What’s the best way to explore a new city?
The best way to explore a city is to just walk around.
I’m usually in a new city for a convention, so the convention center becomes the base of operations for controlled wandering. After accomplishing my purpose at the center, the extracurricular fun begins. I have some freedom to see some architecture, cross new streets, and create some personal landmarks. Then I follow the same pattern coming from my hotel (or Airbnb).
When I was in Budapest a couple of years ago, I would frequently leave the Airbnb to go to the bakery across street, to the vintage shop around the corner, and even grab some delicious chimney cake with Oreo ice cream and chocolate syrup. (This is a new city, so it counts as a vacation even though i was there for business! Therefore, the controlled diet goes out the window.)
After repeating this a few times, I understand how these places connect.
It’s like putting the pieces of a puzzle together in my mind.