Topic	Top Tips For Exploring A New City
Read Time	5 Minutes
Author	Laura Radford, Travel Writer

You have booked a city break and you’re about to head off and explore a brand-new destination that you’ve never explored before and cannot wait to soak up the sights and sounds, but with limited time, where do you begin? And what’s the best way of making the most of it? Here are some of our top tips for ensuring your next city break is a Marvellous Escape…

CRAFT AN ITINERARY

Do your research before you travel. Figure out what the top highlights are in your city of choice to take advantage of everything it has to offer but keep your itinerary loose. You’ll want some room for manoeuvre once you’re there, or you risk missing out on some more off-the-beaten-track experiences in favour of the cities ‘advertised’ sites.

BOOK A FOOD TOUR

If you’re visiting a city where gastronomy is at its heart, a food tour is a great way to get acquainted. A good tip is to book this on your first day in the city, as your guide is likely to give you some tasty recommendations of places to try out and you’ll want the time to fit them in. Sampling the local food is a huge part of exploring a new destination, and doing this with an experienced guide will make sure you see all the authentic places to try it out.

EMBRACE THE LOCAL LANGUAGE

Learning a few basic phrases and sayings before travelling to a new destination is a great way to interact with locals and can even lead to the discovery of some hidden gems. Most people will be happy to converse and going in with a few key phrases means you’ll be doing it in a respectful way.

VISIT A MUSEUM OR GALLERY

To get right into the culture of a new city, exploring one of its museums or other cultural spots is a great way to learn more about it and understand its history. The bonus is, in many cities these are free, so make for a cheap cultural experience, and you may even learn something.

GET LOST

In the nicest possible way! Of course, you’ll need to use maps at some point, but we also recommend putting the maps away one day and allowing yourself to get a little lost. This is often how you get under the skin of a new city, and away from the tourist spots. Maybe you’ll stroll a little further rather than taking the train or you’ll turn left instead of right when heading out of your accommodation and see where you end up, you never know which hidden gem you might discover.

Ready to plan your exploration of a new city? Enquire with us today!