise, enjoy a little fresh air, and see parts of the community that you might not otherwise visit.
If you are sitting while you people watch, it’s easier to take photographs or jot notes on the people you see. People watching while sitting is much easier than walking if you’re interested in experiencing a city’s cafes, bars/restaurants, or public transportation.
Try drinking coffee or a cocktail at a cafe or bar. If you’re sitting outside, glance down periodically at an open book or newspaper to look like you have no interest in what people are saying or doing around you. [10] X Research source Many people like to take notes or draw, based on the people and things they see and hear. If you have a notebook that’s fine, but typing on a laptop or in your mobile phone’s note-taking application can help you remain discreet. [11] X Research source
Make sure you are not in a “no loitering” area, or the police might be watching you. Stay away from private property, and instead stick to public spaces. If someone asks you to leave or tells you that you’re making them uncomfortable, be respectful and apologize, then walk away. Respect people’s privacy and their personal space. Don’t be intrusive, and don’t get up close to others unless you’re moving through a crowded area and it is unavoidable. Never photograph someone without getting that individual’s permission first.
Sports merchandise suggests a strong affiliation with that team’s city, region, university, or country. Look for jerseys, caps, or t-shirts and try to identify what a given team represents to that individual. T-shirts or sewn-on patches of a band’s logo let you know that that person listens to that band’s music and identifies with the scene they represent. Any band might print t-shirts, but patches are often associated with grunge and punk rock. Designer brand clothing indicates that fashion is important to that individual. These individuals may or may not be wealthy, but it’s safe to assume that these people put a lot of thought into how they dress. Souvenir shirts and hats tell you where a person has been, whether the individual likes to travel, and what things are important in that person’s social life (for example, Disneyland shirts might imply an emphasis on family). Tattoos may honor a loved one (in which case family is important to them), a military squadron (national pride and duty), or a city’s skyline (home or a place identified as home). Try to interpret how a tattoo might represent that person’s identity.
Good posture with a straight back and shoulders pushed back implies that a person is very strong and secure. This person may or may not be smiling, but is certainly confident in himself/herself at the moment. If you see someone slouched over and staring at the ground to avoid eye contact, or looking back over his/her shoulder, that individual is probably very insecure or self-doubting. There’s nothing wrong with looking good, of course, but being perfectly groomed and manicured, as well as stopping to look in every mirror, are the common marks of a narcissist. [14] X Research source
Anxious people tend to fidget, shrug shoulders, and look around nervously. Someone who looks sad or is crying is most likely sad or depressed, though again, you can’t be certain without interacting with a person. A furrowed brow and/or narrow eyes usually implies anger or frustration. An individual who walks briskly and has some indication of a smile on his or her face is probably happy or having a good day.
A kind, caring person will let you pass ahead, or will hold a door open for strangers. Someone who sees another person coming but lets the door close in that person’s face is probably not a particularly nice individual (though that person may just be running late or impatient). Someone who makes eye contact with others and smiles is probably a very friendly, outgoing individual. By contrast, someone who makes eye contact while maintaining a cold demeanor may have an unfriendly or gruff personality. You can learn just as much about a person by his/her interactions with others as you can from someone’s reluctance to interact with others. [17] X Research source Take note of the ways people interact with or avoid one another, whether they’re together in a group or strangers passing by one another.
