A case for single-city trips

We get it. You don't get the chance to travel to Europe every day, and you want to see as much as you can. So you want an itinerary that takes you EVERYWHERE. But let's look at the opposite sort of trip for a moment. There is a lot of value in choosing a single city and staying there for a week or more. Why? Here are a few reasons.

• Depth of experience. You begin to feel you know the city. You have a favorite bakery you stop at every morning. You can navigate your way to the nearest Metro stop without looking at a map. You have time to notice more details about the people, the architecture, the culture, the history (and of course, the food!). You don't have to make choices between three different museums you want to see--you have time for them all.
• Comfort. You only unpack once, and you only re-pack once. Your hotel room begins to feel a little bit like a home-away-from-home, instead of just a place to catch up on sleep. 
• Pace. Have you ever heard someone say they feel like they need a vacation after their vacation? If you have a fast-paced trip, where you're cramming as much in as possible, it might be amazing, but it will also likely be exhausting. Slow the pace down, and you'll give yourself the chance to relax and breathe as you engage with your destination. Come home from your trip feeling rejuvenated, not exhausted. 
  
  

Kate Thomas from Travel Pro Theory sums up another important reason: for every day of travel you add, you are basically losing a day of vacation. Travel days are busy and tiring, and it's unlikely you'll also be doing sightseeing or exploring on those same days. 

Of course, you know yourself best, and if you love a fast pace and don't mind a lot of travel days, then go for it! We're not saying this is the only way to see the world--just that it's a wonderful, often-unappreciated one that we think more people should consider.

If you do want to see multiple cities, a great way to do so is with a small-group tour. Then you won't have to worry about travel arrangements, you won't need to use your energy figuring out how to navigate new train stations or airports, and you'll have the comfort of a knowledgeable tour guide's presence to introduce you to a new place. Even with small-group tours, though, watch out for ones that try to fit, say, five countries into one week. That often means moving at an exhausting pace. Our recommendation is to find a tour that gives you at least three full days in each city you stay in (hey, like one of ours, perhaps!).