How To Sightrun On A Trip [5 Easy Tips!]

I hate traveling fast.

It’s one of the reasons this website’s slogan is “Run fast, Travel slow.” I enjoy going at a slow pace, taking my time and enjoying everything that’s going on around me. This is also perfect for when I’m feeling burnt out, and I just want to coop up in my Airbnb.

But, it’s also at odds with maintaining a running routine and see everything a place has to offer.

I’ll fully admit that I’m more of a laid back, no-FOMO-having type of guy. My fiancee, on the other hand, wants to jam pack every moment with an activity or attraction (it’s caused an argument or two). But this yin and yang type of travel style has helped me dial in the perfect tips to get the most out of a place while still sticking to your running routine.

And I’m here to share them with you. So let’s get into how to fit in “sightrunning” (running and sightseeing) on your trip.

5 Tips to Sightrun on Your Trips

1. Find a Running Tour if Possible

One of my favorite travel running experiences of all time was sightrunning with a local during a short trip to Rome.

It was an Airbnb Experience, and I booked it the moment I saw it. A man named Fabrizio, a kind Italian man in his 40s, led Kaitlyn and I around Rome, showing us the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and more. And the entire time, he was giving us background information on the places.

It was a combination of two of my favorite hobbies: history and running.

We loved it so much that when we returned to Rome at the end of that trip, we ran with Fabrizio again. I’ll never forget him casually dropping the line, “And over there is where Julius Caesar was killed” as we stood at an intersection, waiting for the light to change. Everything about it represented what I love about travel running. Getting to see incredible places, meeting even more amazing people, and doing one of my favorite activities along the way.

Now, I check for a sightrunning tour in almost every place I visit (though they still seem to be somewhat rare).

2. Run Early in the Morning

Running is the best way to explore a city. But add an early morning run through a place, and that’s even better.

You beat the crowds, get most of the roads, sidewalks, and sights to yourself, and get your run out of the way for the day. Plus, there’s nothing like running around a place when the only people out are the locals opening shop for the day.

I recently went on a trip to Quebec. And on the first day, I woke up early and ran to Old Quebec and was amazed at how empty it was. I ran on streets like Rue Saint-Jean and Rue du Petit-Champlain (normally PACKED with people) with almost no one else there. Then, I went later that evening since I promised my fiancee we’d run together.

Complete opposite experience. People all over the sidewalks, throngs of people in restaurants, alleyways, and everywhere you looked. It made it very difficult to run, let alone enjoy.

This highlights why it’s so important to go early — most other people don’t want to!

I’m a morning person as it is. So it’s often not difficult for me to get up, grab some coffee, lace up, and hit the road/trail. If you’re not a morning person, maybe try to fit in some time at the end of the day instead of forcing yourself to do something you don’t naturally.

3. Plan Your Route Around Main Sights

Rome was just one example of where I did that.

But it is a good one. I mean, who doesn’t gush at running and sightseeing around iconic sights like the Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Roman Forum, or any other world-known site? And you have to know where these are and have your routes planned beforehand.

I’ve done this in France, Thailand, Malaysia, Mexico, and just about every other place I visit. This has helped me see the Eiffel Tower, Big Buddha, and Petronas Towers while keeping my running consistent. Plus, there’s something just plain fun about linking up so many sites and seeing them all in under an hour or two. Even better are people’s faces when you show up in running gear before casually jogging off to your next stop.

Using a running trail app to create this makes it easy.

My go-to choices are Strava, Coros, and AllTrails. Strava’s heatmap is great for quickly mapping one out based on where other runners have been. AllTrails has one of the largest collections of routes in the world. I’ve only begun using Coros recently after they’ve added the mapping feature to their mobile app.

But, it’s working well so far, which gives me another option to try out.

4. Find Accommodation Near the Attractions

I determine where I’ll stay based on this: price, proximity to sights, and running options. These are essential for planning the perfect runcation.

Ideally, if I can find a cross-section of all three, I’m in a great place. That means I can either link up the best places during a run (killing two birds with one stone), or I can get my run out of the way early and sightsee the rest of the day. Depending on what type of content I’m trying to get, I may go sightseeing and gather information, then run it later so I can create a video.

Normally, I’ll pull up Airbnb (or related accomodation website) and also open Strava and AllTrails. Next, I’ll compare the heatmap/route options to find a place that’s centrally located or at least near most of the running options. Then, I’ll open the accommodation map and find something that works.

Since my fiancee and I work remotely, we realistically only need WiFi. So we can stay in studios, one-bedroom places, and anything in between. We’ve even booked a private room on Airbnb (during our trip to Rome) to save some money. Being flexible is a huge bonus for travel running.

Feel free to use this method to find accommodation for yourself! Hope it helps.

5. Just Enjoy the Time Sightrunning

At the end of the day, just enjoy it.

Don’t fret about the things you don’t have time to see or you just can’t fit in. It’s fine. Take the time to enjoy what you do get to see.

I struggle with this myself, but for different reasons. Often there’s so much I want to see and capture that I’m forgetting to simply enjoy the run. My fiancee struggles with this thanks to having major FOMO. So it’s something we’re working on with recent trips.

But, all in all, you went there to enjoy the sightrunning. So just let go and do it.

What’s Your Best Tip for Sightrunning?

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t claim to have this completely dialed down.

And I’m always willing to take advice. So, let me know your best tips for running and sightseeing. How do you fit everything you want to do in one trip? Drop your tips in the comments.