I thought the 'free walking tour' in Prague was just a tourist trap

My friend insisted we join one last month, and I was sure it would be low quality or pressure us to buy something. Our guide, Martin, spent three hours showing us hidden courtyards in the Old Town and telling stories you won't find in any guidebook. He was so good we gave him a 20 euro tip, which still felt like a steal. Has anyone else found a free tour that actually changed their view of a city?

2 comments

2 Comments

hart.parker6d ago

Wasn't there a thing online about how the guides on those free tours are often students or locals who just really love their city? I did one in Lisbon that took us up to this little neighborhood with amazing views, and the guide pointed out all the street art and told us what the symbols meant. Totally changed how I saw the place.

jesse_west6d ago

Yeah that's EXACTLY what makes them so good. I had a guide in Prague who was a history student, and he showed us this tiny door in a wall that most people just walk right by. He told the whole story of the alchemists who used to live there, and suddenly the whole street felt like a secret. It's not just facts, it's someone sharing their actual passion for the place.