Free walking tours

[Mattg]

Is anyone else a fan of "free walking tours" where you tip the guide at the end of the tour?

I've probably done over a hundred of these in many cities around the world - particularly in Europe. I also recently did one in Singapore which was excellent. I find they're a great way to learn about a place, get your bearings and some tips to make the most of your stay, and also to meet other travellers.

What are your thoughts on free walking tours and have you done one that you particularly enjoyed/didn't enjoy?

 

[OZDUCK]

Is anyone else a fan of "free walking tours" where you tip the guide at the end of the tour?

I've probably done over a hundred of these in many cities around the world - particularly in Europe. I also recently did one in Singapore which was excellent. I find they're a great way to learn about a place, get your bearings and some tips to make the most of your stay, and also to meet other travellers.

What are your thoughts on free walking tours and have you done one that you particularly enjoyed/didn't enjoy?

I am much more in favour of tours when you know what the payment is up-front and you are sure that the guide is not being ripped off by having to give a possibly large percentage of the 'tips' to someone else. The only free tour we have done was one in Toronto that was organised by the local tourist bureau. The guides were retired local residents and there was an absolute prohibition of tips. Our guide even refused our offer to buy him a drink.

 

[RooFlyer]

Did a free walking tour in Santiago. Young bloke - ?student, very good tour and no hesitation in tipping at the end.

Have done others, forget details, but all good ones.

Big Apple Greeter has a great reputation, and a no tipping policy. I was due to use it in 2019, but the guide begged off 3 successive days with a cold (I've wondered if it was covid!!). They do accept donations through the web site.

Big Apple Greeter - A Free Welcome-Visitor Service from NYC Volunteers

Big Apple Greeter - A Free Welcome-Visitor Service from NYC Volunteers

www.bigapplegreeter.org

 

[drron]

The only organised one we did was with Big Apple Greeters in NYC. The guide even took us to lunch. But did accept a packet of Tim tams.

 

[kpc]

I always do the free walking tour in a new city. My favourite was the young Siberian lady tour guide in Moscow who said in perfect English "I'm glad you are visiting Russia before Russia visits you" in relation to Russia invading other countries....it went down well with the group who all burst out laughing!

 

[Bundy Bear]

I did a free walking tour in Berlin, the tour was ok but you did get to meet other tourists, which lead to join a pub tour that evening where you paid 12 Euros but you received a beer at each of the pubs we visited. On the pub tour which was in English was joined by some Germans from Munich, they joined the tour for a bit of fun to practice their English and meet other young English female back packers.

 

[get me outta here]

I have done Greeter tours in NYC and Zurich - no tips allowed, both were excellent. Also, a "Free' Walking Tour" in NYC - he expected tips. A free tour In Reykjavik, but I had to leave that before it ended. Also, the free SIN transit tour, but not a lot of walking on that. In Paris, I did an afternoon bike tour which was great.

 

[Amanad78]

I did one in Geneva recently, really enjoyed it, the guide was great. I was happy to tip her at the end, but there wasn't any pressure to

 

[Hvr]

I did one in Bath and there was a strict no tipping policy. Great tour and really enjoyed it.

Also did one in Tokyo with an older Japanese man whose flawless English language skills were learnt as a senior executive in western companies based in Japan. He enjoyed showing visitors parts of Tokyo they would never otherwise see, and keeping up his English language competency.

 

[Mattg]

I'm actually surprised by the number of people who say their free tours had a "no tipping" policy or that they didn't feel they needed to tip.

Of the 100+ free walking tours I've done, only one tour guide didn't ask for or accept tips. That was in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Most of the time, the guide makes it clear that they rely on tips for their income. That's the model of most free walking tours, unless it's something run by the city or genuine volunteers etc. In fact, on the tour I did in Singapore last month, the guide made it clear that tipping is expected and "customary" (his word). He was a superb guide though and definitely deserved all the tips he got.

I usually tip around $20 for a 2-3 hour tour.

By the way, free walking tours also exist in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide and I've done all of these. Every time, I've picked up some useful tips or knowledge that I didn't already know. Can definitely recommend!

