Yes, it’s nice to jump on a plane and explore a far-flung destination, but that’s not always realistic. Unless you’re in an extremely privileged position, the two main obstacles to travel — money and time — will probably be a factor that prevents you from jetting off anytime you like.

However, it’s worth keeping in mind that there are other ways to travel. You don’t always need to travel halfway across the planet! In fact, you don’t even have to get in your car. If you live in a city, then you can play tourist in your home area. And aside from helping to scratch the travel itch, it also just might give you a new appreciation for where you live.

Here’s how to do it. 

Visit the Attractions

You’ll have attractions in your home area. How do we know for sure? Because every city has attractions. In all likelihood, you’ll already be familiar with what they are, but if that’s the case, it can’t hurt to search ‘best attractions in [city name]’ on Google. There might be a new attraction that you haven’t heard of!

Once you’ve got your list, look at visiting them either in a single weekend or over a period of weeks. 

Go Exploring

Most people tend to stick to the same areas of their city. Think about it: how often do you find yourself in the same old neighbourhoods? While it’s nice to have favourite places, there could well be other neighbourhoods that are worth visiting too. 

So why not go into ‘explorer mode’ in your own city? While there are many ways to rediscover your own city, we think the best way is by bicycle. Being on two wheels won’t just help you discover hidden gems, but it’s also just fun. Take a look at where to buy electric bikes if you live in a hilly area (or simply don’t like the idea of riding a regular bike around all day); that’ll ensure you can explore your city to your heart’s content without worrying about getting overly tired. However you get around, do so with your eyes open — you might discover that the neighbourhoods you explore have changed a lot since the last time you were there. 

Stay in a Hotel

Staying in a hotel might not make a whole lot of sense when you have a perfectly good home, but who says that things have to always make sense? Staying in a hotel allows you to really play tourist, and offers a level of experience that you just can’t get when you stay at home. 
We’d recommend finding a hotel that you are genuinely excited about staying in. You’ll have to pay a bit more to stay in the top-end hotels, but think about it this way: it’s a lot cheaper to spend a single night in a five-star hotel in your own city than it is to book an expensive flight to a faraway part of the world. Plus, it’s just something different, and that’s what travelling is all about.