Is Free Walking Tour For You?

A free walking tour is just what it says… well almost. You meet the guide at a pre-designated spot. The guide takes the group on a walking tour. You don’t have to pay ahead but you must tip the guide at the end of the tour. Over the years free walking tours have gained immense popularity and I’ve found the quality to be awesome. However, they are not for everyone or every place.

When to take a Free Walking Tour?

1. Availability at the Destination – Not all cities or counties have an option for free walking tours. Check if the option is available at the destination.  We use Trip Advisor or Google to search for free walking tours at the destination.
2. Ability to Walk – You’re able to walk for the duration of the tour (generally about 1-3 hours). Most free walking tours are not suitable for strollers, wheelchairs, walking assistance devices. There are usually a few stops, but they don’t always have sitting spots.
3. Conducive Weather – Most free walking tours are outdoors. It’s no fun walking in too much heat, cold or rain. Some people can take more weather variations than others. It depends on personal tolerance.
4. In-Person Interaction – You prefer to talk with the guide or fellow tourists and enjoy the interactions.
5. Interest in the Topic – You’re interested in the topic and enjoy listening and asking questions from a local person.
6. No Paid Entrances – Free walking tours don’t include any places that require a ticket for e.g. museums, exhibitions, etc. that are not free. The guide will typically describe it and give tips on visiting it at leisure.

Advantages of Free Walking Tour

1. Free walking tours are usually led by local experts. It’s possible that they did not have a tour guide certification, but many I’ve spoken with are professors, teachers, history or humanities majors and most importantly, they have lived much of their lives in the area. For example, our guides in Sarajevo and Dubrovnik were kids during the wars in the Balkans. Our guide in Jodhpur (not free) was a professor.
2. The tour is free to start with, so unlike paid tours, you don’t have to feel compelled to stick around to the end if it’s bad. But do have the courtesy to tell the guide and tip before leaving.
3. Food is not provided on the tour except if the guide stops at a restaurant to get samples of local food(like our guides in Prague and Bo Kaap in Cape Town). This is great for vegetarians, vegans, and people with food restrictions because you don’t have to deal with the limited and generally pathetic tour food.
4. Above all, walking in an area provides a much stronger connection to the location and subtle nuances that are not possible otherwise.
5. The free walking tours lend a lot of flexibility and don’t typically require a reservation.
6. They meet and start the tour at a very central and easily accessible location where the group can be easily spotted. The tours start with an overview at the starting location, so even if you’re running late, just show up and join the group. In Cape Town’s Bo Kaap tour we were extremely late, so we met them directly in Bo Kaap because we figured out the route they would have to take.
7. By the definition, I would consider the ranger-led walks also as free walking tours. Most National Parks in the US have ranger-led group walks where they share the natural history, geology, flora, fauna, wildlife and more. The schedule is published on a board or on signs. It’s the best way to learn about our great national parks.

Disadvantages of a Free Walking Tour

1. Walking tours cover only small areas. While it works well for places in proximity, it is not an option for destinations in driving distance.
2. Free walking tours are not well suited for those that can not walk at a quick pace.
3. The tours don’t always go through even roads, especially in European cities that have cobbled streets and narrow alleyways.
4. Like any tour, free walking tours are great for quick pictures and the guides will point to the perfect shot. But time constraints don’t allow for a particular shot or a perfect composition.
5. Free walking tours are only offered in limited contexts. They don’t include museums, drives, rides or anything that needs payment.

How to make the most of a Free Walking Tour?

1. Check the ratings and reviews on Trip Advisor before picking the group.
2. Check the route and topic and its potential overlap with other activities.
3. Ask questions – you’re taking a tour with a human guide who has immense knowledge, passion and experience of the area – be curious, engage and discuss your questions. Sometimes you can pay extra to learn more.
4. Ask for references to help plan meals or other aspects of the trip. The guide will most likely tell you the most authentic and best places.
5. I like to take notes for reference for when I’m writing a blog or post on social media. It helps me remember the facts and stories.
6. The free walking tour groups can be of any size. The tour we took in Macedonia was only 3 people (including us) but more typically they are 10-20 people. Some companies split the group when it’s around 15 people. To get the most from the tour, stay close to the guide, especially if its a large group.
7. Write a review on Trip Advisor so others can find the tour.

What to bring on a Free Walking Tour?

1. Cash to tip the tour guide. The tip amount will depend on the quality of the experience, the price of similar paid walking tours and the size of the group. On average, around $10-$20 per person is a fair amount.
2. Cash to pay for food if you have a local food sampling stop.
3. Good walking shoes will go a long way in making the experience enjoyable.
4. Drinking water as not all routes may have drinking water.
5. Check the weather and dress accordingly.
6. Camera for pictures.
7. If you’re a note-taker bring something to take notes like phone, writing pad and paper.

Some Free Walking Tours we have taken in the past

• Dubrovnik’s history.
• History and Construction of Venice.
• Sarajevo’s history.
• Roman history, Italy
• Stories of Skopje, Macedonia
• The wild stories of Edinburg, Scotland
• Multiple tours on Balkan Travel Road Trip Itinerary

Our free walking tour guide in Edinburg, Scotland told us some unimaginable stories of Scotland and Edinburg’s life in the past. To my surprise, when I researched, I found them to be true! He was an amazing storyteller. He even all dressed in the period outfit.

On Pinterest –

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