Travelling is fun! vacations are exciting! but you can travel halfway across the world and experience no fun. Why? The fear of the unknown, adapting to a new environment and unfamiliar faces can limit the fun experience amongst tourists.
But what if there’s a way out? What if you are so engrossed by the list of things you have to do and the places you would love to explore that you have no time to stare at faces or allow cloudy weather to ruin your trip?
Whether you’re exploring the “Rose city of Jordan” or enjoying the serene view of “Pamukkale in Turkey”, Here are the 20 things to do when travelling.
Top 20 things to do when travelling
The first thing to do while travelling is to actually travel! Unless you’re going for a work trip or you are a travel vlogger – You need to relax, get your mind off money and enjoy your travel experience.
Remember, people always dream about an experience like this but never get to try it but you did. Replace your worries with gratitude and ensure you have the best travel experience ever.
- Accept your “Tourist title” with pride
Who cares if someone gives you a weird look. It’s the Eiffel tower and you have only seen it in movies. If you’re impressed by what you see, express it! Gawk, take pictures, do your happy dance, but if you’re not impressed, move to the next one.
2. Create and document “You” moments
Don’t use your phone and camera to capture only historic sites and remarkable monuments. You’re a work of art too! Document every exciting memory, your reactions, smiles and goofy expressions. If you’re travelling alone you should definitely pack a selfie-stick. Passersby may assist but what if it takes too long to find a willing hand?
3. Enjoy sunrise and sunset
Don’t end your trip without enjoying the beauty of nature. If the town you’re visiting is known for a stunning sunrise or sunset view, you need to experience it.
4. Take a day to explore on your own but…
Start from your hotel, move down the streets, stop by stores and shops to buy souvenirs, explore the local market and experience a day in the life of the locals.
Join a carnival if you’re lucky to meet one, explore the street food if your palate is not selective but keep your tour guide on speed dial.
5. Interact with the local and learn some phrases
If you’re not visiting an English speaking country, it’s best to learn common phrases for greeting, direction and food.
You can use Duolingo to get basic language lessons – who knows, you might pick up an extra word or two.
6. What’s bird watching when there’s people watching?
Lazy day? Not enough energy to move around?
Find a local coffee store or restaurant, get a good spot outdoors and experience the culture of people in the environment.
Listen to the dialect, how they speak, their reactions, the arguments and fun banters.
If you’re lucky to find a lodging that has a local restaurant and the owner finds you interesting you might get some local gossip with your meal.
7. Soft palate skip this one
If you struggle to taste new meals or you have bowel irritation from unfamiliar food, don’t try this. However, if you are an adventurous food taster, then one of the things to do when travelling is indulge your palette.
Seafood? the town’s famous steak or beer? home-made cookies? Explore! If there’s a cooking event, go for it, treat yourself to all the rich delicacies and drinks you can find.
8. Ditch the tour bus, exercise and explore
Safety is important but if you have actual plans to explore the city you need to step out, leave your comfortable crowd and hit the streets.
Your tour guide will only show you around major tourist sites, popular places and events but you won’t get an insider experience of the culture, people and food.
9. Take time off the bus to explore alone!
Learn a new name and exchange numbers. Don’ t be a loner, interact with people. You can start off with fellow tourists, then your tour guide, the locals around your lodging or hotels, store owners, individuals in the local market- the list is endless.
Keep the conversation flowing, accept invitations to events and who knows you could exchange normals with your new found friends.
10. Wake up, ditch your schedule
If you made overnight solo plans to visit a list of places? Wake up and ditch that list! Do something else like moving with the flow?
Have breakfast by the window, take a stroll and sit with your neighbors, visit the stores around you, smile at a random stranger, visit the park and just go where the day leads.
11. Give your social family a virtual tour
If you have a social media account, this is the perfect time to give your audience a treat.
A few may not be as adventurous as you so allow them to live vicariously through your “once in a while” posts and videos of your environment.
Seriously! Put your phone down and enjoy your trip.
12. Enjoy the relaxing power of laughter
Can you remain when last you laughed and felt tears in your eyes? This is your chance to create or recreate these moments.
You can’t enjoy a moment with a frown or interact with the locals with a glare etch on your face. Smile widely, laugh deeply and enjoy each moment with happiness.
13. Give your adventurous side a time to shine
One thing to do when travelling is say yes more often. Lots of “Nos” is the fastest way to have a boring and mundane travel experience.
Expand your horizon, try things that are safe but you normally won’t engage in, push past your comfort zone and you would be amazed at how much you may love the experience.
If you turn down invitations from locals for safety reasons that’s understandable but you can also move around with a guide who’s familiar with the environment.
14. A date with history
A trip to a museum or other historic sites in the city is an interesting choice for lovers of art. If you are travelling with friends you should definitely make a stop at the museum.
15. Count memories not calories
Don’t bother counting calories -you can’t keep track! Give yourself a treat with pastries, street food and other mouth-watering goodness that catch your eye.
Take pictures, ask one of the locals to record your first reaction to a local cuisine and indulge your palate as much as you can.
16.Cycling around the city? Yes!
A view of the city on a beautiful evening with the wind blowing against your face is an experience you don’t want to miss out on. Hire a bicycle and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the city.
17. Embrace curiosity and just ask
If you’re curious about something, go ahead and ask but ensure it’s not offensive.
18. Mix your new found circle
Your circle should be a mix of tourists and locals. Tourists share in your awe, excitement and discoveries, they made the entire gawking experience less awkward. On the other hand, locals are your unpaid tour guides, they are willing to share their food, culture and offer you directions whenever you need one.
19. Go shopping
A Vacation without souvenirs is incomplete! If you have money to splurge you can visit different stores within the city to explore fashion accessories, artwork and other beautiful products. However, if you have a strict budget you can get a sentimental item that reminds you of your time there.
20. Take a night stroll
There’s a beauty to nightlife that you can never experience if you stay indoors all night. Take a stroll around your lodging neighbourhood, accept the invitation for an event at night. For your safety, you can walk in groups or move around with your tour guide.
Final thoughts
Take chances, experience diversity, have fun and create memories! These are the most important things to do when travelling.
