How much to tip for a free walking tour guide?

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Sep 27th, 2017 1:28 am

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Sep 25th, 2017 10:43 pm

te1648 [OP]: Jr. Member; May 5, 2012; 156 posts; 85 upvotes

Sep 25th, 2017 10:43 pm

How much to tip for a free walking tour guide?

In a couple of weeks, I will be in Europe (Italy, France, Spain, Morocco and Portugal), and intend to join a few "free" walking tours in each city. But, their website generally say that pay what you think the tour is worth.........

What is a reasonable tip, if any?

Last edited by te1648 on Sep 25th, 2017 10:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.

17 replies

Sep 25th, 2017 10:54 pm

Talamasca: Deal Guru; Apr 26, 2004; 12718 posts; 3158 upvotes; Mississauga

Sep 25th, 2017 10:54 pm

I'd say about 5 euros, depending on how much you enjoy the tour.

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Sep 26th, 2017 12:05 am

beach247: Newbie; Apr 12, 2008; 78 posts; 24 upvotes

Sep 26th, 2017 12:05 am

I usually tip 15-20 Euros per head. Haven't been disappointed. Always had excellent tour guides.

http://www.neweuropetours.eu/#

Per Rick Steves (from several years back), tip 5 euros for a bad guide, 10 euros for a good guide and 15 euros for an excellent guide. These tour guides work for tips (which they explain at the start of the tour). They have to pay the operator 2-3 euros per person (which is not disclosed). So if you don't tip, they end up with a loss. That's why the operator takes a group photo before the tour begins to get an accurate head count.

As I've said, I've taken a lot of these "free" walking tours and have enjoyed all of them. The tour guides have all been very knowledgeable and entertaining (since they're working hard for tips). It's also a great way to meet other travelers.

Enjoy Europe!

Last edited by beach247 on Sep 26th, 2017 12:05 am, edited 1 time in total.

+3

Sep 26th, 2017 12:34 am

GangStarr: Deal Guru; Sep 6, 2002; 10546 posts; 3862 upvotes

Sep 26th, 2017 12:34 am

lemieux035 wrote: ↑ If it's free, it should be free

Come on man.... if it's a good tour it's worth something... even a coin.

I'd say if you are a broke backpacker then take the freebie. If you have some level of income 5 euro minimum.

Other option is ask the tour guide if you want to go for a beer or if not a drinker a snack (most people really do enjoy beer in Europe), it is usually only a couple of euros assuming you are not in Scandinavia and you might pick up some additional tips or learn more. This of course assuming you liked the show.

Autocorrect sucks

+3

Sep 26th, 2017 12:42 am

heymikey: Deal Addict; Oct 2, 2006; 3615 posts; 517 upvotes

Sep 26th, 2017 12:42 am

I usually tip £5 or €5. If you don't like the guide, you can leave anytime. I left the tour halfway in Prague and Bratislava because I didn't like the guide. I left a free tour near the end in Lisbon because it started raining and I was starting to catch a cold, but I tipped the guide before I left.

+2

Sep 26th, 2017 11:15 am

Arrgh: Deal Fanatic; Feb 15, 2006; 9087 posts; 3697 upvotes; Toronto

Sep 26th, 2017 11:15 am

lemieux035 wrote: ↑ If it's free, it should be free

When taking "free" shuttles from airport to hotel, I'd also tip the driver who helped with my luggage. When staying at hotel using points (i.e. free hotel room), I'd still tip the maids.

Those people earn their living on tips. The "free" tour is to try to get your attention.

I'd top depending on the length, amount of walking, knowledge of the guide and the explanations, etc. A better guide who describes well can get more tip. But I'd tip at least 5 euro an hour.

+2

Sep 26th, 2017 12:54 pm

kgvaughan: Member; Aug 23, 2017; 241 posts; 259 upvotes

Sep 26th, 2017 12:54 pm

For most of my traveling in Germany, I've extensively depended on the walking tours.

The tour guide takes you for a stroll thru the city and explains about the places. That way I decided to buy tickets for only the places I felt interesting and worthwhile.

And regarding the tip, I generally gave them enough for a sandwich and coffee ( 8 to 10 Euro depending on the city)

+1

Sep 26th, 2017 1:45 pm

Jucius Maximus: Deal Expert; Aug 18, 2005; 21124 posts; 5803 upvotes; Burlington-Hamilton

Sep 26th, 2017 1:45 pm

Depends on the quality of the tour. I did a very good one in Portugal and tour tipped 10 Eur.
Be aware that some guides actually have to pay their parent company a certain amount per tour participant. The only way the free tour guide makes money is through tips.

