Before a trip, everyone seems to have something to say. Friends tell you what you must see, colleagues mention a café you must not miss, and websites list endless things to do before you die. It sounds helpful, but it can quickly become overwhelming. You arrive with a long list and a nagging feeling that you will never manage it all, which is not the best way to start.
Sorting the good from the noisy
Begin by writing everything down in one place. Get it out of your head, and out of a dozen messages and browser tabs. Then look at it calmly. You will probably find that many suggestions overlap, and that some are the sort of thing you would never enjoy. Cross off anything that does not appeal to you, however highly recommended it is. Advice is for you to use, not to obey.
Ask yourself what you actually like. Do you enjoy long walks, museums, food, markets, quiet corners or lively squares? Choose the three or four suggestions that fit you best, and treat the rest as spare. If a friend knows you well, their tip is worth more than a stranger's list. The best recommendations are those that match your own interests and pace, not the most famous ones.
Leave space in the day. A plan with every hour filled leaves no room for surprises, and surprises are often the best part of a trip. Pick one or two things you will do, and leave the remainder of the time open. If you happen upon a lovely street, sit down in a café, or follow a sound that intrigues you, you will not feel that you are missing something.
Accept that you will miss some things, and that this is perfectly fine. No one has ever seen everything, and no city can be finished in a few days. Your trip is not a test, and no one will mark your list when you return. What you take home is a feeling for the place, and that comes from paying attention, not from ticking boxes.
