Travel planning can feel overwhelming for a first-timer, especially when you’re faced with endless tour options in a new city. When planning my very first trip abroad, I was excited but also unsure how to make the most of my limited time.
That’s when I found GetYourGuide, a platform that promised to gather the world’s best tours and activities all in one place.
Little did I know, it would become my go-to tool for discovering amazing experiences on every trip.
In this article, I’ll walk you through my journey of using GetYourGuide, from the moment I discovered it to booking a tour and finally enjoying the adventure.
Discovering GetYourGuide
My introduction to GetYourGuide happened while planning a week-long trip to Italy. I had a list of sights in Rome, Florence, and Venice that I didn’t want to miss, but figuring out tours and tickets was daunting.
A fellow traveler mentioned GetYourGuide, describing it as a one-stop online marketplace for tours, activities, and attraction tickets worldwide. Curious, I visited the GetYourGuide website and was immediately impressed.
There were over 150,000 experiences in more than 12,000 cities advertised right on the homepage. From cooking classes in Tokyo to safari drives in South Africa, it seemed like every corner of the globe had something listed. The idea of having all those options in one app felt like a lifesaver for a newbie traveler like me.
Beyond sheer numbers, what caught my eye were the types of experiences available. GetYourGuide isn’t just for basic city tours – it had skip-the-line tickets for famous attractions, group day trips, food and wine tastings, adventure activities, and even airport transfers. Essentially, everything I might want to do on vacation was right there, neatly categorized.
The platform’s tagline could well have been “unforgettable travel experiences made easy,” because that’s the vibe I got. I loved the thought of avoiding sold-out signs and long queues by securing tickets in advance, and the free cancellation policy (usually up to 24 hours before the activity) for many tours was a nice safety net if my plans changed.
With this discovery, I felt a mix of relief and excitement – relief that I had found a tool to simplify tour booking, and excitement for the adventures I could now plan with ease.
Browsing Tours for Your Dream Destination
Eager to try it out, I decided to search for tours in my first destination: Rome. Upon opening the GetYourGuide website (they also have a mobile app, which I’ll get to later), I was greeted by a simple search bar asking, “Where are you going?” I typed in “Rome, Italy” and hit enter.
In an instant, I found hundreds of activities tailored to Rome – from guided tours of the Colosseum, to Vatican Museum tickets, pasta-making classes, and even day trips to Pompeii. It felt like I had a personalized guidebook unfolding on my screen.
Each listing showed the title, a brief description, price, and a star rating with the number of reviews. This was helpful to get an initial sense of which tours were popular and well-reviewed (for example, I saw many with 4.5 or 5 stars ratings and thousands of reviews).
As a first-timer, seeing those ratings made me more confident about the choices in front of me.
However, such a long list of options can also be overwhelming, so I appreciated that the site immediately offered ways to refine the results. On the left side, there were filters for tour categories and details – I could filter by interests (sightseeing, food, adventure, etc.), tour type (private or group), language, duration, and specific neighborhoods or nearby destinations.
At the top, I noticed filters for price range and star rating, plus a sort feature. Since I was on a budget and had specific dates in mind, I used the date filter to see what was available during my travel week, then dragged the price slider to filter out tours that were too expensive for me.
I also ticked the “English” language filter, as I wanted to ensure the tour guide would speak a language I’m comfortable with. With each filter I applied, the list of tours updated in real time, making it easy to narrow down to a manageable selection.
Using the GetYourGuide app to search for and select a tour. The interface is straightforward: you enter your destination or activity in the search bar, and GetYourGuide returns a list of available tours and tickets.
In the example above, you can see the user journey from the home screen to search results, and finally into a specific tour’s detail page.
The design makes it simple for first-timers to explore options and then zoom in on one experience that catches their eye. With everything laid out visually – including photos, titles, ratings, and prices – browsing tours feels intuitive and even fun.
Narrowing Down the Options
After applying a few filters, I had whittled Rome’s list down to a handful of promising tours. Still, I wasn’t ready to book the very first tour that popped up. I wanted to compare a few.
GetYourGuide has a handy way to do this: as I browsed, I discovered I could save favorite tours to a “Wishlist” with a little heart icon. I ended up saving three tours to my wishlist – a “Colosseum Underground and Arena” guided tour, a “Rome Street Food Tour”, and a “Day Trip to Tuscany from Rome”.
These were quite different experiences, and I wasn’t sure which one fit my schedule best, so having them in a wishlist folder helped me keep track without losing them in the sea of listings. (As a neat organizational perk, GetYourGuide even lets you create multiple wishlist folders – you could have one for Rome, one for Paris, one for Tokyo, etc., which is great if you’re planning multi-city travels.)
Next, I compared the tours in my wishlist. One thing I noticed was how some activities had special labels like “Best Seller,” “Likely to Sell Out,” or “New” next to them. For instance, the Colosseum tour had a “Best Seller” tag, and the food tour was marked “Likely to Sell Out.”
