They're advertised as free – but guides often pay a fee for every guest. Here's what travellers should know before joining one.
It's a wet December day in Rome, and my friend Daphne* has been waiting near Piazza Barberini for half an hour. Five people booked her free walking tour. None have appeared.
It's the third time in a row that no-one has shown up.
For the travellers, there's no financial penalty. However, for Daphne, there can be. She's given up paid work for the day to be here, so her no-show guests have cost her time and income, according to a story of the BBC.
But if Daphne was running a free walking tour, why should she expect money at all?
Let me explain.
How a free walking tour works
On a free walking tour, guests book without paying upfront and are encouraged to tip at the end. Since the model emerged in Europe in the early 2000s, it has exploded in popularity, with companies like Sandemans Tours, Guruwalk, Walkative and Free Tour now offering online platforms for freelance guides to advertise.
But to use some of these platforms, free walking tour guides like Daphne pay a booking or finder's fee for each guest who turns up. Daphne says she paid €3 per person through one company, meaning a low tip could leave her earning very little – or even losing money on a guest.
For travellers, though, the ease of booking and low financial commitment is part of the appeal. Kash Bhattacharya, who runs the BudgetTraveller blog, says free tours helped him explore cities when he was travelling on a student budget. "You would pay them what you felt was within your means and [how] much you enjoyed the tour."
So why do some guides offer tours without charging upfront? For some, while there are certain risks attached – and, in some countries, licensing requirements to navigate – free tours can be an accessible way to start guiding and earn money showing people around a destination they love.
What if I just don't want to tip?
In some cities, a conventional tour can cost the same as – or less than – what you might otherwise tip on a free walking tour. If you'd rather know exactly what you're paying upfront, there's a simple solution: book a paid tour instead.
"I'm a theatre kid. I love history," Daphne says. "[And] what an amazing job to be able to show people around the Eternal City."
Why the tip matters more than you think
"Come on, man!" the guide screams at the person next to me. "I paid €3.50 for you!"
It's the height of summer in Istanbul, and our tour group is standing in the midday sun between Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace. Our guide has just received a tip he considers too small. As he has been easy-going till this point, his reaction shocks me. But it brings home the reality: the tour may be advertised as free, but if guests don't tip enough, a guide can actually lose money.
That tension is built into the model. Some travellers understandably feel the tip is optional, while platforms suggest paying "a fair amount" – but also say guides should "never pressure you to tip".
Heather Mae Ellis, president of the Berlin Guides Association, says the risk to the guide is that a tour participant is going to take the term "free" at face value. "I'd like to think anyone travelling through Europe can afford to pay a few euros for a tour," she says "[But] you have to accept that someone really might take you at your word."
Daphne agrees it's a risk, but that her philosophy is some tourists pay more, others less, and that everything comes out in the wash.
So, how much should I tip?
There's no "one size fits all" answer. Some platforms recommend tipping freelance guides anywhere between €15 to €50 per participant, while guides themselves say the right amount depends on the destination, the quality of the tour and what you can afford.
What is the local cost of living (food, drink and rent)? In Vienna at New Year's, my guide suggested at least €20, and plenty of participants opted for €25. In Istanbul, a traditionally cheap destination but where costs have risen sharply, I paid €15-20 where I once might have given €5-10.
Daphne, living in Rome, says that she "would hope at least like €15 per person".
There is still room for "pay what you can", however. Daphne says that if she were guiding two students and they gave her €20 between them, she wouldn't "be too upset". Personally, I tend to tip €15-25 for a good tour.
Bhattacharya also suggests factoring in the guide's expertise and how much value they added. "If you genuinely enjoyed it and the guide really put their heart and soul into it, you should pay extra," he says.
And if you genuinely don't like the tour? You can simply walk away.
* Name has been changed for privacy.