What’s the best way to explore a new city?

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I used to visit France a lot, When encountering a new city, I developed the habit of finding the petit train, first of all, if there was one. You know, you never want to look as though you’re a tourist, but on the other hand, this might be the only time you visit this place, so you want to see as much as possible.

This would give me general bearings. It’d identify those sights in which I wasn’t much interested, and those I’d like to explore more fully. Or I might see shops I’d like to visit.

The train would eventually be a circuit, so I’d end up where I started, something else that’s useful for bearings.

Once the train ride was finished, I’d explore on foot. What I found is that the faster I travelled, the less I saw. That was one of the advantages of cycling over driving, although walking was always the best option when in a city.

Incidentally, if you’re in Europe, many cities lend themselves perfectly to the walking experience, including Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels and London. They’re so compact, you just waste time and money using public transport. So park the car up somewhere and go get some fresh air!