According to GetYourGuide, a “Best Seller” means the activity has excellent reviews and is very popular, while “Likely to Sell Out” is a warning that this tour is in high demand and booking early is wise. Seeing those tags nudged me towards booking sooner rather than later – I didn’t want to miss out. I also used the sort feature to view tours by rating.
By sorting from highest-rated, I could see which tours travelers loved the most, which in this case confirmed that the options I saved (all above 4.5 stars) were well-regarded. This combination of filters and sorting made the process of zeroing in on the perfect tour much easier than if I had been scrolling aimlessly.
At this point, I had a clear front-runner: the Colosseum Underground and Arena tour. It had stellar reviews, offered the unique experience of accessing the underground chambers of the Colosseum, and fit my schedule. But I wasn’t going to hit “book” just yet – I wanted to double-check all the details and reviews on the tour’s page to be absolutely sure.
Reviews and Tour Details
Clicking on the tour title brought me to a detailed tour page dedicated to the Colosseum experience. This is where GetYourGuide truly shines in helping travelers make informed decisions.
At the top, there was a short summary and a collection of photos of the tour (seeing images of people exploring the Colosseum’s ancient tunnels definitely sparked my excitement). I took my time to scroll and read through every section of the description.
The page provided a full rundown of what the tour includes and what to expect, broken down into sections with headings like “Highlights,” “Full Description,” “Includes,” “Meeting Point,” and “Important Information.” It even specified things like the exact meeting location (with a handy map), the duration (approximately 2.5 hours), and what to bring (comfortable shoes, water, etc.).
Essentially, all the practical information I needed was right there, presented clearly.
I also carefully noted the cancellation policy listed on the page. This tour allowed free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time, which is pretty standard for many GetYourGuide activities. Knowing that I could get a refund if something came up last-minute made me more comfortable committing to the booking.
After digesting the description and inclusions, I moved on to the traveler reviews section (usually found towards the bottom of the tour page). Here I found hundreds of reviews with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 – a great sign.
I read a mix of the most recent reviews and some low-rated ones (just to see if there were any common issues). The overwhelming majority were very positive, with people raving about the knowledgeable guide and the thrill of standing on the Colosseum arena floor where gladiators once fought. Any minor complaints (like “wish we had more time at the end”) were few and far between.
One thing I really appreciate is that GetYourGuide’s reviews are from verified travelers – only people who actually booked and took the tour can leave a review. This gave me confidence that the feedback was genuine. In fact, I learned that after your tour, GetYourGuide emails you inviting you to review the experience, which is how they keep the review system credible.
Armed with both the official info and fellow travelers’ opinions, I felt I had a 360° view of what I was about to book. And everything I saw convinced me that this Colosseum tour was the right choice for me.
Booking Your Tour Step-by-Step
Satisfied with my selection, I proceeded to book the tour. I clicked the bright “Book Now” (or “Check Availability”) button on the tour page, which prompted me to select my date, start time, and number of participants.
I chose a morning slot for the following Tuesday and indicated it was just for one person (me). The price automatically updated to reflect the selection.
One feature I noticed here is that if a tour has multiple options (for example, different languages or extra add-ons), GetYourGuide will show those before you finalize the booking. In my case, there was an option to add a virtual reality experience to the tour for an extra fee, which I decided to skip.
After confirming the date and options, I clicked “Add to cart” and was taken to the checkout page. The checkout was straightforward: it showed the tour I was about to book, the total price (no hidden fees, just the price I saw earlier), and fields to enter my details.
I filled in my name and email address, which are needed to send me the booking confirmation and tickets. For payment, GetYourGuide offered the usual methods – credit/debit card, PayPal, and even options like Google Pay or Apple Pay in the app. I opted to pay by card. With a deep breath of excitement, I hit the “Complete Booking” button.
Within seconds, the website displayed a confirmation screen saying “Your booking is confirmed!” and I heard the ding of an email notification on my phone. Sure enough, an email from GetYourGuide arrived in my inbox detailing my booking.
The email included all the important info: my Booking Reference number, the tour name and start time, the meeting point address, and contact information for the local tour provider. It also reiterated the cancellation policy and provided a link to “Manage Booking” in case I needed to make changes or cancel. I was pleasantly surprised at how quick and seamless the whole process was – from search to booking confirmation in maybe 10 minutes total.
Another thing I did, as a belt-and-braces measure, was download the GetYourGuide mobile app on my phone. The app automatically recognized my booking (since I signed in with the same account) and stored my ticket digitally.
This is super handy because the app works offline – meaning my e-ticket (a QR code) and booking details were accessible even without internet. No need to print anything or dig through emails on the day of the tour. All my tour info was now in my pocket, literally. For a first-time traveler, having that mobile ticket ready to go felt very reassuring.
