I’m lucky enough to live in London, and this week, I have friends travelling from Canada to visit.

Although I’ve lived in the city for over a decade, my partner is only on his third year here—when he first moved, we spent time exploring different boroughs, finding things we’d like to do. We found cinemas, cafes, and parks that became regular creature comforts for us.

One of the things I love most about London is that it’s always changing. A business closes; another opens. Yesterday’s laundromat becomes tomorrow’s matcha spot. But with my friends being here for a very short time, I know they’re not looking for the same things locals are. They don’t want to see the pub that we go to for after-work drinks; they want to see what makes London so special.

Here’s how I’m trying to think more like a traveller, and less like a local—and how I think you can support your friends who might be travelling to your city.

Start with your guests, if you have them. What things do they want to see and experience? Specific museums, exhibits, restaurants? Hearing what tourists are excited about now–that they’ve heard of through social media or word of mouth–might open you up to ideas you hadn’t considered before. If they don’t have ideas, suggest them based on interests; a movie buff might like to see where famous films were shot, or someone with a penchant for the paranormal might enjoy a walking ghost tour.

Plan your day ahead of time. Of course, you should research the attractions you want to enjoy. But a money-saving exercise could be buying tickets for timed groups and tours ahead of time, saving time in line and last-minute surcharges. This will also help give your day structure; for example, if the tour of an opera house is offered only once per day, planning around that makes more sense than showing up whenever and hoping for the best.

Set a budget that’s higher for what you’d normally spend in a day. Of course you need to live within your means; but if you’re going to be in the touristy parts of town, expect to spend more for a novelty cocktail or fancier meal.

Look for freebies. Lots of places are exciting and new to tourist, without being the most touristy place. For example—if you want to see stunning aerial views of London, you can pay £29 for a ticket to the top of the Shard….or, you can book a ticket to Sky Garden for free for two people. Or to Horizon 22, which is even higher—you just need to book ahead.

Be open to new opportunities. Remember, you’re trying to see where you live with fresh eyes. This week alone I’ve been to a tour of the Royal Opera & Ballet, a cocktail bar in Green Park that was open until midnight, and watched Rachel Zegler sing “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” at the Palladium Balcony. These things were all based on my friend’s interests, but I still had an amazing time! You never know what you’ll discover that you’ll end up liking, or loving.

How do you enjoy your city? Let me know in the comments; and as always, happy travels!