What Are the Best Apps to Book Free Walking Tours in Spain? Comparison, Benefits, and Innovative Alternatives
Who hasn’t joined a free walking tour while traveling? These “free” tours are no longer a passing trend, they’ve become a must-do activity when exploring a new destination.
The free tour concept was born in Berlin in 2004, created by Chris Sandeman with the goal of offering tourism experiences accessible to all budgets. To achieve this, he designed a model based on professional guided tours funded by a voluntary tip at the end, rather than an upfront fee. This innovative approach enabled rapid global expansion in the years that followed.
La propuesta de Sandeman democratizó una actividad hasta ese momento destinada, en la mayoría de los casos, a los turistas con mayor poder adquisitivo -en Barcelona, los precios de un tour por una visita específica, a la Sagrada Familia por ejemplo, van desde 40€, hasta más de 170€ por un tour privado de 2 horas-, ha permitido a millones de personas que no quieren o pueden invertir esos presupuestos viajar mejor, para descubrir los secretos de pueblos y ciudades recorriendo plazas, puentes y callejuelas.
Sandeman’s proposal helped democratize an activity that had traditionally been reserved, more often than not, for travelers with greater purchasing power. In cities like Barcelona, for example, prices for guided tours focused on specific landmarks, such as the Sagrada Familia, can range from €40 to more than €170 for a two-hour private tour. Free tours have allowed millions of travelers who don’t want (or simply can’t afford) those budgets to travel better, uncovering the secrets of towns and cities while wandering through squares, bridges, and narrow streets.
Reservar un Free Tour con antelación es muy importante, ya que en destinos de turismo masivo como Paris o Florencia, las plazas suelen ser limitadas, además de contar con horarios definidos de inicio a lo largo del día. Así que utilizar una aplicación o página Web para apuntarse es vital si no te quieres quedar fuera. Si eres un viajero acostumbrado a improvisar y explorar con el Flow, olvídate.
Booking a free tour in advance is essential, especially in mass-tourism destinations like Paris or Florence, where availability is often limited and tours run at fixed times throughout the day. Using an app or website to secure a spot is therefore crucial if you don’t want to miss out. If you’re the kind of traveler who prefers to improvise and go with the flow, forget it.
Apps to Book Free Walking Tours in Spain
In this guide, we’ll list the main apps and websites where you can book this type of experience, including –pay attention- an innovative alternative that lets you discover destinations and enjoy local experiences through digital tours created by professional guides. Explore at your own pace, on your own terms, with no schedules, always available, and in most cases, significantly more affordable.
One of the leading platforms for finding free walking tours. Here you’ll discover thousands of walking routes in more than 300 cities worldwide. Local guides and tour companies publish their free tours so travelers can easily find the best options in each destination. Available via website and mobile app for iOS and Android.
One of the most popular tourism platforms online. It offers thousands of different products, perhaps too many at times, as users can feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of options. In addition to a selection of free tours (most experiences are paid), you’ll find excursions, tickets, and activities of all kinds. Available via website and mobile app for iOS and Android.
A lesser-known platform, yet one of the oldest operators offering this type of experience. Its website features a catalog of free walking tours in major cities across the United States and Canada, as well as in more than 20 European cities. Available via website only.
While the brand name “Free Tour” doesn’t belong to him, Chris Sandeman did launch his own company to offer free walking tours. The brand currently operates in 15 cities and promotes local operators in an additional 30 destinations. Curious, isn’t it? Available via website only.
Another heavyweight, alongside Civitatis. This massive platform is packed with excursions, tickets, and activities. If you dive deep enough, you may also come across the occasional free walking tour, though this requires some effort, as walking tours are not the platform’s main focus. Available via website and mobile app for iOS and Android.
When free walking tours began gaining popularity, many tour operators adapted their offerings to tap into this growing market, and for good reason. This British company runs its own tours in nine cities; however, as you might expect, most of their tours are concentrated in the UK, particularly London. Available via website only.
Straightforward and to the point. This platform, a partner of FreeTour.com, is especially popular in Spanish-speaking countries. In recent years, it has significantly expanded its catalog, now offering tours in English as well. Available via website only.
Closing the list is the brand that carries the name of the activity itself. A curious fact you might not know: according to its website, FreeTour.com is part of the Viagio Group, a travel services provider operating through various brands and platforms, headquartered in Zug, Switzerland. This may explain why most of its tour offerings are in Europe, although tours in other destinations are also available. Accessible via website and mobile app for iOS and Android.
Sherppi: The Digital Alternative to Traditional Free Tours. How Has the Way We Travel Changed?
Like everything in life, free walking tours have their advantages (affordable culture, entertainment, fun, and even walking as a form of exercise) as well as drawbacks that can become barriers for travelers. Among the limitations of in-person tours are strict start times, often large groups that make it easy to lose focus or miss parts of the guide’s storytelling, and limited availability depending on how many guides are working on a given day and their schedules.
Sherppi’s mission is to break down each of these barriers. It’s an app designed to give you freedom, autonomy, and simplicity. With Sherppi, you have access to thousands of tours and experiences created by professional guides and local experts across a wide range of themes, ready to enjoy at any time, from anywhere in the city. At your own pace. On your own terms. Because the tour adapts to you. And best of all, in most cases, at a more affordable price than the “voluntary” tip you might end up giving on a traditional Free Tour.
This new way of exploring destinations, whether while traveling or even in your own city, offers multiple advantages. Beyond the freedom to improvise and decide when and how to explore, Sherppi also provides completely free alternatives to discover places you never imagined, along with a wide variety of themes tailored to your interests. Sherppi is built around your preferences, learning what you like and what you hope to discover. New restaurants, bars, cafés, and local businesses full of character and tradition are waiting for you just on the other side of the screen.
All you need is your phone and a pair of headphones to unlock thousands of hidden gems and high-value digital experiences that will entertain you as you wander through the streets of any city in the world.