Verona, Italy

After traveling to 30+ countries, there's one thing I wish someone had told me from day one — and it completely changed how I experience new cities.

Free walking tours. Yes, actually free. No credit card needed. No catch.

You just show up and a local guide takes you around for 2-3 hours — all the major sights, hidden gems, local stories. Here's the thing: guides work entirely on tips. If they do a bad job, they don't get paid. So they bring their absolute best every single time — passionate storytelling, insider tips, restaurant recommendations you won't find on Google.

At the end, you tip whatever feels right. Most people give around €10-15, which is a fraction of what traditional tours cost for a much better experience.

I've done these in dozens of cities and they've been the highlight of almost every trip. If you're visiting Verona, Italy — do this on your first day. You'll thank me later.