Start with hotel check-in / base setup and keep it easy: drop your bags, charge your phone, and take ten minutes to confirm your bearings on a map before heading back out. If you’ve arrived with jet lag or a train-bus-transfer headache, this is the moment to slow down rather than push through. Most central hotels will have check-in between 2:00–4:00 PM, and if your room isn’t ready yet, ask to leave luggage and freshen up in the lobby bathroom so you can head out feeling human again.
Once you’re sorted, do the nearby neighborhood walk in the closest walkable district from your hotel — this is the best way to get a feel for the city without “doing” anything too serious on day one. Aim for 45–60 minutes of wandering side streets, small squares, and any pedestrian lanes near the center; keep an eye out for the main café strip, local bakeries, and the kind of everyday grocery shop that tells you more about a place than the monuments do. If you’re coming from the station or airport, a walk is often easier than figuring out transit immediately, and it costs nothing except a little energy.
For dinner, keep to the casual dinner at a local bistro or trattoria in the nearby dining corridor so you’re not crossing town after a long travel day. A dependable first-night choice is the kind of place that serves regional basics well — think a simple pasta, grilled fish or meat, a salad, and a house wine — for about $25–45 per person. Book ahead only if it’s Friday or the neighborhood is busy; otherwise, arriving around 7:00–7:30 PM usually gets you seated without much fuss. Afterward, stop for the coffee or dessert stop in the same district: an espresso, gelato, pastry, or a slice of cake is enough to end the night on a lighter note and keeps you from collapsing too early.
If you still have a bit of energy, finish with the optional sunset viewpoint / riverside promenade close to the center for a final first impression of the city. This works best as a 30–45 minute stroll, not a mission — just enough to watch the lights come on, take a few photos, and map out what you want to explore tomorrow. If it’s by the water, the walk is usually free and easy; if it’s a hilltop overlook, factor in a short taxi or transit ride back afterward so you can keep the night relaxed.