 

[Gladstone Tim]

I did my one and only “free” walking tour in Melbourne last October. The expectation that an invitation to make a contribution at the end was clearly communicated in the brochure, but no hard-pressure. Quality guide with facts and anecdotes. If I hadn’t had to leave the tour early to make it to the AFL grand final, I would have gladly tipped $10 per hour. (i did contribute through the website).

 

[get me outta here]

I'm actually surprised by the number of people who say their free tours had a "no tipping" policy or that they didn't feel they needed to tip.

Of the 100+ free walking tours I've done, only one tour guide didn't ask for or accept tips. That was in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Most of the time, the guide makes it clear that they rely on tips for their income. That's the model of most free walking tours, unless it's something run by the city or genuine volunteers etc. In fact, in the tour I did in Singapore last month, the guide made it clear that tipping is expected and "customary" (his word).

I usually tip around $20 for a 2-3 hour tour.

By the way, these also exist in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide and I've done all of them. Every time, I've picked up some useful tips or knowledge that I didn't already know. Can definitely recommend!

It is the official "Greeters" who are not allowed to take tips. I tend to buy them maybe coffee and sharing a cake, something very small like that they may accept. Check out the greeters website. They will attempt to match you with someone who has similar interests. This maybe say Architecture, trains, a particular area of town etc. When I have recommended the greeters in New York, I advise Australians not to bother asking them where the good coffee is.

Greeters: Free walks with locals - destinations around the world

Free walks with locals: Greeters take single tourists and small groups up to 6 on a 2-3 hours walk. See world map with all destinations.

internationalgreeter.org

 

[Buzzard]

Wherever we go, free walking tours are on the agenda. was
I'm currently on my way to Cambodia and Vietnam. No free tours to be found in Siem Reap but I have a few booked in Vietnam. What I don't like about the HCM tours I've booked, is that they are only confirmed 24 hours prior.
I didn't know there was a tour available in Singapore.

 

[get me outta here]

Wherever we go, free walking tours are on the agenda. was
I'm currently on my way to Cambodia and Vietnam. No free tours to be found in Siem Reap but I have a few booked in Vietnam. What I don't like about the HCM tours I've booked, is that they are only confirmed 24 hours prior.
I didn't know there was a tour available in Singapore.

What is "HCM"?

 

[Hvr]

Ho Chi Minh City aka Saigon

 

[Buzzard]

What is "HCM"?

Maybe I should have written tours in HCM.

 

[Mattg]

I didn't know there was a tour available in Singapore.

Yep - there are even a few to choose from

https://www.monsterdaytours.com/singapore-free-walking-tours

I really liked the Kampong Glam tour.

 

[Scash]

We have done a number of both free and paid tours in various places and I find the free tours a bit more real at times as the guides can be more passionate about their town and it’s history, and it’s also in their interest to give a good tour as they then get (hopefully) tips. I don’t always tip, it just depends on my impression of the guide and overall tour.

 

[Forg]

I’ve not done a free tour … have done a couple of paid tours, though, and we’ve found that the tours with a “theme” have been more enjoyable … I think it’s ‘cos the guide had an enthusiasm for the topic & you get more out of it … or sometimes if it’s pretty niche & there aren’t going to be a heap of attendees, the guide’s running it as a part of their own small tourism business.

Two examples … first, the city of Sydney’s tourism organisation used to run pub walking tours of The Rocks, we went twice (was good value at $20 for 2hrs of pre-dinner entertainment & a midee at 3 pubs) and both times the guide was fun & did well. The other example was a foodie walking tour in Glasgow (which has more of a reputation for deep-frying a hamburger) which was also great value & great fun & interesting (and ranged all the way from deep fried pizza & deep ftied Mars bars through to Michelin hattery via traditional local confectionery).

 

[justinbrett]

The Chicago Architecture Center does really good walking tours, and some of them are pub crawls where they talk about architecture between the pubs, and the pubs you go to are historic pubs.

I've also done a good pub crawl in Boston which was a historic walking tour as well.

Neither were free but they weren't very expensive.