City Free Tour

Sorry,but I have not heard of this organization; however, I have used Paris Greeters, which is also gives free tours. They have volunteers who give the tours. You sign up on line, listing your interests, then a guide contacts you directly with a proposal and if you agree, you arrange a meeting place, date and time. I had a 3 hour tour of the Marais with an English-speaking gentleman who showed me many things I would not have seen on my own. The Guides do not accept tips, but might appreciate a coffee or glass of wine. You are given the opportunity to make a voluntary donation when you sign up online. I gave €10.

I've never taken a "free" tour; I'd rather pay for the service if I could find a comparable tour from a regular tour company. Walking tours are often available through tourist offices or established companies in the 10- to 15-euro price range. From what I've read here (and I think Rick has addressed this in a blog or in his books), the guides of the "free" tours have to pay over $3 per head to the organizing company, which is not a business model I'm fond of. If travelers wander off before tipping, the guide is out of pocket.

If I did take one of those tours, I'd want to tip a competent guide at least 10 euros for a 1-1/2 or 2-hour tour, I think. I'd give more if the tour was unusually good.

Carolyn – I am signed up with Paris Greeters and I hope I am fortunate enough to get a tour. I think it would be a wonderful and unique to do a tour with them.

Acraven – You make good points I had not thought of. I did find 2 food tours in Montmartre, which perhaps is the way I’ll go

Thank you both very much for your help

It looks like you have decided, but here is the link to Rick's blog post of several years ago regarding free tours.

https://blog.ricksteves.com/blog/the-ethics-of-aeoefreeae%c2%9d-tours/

I'll also add that I'm a fan of Paris Walks. I've never done Paris Greeters but as mentioned many have had very good luck with this company.

Thanks Pam for the link. I have been looking at Paris Walks because I like that you do not have to commit in advance but I am concerned about the size of their tours. I have heard they can get very large.

I've had various size tours on Paris Walks. Probably the largest was around 22-3. I try to stay right with the guide as you don't have to scramble so much to keep up. I do sometimes note that on the larger tours there will be people that will drop off along the way. I've never had trouble hearing the guide but they don't talk on the go. They will halt somewhere, gather the group and talk. They are pretty skilled at finding a quieter place to talk if it's available. The meeting place is always at a Metro stop so sometimes that location is busy, but they'll just make a few remarks then head off to a quieter place.

I'll admit also to sort of losing the tour once - didn't see the guide and most of the group had crossed the street as something at one of the bouquinistes stalls along the Seine caught my eye. I thought I was following the right person, but uh-oh, no! Several others were caught the same way and we were able to cross the street and catch up to the group, hahaha! Don't be like me!

If you think the prepaid tours like Paris Walks are too large, wait till you see the size of the groups the "free tours" get! Every backpacker in town that day will be there - or so it will appear. In fact, this is one of my problems with them (in addition to the ones Rick outlines in his article) - even if you get a good guide.