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by Steve Smulders February 24, 2026, 11:20 PM 593 views
The older Dutch among us will surely remember Pierre Janssen: the tall, thin art connoisseur who regularly told his television audiences about all the things there were to enjoy in the field of sculpture, painting and other art.
At one point, however, he offered a tip I hadn’t expected at all. “The first thing you should do when you visit a museum,” Pierre explained, “is…” (I automatically added, “Run to the masterpiece”) “…go to the cafeteria. And above all, don’t try to see everything in a museum during one visit.”
What? I thought, aghast, isn’t that sacrilege? How could such a passionate art connoisseur say that? But Pierre explained: by having a cup of coffee first, you have time to ask yourself what you want to see and what you expect from it. The result: a more mindful visit and greater enjoyment. You look at less, but with greater intensity.
This philosophy also fits perfectly with a visit to an Italian city. Translated into this “field of work,” Pierre Janssens advises: when you visit an Italian city, don’t rush from highlight to highlight, but first sit down at a terrace and take your time. Once you’ve calmed down from the journey, ask yourself: what do I want to see, why, and what do I expect from it? 
In this post, I’ll share some tips for a stress-free city break. Say goodbye to sore feet, aching backs, and emerging headaches: there’s a better way.
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Consider staying outside the bustling, noisy city center. That way, you’ll truly unwind after every outing. Just make sure your accommodation is within walking distance or at least has good public transport connections to the city center.
A park nearby is also ideal: nothing is as relaxing as green space, and it also allows you to continue your sporting activities (jogging, yoga, etc.) during your holiday.
Don’t settle for a hotel room without a seating area that will force you out every day and evening (unless you want to stay in bed all the time). Choose an apartment or suite with at least a sofa and a table, and possibly a kitchenette.
Also, make sure there’s a balcony with seating. Even better: a house with a terrace and (private) garden. That way, you’ll be truly on your own and can relax after a visit to the busy, tiring city center.
Forget spending hours studying at home on that one ‘very best’ tavern and completely planning your vacation days with everything you absolutely ‘must’ see.
Firstly, you’ll already be tired before you even leave, and secondly, it’ll lead to stressing about actually completing your program. After all, it’s a “must” (whose)? 
So forget about the tight planning of must sees And go on a wild goose chase. Trust your intuition and spontaneity to find the truly wonderful places. Sometimes it will be disappointing, okay, but often enough it will yield experiences you’ll remember for years to come.
Years ago, we took a random stroll from the center of Florence through random streets to the edge of a suburb and, just around lunchtime, found a nice restaurant on the edge of a park. I can still taste the delicious white wine!
Even if you speak only a little Italian, give people a friendly look in a bar, shop, or market and try to strike up a conversation (even if you have to, using your hands and feet). You’ll discover just how friendly and interested most Italians actually are.
If you have a baby (preferably blonde) or a dog with you, you don’t even have to try: the Italians will come to you automatically. A few chats, a few laughs, and you can happily get on with your day. 
For once, don’t follow the hordes of people dragging themselves from one top attraction to the next, but turn off into a side street, take a detour. You’ll immediately discover the tranquility just off the main roads and involuntarily take a deeper breath.
We even managed to do this in Venice and suddenly we found ourselves on the deathly quiet square near the theatre The Phoenix, not far from St. Mark’s Square where you could (and had to) walk over the heads of people.
In Alberobello we also discovered that it is just off the tourist route along the trulli It’s wonderfully peaceful. The same white houses, but without the crowds! Do it! 
Sit down every now and then, yes Pierre told us to, on a terrace, not on that mega-busy square of course, but a little further away, on a bench in a park, by a fountain and take your time.
Don’t stand there waving at the waiter Because you want your coffee ASAP, but just wait patiently and let what happens happen and wash over you. Look around you, see what’s happening. How are the Italians behaving, who are they talking to, how are they walking?
Watching people intently, what could be more fun? The Italians are masters at it, watching and being watched, during the famous walk In the evening. But you can practice this every day, from early morning until late at night. Just take your time. Hey, there’s the waiter. Un macchiato, per favore! Delicious.
Put these tips into practice and you’ll notice how less stressful your city trip can be. Good relaxation! 
travel tipsCity tripSteve Smuldersstress-free
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Stef Smulders is a Dutchman who emigrated to Italy in 2008 with his husband Nico and dog Saar to start a B&B there. He sold his house, left family and friends behind and took a leap into the unknown. In 2014, almost five years later, he reported on his experiences in the book ‘Italiaanse Toestanden’. About buying a house with a fickle real estate agent, renovating it with a stubborn contractor, but also fun and educational encounters with special Italians. ‘Italiaanse Toestanden’ is now the highest-rated Italy book on bol.com and has been translated into English, Italian and Spanish. In 2016 he wrote the sequel: ‘Meer Italiaanse Toestanden’ and in 2017 part 3, ‘Nóg Meer Italiaanse Toestanden’ was published. In 2021 Stef published his first collection of very short comic stories, under the title ‘Bezoekuur en 99 Andere Korte Komische Verhalen’. Very recently the collection ‘Het Echte Italië’ about daily life in Italy was published. All information about Stef and his books can be found on stefsmulders.nl.
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