Tried one of those 'free walking tours' in Prague and it cost me way more than a paid tour

Everyone in this group raves about free walking tours as the best budget move. I did one last month in Prague and the guide spent half the time pushing a restaurant and a souvenir shop where his friends worked. I ended up tipping $15 just to not feel awkward, spent $12 on overpriced food at the restaurant he took us to, and missed out on seeing the castle grounds because he cut the tour short. A paid tour I took in Budapest was $10 upfront with no hidden costs and lasted 3 full hours. Has anyone else had a free tour turn into a money pit?

2 comments

2 Comments

cameron_webb1mo ago

Yeah that Prague tour sounds like a total scam. Free walking tours usually work because the guides rely on tips, but pushing a restaurant and cutting the tour short is just bad business. I had a similar thing happen in Berlin where the guide spent 20 minutes talking about a currywurst stand his buddy owned. Paid tours are way more reliable for actually seeing the sights without the sales pitch. You win some you lose some with these things I guess.

the_john1mo ago

Man that currywurst story is way too familiar... had basically the same thing happen in Barcelona where the guide kept stopping at his cousin's tapas place trying to get everyone to buy drinks. Paid tours might cost more upfront but at least you don't waste an hour listening to someone's family business pitch. Its a shame because the good free tour guides get lumped in with the ones just using it as a sales funnel.