We’re using this piece to take a look at some of the priorities for the modern city traveler.
In all the world of travel, there's nothing quite like visiting a big city. Each one is different, of course, but at the same time there are certain things a traveler can look for in just about every major metropolis on earth. Because even these can change and evolve over time though, we're using this piece to take a look at some of the priorities for the modern city traveler.
1. Restaurants and bars
As you would think, restaurants and bars thrive because of modern urban tourism. A traveler in a large city will always have diverse dining options ranging from small local eateries, to bigger chain franchises, to one-of-a-kind hot spots with awards, five-star reviews, and lines out the door. These options can actually get somewhat overwhelming in a lot of today's cities, but if anything this only seems to have made the culinary side of things more interesting to modern tourists. "Food tourism" is an event in and of itself, such that many people visiting new cities will prioritize certain restaurants over most everything else. The only thing is to decide what interests you specifically: Do you want a restaurant with a view, or one with a famous chef? Are you interested in an historic pub, or the hottest new cocktail bar in town?
2. Live Music, entertainment, & nightlife
Live performing arts shows, including music, theater, dance, comedy, and even jazz in some cases, still draw a large chunk of urban tourism traffic. Music festivals, as well, are immensely popular these days, and draw tens of thousands of tourists at a time, sometimes to the biggest cities in the world. And plenty of different cultural events, such as holiday-like local festivals, exhibitions of the arts, and the like, are held in cities around the word, usually with significant crowds in attendance. Simply put, today's urban traveler enjoys entertainment, and can usually find something in this vein that's unique to a particular destination (as opposed to just another concert or play).
3. Casinos
It might appear that casino tourism is becoming dated, largely because most of the actual games are now available digitally. Online casinos have conducted for years now, and with emerging mobile casino options gaining popularity as well, there's no longer a necessity to go to an in-person casino. The flip side of this, however, is that where such casinos have survived, they tend to be among the major attractions in whatever cities they're in. Basically, if you visit a big city and there's a casino in town (as can be the case anywhere from Las Vegas, to Monte-Carlo, to Auckland), chances are it's one of the most fun places to be. Today's urban travelers seek these places out not just for games, but for fun bars and restaurants, unique performances, and sometimes even luxurious spas and accommodations.
4. Educational institutions
When traveling to a new city, it's always fun to go to the local museum, aquarium, or art gallery – or in some cases even a major university. Simply put, most of the world's best museums and galleries reside in big cities, and the same can be said of aquariums (or zoos for that matter), science centers, and prominent schools. And even those cities that don't have particularly large or famous attractions in this vein do tend to have some interesting local options that might help visitors to learn about the city's history, or a particular aspect of its culture. Because there are always so many good options, these kinds of educational attractions do tend to remain fairly high on urban travelers' lists.
5. Sights and landmarks
It may be a broad point to end on, but perhaps more than anything else, people still visit cities to see the major sights and landmarks those cities are known for! Whether it's venturing to the viewing decks at the top of the Empire State Building in New York, touring Westminster Abbey in London, hiking to the Parthenon in Athens, or any number of other specific activities, landmark tourism is a major motivation behind city travel. Sure, you've seen most of these places a thousand times in photographs, on postcards, and even on your friends' social media accounts. But nothing quite beats seeing them in person!
