In New Cities, Reserve the Top Attractions for the Final Days of Your Visit
This is the Travel Take, where Matador’s team of writers and editors advocate for their top travel tricks, advice, and quirky habits.
Every so oftenWhen exploring a new place with friends, I often propose an unconventional idea: saving the must-see tourist spots for the final days of our journey.
At first glance, the idea appears simple, yet it frequently elicits uneasy chuckles, as though visitors are bound by some unwritten rule to dedicate their initial days in an unfamiliar city to ticking off must-see attractions—or risk transforming into pumpkins or another native squash.
“But, what happens once you arrive?” they inquire.
The response differs, though it often elicits the same bewilderment. Take the metro, I could propose. Visit a supermarket. Stroll across the entire city, charting a path through parks, bookshops, lakes, or any other spots you like, no matter where they are. Pop into the nearest bar for a draft beer of whatever’s available.
Keep it simple: approach your first day in a new location just like an ordinary Wednesday in your hometown.
You have just one chance to make a lasting initial impact.
Travel days often leave us drained, yet we frequently waste those crucial first-impression moments standing in crowded lines at popular sites. There, we compete with fellow visitors for the same shots, creating memories filled with strangers sharing identical goals.
Instead of wasting your first day battling frustrating crowds, use it to take in the surroundings, wander, and familiarize yourself with the area. Skip the museums for now—they’re unlikely to boost your stamina—and focus on finding the city’s prime viewpoint to understand how its iconic sites connect. If a renowned market is on your itinerary, dedicate your initial days to sampling local eateries, which will deepen your appreciation for the produce you’ll encounter later.
Staying active without forcing yourself to follow a rigid routine is an excellent way to adapt and make sure you’re fully prepared to be amazed when you finally explore the landmarks you’re most excited about. Additionally, walking or using public transport early in your trip helps you get familiar with the area, reducing stress during the busier days of sightseeing.
Creating the ideal travel plan
Planning every aspect of a vacation in advance might seem appealing. Often, this involves filling our itineraries with attractions we believe are must-sees. However, the more time we spend engaging with a destination and its locals beyond typical tourist activities, the better we can shape the remainder of our travels.
The duration of your visit might leave little room for relaxation. Yet, even a single day in an unfamiliar city can offer valuable insights into which sights are worth exploring and which to avoid. After hearing the same story about a historic site repeatedly, you might conclude that a brief, independent tour is enough. This could open up time to tackle the nearby trail your waiter suggested or visit the gelato spot several locals praised as their top choice.
Allowing extra time for reconnaissance will provide deeper insights into attractions, whether well-known or hidden, along with a better understanding of the city’s inner workings.
Planning a visit to Rome? While checking off the Colosseum or throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain may seem essential, the Italian capital has much more to offer. Rushing through the sights too quickly could mean missing out on its hidden treasures.
Explore attractions in reverse order. Begin with lesser-known spots that have shorter waits and fewer visitors. Visit the Video Game Museum of Rome, for example, before heading to the Galleria Borghese. This approach lets you cover more ground daily, offering extra time for travel, greater flexibility, and more interactions with locals. Starting slow also ensures you’ll have the stamina to take on the major cultural highlights later.
Although it’s unlikely you’d depart Rome without snapping a gladiator-style picture in front of the Roman Forum, you might be tempted to skip a lesser-known spot for an afternoon rest near the end of your trip—especially if you’ve already checked off the major landmarks.
Finding resolution for your journey
Your journey is nearing its end, and you still haven’t explored the iconic landmarks that define your destination. By this point, you likely have a clear idea of which spots to visit, how much time to allocate to each, and the most efficient routes to take. Checking off the top attractions should be effortless—and you might even savor the experience.
Iconic landmarks define a destination, but there’s a unique charm in delaying your visit until you’ve familiarized yourself with the location. Your viewpoint will evolve, grounded by newfound understanding, and you might cultivate a richer connection to the site. Beyond mere learning, exploring sights can become a moment of introspection—a chance to bring your journey full circle and conclude it with a sense of fulfillment.
Exploring a city in reverse, from its mundane elements to its iconic landmarks, might appear unconventional, yet there are no rules forbidding it. While traveling with curiosity is essential, saving the top sights for the final days of your journey is a form of inverted logic that could deepen your experience.
