Summer is here and the weather is perfect! The long-awaited summer vacation is just around the corner - what are your plans? Are you going to the seaside again, are you going to discover a new city or are you going to enjoy the summer in the cooler mountains? In our multi-part holiday packing guide, we show you what your backpack should not be without for your vacation.
Off to the city
The human practice of living socially and therefore together with other people goes back historically to the emergence of mankind. Humans are herd animals. Individuals have always lived together among themselves, giving rise to the first communities, then villages and finally cities - and from these grew metropolitan areas such as Tokyo, the largest city of all, with a population of around 37 million. In no other place do so many different people and cultures come together as in the modern cities of this world. Take the plunge into a new city this summer and go on a discovery tour. The following tips will help you on your next city trip.
Good preparation
A great trip starts with packing. Think carefully about what you really want to take with you and what you can leave at home. We usually end up with far too many clothes in our suitcases. Is a suitcase even suitable for the trip if the streets in Amsterdam are often cobbled anyway? Find out about the local climate and the current weather - is there likely to be a lot of rain in Marrakech? Do you really need three pairs of long pants on your trip to Rome? Save the space in your bag for souvenirs that you can bring back to your loved ones. Find out about the country's currency, get some cash and, ideally, a credit card. Nowadays you can pay by card almost everywhere. By the way, don't forget to take your student ID or similar with you - you can get into many museums and sights more cheaply this way. In summer, when it gets hotter in the cities, you should always drink enough water - our TreeBottle is of course ideal for this. It keeps its contents refreshingly cold for up to 24 hours.
Avoid hot spots and walk or use public transport
Every city has its tourist hot spots, which these days are probably more often viewed through screens and then quickly posted on Instastory. Discovering a city on foot offers so many unique experiences. Sure, you shouldn't miss out on the most important sights, but keep this short and instead embark on the adventure of the small and unknown neighborhoods around the city center. There you will experience the culture as it really is and not as it is specially prepared for tourism. In narrow alleyways, you will often discover charming cafés and bars, unusual little stores and maybe even strike up a conversation with a real local. You can also experience pure culture on public transport. In a metropolis where millions of people travel every day, you will get to see quite a few faces. Every journey can be a special experience. However, find out in advance which districts you should avoid for safety reasons. If you are going to be walking a lot, make sure you get good shoes that are made for long periods of walking. This will prevent blisters and joint pain and you won't lose any time exploring.
Discover new culinary worlds
With a sandwich or a menu from a fast food chain, you know what you're having. But why not try something new and try the local cuisine? Do some research online to find out what delicacies the city is known for and what you absolutely have to try while you're there. Look around to see which restaurants and bars are recommended, but also try to avoid the hot spots. By the way, if you don't have an international cell phone subscription and are constantly dependent on Wi-Fi, there are numerous apps that also work offline. For example, you can mark the places you want to visit later on the digital map in the hotel and don't have to run from Wi-Fi to Wi-Fi.
Of course, this list is not complete, but we hope these tips have inspired you for your next city trip. Make sure you also take a look at our packing guide for your beach vacation!
