Why you should do a free walking tour

If you’re a bit skeptical about ‘free’ walking tours and whether they’re worth it, here’s what you should know:

You can get a great introduction to the city

Booking a walking tour on your first day is a fantastic way to kick off your trip. It’s an ideal opportunity to familiarise yourself with a city’s layout and explore it’s neighbourhoods. Along the way, you’ll learn about the city’s history and might even discover places you’ll want to revisit during your stay.

Most tours last about two hours and typically focus on the city centre, stopping at the key sites. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, as there’s plenty of walking and standing while you listen to the guide.

You’ll gain local insight

These tours are usually led by locals with a wealth of insider knowledge about the city. They’ll offer tips and insights you won’t find online, and you’ll have a chance to ask questions and get personalised recommendations for the rest of your trip.

The guides are engaged

Having done 9 walking tours throughout Europe, I’ve noticed that the guides running tip-based tours are typically passionate about what they do. Since their tips are dependent on your enjoyment, they genuinely want you to get as much as possible out of the experience, which makes the tour even more engaging and enjoyable.

Do you need to tip? 

Technically no. The ‘pay what you want’ model is that each person can set the price they would like to pay after their tour, depending on how they felt about the experience (this can be any amount – or none at all).

Walking tours are usually easy to slip out of without paying, especially as you move through crowds. I’ve seen this happen often, and guides are typically used to it. However, if you’ve stayed until the end because you enjoyed the tour, it’s polite and respectful to show your appreciation.

If you have a small budget don’t feel ashamed, a smaller tip and a thank-you can go a long way.

Guides do often rely on tips as their main income so also keep this in mind.

A general guide for what to tip

€5–€10 (per person): For shorter tours or if you’re on a budget.

€10–€20 (per person): For longer or more enjoyable tours.

€20+ (per person): For exceptional guides who made your day memorable.

On average, my partner and I tipped around €20 total, but we’d adjust this based on our experience. For example, we had some guides we absolutely loved (shout out to Jax in Munich!), while others made the tours less enjoyable – like the one guide who kept mentioning they was a struggling comedian and needing the money, which felt pushy.

6 Things to consider when calculating how much to tip

1. Consider the tour guide 

Did you enjoy the tour? If the guide was engaging and you learned a lot, consider tipping more. However, if the tour was average and didn’t leave much of an impression, a smaller tip may be more appropriate.

Additionally, if the guide went the extra mile with stories, interesting facts, or personal recommendations, that’s definitely worth rewarding with a larger tip. If there were kids on the tour and the guide kept them entertained, it’s another reason to add a little extra.

2. How long was the tour?

The length of the tour should also influence your tip. A 3-hour tour requires more effort and energy from the guide, so you may want to tip more than you would for a shorter, 1-hour tour.

3. Was it crowded?

Guides work harder when they have larger groups to manage. If the tour was crowded and the guide handled it well, it’s a good idea to consider tipping extra to acknowledge their effort in managing the group.

4. Weather

Weather can play a big role in the effort a guide puts into a tour. If the guide worked through tough conditions, like rain or 35° heat, it’s worth considering a higher tip.

5. Your budget

If you’re on a tight budget, don’t stress. A tip of €5 is perfectly fine if that’s what you can afford. However, if you have a bit more to spend, tipping €10–€20 is a great way to show your appreciation for a job well done.

6. Consider the location

Location matters when it comes to tipping. In expensive cities like Paris or Zurich, higher tips are the norm. In these places, €10 – €20 is common for a good tour. In more affordable cities like Krakow or Budapest, a tip of €5–€10 will usually be appreciated and is often enough to show your gratitude.

How to pay for a free walking tour

Cash is the most common way to tip guides on free walking tours. While some guides offer digital payment methods, having cash on hand is the easiest and most appreciated option.

On our tour in Reykjavík, we used an online payment portal, which was convenient since we didn’t need cash during our trip and hadn’t visited an ATM. In Brussels, although we tipped with cash, our guide also had a card machine. However, some participants appeared to feel pressured to tip more when asked directly how much they wanted to give before tapping their card.

To avoid any stress make sure you have cash on you before your tour starts. Local currency is ideal, but if you’re in a non-Euro country, Euros may still be accepted. We did this in Prague since we didn’t have any Czech koruna. It’s also a good idea to carry smaller change so you’re not forced to tip more than you had planned because you couldn’t break a larger note.