Wikivoyage:Big city article template

This template has much more extensive listing format than the small city article template, with more sections that would be more useful to travellers in a big city. If you don't think the city you're writing about needs all this stuff, check the small city template. Also, if you think there's too much information on the city, and the city could be reasonably broken down into districts, try using the huge city article template instead.

To quickly insert a complete blank city template, copy-and-paste the quick version into the edit box on the page you are editing, or just add {{subst:bigcity}}, which will expand to the template when you save the page.

Stuff in italics below is editorial comment, with suggestions for what should go in each section, and not part of the eventual article. If you copy the text below, you should plan on ripping out everything in italics when you start your city article.]

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The first section of the city article does not have a heading. This is a where you give a quick descriptive overview of the destination. Be sure to include some context so readers know where and what they are reading about. Links to the region and country that the city is in can be useful here, too.

Also include any background information particular to the city (e.g. Geneva is a French-speaking city, New Delhi can be more dangerous than other parts of India, etc), but try not to duplicate too much information that already exists in the country or region page.

Understand

Give a deeper understanding of the city, such as its history, its culture, its mores, its politics, its relationship to other cities and the country it's in. Jokes and stereotypes about locals, etc.

Get in

Arrival details. Try to include all the options you are aware of -- land, air, and sea. Also include getting to and from transportation centers (such as airports) to central areas or hotel/hostel districts.

Below are some sections for common ways to get to a city. Try to order the sections from the most common and convenient to the rarest and most inconvenient. If there's a common way to approach the city not listed below -- by llama, by snowmobile, by bush helicopter -- just add another section. Leave out sections that don't apply.

By plane

Name the airport or airports that serve this city. Name the air carriers that serve the city, and rough schedules ("once a week, once a day") for getting to this city by air from other major nearby cities. Note transportation options for getting from the airport to the city center. If it's common to hire private planes to arrive in the city -- for instance, if it's in a remote part of Alaska -- note the names of plane charter companies, and give contact info. If there's no plane service to this city, leave this section out.

By train

Give names of other nearby cities and rough schedules ("once a day, on the hour") for getting to this city by train. Note the location of the train station or stations and give directions for getting to central areas or hotel/hostel districts. If there is no rail service to the city, leave this section out or add how to conceivably get here (by bus) from a nearby train station.

By car

Driving details and directions for getting to this destination. Try to include the names of major highways, as well as directions from other nearby cities. If it would be unusual or difficult to come to this city by car -- for instance, if it's on an island not served by bridges or ferries, or if it's in a country where personal travel by automobile is extremely rare -- leave this section out.

By bus

Give names of other nearby cities and rough schedules ("once a day, on the hour") for getting to this city by bus. Contact info for bus companies is nice, too. Note the location of the bus terminal or terminals and give directions for getting to central areas or hotel/hostel districts. If there is no bus service to the city, leave this section out.

By boat

Name any ferries, passenger boats, or other floating vessels for getting to this destination. Give contact information for carriers, and the location of arrival points with relation to the city center, as well as transport options from the dock or terminal. If it's a common way to arrive, note the marinas where you can show up with a private vessel. If the city is landlocked or just not served by passenger boat traffic, leave this section out.

Get around

How to get around once you are there: bus, train, rickshaw, ferry, gondola, etc. How much does local transport cost, where/how to buy tickets, and good discounts (week or weekend passes, 1/2 price seniors or students, etc). Is the place walkable? What about bikes? Is it a Copenhagen or a place where cycling is torture?

See

List attractions that people come to this city to visit, such as museums, palaces, churches, temples, historical buildings, squares, parks, monuments, statues, streets, zoos, etc. You can also note here general information about attractions, such as discount tourist admission passes, need for a guide, weather warnings, good walking routes, popular city districts, etc.

• Name of Attraction, Address (extra directions if necessary), ☏ phone number, fax: fax, email. Days and times open. One to five sentences about why this attraction is worth seeing, along with things that deserve special attention, including warnings, notes, historical or other background information. $entryprice (extra price info). 

Do

This is for things that travellers will do themselves. More active participation is needed for Do things than for See things. For example, going to see a river goes under See; kayak trips down the river go under Do.

