While studying abroad, you might find yourself in totally new cities that you only have a brief time to enjoy. A walking tour is one of the most effective ways to learn about a new city. These tours typically take you to some of the most famous sites a city has to offer, and they give you a better idea of how to get around, so you are not entirely unaware of your surroundings. Depending on what you are looking for, you can find free walking tours and themed walking tours as well as any normal tour of the city. After first arriving in London, the students studying as part of GW England were taken on a walking tour through most of central London which ended with a tour of Westminster Abbey. This tour was a great way to meet other students studying in London, helped to figure out where things were, and it was free.
During my reading week, I was able to visit my friend in Prague. She had classes during the day, so to get my bearings in this new city, I went on a pay-as-you-wish tour. Three hours and around 20,000 steps later, I had seen what the tour guide referred to as, “70% of what everyone needs to see in Prague.” This tour was especially helpful for someone like me who knew nothing about the city or the language because they not only taught us about the history of the city. The guide taught us important Czech words, provided recommendations for food, and gave us advice on lesser visited spots in Prague. Although these tours cannot make you an expert in the city, it is still one of the most cost-effective ways to immerse yourself in a new place, especially if you only have a few days to enjoy your time there!
Brooke McGurl
GW England - Queen Mary University London
Spring 2023
School of Business
Business Administration Major