Moving will never be easy, no matter how many times you do it. The good news are that there are ways to make things easier once you arrive to your new city!
Getting used to a new place takes time, but it’s one of the best experiences ever. If you moved it probably means you are looking for new airs, a fresh start or better opportunities, so get out there and explore! See what this new place has to offer and how you can make it your new home.
Whether it’s a place you already know (visiting is not the same as living there), a new country or ever the city 40 min away from your old home, these 13 ways to get used to a new city will help you transition and settle your roots so you can bloom.
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13 ways to get used to a new city
Find a place that makes you feel happy
When you move to a new city it can be overwhelming to feel lost all the time. Taking in all the new information, addresses, bus lines, etc. can be a lot, so find a place where you can take a break. We find that green spaces like a park or a garden do the trick for us, but it can totally be a cafe, a bookstore or even a bench in a plaza. The important thing is that is it a place where you can take your mind off of things and “refocus” or organize your thoughts.
Walk a lot
When we say a lot, we mean A LOT. If possible try to walk everywhere the first weeks. This way you can discover the city, places you like, stores, streets and so on. When you are in the metro chances are it is a dark tunnel underground, so you don’t even get to see outside and if you are in a car but you are not the driver, most likely you won’t pay attention to where you are going. Also, when you walk to get to stop, see stores or take detours.
We understand this is not feasible for everyone BUT if you can even walk during the weekends around your neighborhood it will make a huge difference.
Figure out the metro/transport system
Even if you want/can walk everywhere, it’s good to know how you will move around. Some cities have metro, bus, tram, all of them or none. Find out how the system works, if there are monthly passes and what is the best plan for you i.e: if you can have student discount.
Another good thing is to figure out if you can get it before you arrive. This way you will be ready to go in case you are looking for a new apartment or have to ran errands to settle in. It can get pricey really fast if you are buying a pass every time or even worst, paying tourist prices.
Hang out outside
If your new city has a river (or any body of water) where people hang out, then take advantage of it! You can see what people get up to, experience daily life from the locals and maybe even meet people.
This can also be done at plazas or places where people gather. In European cities is very common to have the one plaza where people hang out on Friday night, try to find it and go with your friends.
Join couch surfing
This is a funny recommendation but it totally works! By joining it doesn’t mean you are going to let strangers sleep on your couch (unless you want to and that is ok). The idea here is that the website and locals usually organize meetups, events or activities where you can meet people. These are locals that in most cases love meeting people and making them feel welcomed, so you can see what’s up.
Follow Instagram accounts about the city
Nowadays most cities have either their own or many instagram accounts about activities, shows, street markets, etc. Make sure to check those out to see what is going on, maybe you can discover amazing things.
Some accounts also show “secret” things and places. This usually means unique spots, so it could be good to check those out.
Figure out the museums opening times
Most museums have a day or a time slot when they are free. Figure out when those are and visit them.
For example: the Prado museum is free every day at 6pm. That means you can visit the museum multiple times and see a bit every time. No need to rush through it and see it all at once. Or museums in New York have a day of the week when they are donation based, you can get there early and enjoy your visit.
Keep in mind that as a student you can get discounts or even free entrance, which makes things easier and less constrained.
Local festivities calendar
As part of your instagram, museum and events calendar, you should also find out when the holidays and festivals are. Most cities have an event calendar filled with parades, carnivals and religious festivities. It is fun to go to those and feel like a local. This will also show you what the locals get up to and in a way you will feel welcomed.
The dating scene
This might be something important when you move to a new city if that is what you are looking for. If tinder is not your cup of tea, you can go to a bar and see how things work. Of course there are many ways to meet people, but knowing the social cues might help both to understand and implement “local flirting techniques”. If not, this is also a great way to meet people!
Find a local comfort food
This one is important to us since we love eating. It basically means that you should find a local food that will make you feel good and you can easily find. If you moved abroad it might be hard to find your favorite/street/grandma cooked meal, so look for something local in your new city. This will also help you discover local food and figure out what is available and what you like.
Find a piece of home abroad
By this we mean look for something familiar in case you feel homesick or a bit down. It can be a restaurant that makes food or sells products from your country (if you moved to a different country). It can also mean finding things/spaces that make you feel at home. Again this applies mostly if you move abroad, but some embassies have events, stores or even cultural spaces in other parts of the city that you can check out.
Reach out to acquaintances
Whether they are close or distant ones, they might know and recommend you neighborhoods, stores, interesting places and even give you tips and tricks about your new city. If they have been there for a while or lived there before is good to have some “insider perspective” so you at least know what to expect.
Visit nearby towns and attractions
It often happens that you don’t visit those places since “they are so close I can go any day”. Chances are that day will never come if you are not proactive about your visit. When you just move to a new place you are eager to learn and see everything, so make the most out of it. Maybe you will find something amazing or a place that makes you feel happy and you want to show your next visitor.
Moving to a new city and getting used to it is not as hard as you might think. Make the most out of every experience and place and chances are you will feel at home in no time.
Hope these 13 ways to get used to a new city help. Let us know if we can help you with tricks about the places where we have lived or any general things.
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