With winter getaways in full swing, Brits are flocking to the prettiest cities for culture, Christmas markets and a much-needed escape from the gloomy weather.
Whether you’re planning a romantic escape, a festive girls trip, or simply chasing the perfect cityscape selfie, there’s a foolproof way to make sure you make the most of your stay, according to one travel expert.
Huw Oliver, writing in The Times, proposes his ‘museum theory’ – three simple rules designed to keep your city-break itinerary easy, efficient and blissfully stress-free.
It’s his twist on the viral ‘airport theory’, which boldly suggests you can stroll into the terminal minutes before boarding and still make your flight.
The museum theory swaps chaos for calm, applying a similar business-like logic to help you plan smartly, so you don’t collapse from exhaustion by day two.
The idea is that it tackles what experts call ‘museum fatigue’ – that familiar feeling of glazed-over eyes, aching feet and brain fog from total information overload.
The first key rule of the museum theory is to only visit one museum a day.
While it may feel tempting to get your money’s worth by zigzagging across the city to cram in as much as possible, Oliver insists this is a fast track to burnout.
Whether you’re planning a romantic escape, a festive girls trip, or simply chasing the perfect city-scape selfie, there’s a fool-proof way to make sure you make the most of your stay, according to one travel expert (Pictured: The Louvre, Paris)
Writing in The Times, Huw Oliver proposes his ‘museum theory’ – three simple rules designed to keep your city-break itinerary easy, efficient and blissfully stress-free (Pictured: Uffizi Galleries, Florence)
Instead, he says, choose one major attraction each day to focus on.
Crucially, always try to book tickets in advance – that way you’re not spending the morning in busy queues, wasting precious hours.
Oliver’s second rule is to stop forcing yourself to see everything and be more ruthless.
This is especially helpful in mega-museums like the Louvre in Paris or the Uffizi Galleries in Florence, where you can spend days strolling round and still not scratch the surface.
Instead, Oliver suggests choosing a handful of pieces or sections you genuinely want to experience and skip the rest.
Be intentional, rather than aimlessly drifting through endless corridors of artefacts you’ll probably forget five minutes later.
The third and final rule might be the most underrated: plan your food before you even leave the hotel.
Kick off with a fulfilling breakfast – because there’s nothing worse than starting a big day on an empty stomach.
Huw says to choose one major attraction each day to focus on, always try to book tickets in advance, and stop forcing yourself to see everything (Pictured: The Vatican Museums)
Next, scope out cafés close to your attraction in advance for an essential mid-afternoon snack or sweet treat to keep spirits high.
Finally, and most crucially, always book your dinner reservation.
After hours of walking and queuing, the last thing anyone wants is a ‘what shall we eat’ meltdown at 7pm.
By planning ahead, you avoid the stress and give yourself something to look forward to at the end of the day.
Oliver insists that sticking to these three steps helps you feel refreshed, not frazzled, by the time you check out of your hotel.
Instead of stumbling home, exhausted, declaring you ‘need a holiday from your holiday’, museum theory promises a calmer and far more enjoyable trip.
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