When visiting a major city, it’s important to plan how you will get around. Fail to plan ahead, and you could end up getting lost or spending too much money. Below are a few valuable tips that can make getting around an unfamiliar city easier.

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Find somewhere safe to drop off your luggage

You don’t want to be lugging a suitcase around a city. Backpacks can be more convenient, but can still be something extra to look after. Make sure to check your bags into your hotel as soon as you arrive so that you can explore luggage-free.

If you’ve had to check out your hotel early or are still unable to check in, look for luggage drop-off points where you can safely store your luggage. London has many of these drop-off points at stations such as Waterloo - once you’ve left luggage at Waterloo, you’re then free to explore the capital without having to worry about your bags.

Explore public transport ticket deals

A lot of cities have weekend or 7 day public transport passes. These allow you to use unlimited public transport within this period, which will often work out cheaper than paying for each individual trip. Other cities have a pay-as-you-go pass such as Sydney’s Opal Card, which can allow you to use trains, buses and even ferries.

Use taxis sparingly

Taxis are always the most expensive transport option whenever visiting a city. They can get you from A to B easily without having to negotiate bus timetables and train maps, but it’s not worth the added fees unless you’ve got a large budget. Sure, you may want to grab a New York cab once simply for the experience - but otherwise stick to the subway and buses if you want to save money. It’s worth noting that some cities have Tuk-Tuks or Ubers, which are often cheaper than taxis.

Download a city map

There are several apps and sites that allow you to download city maps. Citymapper and Waze are two popular options. Even if you haven’t got wi-fi, you can then still check the map and see where you are.

Spare enough time to get from one attraction to the next

An overly jam-packed itinerary is a mistake that many tourists make when visiting a city. A lot of us underestimate how long it takes to get from one attraction to the next - crowded streets, confusing station layouts, and public transport delays could make it take longer than you think. Giving yourself plenty of time between each attraction will not only prevent you from running late but will also give you the option to be spontaneous. You can leisurely travel from one to the next, browse in shops, enjoy street entertainment, and perhaps grab a drink or snack.

Know how long public transport runs for

In some cities, public transport runs around the clock. In other cases, there’s a cut-off point at a certain time of night. If you’re enjoying some late-night attractions, make sure to consider when the last train or bus is - otherwise you may have no choice but to get a taxi or walk back.

Look into guided tours

Guided tours can allow you to see lots of different attractions in a short period while learning new information and not having to worry about navigating your way around. Examples include guided bus tours, guided taxi tours and guided boat tours. Some of these are for general sightseeing, while others are centered around themes like ghosts movie locations, or infamous local criminals. Take the time to compare different tours.