“No matter what you do, something will always be left out.” – that’s what my mom always told me when I would endlessly list off places I wanted to visit. I hated that. For the first few years when I dived into travel, I was always focused on maximizing my time in a city/town by trying to cram in all the attractions and experiences the city had in offer. I would leave each city thinking of how satisfied I felt, seeing everything I had wanted.
I had never been so wrong.
Teenaged Aryaman believed that seeing everything on his list as fast as possible would make him love travel. To a certain degree, it did. However, there was so much I was missing out on. Going through a city at a slower pace, engaging with people in that city, taking time for local activities or activities that make the city feel like a home adds so much depth and character to a trip.
When you take your time in a place, you tend to feel part of the city, you are no longer a guest, you are one with it. This isn’t just common with travel. We see it over the course of our lives: a school we go to, a corporation someone might work years at, a sports team (professional or amateur, fan or athlete).
So with all of that in mind, how should you go about maximizing your time in a new city or town?
The consultant answer is it depends.
It depends on how many days you have available in your trip, how many different cities you want to pack into your travels, and ultimately what you value most in a trip or the destination you are going to be in. Ultimately, though regardless of the time constraints you might have I believe a well-rounded trip should involve you casting a wider net and dive into the culture and feel of a city. Not running from spot A to spot B will enable you to understand the city better and allow for a slower paced, less stressful trip.
Maximizing Your Time: A Four-Day Template
Day 1 – Your start to a trip depends on the kind of traveler you are. It depends on how tired and how comfortable you are just getting out there. If you have travelled a long way, you may want to ease into the day and get acclimatized. For me though, I love to dive right into the place I am in. Your 1st day should involve some light exploration. Get to know the area you’re in by walking around for a few hours, maybe go close to the central areas/crowded spots to get a lay of the land. This day should be yours to assimilate to the culture, the way money works (conversions/payment methods), and just to get comfortable in your new surroundings. Of course, if the city is compact enough or you are in a great are you can always start hitting things off your list.
Example of a day 1: I landed into Hanoi at 5:30 AM. After dropping my bags off at my hostel I immediately started walking around. I went to Hoan Kiem Lake, grabbed a coffee and just people watched as the day began. I spent much of the day within Hanoi’s historical center trying to see the streets and understand things as basic as walking on the road since the pavements were littered with seating and bikes parked up on them.
Day 2&3 can be interchanged and from an agenda perspective can even be combined.
Day 2 – This day should be for checking things off your site seeing list. It is good practice to compile a list of things that interest you and prioritize the best ones. You could do your own research, take advice from people who have visited the place before, however there is an even better way to refine your list of hotspots. On your 1st day in the destination, as you walk around and immerse yourself in the essence of the city do not forget to talk to people and ask them about their experiences. This can be at the lodging you’re at, tourists as you come across them, or even people working at stores and restaurants. While day 2 can seem hectic, it is not meant to be rushed instead focus on seeing each spot to its fullest and remember you still have 2 full days!
Day 3 – Let today be the special day. Special days are great for doing things completely unique to the place you are in. Of course, the sites you see are unique to the place however, this is more from an experience perspective. Any leftovers from day 2, get them out of the way early because you are going to have memories that will last you a lifetime. There are so many different things to explore regardless of where you are. A great way to find special things to do is by asking around. Be it people living in the same hostel/hostel as you, tourists at hotpsots, or even people checking you in or a random local you come across shopping or dining.
Examples of “special” day activities: Hike a volcano to watch a sunrise, partake in a cooking class, join in on a Tai Chi session, embark on a food tour hitting the best local spots, learn history through the eyes of a local on a free, guided walking tour (check out Sandemans Walking Tours), or really anything else that interests you about the culture and place you are in.
Day 4 – I enjoy using a 4th day to go back around some of my favorite spots or take up people on someone of their recommendations that I might not have had time for. Sitting by a river or viewpoint where I didn’t have enough time to soak up the atmosphere or visit a suggested restaurant.
An alternative to a day 4 is where you choose to slot this day between any other day of the trip, based on events taking place. I was in Prague during a big football (soccer) match for the home team. My friends and I scoured outside the stadium and were luckily able to buy tickets off a local. It was one of the best experiences that I never thought or planned to have. 31st December in Vietnam’s capital and watching a live, free concert in the city square was quite spectacular.
In essence a day 4 can be used for a rare activity being hosted in the place you’re in. It can be a festival, a celebration, a performance, really anything. I promise you that a Day 4 where you go with the flow and act like a local will be more memorable than any tourist trap be it as grand as the Taj Mahal or as iconic as the Eiffel Tower.
Bonus: Day Trips
Did someone say day trip???
A day trip is a fantastic way to see more than just the place you’re staying in. I would recommend adding a day or swapping a day to commute to a town/landscape close to your base. Most large cities have gems tucked away only a few hours away from them. While day trips can be conducted anywhere, I believe Europe offers the best value in terms of time, money, and experience. You could go to an entirely new country for just a day! My favorite day trips have included Hallstatt from Salzburg, Toledo from Madrid, Rhonda from Marbella, and Capri from Naples.
So the next time you are planning a trip make sure to incorporate these tips and I am certain your experience and understanding of a city will be enhanced significantly. Take it slow, look around, engage with people, explore the heart of a city, and go beyond the tourist traps.
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