We are looking at the walking tours in Barcelona that are the kind where you don't make reservations; do the tour, and then tip the guide. One is Discover Walks, seems these tours are mostly an hour; and Runner Bean, which seem maybe longer. Wondering if any one has comments/suggestions about these tours, including how much to tip. In Barcelona, there is a Discover tour that starts at Casa Mila and covers the Gaudi stuff. I imagine you don't actually go in anything. Wondering if it would be 'worth it' to do this tour and then go back and go inside. Also, some attractions have an option to book ahead, and it might be hard to both book ahead and do the walking tour. Thanks in advance.
Posted by
Edmonton, AB, Canada
668 posts
Can't advise on the walking tour, but definitely worthwhile to book in advance. Park Guell is open and not a problem, but Casa Batillo and La Pedrera get very busy. With a "timed" ticket we were able to get right in over an hour before the time just by showing teh girl monitoring the long line our ticket and she took us right through to the tiicket window.
Posted by
Edmonton, AB, Canada
668 posts
Should have also mentioed Sagrada Familia - Also long lines without a ticket. Watch out for pickpockets. We had a rather unnerving experience at Parl Guell, though we did not suffer any loss. Became even more unnerving the same night when I found the same individual behind me in the line at a cafe in Catalunya Square!
Posted by
OP
New Orleans, LA
19 posts
Thanks for the tips. I've been reading about the pickpockets. We've never had an experience like that; maybe because we are usually off season. I certainly want to take advantage of the timed entry tickets. Did you make the reservations way ahead, or is the day before usually sufficient?
Posted by
Fontainebleau, France
893 posts
We did two Runner Bean tours two years ago. Did the Gaudi tour (which doesn't go in anything that you have to pay to go in, but shows pictures) and liked it so much we went back to do the Old City one. When it came time to figure out how much to tip, I tipped the amount I would have paid to do one of the tours offered by the TI at the time. I believe it was 12€ at the time so I rounded up ato 15 because I really liked the tour. I was surprised by how many people tipped only 5€ each.