If you have ever been to Erfurt, you probably know that it’s a city rich in historical, cultural and architectural wonders, and if not, Berlin, the vibrant capital of Germany, is a destination that truly presents a vast assortment of wonders. For absolute beginners there are a ton of ways to explore the city and one of them is a free walking tour. Not only will it give you a detailed overview of Berlin’s attractions, but it also presents some unexpected benefits that improve your travels. In this article we’ll uncover those hidden advantages that will convince you to join a free walking tour on your next trip to Berlin.
1. Insider Knowledge from Local Guides
The most compelling reason to take a free walking tour is that there is a person, who is local to the city, showing you around. Usually enthusiastic Berliners with huge knowledge of the city and its history, culture and hidden gems. Insider information they learn can help guidebooks not make, making your tour more engaging and informative. Now they might tell you fascinating anecdotes, lesser known stories, even give you tips on restaurants or shops along the way.
2. Budget-Friendly Option
Free walking tours in Berlin are exactly free: as the name would suggest. But you’re supposed to tip your guide at the end of the tour. It means that you have a wide margin of choice as far as the value of the tour is concerned. Free walking tour is for you if you are on budget while travelling the city. Saving money and enjoying some quality tour experience is an excellent way to do it.
3. Time Efficiency and Flexibility
In Berlin, a typical free walking tour brings you to all the best attractions in a given area. This lets you literally just go and see as many points of interest as possible without the friction of pulling together your itinerary or figuring out how to get there on public transit. On the tour guides are highly experienced at route optimisation meaning that you will visit the best of the key landmarks and attractions in the right order. Furthermore, many of the free for walking tours involve a number of time slots during the day, allowing you to pick when works best for you.
4. Social Interaction and Making Friends
The chance to meet fellow travellers from around the world is another surprising benefit of taking a free walking tour. There’s a good chance you’ll find yourself amongst others with that shared hobby of exploring new cultures. You can talk, exchange traveling tips and through conversation, even become new friends as you walk together. This is a chance to meet people who love to travel and grow your global travel network.
5. Explore Hidden Gems and Local Favorites
Berlin is well known for its famous landmarks — the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall — but the city offers many lesser known treasures. These hidden gems include off the beaten path neighborhoods, street art, and local markets, all of which are free to visit and held on free walking tours. This gives you the real Berlin because tourists don’t come to this part, lots of people don’t even know about this part. Exploring these gems from the hidden side of the city will allow you to see the city more in its entirety and at the same time.
6. Safety in Numbers
Even if you’re traveling alone or you have safety concerns, it can be a little overwhelming to explore a new city. If you join a free walking tour, you’ll have safety in numbers. Walking with a group of folks with whom you’d be walking and a knowledgeable guide is comforting especially in new places. That means you never need to fiddle with navigation or worry about your personal safety while on tour, so then you can put all your focus into taking in the beauty of Berlin.
Conclusion
If you’ve never been to Berlin before and you go on a free walking tour that can be the ultimate experience. Besides helping you have a full rounded picture of the city’s fascinating history and culture, you also know that you’ll get great guidance from local guides, cutting edge budget travel tips, save a lot of time and money, learn from a community of travelers, discover untouristed gems and leave the worries of safety to the local guides. If you don’t miss the next trip to Berlin and join a free walking tour, you’ll leave the city with a better understanding of its true essence.
Table of Contents
