How to Travel Without a Plan and Find Interesting Things Anywhere

Activate all your senses and take your time

If you decide to travel without a plan, the hustle and bustle and desire to embrace the immensity will only get in the way. Just accept it as a fact – you will not have time to see all the sights from the tourist brochures in one trip. Slow down and look around: what interesting places are near your location, what they feed you in the neighboring cafe, where a passerby with a dog is heading. Perhaps you will find an authentic courtyard or a cozy cafe with local cuisine nearby, and a guy with a dog will lead you straight to a picturesque park.

You will definitely have time to see the main thing – it seems that no one has ever left Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. But a relaxed vibe will allow you to feel what many miss in pursuit of a million identical photos of museums and churches – smells, tastes, sounds of the city, cracks in the pavement and dusty shop windows, the way locals communicate with each other and order coffee, songs of street musicians, sunrises and sunsets.

Talk to locals

If a stranger tries to talk to you, do not take him with hostility. He is not trying to take your time – in tourist places, locals show hospitality in this way. You may be asked where you are from and how long you will be traveling, throw in a couple of interesting locations and explain the most convenient way to get to them. Do not be shy and ask questions that concern you about the culture, traditions and customs of the place where you are vacationing.

If everything goes well, your new acquaintance may even offer to take you to beautiful places and conduct an impromptu excursion. Sometimes such acquaintances develop into unobtrusive friendship, and sometimes into a strong friendship that lasts for years. People correspond, visit each other, send gifts. Agree, it is nice to know that on the other side of the world you have your own person.

Walk

The more you wear out your sneakers, the more interesting places you will see. In addition, while leisurely strolling, you will notice details that would only flash by from the transport window.

And walking is also profitable. In many countries, taxis and car rentals are not cheap pleasures. Who knows, maybe tomorrow you will decide to go to the theater or buy a yacht trip? When traveling without a plan, it is better to save on some of the usual amenities so that there is enough money left for unexpected maneuvers in search of impressions.

Choose accommodation in the center

If you don’t care how many channels your hotel TV has because you’re just going there to spend the night, book a place in an inexpensive hostel or guesthouse. They’re often located in the historical centers. If you’re not used to saving on amenities, pay attention to the daily rental market for apartments in the same areas. This will kill two birds with one stone: you’ll see an important part of the new city at once and provide yourself with a comfortable location for further exploration.

The centers are always bustling with life. Let’s say you haven’t thought of anything for the evening, haven’t met anyone yet, and don’t know how to entertain yourself. Put on something smart and head to the nearest bar. Don’t like parties? Book a quiet table with a good view somewhere on the terrace. Finding good places in the outskirts will be problematic.

Don’t read reviews

Even recognized masterpieces of world art and architecture sometimes get hit by disappointed visitors: the Mona Lisa is too small, the Sagrada Familia is too high, and the pyramids are banal to the point of indecency.

Imagine that you decided to undertake a difficult climb to meet the best sunrise in your life on the top of some iconic mountain. And suddenly a treacherous thought runs through your mind: what are people saying? From the reviews you learn that the service is poorly organized, the guide does not understand a word of Russian, and in general, climbing on rocks in the dark is downright suicide. If after this you still risk climbing, the impression of the event will most likely be like glass smeared with other people’s fingers: it seems clean, but it would be better not to touch it.

If you want to see something, go and see it. Perhaps a place, landmark or painting that the whole world is in awe of may not tug at your heartstrings, but it will be a personal experience, not one imposed on you by a stranger on the Internet.