Don’t Want to Leave the City? Here Are 5 Cool Urban Travel Ideas
To an avid traveller, the world is a vast playground with many attractions, just waiting to be explored. But in truth, one may not need to go very far to get the kind of adventure they really want. For someone whose travel comfort zone is the city, there are plenty of destinations that will capture a place’s vibrant energy and cultural richness.
Most cities have a signature museum or art gallery like Mexico City’s Museo Soumaya. Often they are also architectural gems.
An urban centre may not be the first thing that comes to mind for people looking to broaden their holiday options, but the city can be an interesting microcosm of a region or country that a traveller chooses to visit. There’s a lot to learn about the story of a culture through a city’s intertwining streets, towering architecture, and crowded markets. They all possess a unique magnetism that has, in truth, been drawing many explorers into them for centuries.
If you consider how cities are vibrant melting pots for different cultures, traditions, and languages, you’ll never be bored when you travel to a new one.
If you’re curious to know what keeps the heart of a city beating, here are some travel ideas for when you next visit a place’s urban centres:
1) Relax and Enjoy Nature at the City Parks
Cities are often called concrete jungles, mainly because their surroundings are riddled with modern buildings and paved roads that stretch out as far as the eye can see. But many urban spaces around the world incorporate natural greenery into their city planning. These provide locals and travellers alike a serene oasis where they can get a breath of fresh air and escape the busy-ness of city life—even for just a while.
Central Park in New York City, for example, is a renowned destination for leisure activities that involve nature. One can either have a picnic with loved ones on the grass or take a pleasant boat ride on the lake. On your next travels to a world-famous city, go to a park and take the scenic route during your morning run. Dress appropriately for the weather outdoors with a staple travel outfit like denim leggings and an athletic top.
2) Visit Historic Structures in a Modern-Day Setting
City streets may be lined with modern architecture, but there are many urban areas where you can find historic structures that are still standing to this day. After all, cities are living history books adorned with tales of the past—you just need to know where exactly to look!
In midtown Toronto, for example, you can find Casa Loma, a Gothic Revival castle-style mansion and garden constructed between 1911 and 1914. During that time, Casa Loma was known as the largest private residence in Canada, and it was owned by financier Sir Henry Pellatt. Today, this grand structure straight out of a fairy tale is an historic house museum and landmark under the oversight of the City of Toronto.
Another example of a historic structure that’s located in a city is Rome’s famous Colosseum. It’s the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, and to date, about two thousand years since its construction, it remains the largest standing amphitheatre in the world.
3) Savour Unique Urban Flavours Through a Gastronomic Adventure
No trip to a famous city is complete without a thorough sampling of its local cuisine. When you’re exploring the city, you’ll typically have a wide range of options to choose from. From world-class restaurants helmed by renowned chefs to humble family-owned stalls that have been a city staple for generations, urban areas offer a gastronomic journey like no other.
In a city-state like Singapore, you can reserve a table at a fine dining restaurant on the historic Orchard Road or sit down with the locals at one of the busy hawker centres. In Bangkok, Thailand, you can take a street food trip near the Victory Monument and have a taste of the flavours of local favourites like moo ping (grilled pork), jok (rice porridge), and kuay tiao reua (boat noodles) for affordable prices.
4) Explore the Cities’ Local Markets
If you want to know what it means to live like a local, then one place you can truly immerse yourself is a city’s local market. These public spaces will give you the full picture of the local community’s way of life because you’ll get to see how the locals go about their day first-hand. Local markets can also be a sensory delight due to all the sounds, colours, and aromas that fill the surroundings. Here, you can enjoy savouring the local fares and purchasing souvenirs.
One must-visit market destination for city travellers is The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey. Explore the bazaar’s labyrinthian alleyways and check out unique finds like spices, jewellery, carpets, and ceramics. The San Telmo Market in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on the other hand, is the perfect place to go antiquing and to find the ultimate souvenir that you can take home to your family and friends.
5) Be Energized by the Cities’ Nightlife
Lastly, as the sun sets, cities transform into vibrant hubs of nightlife, and each city has a unique way to show travellers how to party until dawn. In Germany, you can head to Oranienstraße and dance the night away in any one of Berlin’s famous clubs. In Tokyo, Japan, you can sing your heart out in one of the karaoke bars while drinking the country’s best beers.
Last Word
You don’t have to leave the cityscape for a travel itinerary that will still excite. Use the tips above as starting points for taking in a country’s history, culture, and cuisine, as well as mingling with its locals. Don’t limit yourself to only these ideas, however—the next time you visit an urban centre, be sure to get lost and find things that will surprise you!