How to Plan a 48-Hour City Break Without Wasting Half of It on Your Phone

I once spent the first four hours of a weekend city break deciding where to have breakfast. By the time I’d read every review, it was lunchtime and I was angry and hungry, which is the worst combination.

Since then, I’ve built a simple framework for short city trips. It works almost anywhere.

Before you go: decide three things

One must-do. The single thing that would make the trip feel worth it. A museum, a market, a view, a meal.

One neighbourhood to wander. Pick an area known for walking, with cafes, small shops and streets worth getting a little lost in.

One evening plan. A dinner reservation, a show, a sunset spot. Something to anchor the night.

That’s it. Everything else is flexible. Three anchors stop you from overplanning and still make sure you don’t come home feeling like you missed the point.

Book the boring stuff early

Accommodation close to where you want to be. Transport from the airport or station sorted in advance. Tickets for anything that sells out.

Spending a bit more to stay central often saves you hours of travel, which on a 48-hour trip is the most valuable thing you have.

Day one: arrive and wander

Drop your bags and go straight to your wandering neighbourhood. Walk without a strict plan. Get coffee somewhere that smells good. Let the city introduce itself.

In the evening, do your anchor plan. Go to bed at a reasonable hour, because day two needs you.

Day two: your must-do

Do your must-do early, before the crowds. Then give yourself a slow afternoon: a long lunch, a park, a final stroll.

Leave buffer time before you head home. Rushing for a train is a terrible way to end a lovely trip.

The phone rule

Use your phone for maps and photos. Save research for the night before. When you’re out, look up. The best moments on a city break are rarely the ones on the itinerary.

Make it yours

This framework works in Lisbon, Lagos, London or Lima. Swap the anchors for whatever you love most: food, art, shopping, history, music.

Forty-eight hours isn’t long. But with a little planning and a lot less scrolling, it’s enough to fall for somewhere.

Keep reading: Travel Tips I Learned the Hard Way, So You Don’t Have To · Five Places on My List, and Why They’re There