One of my favourite parts about travelling, is actually planning the trip itself. When you go away for a long weekend time is definitely of the essence, so showing up in Rome and 'going with the flow' is not the best idea when you've got 48 hours to fit everything in. I feel like most places in Europe you can see in a few days, although my struggle is getting in all the food I want to try. As someone who is a big fan of getting away for the weekend, these are some of my tips for getting the most out of your short city breaks.
Stay central.
Assuming that you're booking your trip in advance, you can get a lot of good apartments/hotels that are close to points of interest. Hostels especially are usually central and cheap, so if you're not too bothered about sharing toilets then these are always worth checking out. If you're only going for 2-3 days then it's definitely worth paying a bit more to be central than staying out of the city and having to waste time/money on public transport.
Get your bearings with a walking tour.
If you read my travel guides often then you know I'm a big fan of the 'free walking tours' that you tip for. Not only are they great for getting some background information on the place and landmarks but you'll also be able to figure out where everything is. In Copenhagen we weren't sure how to get to The Little Mermaid and funnily enough our tour finished a 2 minute walk from it.
Know where to eat (like a local).
As tempting as it might be to eat at the first restaurant you see near the Eiffel Tower or Pisa, these places are usually expensive and not really authentic or worth the price tag. Before heading off do a google or pinterest search on 'best local eats' in the city and maybe check that they're not going to be 2 hours away from where you're staying. Then again you might stumble across a place that ends up being delicious and then you can be recommending it to others!
Check walking times.
I feel like when you're travelling, a 30 minute walk to get to a landmark is not the same as a 30 minute walk in your hometown because you're seeing things for the first time. It's always a good idea to try and group things that are close together for certain days. We left the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell for our last day in Barcelona (which are half an hour away from each other) and let me tell you, walking an hour UP HILL when you're hangover and it's 20 degrees is not the most ideal situation - lesson learned.
Leave room for spontaneity.
As much as I love google docs and making lists and travel checklists, you always need time to just 'go with the flow' and discover hidden gems - if not all travel guides/tips would be the same! Speak with locals, find out their favourite spots and get lost.
Are you a fan of weekend trips? What city would you like to visit next?
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