The First Thing You Should Do When You Get To A New Destination

After attending a wedding outside Dublin earlier this month, I spent a week exploring Ireland and Northern Ireland for the first time. The trip entailed a combination of natural sights like the Cliffs of Moher and Giant’s Causeway, and famous cities like Galway and Belfast.

When I arrived in the city of Derry (or Londonderry depending on your persuasion), I began my visit with an activity I’d surprisingly never tried before: a guided walking tour of the area.

My tour guide Gerry Lynn ― yes, Gerry from Derry ― grew up in the famed city and shared his deep knowledge of its history, from the Middle Ages to the Troubles to the present. He also pointed out the filming locations and references from the show “Derry Girls” after I shared that I was a fan.

A few days later in Belfast, I took another wonderful walking tour with a guide named Dee Morgan, who expertly wove historic and geographic information about the city with personal stories about growing up there. I especially loved her anecdotes from her punk rocker teenage years and pub recommendations.

Although I’ve never been opposed to taking a guided tour, most of my past experiences have involved organized day trips on a coach bus from a major city to a particular nearby destination, which I opted to book to remove the headache of transit logistics. (Think London to Stonehenge or Edinburgh to the Scottish Highlands.)

But after my Derry and Belfast experiences, I must say I’m now a strong proponent of the guided city walking tour as a way to kick off a vacation to a new place.

“A walking tour led by a knowledgeable local guide provides an excellent opportunity for travelers to get their bearings and familiarize themselves with the layout of the city or neighborhood,” Lisa Chen, the CEO of the travel company ToursByLocals, told HuffPost.

In addition to orienting myself, I was also pleased to get a local’s perspective on the best things to do for the remainder of my stay. Both Gerry and Dee pointed out good restaurants along our route and indicated sites that I might want to check out beyond the area we covered.

“Local guides are a treasure trove of insider knowledge and recommendations for dining, shopping, and activities off the beaten path,” Chen noted. “By embarking on a walking tour early in the trip, travelers can benefit from the guide’s expertise and insider tips, gaining valuable insights that enhance their overall experience and make their stay more enjoyable.”