Frequently Asked Questions
None. Our guides are qualified professionals. The tour takes you to the most important and most beautiful places exactly as on another paying tour.
Free walking tours are very popular where they are offered. They respond has a need of the domestic and international traveler. They offer the freedom to decide in the moment simply by showing up at the meeting point.
Free tours are understood to mean that the people who take part in them are free to decide how much to tip.
On average between 10.- and 50.- Swiss francs per person. Everyone is free to leave what they want.
Our customers can leave their tip by electronic payment (preferred) or in cash, in which case the money is deposited in the bank as soon as possible. The total amount of tips is accounted for. As income is reported on our tax return, so are operational costs. Taxes at the local, cantonal and federal levels are paid on the taxable income. In addition, social security contributions are paid.
Absolutely yes, by law in Switzerland from 2024 tour guides must have professional liability insurance that protects the guide and third parties.
Free Walking Tours Lugano website is operated by M. De Gasperi’s San Nicola company based near Lugano. The company is registered in the commercial register of the Canton of Ticino, competent forum Lugano.
The profession of tour guide is not regulated in Switzerland. Anyone with the necessary knowledge can pursue the profession. Many guides have trained themselves in a self-taught way by following the manuals and methods used in countries where tour guides are protected with a license by adapting it to the needs of their territory beyond national, historical, cultural, religious, architectural, nature knowledge and more. In general, the training of a tour guide never ends; it takes at least one year of in-depth study to start this activity. Mastery of the languages in which you want to offer tours. An understanding of different cultural and religious sensitivities.
The Lugano city tour is operated in all weather throughout the year with the following exception:
Good Friday Orthodox Easter (10 April 2026, 30 April 2027), Orthodox Christmas day and Orthodox Christmas eve (Old Calendar 6 and 7 January).
In summer we offer multiple daily departures on request.
In order to provide optimal conditions of performance we accept up to 20 people per tour. First come first serve. Please make sure to request it by WhatsApp tel. +41 78 310 4335
Our Free Walking Tours are in English. Private tours can be conducted in English, Italian, French, Spanish.
Tours in the city center of Lugano, Locarno, Bellinzona, Ascona are operated in all weather.
Gandria, Morcote, Brissago and other tours where the boat is also taken may be modified when a sailing ban is declared. In this case we will use the bus.
Tours in the valleys are cancelled in case of hail or snow for your safety.
Groups with more than eight people are not accepted. You can book a private tour, for example a 90-minute private walking city tour booked up to 60 days before departure is available for only 99.- CHF. For more information contact us by email or WhatsApp.
Groups with more than eight people are not accepted. You can book a private tour, for example a 90-minute private walking city tour booked up to 60 days before departure is available for only 99. For more information contact us by email or whatsApp.
Yes of course we can arrange any customized tour. Tell us what your interests are and we will build a perfect itinerary for your request. Private tours must be booked as early as possible and paid for in advance. The price depends on your request, time, distances and more. We are committed to always offer you the best price. For example, a 90-minute Lugano City Tour costs only 99.- Swiss francs if booked and paid for up to 60 days before the selected date.
Anyone can participate. Please keep in mind to bring comfortable shoes. Some tours require stair climbs up and down historic centers with significant elevation changes. Any person under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.
Yes it is possible however each tour is independent, we kindly ask you to leave your tip at the end of each tour. If the next tour takes place at a different location, it is likely that you will use the same means of transportation as the guide to get to the starting place of the next tour. During the transfer the guide is not required to give information or keep you company. Guides use the transfer as they prefer because they are not on duty, some prefer to relax or eat , others to consult future tour requests. Thank you for your understanding.
Those who show up for the tour agree to the tour guide’s conditions. Education and respect for the guide and other participants is imperative. In the highly unlikely situation the guide is in an uncomfortable situation, he/she may decide to ask the person to leave the tour or cancel it completely for everyone for his/her own protection.
We publish our tour schedule well in advance.
On the off chance that for operational reasons beyond our control we have to change our schedule or cancel it we will inform you promptly. The correct status of each tour is published no later than one week before the departure date.
