Why You Should Take Free Walking Tours

If you have never taken a free walking tour, you will be pleasantly surprised by the professionalism of the guides and experience. Oftentimes free walking tours are led by locals who grew up in the area or students who want to practice their English, and, as a result, they are even more engaging and informative than a standard pre-paid tour.

Most major cities across the world offer a free walking tour in some capacity. Guidebooks will usually list which ones are the best, but Google is a trusty source to find your tour, too. Likely you’ll meet in a main square where a guide in a brightly colored shirt will greet you merrily. Expect the tour to last two–three hours.

While the tour is technically “free,” you are expected to tip your guide at the end. It’s how they make their money, after all! Your guide will give you a standard tip range as a guideline, so you don’t have to wonder if you are tipping too much or too little.

One of the best things around free walking tours is the different kinds available: city highlights, underground, street art, political history, culinary tours, etc. Because your guide is working for just tips, they will go above and beyond to make the tour lively and memorable.

The best way to see a city is through the eyes of a local friend, the second best way is through the eyes of a free local guide.