How do you build the perfect trip? Every trip is different, and most destinations are different, but after nearly ten years of independent travel, I’ve worked out what works for me, wherever I am. I’ve rounded up a list of the 8 things I do every time I travel, as well as a list of the things I wish I did.

I try to leave room for surprises and unexpected experiences, but using these guidelines helps me spend my time in ways that I deeply enjoy. It helps me focus on finding experiences that really matter to me, rather than accidentally spending a holiday following the crowd or things I think I “should” be doing.

Let me know in the comments what makes a rewarding trip for you!

Things I do every time I travel

1. Explore by neighbourhood, on foot.

It seems like a no brainer, but it’s easy to forget that the city centre does not reflect the character of most of the city, especially when you’re already outside of your comfort zone. I usually plan my time in a city by neighbourhood, and start with one or two particular shops, restaurants or precincts, but leave room in my itinerary for wandering. I love walking around to get a feel for a neighbourhood, and stumbling upon a few surprises. Rather than zipping around in an Uber or on the Metro from sight to sight, exploring on foot leaves more room for new discoveries and a slow enough pace to soak it all in.

This works particularly well for megacities like Tokyo and New York, and minimizes the time you spend trekking across town, if you stay within a different area each day.

Favourite Neighbourhoods: Battery Point in Hobart, Nishiazabu and Yanaka in Tokyo, Montparnasse in Paris and Coogee in Sydney.

2. People watch in parks & gardens

Parks and gardens are free and they’re an escape from the chaos of the city. This makes them a magnet for all walks of life, allowing for a more diverse snapshot of local citizens than if you’d stuck to certain neighbourhoods, hotels or bars.

Parks are for everyone, so they become the backdrop for the routines and rituals of locals, whether that’s Upper East Side trophy wives lapping the Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park, Parisians working on their tan in the Jardin des Tuileries, adorable Southern couples getting engaged amongst the live oaks in Charleston, or Japanese families dressed in traditional clothes making their way to special ceremonies in Yoyogi Park in Tokyo.

Favourite parks & gardens: Elizabeth Street Garden in New York City, Parc des Rocher Doms in Avignon & Yoyogi Park in Tokyo.

3. Browse the markets

Food markets are my go-to, but I can never walk away empty handed from a good antiques market.

Favourite Markets: The Old Town Antiques Markets in Nice, Brooklyn Flea in New York, South Melbourne Markets in Melbourne and Yanaka Ginza and the Tsukiji Markets in Tokyo,.

4. Go low-tech and get lost in the moment

Travelling overseas has never been easier, thanks to the Internet. Every time I travel, it gets easier and easier to stay connected overseas. While this is super helpful, and has definitely enabled me to have more experiences, I also like to make sure I spent a little bit of time going low-tech. That might mean not using Google maps to get somewhere, and instead paying attention where I walk. Sometimes it’s turning my phone off and leaving it in the bottom of my bag (keeping it on hand in case of emergency), or it’s taking a few photos but then putting away my camera and just being in the moment.

Favourite time this has paid off: I saw the most spectacular sunset of my life in the Baies des Citrons in Noumea, which I would have missed if I’d stayed with my friends, who were fruitlessly trying to connect with the free wi-fi at a nearby bar. Totally appreciate trying to stay in touch with people back home, but I really treasured those quiet moments on the beach and staying disconnected.

5. Go to one of the best restaurants

I work in the restaurant industry, so it’s probably no surprise that I love experiencing some of the best local restaurants when I travel. This doesn’t mean dropping thousands of dollars on dinner at the highest-rated restaurant in town, but instead is the result of careful research of restaurants that have won the hearts of in-the-know locals. I try and choose somewhere that’s independently owned and that showcases regional cuisine and producers. Generally, I end up at somewhere well known in the city, but not the most obvious choice for travellers.

Favourite destination restaurants: 701West in New York City, Sigi Ikthios in Paros, Butagumi in Tokyo.

6. Try a hyper-local speciality

It might be obvious to savour sashimi in Tokyo, but what regional dishes shine in another city in your own country? What’s the specialty that does the town you’re visiting proud? Double points if you’re near a wine region and there’s a local wine (or gin, whiskey or craft beer) to match your meal. These can be found at restaurants, but often your best bet is a small cafe or a food stand. My favourite local specialties are always local pastries and desserts!

Favourite local dishes: Karpouzopita (watermelon pie) in Milos, Tonkatsu pork at Butagumi in Tokyo, fried green tomatoes, grits and praline in Charleston and the po’ boys, muffalettas, beignets and gumbo we had in New Orleans.

7. Soak up a great view

There’s something about seeing a city from above. While I’m too much of a chicken for a helicopter tour, I do love a good observation deck, tower or a good, old fashioned mountain.

Favourite views: From Skypoint on the Gold Coast, Tour Montparnasse in Paris, the Top of the Rock and from a Hudson River cruise in New York, the Sky Bar at Prince Park Tower in Tokyo, Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence.

