4 professionals share how business travelers can have an authentic cultural experience during a conference trip

• Four experts told Insider how professionals can balance work and leisure activities during a conference trip.
• They recommended taking advantage of breaks between sessions and conference perks to explore a city.

Heading to a new city for a conference? You're probably looking forward to networking and learning more about your industry, but a conference can also be a great time to go sightseeing.

"Conference hacking" — squeezing in time to explore a destination between breaks — is a great way to see a new city without using up any PTO. If you're looking for ways to maximize an upcoming work trip, Insider asked a few experts for their best advice on balancing work and leisure activities during a conference.

Scope out the city

Before you head to your conference, the first thing you should do is make a list of things you want to see while you're there. "When preparing for a conference as a business lawyer, my first step is to thoroughly study the host location," said Sara Sharp, a mergers and acquisition attorney and founder of SK&S Law Group. "I create a customized list of locations that connect with my interests and fit within my available time frame by becoming familiar with the city's top attractions."

If you're booking your hotel, try to choose a property near area attractions, ideally in a walkable neighborhood. "Find out what attractions are in the city, pick your favorites, and choose the location of your hotel accordingly," said Hunter Garnett, a personal injury lawyer based in Huntsville, Alabama. "If you're not sure where to go, hop on social media and see what places are tagged in that city."

Take advantage of breaks between sessions

The break times between sessions are a great time for exploring the surrounding neighborhood with some careful planning. "The first thing you should do is to conduct a thorough review of the conference agenda to determine how much free time you have available each day," said leadership consultant Dr. Sheree Sekou. "While attending a women's leadership conference on the west coast, a colleague and I made a beeline to the beach to enjoy a seaside cocktail, and I also scheduled a spa visit in between conference activities in Dubai."

If you have a specific idea of what you want to do, hitting up a bucket list destination in a few hours is possible. "I recently attended a conference in Boston and was enthralled with the old-world beauty of the place," Sharp told Insider. "I took advantage of a break to travel the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile circuit that highlights Boston's rich history. I went through well-known sites along the road such as the Old North Church, Paul Revere's House, and the Massachusetts State House. I was able to fully appreciate the city's distinctive personality and learn more about its historical significance thanks to this immersive experience."

If you're worried about time, you could also hire some help. Bryan Clayton, CEO of the lawn care company GreenPal, recommends booking tours with local experts. "In just an hour, they can walk you through the cool parts of the city and save you a lot of time and hassle."

Explore before or after the conference

If leaving the conference between sessions isn't possible, you could start your day early and use the time to explore your destination. Evenings are a great time to hit the town for after-hour museum visits, live entertainment, or a meal at a coveted restaurant. "When I have limited time, I make every effort to carve out time to try great restaurants," said Dr. Sekou. "If your time is really limited, I recommend focusing on one great meal per day."

Another way to squeeze in more exploring time is to schedule your flight out in the evening on the day you leave. As long as you're mindful of your flight time, you could hit up a boutique store or plan an outdoor activity. Garnett said at a recent conference in Colorado Springs, he and his wife planned an afternoon whitewater rafting excursion at the end of a conference before catching their flight home.

Take advantage of conference perks or connections

Depending on the type of conference you're attending, you can tap into the conference resources. "Try to find vendors who are willing to wine and dine you," said Garnett. "In many industries, vendors take conference attendees to dinners each evening, which is a great chance to go to try out a nice restaurant on someone else's dime."

Also, consider using your conference network and contacts to get recommendations for activities and destinations you may not have considered before.

"Make use of conference participants or locals who are knowledgeable about the area," Sharp said. "Ask them for advice on authentic experiences and hidden treasures that may not be immediately obvious to strangers. Always keep in mind that there are hidden jewels in every city just waiting to be discovered, but ultimately make your decisions based on your interests."