Becky Pemberton put together an amazing list of free city walking tours around the world that immediately made us feel a little richer in the pocket. Here’s seven of our favourites. You’ll find the full list at 101holidays.co.uk
Around the United Kingdom
Bath Guides meet outside the Pump Rooms in the Bath Abbey Churchyard. Check the website for departure times as this varies throughout the year. If you want an insider’s tour of London try New London Tours or the Alternative London Free Tour. In Scotland, New Edinburgh Tours runs twice daily at 11am and 2pm. Meet them in front of Starbucks Coffee on High Street.
Paris, France
In Paris, City Free Tour runs every Monday and Saturday at 10.30am, meeting by the exit to the Blanche metro station. Highlights include Moulin Rouge, Van Gogh’s house and Moulin de la Galette, and reservation is needed to secure a place. New Paris Tours runs every day at 11am and 1pm by the fountain at Place St Michel. Paris Walks meets at the top of the steps of the Paris Opera at 10am.
In the USA
Choose from four walking tours in New Orleans with Free Walking Tours of New Orleans which includes a tour of the French Quarter and the Garden District Tour. Similarly the New Orleans Fun Free Walking Tours offers a range of tours. In New York try NY By Foot which offers tours which it describes as part food, part sightseeing. There are also bus and bike tours on offer and the company runs tours in Washington called DC By Foot, as well as in Philadelphia, London, New Orleans, Charleston, Boston, Chicago, Paris, Canada and Berlin. Get shown around San Francisco by San Francisco City Guides. The company has a number of tours running each day and during the month of May there are tours to lesser known neighbourhoods like the Excelsior, Glen Park or Visitacion Valley.
In Germany
Choose from three free walking tours in Berlin. The New Berlin Tours begin in East Berlin at 11am and 2pm at the Brandenburg Gate, in front of Starbucks. The Alternative Berlin Tours meets at Alexanderplatz TV Tower next to entrance of Starbucks at 11am and 1pm. The Brewer’s Berlin Tours Free Express Tour runs every day at 1pm, meeting on the corner of Friedrichstrasse and Georgenstrasse, in front of the Bandy Brooks ice cream store. Explore Hamburg with New Hamburg Tours which offers a 11am tour from Rathausmarkt. Learn tales of pirates and the Hanseatic League to WWII air raids and the Great Fire of 1842. It also runs tours in Munich.
Dublin, Ireland
Explore Dublin with New Dublin Tours, departing at 11am and 2pm daily and meeting at City Hall.
Israel
Explore Jerusalem with New Jerusalem Tours. The tour meets just outside the Jaffa Gate by Tourism Information. Tours run on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 9.30am, 12pm and 2.30pm and on Fridays at 9.30am and 12pm. If you are in Tel Aviv, try the New Tel Aviv Tour leaving daily at 10am from the Clock Tower in Old Jaffa.
Brazil
Explore São Paulo with the São Paulo Free Walking Tour. It offers two tours: the Old Downton at 11.30am from Republica Square, and the modern area at 3.30pm from Paulista Ave X Augusta St (Jardins). There is no prior booking required but turn up 15 minutes beforehand to ensure a place.
Photo by Nick Page
