Summer is here and the weather is fine! The long-awaited summer holidays are coming up - what plans do you have? Are you going to the seaside again, exploring a new city or enjoying the summer in the cooler mountains? In our multi-part holiday packing guide, we show you what your backpack should contain for your holidays.
Off to the City
The human practice of living socially and thus with other people goes back historically to the emergence of humankind. Humans are herd animals. Individuals have always lived together among themselves, which gave rise to the first communities, then villages and finally cities - and from these grew metropolises such as Tokyo, the largest city of all, which has around 37 million inhabitants. There is no other place where so many different people and cultures meet as in the modern cities of this world. Take the plunge and explore a new city this summer. 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 or what you can leave at home. Most of the time, far too many clothes end up in our suitcases. Is a suitcase even suitable for the trip if the streets in Amsterdam are often paved anyway? Find out about the climate in the place and the current weather, can we expect a lot of rain in Marrakech? Do you really need three pairs of long trousers on your trip to Rome? Save the space in your bag for souvenirs to bring back to your loved ones. Find out about the country's currency, get some cash and, if possible, a credit card. Nowadays you can pay by card almost everywhere. By the way, don't forget to bring your student card or similar - it will get you into many museums and sights for less. In summer, when it gets hotter in the cities, you should always drink enough water - our TreeBottle is 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 the most important sights, but keep that short and instead go on the adventure of the small and unknown neighbourhoods around the city centre. There you will experience the culture as it really is and not as it has been prepared for tourism. In narrow alleys you will often discover charming cafés and bars, unusual little shops and maybe even get into 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 neighbourhoods 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 walks. This will prevent blisters and joint pain, and you won't waste time exploring.
Discover new culinary worlds
With a sandwich or a menu from a fast food chain, you know what you have. But try something new and get involved with the local cuisine. Do some research on the internet to find out what the city is known for and what you must try while you're there. Check out which restaurants and bars are recommended, but try to avoid the hot spots there too. If you don't have an international mobile phone subscription and need Wi-Fi all the time, there are many apps that work offline. For example, you can mark the places you want to visit 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 to have inspired you with these tips for your next city break. Be sure to check out our packing guide for your beach holiday!
