Free walking tours are a pretty popular way to explore a new city, but one word in their name is a little bit misleading. People traveling on a budget are huge fans of these tours because they’re pretty affordable, but are they truly free?
One of the main draws of the free walking tours is that they won’t cost you a dime, but that’s not really the case once you read between the lines. If you pay closer attention to the tour’s description, you’ll notice that tipping the tour guide is highly recommended.
This is one of the main unspoken rules that you’re aware of if you’ve ever joined a free walking tour before. If you’re still a newbie and have a very limited budget, you should keep this in mind, even though it’s up to you to determine how big the tip should be.
$10 is the average amount that most people leave behind, but you can leave more or less, depending on how happy you were with your guide. Leaving without a tip is also an option, but it’s considered bad etiquette, especially since many guides only earn from tips.
In addition to the tips, you should also keep in mind that walking tours can come with other costs, from bus tickets and entrance fees to cash for local foods and drinks that you might try along the way. Even though they’re not 100% free, free walking tours are 100% worth it because they allow you to learn a lot about a new city in just two or three hours.
