What Is A Free Walking Tour?

If you have read some of my other posts, I talk about free walking tours a lot. I love them. In this post I will tell you everything you need to know about free walking tours.

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Free walking tours are my go-to activity when visiting a new city. I always book one for the first morning of me being there. It’s a perfect way to see the most important parts of the city and get a feel of how the city works. Everything is much easier to find after a tour.

There is much more to it, so let’s get into the questions!

Let’s start with what a free walking tour actually is. It is literally what it says. A walking tour that’s free to attend. Just about every big city has several tours every day, especially in the peak seasons.

How it works is simple. You book a tour online (I will tell you exactly how later), you show up on the place they send you on the day and time you booked, and you enjoy a tour. Be on time though, otherwise the tour will leave without you!

The tour is usually between 10 to 20 people and is given by an expert of the city, usually students looking for a little extra money during their summer break.

Most of the times I attend the most basic one that takes you to the touristic attractions. The guide tells you in about two hours everything there is to know about the city along the way. This is also perfect if you have limited time in a city.

Apart of the ‘standard’ tours there are usually some other tours, covering a specific theme, like for example this street-art tour in Berlin, Germany. Or this one all about Gaudi in Barcelona, Spain. There is something for everyone. Even for the people who think they have seen it all. Take a specific tour and you’ll discover so many new things!

The tours are almost always available in English, but sometimes there are also tours in other languages, like Spanish, French or a local language.

Is a free walking tour really free?

Yes, it’s totally free! It almost sounds too good to be true, but it really is. This is one of the best reasons why I love free walking tours so much. They are available to everyone, with any budget!

If you’ve booked a tour and changed your mind, you can cancel your tour free of charge too. Just make sure to actually cancel, otherwise your guide might end up wasting time by waiting on you.

How do free walking tours make money?

Now your next question is probably: ‘how do free walking tours actually make money?’. Free walking tours probably wouldn’t exist if they wouldn’t make any money at all.

Their secret is: tips! They rely on the tourist’s generosity. This is why I will always recommend free walking tours over pre-paid tours. There is just that little more pressure on the guide to give you the best tour they can, because if they don’t, they might miss out on a few tips!

How much to tip on a free walking tour?

After the tour your guide will probably mention they will appreciate a tip if you liked the tour, but this definitely doesn’t mean you have to tip. It is a free walking tour after all.

So, how much to tip is entirely up to you! It’s basically a “whatever you think it’s worth” concept.

I have found on average people tip €5 per person. Some people tip more, some less, some tip nothing at all. A simple ‘thank you’ goes a long way too!

I promise you, the guide will not angrily chase you if you decide to not tip!

Another way to tip, that your guide will probably appreciate, is to treat them on lunch. This is a perfect opportunity to ask them more questions and to learn about their favorite lunch spots as well. Sometimes the guide will let the group know where they will be eating and invites everyone who wants to join.

And if you really can’t afford to tip anything, but you want to let them know you liked the tour, leave a positive review about the tour and the guide!

How to find free walking tours

The best way to find free walking tours is to simply Google them! Search for “free walking tour -insert city-“. You’ll probably get plenty of tours and tour companies. They all will most likely offer similar ‘standard’ tours, and some themed ones. They often have plenty of reviews available, so you can choose whichever tour fits you best.

If you’re looking for a specific language or theme, add that to your Google search.

One thing I definitely recommend is to book in advance. In peak season I recommend a week or more in advance. The walking tours have limited spots (usually a maximum of around 20 people) and they tend to be filled up quite quickly. 20 spots might sound like a lot, but if you’ve ever been to a big city in peak season, you know you’re definitely not the only tourist there!

This is especially recommended if you’re interested in a special tour, because they aren’t always available for every day, while the ‘standard’ tours usually are given several times a day, every day. It would be a bummer to miss out on a fun tour, just because you didn’t check the availability in advance!

Another thing you should keep in mind is to check if your tour accepts bigger groups if you’re traveling with about 7 people or more. Contact them in advance to let them know you’re interested to join with a group, so they can find a suitable tour and date for you.

Are free walking tours wheelchair-friendly?

I personally don’t have any experience with this, but depending on the city it’s possible. Some tours include this information on their website, as well as if it’s suitable to bring pets.

The best way to know for sure is to contact the walking tour company and just ask.

Extra benefits of free walking tours

There are so many reasons why I love these tours. The obvious one is it’s effing free! But there is more to it.

For example, your tour guide is an expert of the city. You can ask them anything you would like to know. I usually ask for restaurant recommendations at the end of the tour.

Let me tell you about another thing that happened one time on a free walking tour in Brussels. The tour ended in a pub that had a free public toilet! (Scott’s Bar, if you’re interested) If you have ever traveled in a big city, you know how difficult it is to find a free, clean toilet. We decided to have a drink and ended up eating there twice as well.

Free walking tours are also amazing for solo travelers. You end up meeting all kinds of interesting people from all over the world. The tour usually starts with a introduction round, where everyone tells their name and where they are from.

I took a tour once when I was visiting my brother in Helsinki a few years ago, but he wasn’t available one day. I’m not one to waste my time in a new city, so I booked a free walking tour! You’re probably not the only solo traveler, and neither was I this time. I met a British guy, who didn’t like making tea (are you really British then??) and I joined him on his afternoon plans and it was great. I still follow him on Instagram years later!

In conclusion, why You Should Book A free walking tour On Your Next Trip

The real question should be: why not? There is nothing to not like about these tours! And if you end up on a tour and it’s not what you expected, or you simply don’t vibe with the guide (trust me, this is highly unlikely), just let your guide know you’re leaving and leave. Definitely let them know though, otherwise the group might be waiting for you when you’re not there anymore.

You now know everything you need to know about free walking tours, so go try a free walking tour on your next trip!

What Is A Free Walking Tour? – Everything You Need To Know