While we schedule our Free Walking Tours Lugano everyday* with departure at 08.30 am from Piazza Bernardino Luini next to the church of Santa Maria degli Angioli and Louis Vuitton Shop in Lugano city centre if there are no previous request or the tour is full we are unable to confirm it. Make sure to contact us via WhatsApp +4178 310 4335 for departure confirmation.
- tours do not operate on Orthodox Good Friday and Christmas eve and Christmas old calendar.
None. Our guides are qualified professionals. The tour takes you to the most important and most beautiful places exactly as on another paying tour.
Free walking tours are very popular where they are offered. They respond has a need of the domestic and international traveler. They offer the freedom to decide in the moment simply by showing up at the meeting point.
Free tours are understood to mean that the people who take part in them are free to decide how much to tip.
On average between 10.- and 50.- Swiss francs per person. Everyone is free to leave what they want.
Our customers can leave their tip by electronic payment (preferred) or in cash, in which case the money is deposited in the bank as soon as possible. The total amount of tips is accounted for. As income is reported on our tax return, so are operational costs. Taxes at the local, cantonal and federal levels are paid on the taxable income. In addition, social security contributions are paid.
Absolutely yes, by law in Switzerland from 2024 tour guides must have professional liability insurance that protects the guide and third parties.
Free Walking Tours Lugano website is operated by M. De Gasperi’s San Nicola company based near Lugano. The company is registered in the commercial register of the Canton of Ticino, competent forum Lugano.
The profession of tour guide is not regulated in Switzerland. Anyone with the necessary knowledge can pursue the profession. Many guides have trained themselves in a self-taught way by following the manuals and methods used in countries where tour guides are protected with a license by adapting it to the needs of their territory beyond national, historical, cultural, religious, architectural, nature knowledge and more. In general, the training of a tour guide never ends; it takes at least one year of in-depth study to start this activity. Mastery of the languages in which you want to offer tours. An understanding of different cultural and religious sensitivities.
The Lugano city tour is operated in all weather throughout the year with the following exception:
Good Friday Orthodox Easter (10 April 2026), Orthodox Christmas day and Orthodox Christmas eve (Old Calendar 6 and 7 January).
In summer we offer multiple daily departures on request.
In order to provide optimal conditions of performance we accept up to 20 people per tour. First come first serve. Please make sure to request it by WhatsApp tel. +41 78 310 4335
Our Free Walking Tours are in English. Private tours can be conducted in English, Italian, French, Spanish.
Tours in the city center of Lugano, Locarno, Bellinzona, Ascona are operated in all weather.
Gandria, Morcote, Brissago and other tours where the boat is also taken may be modified when a sailing ban is declared. In this case we will use the bus.
Tours in the valleys are cancelled in case of hail or snow for your safety.
Groups with more than eight people are not accepted. You can book a private tour, for example a 90-minute private walking city tour booked up to 60 days before departure is available for only 99. For more information contact us by email or whatsApp.
Groups with more than eight people are not accepted. You can book a private tour, for example a 90-minute private walking city tour booked up to 60 days before departure is available for only 99. For more information contact us by email or whatsApp.
Yes of course we can arrange any customized tour. Tell us what your interests are and we will build a perfect itinerary for your request. Private tours must be booked as early as possible and paid for in advance. The price depends on your request, time, distances and more. We are committed to always offer you the best price. For example, a 90-minute Lugano City Tour costs only 99.- Swiss francs if booked and paid for up to 60 days before the selected date.
Anyone can participate. Please keep in mind to bring comfortable shoes. Some tours require stair climbs up and down historic centers with significant elevation changes. Any person under the age of 16 must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.
Yes it is possible however each tour is independent, we kindly ask you to leave your tip at the end of each tour. If the next tour takes place at a different location, it is likely that you will use the same means of transportation as the guide to get to the starting place of the next tour. During the transfer the guide is not required to give information or keep you company. Guides use the transfer as they prefer because they are not on duty, some prefer to relax or eat , others to consult future tour requests. Thank you for your understanding.
Those who show up for the tour agree to the tour guide’s conditions. Education and respect for the guide and other participants is imperative. In the highly unlikely situation the guide is in an uncomfortable situation, he/she may decide to ask the person to leave the tour or cancel it completely for everyone for his/her own protection.