I’ve taken walking tours in over 18 cities. Here’s why you should, too.

It can be overwhelming when you visit a new city. You want to see the main sights, some hidden gems, and get a general feel of the place. But you’re not quite sure where to start. 

Well, I often start with a guided walking tour. I’ve done walking tours in over 18 cities in more than 9 countries, from Amsterdam to Bogotá to Osaka. I’ve been on an eclectic mix of tours from free tours to street art tours, exploring sides of cities from famous landmarks to overlooked backstreets. 

As a seasoned traveller, there are many reasons why I keep adding guided walking tours to my travel itineraries. So, consider this article a little ode to the humble walking tour, a ‘how to’ guide to get the most out of them, and a sprinkle of inspiration for your next travel itinerary. 

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Walking tours are a great way to orientate yourself in a new city

I started going on guided walking tours when I was living abroad as an Au Pair and visited other cities for the weekend. The free walking tours were an ideal way to get a good feel of the city in just a few hours, and on a budget. 

I love exploring cities on foot, as it helps me piece together different areas and get a sense of the city, beyond just the flashy landmarks. But my navigation skills and willingness to plan a self-guided walking route (knowing I’ll probably get distracted or lost) are lacking. So walking tours are my go-to activity for day one in a new city. 

The Tokyo Localized walking tour really helped me get my bearings in the world’s largest city. It was great to explore without any pressure to navigate and to get used to the city without feeling overwhelmed. 

After the guided tour, I had a better idea of where to go back to, what to explore, and what to do, picking up recommendations from the local guide and other travellers. 

Learn more and get a deeper insight into the culture of the city and country

A guided tour will make you see a city differently; you’ll learn about a city’s history, local culture, and stories you wouldn’t have expected. It’s easy to walk around a city and take it at face value, admiring the pretty buildings and photogenic sights. But for me, the joy of travel also lies in finding out about new places and cultures.

I saw the beautiful buildings in Ljubljana in a new light after hearing more about them on a walking tour. And I also learnt a lot about the underrated European country, which has a rich history and a strong national identity. 

Knowing more information about a city helps me get more out of the rest of the trip, and appreciate things I wouldn’t have even noticed before. 

Hear local perspectives and see hidden gems

I once ended up visiting the unassuming city of Poznań, somewhere I didn’t know anything about beforehand. I booked myself on a free walking tour of the Old City and left with a newfound love of this Polish city. 

The local student who guided us around was full of useful insights, facts, and stories about her city. We saw most of the main sights as well as heard recommendations for other places to visit. The tour guide even timed the walk so that we saw the famous Poznań goats, mechanical creatures that butt heads at noon! 

This is the kind of thing you could unintentionally miss. Or if you saw it independently, you may be none the wiser about why so many goats adorn the city… I’ll leave you to go on a walking tour in Poznań to hear the different theories!

There are many different types of tours to choose from

My go-to type of tour is a ‘free’ walking tour with pioneers of the free walking tour concept, SANDEMANs. These are typically led by locals and provide a great overview of a city! 

The ‘free’ walking tours operate on a tip-based system, so be polite and leave a tip! It’d be pretty cheeky not to. There is often a suggested amount to tip, which I keep in mind as a minimum, but I tip based on how much I enjoy the tour. 

Some hostels also offer walking tours as part of their social activities. Having stayed in over 50 hostels, this is the kind of thing I check in advance. Taking part in a walking tour is a great way to meet fellow travellers, especially if you’re solo travelling.

There are also plenty of paid or private tours to book onto, which are often longer or more bespoke than free walking tours. For example, in my home city of Cardiff, there is a specific walking tour dedicated to the popular TV show Dr Who! It’s definitely worth checking out what’s available in your next destination!

Choose your walking tour wisely

It’s not always easy for destinations to balance the benefits and drawbacks of tourism. But as travellers, we can make conscious decisions about what we do on our trips, to try to contribute positively to the area. There are lots of guided tours in different destinations that positively support locals whilst giving travellers a great experience.

For example, there are brilliant walking tours across the UK run by Invisible Cities, a social enterprise which trains and supports people who have experienced homelessness to become tour guides in their cities. The tours are informative and engaging, and give travellers a truly unique perspective on the city.

But whilst travellers are on the search for unique experiences, it can sometimes lead to questionable tour practices and tensions in the community. It’s always worth doing a bit of research before booking a walking tour.

For example, there are restrictions in Amsterdam on guided tours in the red light district, as a response to issues caused by mass tourism [Source]. So, you want to make sure your tour is respectful and you’re not adding to the problems.

We can’t always get it right, but we can try to make travel choices that have positive impacts. Reviews and accreditations from the tourism industry can help you make such choices about walking tours.

My top tips for walking tours

If you’re suitably convinced to go on a walking tour, or want to hone your tour-ing, here are my top tips:

#1 – Go on a walking tour at the start of your trip

You’re bound to discover new parts of a city and get tips for where to explore on a walking tour. It’s best to get these at the start of your trip so you can make the most of your visit. 

#2 – Try to get the most out of the tour

Go on the tour with some questions in mind and think about what information would be useful. But also be open minded to learning new things and seeing the city differently. Most importantly, enjoy listening to the tour guide and taking in the sights.

#3 – Follow the guidance

Most walking tours start with a short briefing about how the tour will run. Follow any guidance given on how to stay safe and respect the area. And stay with the group! I once mysteriously lost the tour guide on a walking tour (or she lost me, I still haven’t decided…)

#4 – Choose a type of tour that suits you

Ok, I know this article is all about walking tours. But here’s the part where I suggest you could do a guided tour on a bike, boat or bus instead. 

For example, hop-on-hop-off bus tours are a more accessible option and can offer many of the advantages of walking tours. I do love a cycling tour too, but I only choose these if I know the city is bike-friendly and I feel confident riding there.  

#5 – Consider going on a tour in your own city!

I loved being a tourist in my own city by going on a guided cycle tour of Cardiff! I’m also planning to book some walking tours to explore more. It’s not something just for further afield!

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Have you ever been on a walking tour? Please share your experiences and top tips in the comments!