You arrive in a city and check in to your hotel before getting ready to hit the streets and explore your new surroundings. What is the most important item that you choose to take with you on your walk around town? For many people it will be a map, whether contained within a guidebook or a separate sheet of multi-folded paper. A map allows you to plot your own city tour, to find the most direct route between two points and most importantly to find your way again when you get lost. Given such obvious benefits is there any justifiable reason why you should choose to leave your map behind? 

The joy of getting lost

Many people have a fear of getting lost. Within the confines of a city however, temporarily losing your bearings is rarely going to lead to you veering too far off course and there are often clues (street signs, metro maps) to help you work out where you are. Besides which, ending up somewhere you didn't expect to be is usually no bad thing. It is those moments where you stray from your intended trail that can reveal the most memorable surprises: the little-known local bakery, the fantastic bar or the beautiful old church that wasn't in the guidebook.

More than this it is often by ditching the map that we stop looking down at our route on a piece of paper and start appreciating what is actually around us. It's a lot easier to admire buildings, observe local dress and engage in some serious people watching if we don't have to concern ourselves with following a particular trail.  

How to get by without a map 

So next time you're exploring another city and are nervous of heading out without a map, just take a few moments to follow these simple steps and your unguided stroll around town should be a pleasant journey of discovery. 

1. Study the map in advance and know the rough whereabouts of two or three places that you are determined to visit. Knowing their locations relative to the central square or cathedral/main mosque is often enough to find them.

2. If there is a major river that runs through the city make a mental note of its course (north-south or east-west). 

3. Know where your hotel is located relative to the main landmarks and pay attention to landmarks as you leave your hotel so that you recognise them on your way back.

4. Go out and enjoy!