How to Explore a City

Whether you’re moving to a new city or just visiting, you can pick up some of the local flavor of any city that you go to as long as you keep an open mind, maintain a spirit of adventure and cultivate the patience to wander. Being able to feel at home anywhere in the world is a skill that is worth cultivating—it makes travel easier and more enjoyable not only for you, but also for the people who live in the city that you are visiting. No one can reasonably expect a stranger to pick up every local custom upon arrival, but a visitor who takes the time to get a sense of the rhythm of a city will be appreciated and enjoyed by those who live there.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• City guidebook
• City map/internet access

1. Shop for a good guidebook specifically for the city that you are planning on exploring. Some smaller cities might not have a specific guide written for them, so try to find one that focuses on that section of the state or province in which your city is located. A guide book is a good investment because it can let you know what major attractions are located in a particular city as well as hidden gems that you might not otherwise find. Not all guidebooks are researched equally however, and it is best to spend some time in a book store browsing through their selection until you find the one that appeals to you.

2. Determine whether or not you will need a map. If you purchased a guidebook it may include a map of the city that is detailed enough for a one- or two-day visit. A longer visit or a move might necessitate a more detailed understanding of city neighborhoods, so investing in a good city map or making sure that you can print off the maps that you need from the internet is a smart idea.

3. Plan ahead by reading through your guidebook and noting what local interests or sections of the city you definitely want to visit. Talk to family, friends and colleagues to see if they have been to the city that you’ll be travelling to, and if they have any recommendations on where to go. Better yet, ask them if they have a local friend who would be interested in meeting you for a cup of coffee.

4. Spend your day walking—you can see things on foot that you would miss while driving a car or even talking the subway. You may have planned to see some things that are far from each other so you may need to drive or take transit from one place to the other, but once you reach the neighborhood that you are after get out and walk. Don’t be afraid to get a little lost, when you let yourself wander a little bit, you often find fantastic restaurants, boutiques, markets, or art galleries that aren’t listed in your guidebook.

5. Look for a local publication. In many major cities free newspapers or pamphlets are available in stores or on the street and contain music listings, information on different cultural events or advertisements for interesting stores. If you are in a foreign country where you do not speak the language, there is often an expatriate press available that will list events and places of interest.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are travelling in a foreign country with an unfamiliar language, try to pick up a few common words such as: ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘hello’. Just knowing a few words in the local tongue can predispose strangers to help you if you need it.