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Step 1
Take a guided tour. Whether you take a walking tour or one on a bus, consider doing one. The guide will be able to point out interesting places and spots that you may want to check out up close and personal later on.
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Step 2
Talk to the concierge if you are staying at a hotel. He or she will be able to tell you the local hot spots and the great places to go that not many people know about. Also, you can ask them where the safe spots are and where you should stay away from.
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Step 3
Buy a guide book for the city. While not all cities have their own guidebook, it’s worth checking out to see if they do. Sometimes even a local person publishes a small edition. Visit a local bookstore or tourist shop to see if you can pick one up.
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Step 4
Pick up a local newspaper. If you’re looking for events to check out or what places you can visit, a town newspaper can give you a push in the right direction. They’ll list addresses, times and cost to see these places and the information is all in one place. You may even be able to meet a local to find out other interesting spots to go to.
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Step 5
Ask someone where the Town Hall is. In many towns or cities, the Town Hall is on or near a major road. Where there’s a major road, there’s usually a bunch of small shops to check out and restaurants to eat at. You can then walk up and down the street and take as much time as you want exploring.
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Step 6
Visit a website of reviews, such as Yelp, which is listed in the resources section below. There are plenty of reviews written by regular people that gave an account of their visit to various places. You can read reviews on everything from small shops and restaurants to spas and bars. Type in the city that you will be visiting and chances are you can find some information of where to start exploring. Addresses and phone numbers are also provided to the places.
