8 Pro Tips for Exploring a Big City: What to know, Where to Go, What to Wear

jason-chen-22138Make your next big city trip a successful one with these tips.

Paris, Tokyo, Buenos Aires, New York: the pull of the world’s greatest cities can be hard to resist. But how do you know what to do, how to get around, or even what to wear? Sometimes exploring a big metropolis is also an intimidating prospect. With so many options, figuring out the answers to these questions can become overwhelming, but we’ve got good news—it doesn’t have to be. Here are eight pro traveler tips that will turn you into a globetrotting city slicker in no time.

1. Get to know the lay of the land

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Getting to know how a city is laid out can help you get around easier.

Oscar Söderlund

Having a sense of a city’s geography helps you to understand the place better and (more importantly) can save you from getting lost. Before you head out to explore, spend some time with a map and take note of the major landmarks. Where’s downtown? The train station? That famous park, library, or museum?

Once you have a feeling for the big picture, go for a quick walk, jog, or bike ride in the neighborhood around your hotel or hostel and pay attention to your surroundings. This will help you find your way back after the day’s explorations.

Technology is also a huge help when it comes to navigation. Download a map of the city onto your smartphone when you’re connected to WiFi so you can pull up directions without using data when you’re out and about.

2. Dress for both style and comfort

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Look for a jacket with plenty of features to make your trip more comfortable.

Craghoppers

What you wear can make or break your day. When exploring a big city, go for an outfit that is comfy enough to move around in, but stylish enough to fit in amongst the chic urban crowd.

Layers are key for adjusting to the temperature differences you’ll encounter between exploring the streets outside to sitting down at a cozy cafe. Try pairing an Anja Roll Neck Calico sweater with the Elina jacket for women, or the Aron knit jumper (sweater) with the Anders jacket for men. Both of these jackets have large pockets, which is useful for stashing spending money and knick-knacks you might collect throughout the day.

3. Take a guided tour

Going on a guided tour might instantly give you away as a tourist, but it’s also the fastest and most comprehensive way to get to know a new city. A local guide can take you straight to the must-visit sites, fill you in on the area’s history, traditions, and customs, and point you towards the best places to grab a bite.

Guided tours usually pack a lot in, which means you will have to breeze through some spots you otherwise might choose to linger, but you can always revisit the tour stops that really catch your attention.

4. Be prepared to walk

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You’ll do a lot of walking in a big city, so make sure you’re prepared.

Andre Benz

Often the best way to take in a new city involves getting from place to place on foot. Make sure to wear good, supportive shoes, and clothes that are durable and are comfortable enough to move around in. Standouts include the Ester pants for women, which are stylish and stretchy skinny jeans, and the relaxed Bardsey cord for men.

5. Stay aware

Of the all the places you might travel to, big cities are where you are most likely to encounter petty crime, such as pickpockets or scams that target tourists. Do your research on which neighborhoods have a reputation for high crime, and be mindful of when and how you visit.

In general, it’s good practice to leave your passport and valuables in your hotel’s lockbox as much as you can, and pay attention to your surroundings when you’re out.

6. Pick up a copy of the local paper

Alt-weeklies may no longer be in their heyday, but the local rag is still a great resource for finding the cool concerts, shows, restaurant openings, and museum exhibits that will be going on while you’re visiting. Plus, the neighborhood paper is a great place to learn about the hot topics and issues that are getting people fired up, which can turn into conversations that will help you make friends with the locals.

7. Tune in to social media

Social media is another way to find out about things to do while you’re in town. Search for your destination on Twitter or Instagram to find out what people have done there recently. Sift through Facebook to pick out shows, meetups, and other gatherings by choosing the "discover" tab on the left side of your events page, and set the location to your destination.

8. Focus on food

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Trying new food can be the best part of a trip!

Dan Gold

With so much to see and do, big cities can quickly become overwhelming. When you’re overwhelmed and you start to get hungry things can quickly take a downward spiral. Luckily, urban metropolises also usually have an abundance of delicious food.

By picking out which restaurants and cafes you want to go to ahead of time—and planning the rest of your day around them—you’ll incorporate natural breaks throughout the sightseeing and help stave off hangry feelings, all while appreciating an important side of the city’s culture.

While planning can help a trip run much more smoothly, always leave room for spontaneity – you never know what local hotspot might be waiting to be explored just off the tourist path!

Originally written by RootsRated for Craghoppers.

Featured image provided by Jason Chen