How much should you actually tip on a 'free' walking tour?

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.

But if Daphne was running a free walking tour, why should she expect money at all?

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........

© BBC