- casual gastronomist -

Sep 26th, 2017 1:55 pm

McKinsey: Deal Addict; Oct 18, 2014; 1999 posts; 878 upvotes; HK

Sep 26th, 2017 1:55 pm

Wow it looks like I've been over-tipping. I've been doing 20 euros or dollars.

Sep 26th, 2017 2:03 pm

Chickinvic: Deal Fanatic; Dec 27, 2009; 7751 posts; 5239 upvotes; Victoria, BC

Sep 26th, 2017 2:03 pm

lemieux035 wrote: ↑ If it's free, it should be free

If it is free, I would feel even more obliged to tip. Don't be a cheapskate!

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Sep 26th, 2017 2:43 pm

Pete_Coach: Deal Expert; May 10, 2005; 36455 posts; 10770 upvotes; Ottawa

Sep 26th, 2017 2:43 pm

McKinsey wrote: ↑ Wow it looks like I've been over-tipping. I've been doing 20 euros or dollars.

I truly do not think you have been over tipping. I've also given 20 euros when in Europe (10 for me and 10 for my Wife). The walking tours I have been on have been 2 to 3 hours and have been very interactive. I would have gotten far less enjoyment (and have) for very much more expensive tors with a guide.
In Rome we even stayed with the guide and a few others and went for dinner and drinks...... had a fantastic time.
I have to temper it a bit though. I have been at the meeting place for the tours and there have been 20 to 40 people waiting. I would generally bypass that tour or, would tip less just because it is/was not as informative or as much fun.

Sep 26th, 2017 3:33 pm

beach247: Newbie; Apr 12, 2008; 78 posts; 24 upvotes

Sep 26th, 2017 3:33 pm

McKinsey wrote: ↑ Wow it looks like I've been over-tipping. I've been doing 20 euros or dollars.

If you can afford it, why not be generous if you truly enjoyed the tour!

We recently took 4 "free" walking tours earlier this month and we tipped 15-20 euros per head. We had a lot of fun and the tour guides gave us very valuable information on where the locals eat and socialize.

However, OP, for truly FREE self-guided walking tours, you can download Rick Steves' audio tours to your phone.

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-l ... udio-tours

+1

Sep 26th, 2017 11:11 pm

TrevorK: Deal Expert; Aug 2, 2001; 18112 posts; 9171 upvotes

Sep 26th, 2017 11:11 pm

For us I think we looked at 5-10 Euros per person (there are two of us) for the "free" walking tours. If we did not enjoy the tour, which does happen, our tip would be 0-5 Euros. The problem with these free walking tours is that some will take on massive groups or go through routes that are not good for a large group - when this is the case our enjoyment is lower and the tip amount reflects that.

These walking tours are great because they give a good introduction to the city and help you figure out what you want to explore further. We were never opposed to paying for a walking tour, but to be fair we found that the quality of many paid group tours is similar to the "free" ones.

Sep 26th, 2017 11:37 pm

lemieux035: Sr. Member; Apr 12, 2012; 798 posts; 184 upvotes; Toronto

Sep 26th, 2017 11:37 pm

Chickinvic wrote: ↑ If it is free, I would feel even more obliged to tip. Don't be a cheapskate!

"True charity occurs only when there are no notions of giving, giver, or gift."
Gautama Buddha (Founder of the True Religion of Peace)

The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.
- Mahatma Gandhi

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Sep 27th, 2017 12:36 am

Chickinvic: Deal Fanatic; Dec 27, 2009; 7751 posts; 5239 upvotes; Victoria, BC

Sep 27th, 2017 12:36 am

lemieux035 wrote: ↑ "True charity occurs only when there are no notions of giving, giver, or gift."
Gautama Buddha (Founder of the True Religion of Peace)

They aren't running a charity. Pay for the service you receive as these people depend on their tips. Only a tit would stiff them after getting a tour from them.

Sep 27th, 2017 1:28 am

doradxplorer: Sr. Member; Oct 1, 2009; 641 posts; 296 upvotes; West coast

Sep 27th, 2017 1:28 am

Stop name calling just because you tip. What if someone says that you're a show off? One has the right not to tip too as well.

With that said, i like exploring places and reading about them helps rather than going around in groups.

Jul 18th, 2019 8:01 pm

VictoriaJ71530: Newbie; Jul 17, 2019; 2 posts

Jul 18th, 2019 8:01 pm

We have done these all over Europe and we never give less than 20 euros for 2 people. If it’s great, we give more. I see people all the time giving too little so we try and make up for the cheap people.

Jul 18th, 2019 8:03 pm

VictoriaJ71530: Newbie; Jul 17, 2019; 2 posts

Jul 18th, 2019 8:03 pm

Interesting, we walked away from a free guide in Prague as well.

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