There’s something exciting about exploring on your own during your travels, but guided tours are in a league of their own. They’re a fantastic way to know more about the history, culture, stories, and little-known gems of any city, town, or village you’re in, whether you’re on a train in the Swiss Alps or exploring the medieval villages of northern Italy. The best guided tours on TripAdvisor are much the same. Helmed by expert, knowledgeable, and fun guides, they’re a fantastic way to get to know the city you’re visiting, especially if it’s your first visit or if you’re there for just a short while.
What’s more, guided tours are a great way to meet fellow travelers who are interested in the same things that you are and forge new friendships in every part of the world. Whether you’re interested in exploring far-flung destinations or any of the beauty spots closer to home, there’s no place better than TripAdvisor and its excellent range of guided excursions. Here’s a list of the best of the lot: happy exploring!
Also read: Top-Rated TripAdvisor Activities You Can Book Online.
Avila & Segovia Tour with Tickets to Monuments from Madrid
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Spain holds a wealth of culture, history, and architectural beauty within its folds, and Avila and Segovia sit at the top of that historical list. Not only are they two of Spain’s oldest cities, but they also hold a ton of other titles. For one, Avila is one of the world’s most impressive walled cities and one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities. If that wasn’t enough, Segovia happens to be one of Spain’s most underrated UNESCO World Heritage Sites!
It’s these two incredible sights that you get to explore on the Avila & Segovia Tour with Tickets to Monuments from Madrid. This full-day tour from Madrid is helmed by an impressive bilingual guide with separate English and Spanish groups. As you marvel at the impressive Gothic, Moorish, and medieval architecture, the guide tells you all about the history, stories, and cultural influences of the ornate castles and cathedrals. The best bit is that you get to sit comfortably in a luxury air-conditioned bus with Wi-fi and even stop for snacks and drinks (included) in Avila. Did we mention that the tour even gifts a pair of headphones and a radio guide to its guests? Yes!
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Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour
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An expert, native New Yorker leads this very interesting Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour. Not only is it one of the top tourist attractions in the USA and one of its most iconic symbols, but it’s also one of the top things to do in New York City.
The complete end-to-end tour, which includes a knowledgeable English guide, takes you on a ferry as you soak in stunning views of the city’s skyline. The first stop is Liberty Island, which is where the statue of Lady Liberty sits, followed by a visit to the museum. Here, you’ll know all about how this sculpture became historic and iconic. What’s more, the guide tells you all about the history of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, even as you roam the sights. You’ll love the fun and interesting way in which the guides tell facts and history, telling all the right details at the right pace and even interacting with everyone.
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Rome: Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill Guided Tour
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Few places are as historic and thrilling as Rome is, which you’ll discover on this Rome: Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill Guided Tour. This small group tour is headed by a professional expert licensed guide, who will regale you with stories of ancient Rome and its unique origin stories. The best bit is that the tour includes headsets, which you’ll wear so you can hear your English-speaking guide clearly, even if you’re not standing near them. So, you won’t miss out on any story and can listen to his commentary while admiring the monuments to the fullest.
The guide first leads you to inside the 2,000-year-old Colosseum, complete with an enriching commentary of gladiator battles, executions, and bloody animal fights that took place in front of a strong 50,000+ crowd. Moreover, the upgraded experience takes you to the subterranean chambers and the arena, which are usually shut to the general public. Next, the tour continues to the sprawling site that is the Roman Forum. Despite having minimal signage, the tour is made interesting, thanks to the guide who’ll give you the inside scoop and tell you its historic significance. Finally, the tour ends at the top of Palatine Hill as you feast your eyes on mesmerizing views of the city.
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Half-Day Yunque Rainforest Waterslide & Rope Swing Guided Tour
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An award-winning local guide leads the thrilling Half-Day Yunque Rainforest Waterslide & Rope Swing Guided Tour. Not only do you get a choice of English and Spanish guides, but also there a written French guides, maps, and brochures! The tour guides are not only attentive but knowledgeable and make the entire experience enjoyable and safe, and you’re comfortable all the time. This is especially important since the tour doesn’t include transportation, and you drive your own car into the eastern side of the El Yunque Rainforest, following the guide’s car.
Coming to the stunning and lush El Yunque Rainforest, it’s the largest nature reserve in Puerto Rico and is unlike any of the world’s tropical rainforests. The guide leads you into this thick rainforest first on a 20-30-minute hike to two mineral water holes with waterfalls. Discover all kinds of thrills here as you free dive, rope swing, and swim in the crystal waters in the first, and slide down a natural rock waterslide in the second. The best bit? The guide tells you all about the trees, the wildlife, and the rainforest’s fascinating history as you hike and enjoy.
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Best of Istanbul 1, 2, or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour
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The vibrant Istanbul sits on the cusp of the East and the West. The former capital of the Byzantine and the Ottoman Empire, and formerly known as Byzantium and Constantinople, has a long and rich history and culture.
The Best of Istanbul 1, 2, or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour is the perfect way to explore the top things to do in Istanbul, and then some. This action-packed guided trip offers options of one, two, or three-day itineraries, allowing you to choose something that suits you best. Since it’s a private tour, you’ll have tons of time to ask your guide questions, which is great because the guides are not just friendly but also extremely knowledgeable and adept at weaving facts into interesting historical stories. They also procure tickets in advance for you so you can skip the long queues for tickets, going right to the sights.
The flexible itineraries, all of which are seven hours each, include the Grand Bazaar, the Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome Square, and the German Fountain on the first day, basically covering Sultanahmet Square. The second day is all about the scenic Bosphorus Cruise, where you get to see the Spice Market, Galata Tower, Cicek Passage, Taksim Square, and Dolmabahce Palace. If you choose Day 3, you get to see Kadıkoy Market, tour Pierre Lotti Panoramic Hill by cable car, and even see the Balat and Fener Districts.
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Anne Frank’s Story – Guided Walking Tour through Amsterdam
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Moving, interesting, and brilliant — these are the very words that describe Anne Frank’s Story – Guided Walking Tour through Amsterdam. This activity packs oodles of history in a thrilling two-hour walking tour. It includes the likes of the Joods Museum, the Portuguese Synagogue, the Dokwerker, the Auschwitz Monument, and Dam Square through the city’s historic Jewish Quarter. It finally ends at the statue of Anne Frank and her house, which is one of the top things to do in Amsterdam.
What we loved about this tour was that it included a local guide in a language of our choosing, including English, Spanish, German, Italian, and French. Moreover, they are fun, told us facts in a very interesting way, and were absolutely well-informed on their WWII history. Since a lot of
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How do I ask questions about a specific tour?
For that, go straight to the TripAdvisor page of the specific tour or activity and scroll down to the “Q&A” section. There, you can either look for the question you want answered or ask a question if it hasn’t been asked yet.
What are the cancellation policies of activities and tours on TripAdvisor?
While you have to refer to the policies of the individual tours, most of them are extremely flexible and offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Are there any price guarantees on TripAdvisor?
TripAdvisor has a lowest price guarantee, which means that they refund the difference if you find the same activity or tour for less elsewhere. Check out their policy here.
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