After attending a wedding outside Dublin earlier this month, I spent a week exploring Ireland and Northern Ireland for the first time. The trip entailed a combination of natural sights like the Cliffs of Moher and Giant’s Causeway, and famous cities like Galway and Belfast.
When I arrived in the city of Derry (or Londonderry depending on your persuasion), I began my visit with an activity I’d surprisingly never tried before: a guided walking tour of the area.
My tour guide Gerry Lynn ― yes, Gerry from Derry ― grew up in the famed city and shared his deep knowledge of its history, from the Middle Ages to the Troubles to the present. He also pointed out the filming locations and references from the show “Derry Girls” after I shared that I was a fan.
A few days later in Belfast, I took another wonderful walking tour with a guide named Dee Morgan, who expertly wove historic and geographic information about the city with personal stories about growing up there. I especially loved her anecdotes from her punk rocker teenage years and pub recommendations.
Although I’ve never been opposed to taking a guided tour, most of my past experiences have involved organized day trips on a coach bus from a major city to a particular nearby destination, which I opted to book to remove the headache of transit logistics. (Think London to Stonehenge or Edinburgh to the Scottish Highlands.)
But after my Derry and Belfast experiences, I must say I’m now a strong proponent of the guided city walking tour as a way to kick off a vacation to a new place.
“A walking tour led by a knowledgeable local guide provides an excellent opportunity for travelers to get their bearings and familiarize themselves with the layout of the city or neighborhood,” Lisa Chen, the CEO of the travel company ToursByLocals, told HuffPost.
In addition to orienting myself, I was also pleased to get a local’s perspective on the best things to do for the remainder of my stay. Both Gerry and Dee pointed out good restaurants along our route and indicated sites that I might want to check out beyond the area we covered.
“Local guides are a treasure trove of insider knowledge and recommendations for dining, shopping, and activities off the beaten path,” Chen noted. “By embarking on a walking tour early in the trip, travelers can benefit from the guide’s expertise and insider tips, gaining valuable insights that enhance their overall experience and make their stay more enjoyable.”
“Local guides are a treasure trove of insider knowledge and recommendations for dining, shopping, and activities off the beaten path.”
– Lisa Chen
Taking a guided walking tour of a new city is hardly a new concept, and I’m not the only person to take a liking to the experience. Interestingly, a recent survey from the travel booking platform GetYourGuide suggested that guided tours are making a comeback with younger travelers.
According to the data, 81% of millennial and 80% of Gen Z travelers are likely to book a guided tour in the next year. Popular reasons for choosing a guided tour include delving deeper into the history of a city or landmark, the chance to explore local cuisine and the opportunity to meet locals.
Of course when you picture a guided tour, you might see an image of mobs of tourists and guides with booming megaphones clamoring to see the same overrun attractions. These experiences can feel very scripted and inauthentic, especially when they include stops for food at tourist trap restaurants ― quite the opposite of immersing yourself in the local culture.
“When groups stick to the big attractions with the masses, they miss out on the chance for deeper cultural immersion, which I see as the most important and special part of traveling,” Chen said.
Still, you can strike a balance and find better guided tour experiences by doing your research and reading reviews ahead of time. Consider searching specifically for “off-the-beaten path” options if you want to venture beyond the classics.
Choosing a private tour can also offer a more authentic feel, and it’s not necessarily much more expensive, especially if you’re traveling as a family or with a group of friends who can split the costs.
“Unlike large group tours, a private walking tour offers the flexibility to tailor the experience to the group’s interests and preferences,” Chen said. “Travelers can interact directly with the guide, asking questions, and requesting specific stops or detours based on their curiosity or curiosity, creating a more personalized and immersive experience.”
She added that tours with local guides may also help you save your precious vacation time by cutting out the need to figure out directions and simply guiding you on the most efficient path. Locals also know how to circumvent traffic and crowds, and can share the optimal times for visiting different attractions.
And in this era of increasing environmental awareness, sustainability and responsible tourism cannot be overlooked. Working with a reputable local guide is useful in that regard as well.
“Being mindful of our impact on the environment and local communities is just as important for small groups of travelers on a trip together,” Chen said. “Travelers should strive to support local businesses, minimize waste, and respect cultural norms to ensure a positive and sustainable travel experience for all.”
Of course, you might learn that a guided walking tour is not your preferred way to get to know a destination. But as with any aspect of travel, you’ll never know if you don’t try first. You might find yourself as pleasantly surprised as I was.