After you check in, keep things easy: take a 45-minute walk through the historic core to shake off the travel haze and get your bearings. Stick to the main streets and plazas around the city center, where you’ll quickly figure out how the neighborhood fits together and where the transit links are. This is the kind of first stroll where you’re not trying to “see everything” — just noticing the rhythm of the place, the busiest corners, and which blocks you’ll want to come back to in daylight. If you’re arriving late, this is also the best time to test how walkable everything feels from your hotel before committing to anything more ambitious.
For dinner, settle into a central local bistro and keep it relaxed: this is the night for regional specialties, a glass of wine or beer if you want one, and zero itinerary stress. Expect about $25–45 per person, and if you’re coming in close to peak dinner time, it’s smart to reserve ahead or arrive a little early. After that, walk over to a nearby cafe in the Old Town / Main Square for coffee, tea, or a light dessert — the goal is just to sample the evening atmosphere without making the night too heavy. A stop like this usually runs $8–15 per person, and most places are happy to keep things low-key late into the evening.
Finish with a gentle riverside or main boulevard stroll along the waterfront / promenade, about 45–60 minutes, depending on your energy. This is the best first-night move in a new city: no pressure, good people-watching, and just enough movement to help reset after the journey. The promenade is usually liveliest after dark, but still comfortable for an unhurried walk; if you’re tired, just do a short out-and-back and head in. By the end of it, you’ll have a feel for the center, the layout of the streets, and the city’s nighttime mood — a very solid start without over-scheduling your first day.