Sure, there’s something undeniably thrilling about arriving in a big city: the rush of traffic, the skyline glittering at night, so many bars and restaurants offering endless possibilities. But for a lot of backpackers—especially those more used to slow travel, sleepy beach towns, or mountain escapes—cities can also feel like a lot. 

If you feel like you’re just “not a city person,” or that trips to metropolitan hubs tend to cause too much stress, I hear you. Visiting a city often means navigating crowds, learning public transit, watching your bag in packed spaces, or being hit with decision fatigue because there are just too many options. Even if you’ve lived in a big city before (I myself have lived in Toronto and Medellin), that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll feel at ease in one foreign to you. 

But city travel doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here, a simple guide on how to get the most out of your next urban escape.

Pick one or two neighbourhoods and get to know them well

Big cities can feel, well… big. And there can be a bit of pressure to “see it all.” There’s all the top museums, award-winning restaurants, iconic architecture, and enclaves with their own little personality. This pressure can be such a drain because you either try to do it all and end up exhausted, or you leave unsatisfied. That’s especially the case if you’re only there for a few days. 

But really, if you can try to unsubscribe from this mentality. Instead of racing from one end of a gigantic capital to the other checking off a list, consider narrowing your focus. Pick one or two neighbourhoods that interest you—maybe it’s a cafe-filled art district with a boho vibe, a historic centre, or an up-and-coming area with food trucks and murals—and dig in.

Spend your days wandering side streets. Try local businesses, chat with the owners, and make a point to come back to really get a sense of the personality there. Go for a morning walk and get really familiar with the small nuances of your route that you might have missed otherwise. This approach lets you really feel the city instead of just checking it off the list. 

Use offline maps to your advantage

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably spent too much time last-minute Googling where to eat, only to be overwhelmed by a list of top picks with no idea which ones are actually nearby. Honestly, I’m just not a big planner. Try as I might, at the end of the day, I’m just not the traveller with the perfectly-planned itinerary. When in a city, I wander until I find something that looks good, food crawl, or bar hop, and let my gut lead the way. 

But—and this is a big sticking point—I’ve often gone home realizing that I missed something I genuinely would have really enjoyed. What has helped me is the good old Google Maps download and pinning. If you have a city trip coming up, download an offline map and start pinning. Restaurants, viewpoints, bars, cafes, markets, boutiques, street art, cool architecture, quiet parks—whatever pulls you. Once you’re there, you can just pull up the map and see what’s nearby as you wander. You might be two blocks from the exact cafe you pinned last month and forgot about. 

In San Jose, I pinned a few key spots I wanted to check out. After seeing some murals one day, the sun was scorching hot. I pulled out my map and just so happened to be right next to a craft cocktail place I hoped to try. This kind of low-pressure exploration often leads to the best days: no tight itinerary = no stress.

Spend a bit more on getting around if it makes your day easier

Look, I’m all for public transit. It’s budget-friendly, better for the environment, and often a great way to get a feel for a place. And, sometimes, I also hate it. Especially when I’m travelling and just want to get to where I want to be. In those cases, I’m all about Uber or a taxi. If figuring out a new system is going to eat up half your morning—or if you’re feeling anxious about transfers or night buses—it’s fine to just not. As much as I’ve loved public transit in Chicago, Vancouver, and Medellin, a big thing for me is knowing when the cost of a straightforward ride is well worth it. (And when I have extra time, I often just walk.)

Sound like you? Cool. Consider this your nudge to set aside a little extra cash for Ubers, taxis, or bike shares. Sometimes a ride saves you 45 minutes of stress and keeps your energy for the thing you actually wanted to do in the first place. Trust me: no one gets a gold star for suffering through a maze of transfers just to save a few bucks.

You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing

I feel like this advice is applicable no matter what travel-related thing you’re talking about. Not that into museums? Skip them! Not all that mesmerized by history? Don’t bother with ruins or historical sites. Just because something sits at the top of nearly every “top 10” list doesn’t mean it has to be on your schedule. Maybe one or two of those attractions really are worth the hype. Or maybe not. You don’t need to force yourself into experiences that don’t genuinely interest you. Knowing this will free up so much time and mental energy. 

If you’d rather stroll through a park with an ice cream than line up for the city’s most Instagrammed view, do that. Do whatever you want, whether that’s taking in a live music act on a street corner, stopping into a busy local bakery, or planning a picnic for golden hour. I have to confess that there are so many iconic museums and churches that I have completely walked right past. Those are a no for me, but a cool patio and urban park? I’m so in!

Ask locals what they would do if they were you

It’s one of the simplest travel tips, but it’s seriously the best way to simplify city travel. Overwhelmed by all the lists, Instagram recommendations and advice? Take those with a grain of salt and make space for what a local recommends. Ask people—not tour guides, but bartenders, servers, hostel staff, someone you meet in line at a cafe—what they’d do with a free afternoon in their city. Then, if it interests you, go do that thing. 

In Panama, I dined alone in the tourist district at a fancy little restaurant serving ceviche. I asked my server where he would eat with his friends, and it led me to a nondescript fried chicken joint he swore by. It was a budget-friendly quick bite and always packed with locals. In Costa Rica, a poolside chat taught me a bit about the local art scene and a much-adored restaurant focusing on local Indigenous food. These little moments gave me a glimpse into the city I never would have found otherwise.

Lean into simple pleasures when the budget gets tight

Ugh, city trips come with big-city costs and there’s nothing I hate more than racking up a huge credit card bill. All of the costs—even the little ones—add up. Eating out, coffees, taxis, entry fees, the bits of shopping here and there, the convenience meals when you’re super busy, tours… the list goes on. As many backpackers know, the financial side of travel can be so stressful. 

The good news is that a great experience doesn’t have to come with a big price tag. Some of my favourite city days have involved little more than a coffee, a book, my travel journal, and nature. Walk all day, grab street food, find a sunny bench, or sit by the river and voice note a friend. At night, some tea and bread from the bakery do the trick. If locals can live there on a budget, you can do the same with the time you have. 

Consider visiting mid-week if you can

Weekends have their perks, sure—markets, parties, concerts, and events. But if you show up during the week, you have crowd-free spaces to explore at your own pace. Restaurants are quieter, meaning you might get better service and a chance to connect with the owners or servers. Parks feel more peaceful when they’re free of families and everyone doing their Sunday walk or run. And you might just get that picture-perfect viewpoint all to yourself.

If your schedule allows, try to overlap your visit with a few weekdays. You’ll get a very different version of the city—one that will feel less rushed, crowded, and overwhelming. I have to say that I loved grabbing sushi mid-week in Victoria and getting the beach mostly to myself in Vancouver. In Quito, I got to skip the lineup for my favourite gondola ride, which felt like a gift from the universe.

Big cities can feel like a lot—but with the right approach, they don’t have to be. Go at your own pace, tune into what feels good, and remember: you do you. Scrap the obligation and just do what feels good, fun, or interesting.