Things I’d like to do more when I travel

And then there are the things I wish I did. I’m making a conscious effort to do more of the things on this list on my upcoming trips – stay tuned for the results!

I also wish I’d take better notes while I’m on the road. I bring a travel journal with me every time and solemnly swear that I’ll take notes each night or during the day, but time after time I come home with only one entry – rom the plane on the flight over. This one’s a bit of a work in progress.

1. Museums and galleries

I’d like to be a bit more consistent with this one.

I love how much of an impact the Beatles Museum in Liverpool had on my sister when she traveled through England last year and an exhibition on caricaturist Al Hirschfeld at the New York Historical Society inspired me to put pen to paper far more often. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the Intrepid Air, Sea & Space Museum one bit, but went with my boyfriend to be a good sport (I’ve dragged him into more than my fair share of art museums). I left feeling like my mind was about to explode, as it swelled with the ideas and possibilities  and stories shared at the museum.

I had plenty of time to check out major and smaller museums in New York City and I’ve been to several museums across Europe. When I’m on a shorter time frame I tend to skip them. Next time I’m in a new city, I’d like to visit at least one museum or gallery – even if it’s a small one.

Favourite Museums: Musee de Moyen Age  and Musee de l’Orangerie in Paris, New Acropolis Museum in Athens, National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne and the Frick Collection in New York City.

2. Walking tours

A good local guide is worth their weight in gold. I’d love to do more walking tours, especially ones with a focus on architecture, history, street art or my favourite topic, food. I’ve been particularly inspired by Alex in Wanderland’s posts about street art tours she took in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, as well as a locally owned and operated favela tour she took in Rio.

Our local guide at Ancient Ephesus in Turkey had me hanging off her every word and the guide who led me on a tour through Pompeii made me forget about the shocking back pain I was experiencing as I hobbled around the ancient Italian city.

I love history but hate lectures, so a dull guide will send me to sleep – or wandering away from the tour and getting lost. I was pretty disappointed in the guide that led our tour group through the Acropolis, the guide who took us through the Vatican and the guide who took us on a three-hour walking tour through on a bitterly frosty night in Berlin. All five of these guides were local guides, contracted by Contiki to guide us through sites where Contiki guides are not allowed to operate. You win some, you lose some. I think booking my own guides will have a much better success rate!

Update: I’ve really prioritized locally guided walking tours since writing this post, and since publishing have taken locally guided tours in Athens, New York, San Francisco and Miami!

Favourite Walking Tours: Exachaiea neighbourhood in Athenss, the Lower East Side in New York City, the Mission in San Francisco, Little Havana in Miami, Ephesus in Turkey, Pompeii in Italy.

3. Buy meaningful souvenirs

Usually, I shop very deliberately, and I don’t shop for fun. This means that it’s easy for me to come home from a trip without a single souvenir, which is fine, but I really treasure jewelry or homewares that I find overseas. Jewelry is small and light, and easy to incorporate into your regular life when you get home, which makes it a wonderful souvenir. Homewares can be a little more challenging to bring home, as they’re often bulky or fragile, but are well worth the hassle.

4. Live entertainment & events: Sport, shows and festivals

I get claustrophobic in crowds and get antsy waiting for the throngs of tourists to thin at popular sites, so super popular events and festivals don’t often make it onto my list. I hate the all the fuss of trying to get in, get a good seat, get a drink or a snack, or a good vantage point or photo in over-crowded situations, which usually turns me off world class events entirely.

Which is kind of a shame, don’t you think?

Plus, there are plenty of events on a smaller scale which are just as memorable. Listening to jazz at Preservation Hall in New Orleans and stumbling across Charleston’s Second Sundays street party are both super memorable experiences are were both super chilled.

Favourite events: The Lido on the Champs-Elysee in Paris, The US Open and a Yankees vs Red Sox baseball game in New York City, listening to jazz in a standing room only concert at Preservation Hall in New Orleans, Second Sundays street party in Charleston, Phantom of the Opera on Broadway in New York City.

5. Regional side trips, especially in nature.

During a week-long trip to Tokyo, my boyfriend and I spent a day visiting Mt Fuji and the beautiful Hakone region, which included a gondola ride to the top of Mt Hakone and a cruise across the eerily beautiful Lake Ashi. On a day trip from Paris, I explored the rolling hills and charming French provincial towns of the Champagne region. In Charleston, we took a swamp tour which had me on the edge of my seat and my jaw constantly on the floor.

It made me wish that I’d swapped the city for the nearest forest or beach town for at least a day during my two-month stay in New York City or made the effort to arrange a trip to Niagara Falls.

Even when the nearest natural beauty or charming small town isn’t as iconic as Mt Fuji or Niagara Falls, I’d like to take the opportunity to see another corner of the world more often.

Favourites Day Trips: Mt Fuji from Tokyo, the Hudson Valley from New York City and the Champagne region from Paris.

What do you do when you’re in a new city? What things would you like to do more of? 

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