Question 1: What’s famous about the city?
To get to know a city, first find out what it’s known for. It could be a dessert, a singer, a football team, an invention, or anything else. For example, Madrid is notable for its stately plazas. Barcelona, among other things, is known for the fantastic architecture of Antoni Gaudí. Valencia’s paella is world-famous. Zaragoza’s magnificent cathedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar is an iconic city landmark. While all these cities are in the same country, they have some very distinctive qualities and features.
Question 2: What has that city experienced in history?
What determines the present and future of a city is, in part, its past. You can discover little known nuggets about a city by visiting the local city museum. These may not always be the best-known museums of the city, but they are informative and – often – not very crowded. Historical inscriptions, paintings, photographs, descriptions of ruins and other artifacts can illustrate the city’s history in a way that no guidebook can. This is why museums are an important part of trips.
Getting to know the city’s past offers a perspective from which to understand that city. It can inspire your feeling for the city, as well as, perhaps, further exploration. You may find yourself going in an unanticipated – but rewarding – direction.
Question 3: What is the city’s flora and fauna?
Geography and climate are enormously important, as these shape the animals and nature of a place, as well as the outlook and lifestyle of its human population. Camels may be among the animal life of a desert city, while you could encounter a team of huskies in the polar regions. Some cities are surrounded by mountains; some are on top of mountains. Other cities are nestled along coastlines – and even those differ from region to region. Palm trees, pine forests, lotus ponds or mysterious lakes…your rapport with a city will also be influenced by its nature.
Question 4: What are the city’s flavors?
There is a famous saying: What you eat is what you are! This formula is also useful for getting to know a city. Survey the snacks and drinks sold by street vendors. Taste the ones that seem safe and/or delicious. Then, head to a restaurant that serves the city’s most famous culinary offering. For example, eat mussels in Lille, stew in Bordeaux, steaks in Paris, sausages in Strasbourg. Eating the daily fare of a city is a strong introduction: After all, you’ve dined together.
Question 5: What are the things to do in that city?
Culture, art and sports reflect the character of a city. If its fields are full of athletes, the city is considered energetic and fit. When you take a look at English cities, you see that they are extremely active, and each has its own specialty. While London’s musical theatre scene thrives, Manchester is in the limelight with its football teams. Birmingham dances, Cambridge loves science. Every city has its own character – head to an event (or a lecture) for a taste of the city’s innate culture.
Bonus: Time to warm up before traveling!
We saved the best for last: You can start the relationship with a city before you arrive, and we promise that this warm-up is so much fun that you’ll want to apply it even to cities where you do not expect to travel.
It is possible that there’s been a book written about every city in the world. Find the one for your destination and read it. It can be fiction or non-fiction – the list of excellent novels and books is far too long, but let’s say that even a detective novel or love story can provide a strong sense of the culture and city in which it’s set. Watching TV series and movies set in the city where you are going is also an excellent idea – and a great way to quickly identify potential and possibly unusual sightseeing opportunities. What about specific musical styles from certain cities? Start researching now. Who are the city’s famous singers and groups? Is there a city song, official or non? You’re getting to know the place…!
