Airbnb's lesser-known 'Experiences' section curates local events and tours so you'll always have something to do

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• Airbnb's 'Experiences' section is the hidden adventure gem I wish I had known about sooner.
• It offers locally-led tours, workshops, experiences, and concerts that you can book for as little as $10. Ratings and reviews help you make sure you get directed to the best ones out there.
• It's a fantastic tool for an unforgettable date, trip highlight, or fun new "staycation" with old friends in your home city. It's also a low-risk way to try out new hobbies.
• I've curated a list of experiences in NYC for anyone looking to explore what the city has to offer.

If you're like me, you may be surprised to learn that Airbnb's best feature might not be offering rentals for travelers.

I'd wager that it might actually be their lesser-known and definitely under-utilized 'Airbnb Experiences' section.

'Experiences' lets you book excursions or other activities designed and led by local hosts. It could be as simple as an Insider Tokyo Ramen Tour, a horseback ride through a natural park, and a hidden jazz concert, or as involved as a three-day surfing trip. Thanks to Airbnb's review and rating system, you can make sure you get to the very best ones.

'Experiences' - be it used on a trip or in your home city - is an exciting way to round out your life on a shoestring budget. You don't have to go to the place that comes up first when you Google "fun tours" in X city -one that every other tourist will also be on. Instead, you'll get to actually experience a place as a local would.

You might scroll through the offerings and, like me, realize that a "live music crawl" sounds like an insane amount of fun, but something you'd never want to organize yourself. 'Experiences' is one way to make your life more rich and diverse, playing around with potential new hobbies in a low-risk way and learning new things alongside new people. It could be the perfect first date, the unexpected highlight of your next trip abroad, or a great way to get together with old friends and do new things in your home city. And it doesn't hurt that some experiences are as low as $10 a ticket.

You can filter your search by dates, guests, and types (immersions which occur over multiple days, or experiences which last two or more hours) in categories that include classes and workshops, concerts, arts, food and drink, nature, sports, history, music, entertainment, health and wellness, nightlife, and social impact.

For example, this is what shows up when I look under "classes and workshops" without specifying which location:

Below, I've curated a few experiences currently available in my native New York City - more than a few of which have made its way into a group chat for a couple fun "staycation" weekends to come.

Or, check out the Experiences you can book directly in your city here >