TAKE FREE TOURS
We’re all ears! Reach out for personalized support, insider tips, or anything else you need to make the most of your trip. Your journey starts with a conversation—how can we assist you today?
Take Free Tours
Got questions? Of course you do—this is the internet, after all. Whether you’re wondering how to book a free walking tour, how much to tip your guide, or if your dog can join (short answer: yes, if they’re a good tourist), we’ve got you covered.
A free tour means there’s no fixed ticket price—you join the walk, enjoy the stories, and at the end you decide how much it was worth to you. This way, everyone can discover the city regardless of budget.
We kindly ask all participants to “play fair”: your guide invests time, energy, and expertise to make the tour memorable, so please leave a tip that reflects both your experience and the local cost of a paid tour. This is how our guides make their living and how we keep offering these tours to travelers from all over the world.
Yes—no booking fee from us for the tour itself (optional extras excluded). As a reference (not a rule), travelers often tip in the €15–€25 range per adult on standard city tours in Western Europe; more for small groups or specialty tours. Please give what feels right according to the effort and dedication of our guide and the experience you had.
Your expert guide, the route, and live commentary. Entrance fees, transport, food & drinks aren’t included unless we state otherwise in the tour description.
Most routes run 2h30–3 hours and cover 2–3 km with stops. Check each tour page for specifics. Wear comfy shoes and bring water—some cities are hilly.
We regularly run tours in English and Spanish, depending on the city and season. We also run tours in Italian and French in some cities. See the schedule on each tour page.
Yes—rain or shine. In poor weather we adapt the route (more covered stops when possible). We only cancel for extreme conditions and will notify booked guests by email/WhatsApp.
We keep groups comfortable for safety and quality. Our main tours typically cap at 25–35 guests per guide. From 7 and up to 15 people travelling together (families, schools, corporates), please see the following questions.
Yes—consistent with practices among leading free-tour platforms, large groups require advance booking and a per-person fee to secure a spot. This helps maintain tour quality and fairness to other travelers.
Large groups can disrupt tour dynamics, make logistics harder, and impact access for solo travelers. A pre-payment holds your reservation and helps us schedule staff and resources appropriately.
Groups of 7 or more must pay a €12 per person reservation fee to confirm the booking.
Arriving without a valid reservation for a group of 7+ may result in:
Absolutely—our city introductions suit most ages. For strollers or younger kids, consider a private time slot so we can pace things perfectly.
Leashed, well-behaved pets are welcome outdoors.
Unfortunately, many Portuguese cities (Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, etc.) have steep hills, cobblestones, narrow sidewalks, and stairs that make full accessibility very challenging. While some parts of our routes are step-free, we cannot guarantee that the entire tour will be suitable for wheelchairs or mobility aids.
Booking is mandatory for all our tours. This way, we can keep groups at a comfortable size, guarantee you a spot, and make sure your guide is prepared to welcome everyone properly. Without a booking, we unfortunately cannot guarantee you’ll be able to join the tour.
The exact meeting point and map are in your confirmation email and on the tour page. Look for our guide with the blue umbrella or jacket and yellow Free Tour letters and arrive 10–15 minutes early for check-in.
Please aim to arrive 5–10 minutes early for check-in. If you’re delayed but arrive within 5 minutes of the start, and the group hasn’t left yet, you may join once the briefing finishes—but please avoid interrupting the guide. Regrettably, joining after the group has departed is not possible; the guides shut down their phones and since all of them have different routes, we aren’t able to recommend specific meeting points. If you aren’t able to arrive on time, please check our schedule, we run several tours at different times throughout the day, so feel free to join the next departure.
Yes, if times don’t overlap. Many guests pair a morning “city highlights” tour with a themed afternoon/evening tour.
Guides are independent professionals who’re compensated by your tips on free tours. Please bear in mind that they pay a commission for each person who starts the activity.
Tips are given in cash only at the end of the tour. (except for prepaid larger groups). Please bring some bills in euros, as this is the only way to compensate your guide.
At the moment, we cannot accept cards or mobile payments. Thank you for understanding—your cash contribution is what makes it possible for our guides to keep running these tours.
For the free tours booking and cancellation are free. If your plans change, please cancel your booking so other travellers can join the tour. Private tours follow the cancellation policy shown at checkout.
Yes—ask your guide at the end or email us with your details, and we’ll issue a receipt for your contribution or private-tour payment.
Comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, water, and sun protection. Some cities are hilly and can be rainy—a light jacket helps.
We plan short comfort breaks on longer routes and can point you to nearby facilities.
Our free tours are on foot. If a specialty tour uses transport, we’ll note any extra costs in advance.
Yes—please tag us @TakeFreeTours! For the comfort of the group and the guides, avoid blocking sidewalks or filming extended guide monologues.
Only for extreme weather, major disruptions, or safety concerns. We’ll notify booked guests with alternatives or rescheduling options via email or WhatsApp.
We aim for a respectful, inclusive experience. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone behaving abusively or appearing intoxicated. Participation in our tours is strictly on a voluntary basis. Take Free Tours and the guides will not be responsible in any way for injuries to body and/or property incurred during the tours. Please come prepared for walking and for the weather conditions. An adult must accompany those under 18. Activity License 1399/2016.
