Amazing FREE Tours When Traveling: Know What You are Taking a Picture of!

Bucket List, Destinations, Dr. Wanderlust, Travel Deals

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Ever get to a new city/country and start snapping pictures of every cool things you see… buildings, people, food.. BUT YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE!!?? While it may be obvious when taking pictures with the Eiffel Tower or even the Statue of Liberty… what about the other buildings and cool things unknown to you. This is usually where people go after EXPENSIVE tours on buses to get and understanding of where you are and know what the heck you are taking pictures. You may not even fall into this category and just roam around cities snapping pictures because “it seems like it is important.” And that is okay too… but I am here to tell you there is another way (and quite frankly I think it is AMAZING!)

The answer to knowing more about where you are is:

FREE WALKING TOURS

WHAT? Yes.. I said it…FREE!!! If you don’t want to pay you don’t pay… but trust me… after you are done you can’t help but leave a tip (of how much you choose) for your amazing guide!

First of all,I love seeing the word… FREE… especially when it is true and I am traveling on a budget (which is all the time… #TheStruggleisReal). Since, my first FREE walking tour in Berlin, I have been a loyal fan to first find free walking tours before I look at paid tours. So far I have done walking tours in many of the countries/cities I visited… here’s a quick list “Country (City of tour)”

Germany (Berlin), Denmark (Copenhagen), Estonia (Tallinn), Spain (Santander, Madrid), Finland (Helsinki), United Kingdom (London), Italy (Rome, Milan, Pisa), Lithuania (Vilnius), Latvia (Riga), Serbia (Belgrade), Turkey (Istanbul), Sweden (Stockholm)

So… I am not telling you to try something that I myself won’t do!

Why You should choose a free walking tour:

  1. It’s Free! (Duh!)
  2. Most walking tours are the exact same routes taking by big companies for a fraction of the price (if you decide to tip)
  3. They are often by locals who just love history and where they live (Or travelers like yourself who are living in a place for a while)

  4. It’s Free!

  5. Many of the hosts give you inside scoop on things to do and places to see Off the Beaten Path
  6. You are supporting entrepreneurs/students

  7. It’s Free

  8. You have a more surreal experience walking around the city and getting yourself acquainted with locations

  9. Oh yea, It’s Free!

Clearly, if that list doesn’t have you sold, let me share this, because of these tours I was able to find out cool things to do in many cities. They guides are amazing!

  1. I had dinner in the dark in Berlin! (I will write on this experience… definitely my favorite restaurant in the World… I’ve been 3 times now!)
  2. I got my face on money in Belgrade
  3. I walked on water in Estonia
  4. I had amazing oxtail in Madrid
  5. I had Elk Soup in Estonia

That’s just to name a few of my most amazing experiences! Now, I know some places won’t have free tours (example I could not find one in Mexico City) and that is okay. I just suggest you try the search first… you will be surprised how many there are. Then you can venture out to paid tours that usually are worth it if it is a day trip or something that you can’t help but pay… Like My Tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp!!!

 

I also get to know cool things, like Did you know… Ikea product names actually have meaning!! Fancy, delightful and good-looking things (sofas, coffee tables, bookshelves) are named after Swedish places, while the Danish get carpets. It is a little play on the fact the Swedish often times think they are better than the Danish (also war history involved and the fact that the founder is dyslexic and did not want to depend on numbers). Yep, learned that on a Free Walking Tour in Sweden!

IKEA_Solar_Calvin_Teo_Wikipedia

So here is a list of Free Walking Tours! If you are going to a city not mentioned just used Google Search “Free Walking Tour” and include your city name. (List Taken from: http://www.priceoftravel.com/1835/list-of-free-walking-tours-around-the-world/) I told you there was a lot… just find your city, and let me know how it goes!

Dr. Wanderlust

I am a Neuroscience Graduate Student, Past Professional Volleyball Player with a love for traveling the world, cultures and adventures. I am a frugal traveler so I am always looking out for great deals, but I am also very much into trying new things, meeting new people and learning no matter where I go. Check out my signature iJump photos from around the world.