I’m honestly fed up with the social media hype around “one-day guides” to major cities.
You know the kind: “The ultimate one-day itinerary in XXX!” or “See everything in XXX in just 24 hours!”
But honestly, I don’t think you can do yourself—or your destination—justice if you’re always in such a hurry.
Some cities simply deserve more time.
Here are five destinations where I believe slow travel makes a huge difference.
Venice, Italy
Quiz for you! Where is this – in Venice?
One TikTok comment genuinely shocked me: “Three days in Venice is too much.”
How?!
I have spent more than two weeks in Venice in total, and I have never once felt that it was too much. Quite the opposite. I felt that even two weeks were not enough to discover everything Venice has to offer.
Why?
Because Venice hides secrets, stories and people around every corner. And the same is true of the islands surrounding the historic city.
The entire city feels like a museum—or perhaps a maze, depending on how you look at it.
Venice is also a city where walking is part of the experience. Cars cannot navigate the historic centre, and although you can use the famous vaporetto water buses, you will still spend a huge amount of time walking.
A gorgeous sunset view from the water bus!
And that is exactly what you should do.
Get lost. Wander through the quieter streets. Cross little bridges. Stop at a campo. Watch everyday Venetian life.
Locals live here too. Venice is not Disneyland. It has neighbourhoods, cafés, markets and everyday places where residents spend their time, just like we do at home.
Did you know Venice has its own golf course? It’s open to locals and tourists alike.
I would recommend at least seven days in Venice if you want to get even the slightest feeling that you have seen the “blueprint” of the city.
If you have less than three days, you may simply not have enough time to get beyond the most famous sights around St. Mark’s Square.
And please, don’t limit yourself to San Marco.
Explore the rest of Venice. You may also like my ultimate Venice Guide to plan your trip.
Rome, Italy
The Eternal City has a reason for being called eternal: Rome is overflowing with history, stories and secrets.
Almost everywhere you walk, there is something beneath the surface, or something you could easily walk past without noticing.
My book about Rome contains more than 100 secret spots to visit. And I have to admit that I have barely visited any of them.
Shame on me!
See where I was? A tourist attraction Trevi Fountain.
And then there is Vatican City.
Despite its tiny size, the Vatican has an enormous history that you simply cannot absorb in a few hours. Even the famous St. Peter’s Square, where the Pope traditionally addresses the crowds, can be incredibly busy.
There is so much to see, explore and understand.
That is why squeezing Rome into just two or three days makes little sense to me—especially if, like me, you enjoy getting a feeling for how locals actually live when you travel.
Rome isn’t just the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps.
Don’t forget to visit Piazza Venezia
Give yourself time to wander beyond the postcard attractions.
Istanbul, Türkiye
We all know that some airlines offer Istanbul layover tours between flights at Istanbul Airport (IST).
But let’s be honest: a layover tour only scratches the surface.
Most of these tours focus on the historic peninsula, particularly Fatih, where it used to be Constantinople.
A 16-hour layover tour might give you a taste of Istanbul, but I would hesitate to call it a proper visit.
You will get some fresh air outside the airport, but Istanbul will probably leave you wanting much more. Check out my hidden-gem Istanbul guide if you want to more of it.
The modern Fatih district encompasses much of the area that was once ancient Constantinople, and the city still contains traces of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history.
Just look at a map of Istanbul’s historic sites.
Do you really think you can see all of them in a few days? Mission impossible.
And Istanbul extends far beyond the historic peninsula.
There is the Anatolian side, the Princes’ Islands, the Belgrad Forest, Riva, Yoros and countless neighbourhoods, markets, parks and waterfronts in between.
You could spend a month in Istanbul and still discover something new.
Berlin, Germany
Many visitors to Berlin follow a familiar route: Checkpoint Charlie, Alexanderplatz, Potsdamer Platz and the Brandenburg Gate.
Of course, these places are worth seeing.
But they represent only one side of Berlin.
To experience a different Berlin, head to neighbourhoods such as Kreuzberg, Spandau and Charlottenburg.
Charlottenberg Castle embodies a quintessential palace flair.
Shoes hanging tree in Friedrichshein, Berlin
They can make you feel as though you have entered completely different cities.
Kreuzberg offers lively, multicultural streets filled with cafés and restaurants, while Charlottenburg has elegant architecture and upscale shopping. Spandau, meanwhile, has its own historic character that feels far removed from central Berlin.
And if you are travelling with children, or simply want a break from the city: take a trip to Teufelsberg.
For a relaxing summer day, Wannsee is another great option for swimming, sunbathing and escaping the urban bustle.
A magical day in Wannsee
Berlin is much more than its famous landmarks.
If you are into visiting a concentration camp, Sachsenhausen is an hour train ride from Berlin.
London, United Kingdom
London has something for almost everyone.
Museum lovers could easily spend a week exploring the city’s museums without running out of things to see.
Shopping enthusiasts can spend hours browsing Oxford Street and the surrounding shopping districts.
A shopping arcade in the Coronation Weekend edition.
Theatre lovers can enjoy unforgettable evenings in the West End, where there is always another performance to discover.
And for families, there are wonderful day trips and outings to places such as Greenwich and Kew Gardens.
Even after seeing the famous landmarks, there is still an enormous amount of London left to explore.
This is for you, Da Vinci Code fans! Enjoy your Chapter House 🙂
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