Events

• Often, there will be a long list of annual events, such as county fairs or winter carnivals. If the main list of activities is getting long, it may make sense to split the once-a-year event list into a subsection.

Learn

If there are opportunities for travellers to study in this city -- from language to cooking classes up to full university courses -- add that here.

Work

What possibilities are there for travellers to earn money in this city? Note that this is kind of long-range and probably won't be appropriate for most destinations.

Buy

What would be good to buy in this city? Local crafts? How about general shopping -- clothes, travel equipment, other?

Eat

For restaurant listings and other food-related stuff. Mention any local specialties or oddities. Specific restaurant listings should be in the format below. Also, give a general idea of where there are good areas to try for finding a restaurant on your own. Be sure to explain what the price ranges are ($2 for a meal can be a splurge in some cities); you can use Template:Eatpricerange for this. Some travellers like (or have) to make their own food -- include local food-shopping options if possible.

Budget

• Name of Restaurant, Address, Settlement (extra directions if necessary), ☏ phone number, fax: fax, email. Days and times open. One to three sentences about the food, service, atmosphere, view, specialties, music, what have you. $lowprice-$highprice (if possible to determine). 

Drink

For bars, clubs, and other nightlife. Yes, many people go out to clubs and don't drink; the name of the section is still Drink. Mention any local specialties or oddities, and give a general idea of good areas of the destination to try. Invent groupings/labels as needed (Gay friendly, student, hipster, fancy-pants, etc). Good things to mention: dress code, entrance fees, safety concerns, solo-woman friendly or pick-up bar, good/bad nights).

This section (or its subsections, if split by type) will overlap other categories, particularly "eat" as a "bar and grill" or an "English-style pub" does serve a full meal. List each establishment in only one section; if the winery tour is already in "do" as an activity, there's no need to list it again in "drink".

• Name of Bar, Address (extra directions if necessary), phone number (email, fax, other contact if possible). Days and times open. One to three sentences about the drinks, service, atmosphere, view, specialties, and music. $beerprice draft/bottle beers, $wellprice well drinks (extra price or special info).

Sleep

This is for helping the traveller find a place to lay his/her weary head. Give a general idea of good areas of the destination to try to find lodging. Other good info to include is high/low season, the importance of reservation, things to request (quiet room, view, airport pick up, etc). The list should be divided by price range, unless some other subcategorization (accommodation type or location, usually) makes more sense.

Price ranges should be defined via Template:Sleeppricerange, or in text (e.g., "Budget lodging costs less than 10 quatloos a night, Mid-range will set you back 10-25 quatloos, and Splurge lodging goes for 25 quatloos or more, sometimes much more.").

Budget

• Name of Place, Address (extra directions if necessary), phone number (email, fax, other contact if possible). Check-in and check-out times. One to three sentences about the service, atmosphere, view, rooms, what have you. $lowprice-$highprice (extra price info).

Stay safe

This is a section for general safety tips. If there are health hazards or crime problems in the city, list them here.

Connect

Information on communications -- phone, Internet, other. Give information on cellular phone coverage in the city, and telephone centers where travelers can make long-distance calls. This is also where you'd list Internet cafés or computer rental centers for staying in touch by email or on the Web. If there are free or paid wireless Internet hotspots in the city, name them here.

• Name of Internet Café, Address (extra directions if necessary), phone number (email, fax, other contact if possible). Days and times open. One to three sentences about the computers, connectivity, food or beverages available. $rate per hour (extra price info).

Cope

This section is for all those little items that people need to know when they're in a city. What media provide local news and information? Where can you get a babysitter? Attend religious services? Anything that has to do with the practicalities of daily life should go here.

Don't put something here when it could fit in one of the other sections. Don't list every minute thing a traveller might need or want, if they could easily find multiple options with a quick Internet search. If there's nothing to put in this section, leave it out.

Go next

Information about nearby destinations that would serve as a good "next stop." Provide a brief description of other nearby destination suggestions, neighboring cities or day-trip ideas. Don't duplicate information that's up in "Get in."