Getting Ready for the Big Day
With my tour booked and the date set, I could relax a bit and continue with other travel plans. As the tour day approached, GetYourGuide didn’t leave me hanging.
The day before my Colosseum tour, I received a polite reminder email from GetYourGuide, highlighting the next day’s activity, the meeting time and place, and a note to remember my ID (some tours require an ID or the credit card used to book).
This reminder was great because it prompted me to double-check the meeting point on Google Maps and figure out how to get there from my hotel. I recommend doing this: plan your route to the tour meeting spot ahead of time, especially in a busy city, so you’re not late. The reminder also mentioned to be punctual – advice I took to heart.
On the morning of the tour, I got up early, excited and a bit nervous (the good kind of nerves!). I made sure my phone was fully charged since I’d be using it to show my ticket. But even if my battery had failed, the backup was easy: the confirmation email had an offline PDF ticket attached, and I could have printed that out if needed.
Thankfully, with the app, I didn’t have to worry about printing. My ticket QR code was ready on the GetYourGuide app, under the “Bookings” section. I glanced over the tour details one more time – start time, guide’s name if provided, and any “Know before you go” tips listed. I noted that large bags weren’t allowed inside the Colosseum, which was mentioned in the tour info, so I decided to travel light that day (just a small backpack).
A booked ticket displayed in the GetYourGuide app. Once you complete your booking, your confirmation and ticket are stored digitally in the app. As shown above, you’ll see the tour name, date and time, your booking code (often as a QR code), and notes like “Ticket is available offline.”
On the day of your tour, you simply show this screen or the QR code at the meeting point or entrance – no printouts needed. It’s incredibly convenient and keeps all your tour info organized in one place, which is a huge plus when you’re traveling and juggling many plans.
Experiencing the Tour Itself
With my ticket on hand (or rather, on phone), I set off for the tour meet-up point near the Colosseum. When I arrived, I easily found my guide – he was wearing a bright GetYourGuide-branded shirt and holding up a sign as mentioned in the tour instructions.
Along with me, there was a small group of about ten other travelers who had booked the same tour. Meeting everyone was part of the fun; we had come from all over the world, brought together by a shared interest in history and, of course, by GetYourGuide.
After a quick check-in where I showed my QR code (a simple scan and I was all set), we entered the Colosseum complex. And here came one of the biggest perks: because our tickets were pre-booked and included skip-the-line entry, we bypassed the huge general admission queue and walked right in.
I remember glancing at the line of people who hadn’t booked ahead – it stretched around the block under the hot sun. Several of them looked curiously at our small group breezing through the priority entrance. In that moment, I silently thanked myself for using GetYourGuide; the skip-the-line feature alone was worth every penny.
Once inside, the experience was beyond what I hoped. Our guide, a local archaeologist, was extremely knowledgeable and also very friendly, exactly as the reviews had described. He brought the ancient arena to life with stories of gladiators, emperors, and even the technical marvels of the Colosseum’s construction.
We explored the underground chambers where animals were kept and saw the trapdoors they used – a section only accessible with special tours like this. It was thrilling! The group’s vibe was enthusiastic but relaxed; even some kids in our tour were wide-eyed and engaged.
The organization of the tour was smooth from start to finish: the guide was punctual, kept us on track, and made sure everyone was having a good time. We never felt rushed, and there were opportunities to ask questions and take plenty of photos.
As I stood on the arena floor, looking up at the ancient stadium around me, I had a little moment of gratitude. This was exactly the kind of enriching experience I’d dreamed of for my trip, and GetYourGuide had helped make it happen with zero hassle.
No confusing logistics, no language barriers or ticket office nightmares – I had simply shown up and enjoyed. The tour ended with me feeling much more connected to the city’s history.
On our way out, the guide reminded us that we’d get an email from GetYourGuide to review the tour, and he encouraged us to share honest feedback. You bet I did – I left a five-star review that very evening, eager to praise both the guide and the smooth booking process that got me there.
Final Thoughts
By the end of this first GetYourGuide adventure, I was completely sold on the platform. It turned what could have been a complicated, stressful process into an enjoyable part of the journey.
In fact, I continued using GetYourGuide throughout my trip – in Florence I booked a skip-the-line ticket to see Michelangelo’s David, and in Venice I found a lovely evening gondola ride, all through the same app. Each time, the process was similarly easy and reliable.
For a first-time traveler (or any traveler, really), the convenience is hard to overstate: you have a world of vetted tours at your fingertips, you can compare options with ease, see honest reviews, and secure your spot in advance.
Plus, the peace of mind from flexible cancellation policies and responsive customer support means you can book with confidence.
Using GetYourGuide feels a bit like having a knowledgeable friend in every city – one who knows the best things to do and handles the details for you.
I hope this walkthrough has demystified the process and inspired you to give it a try. With GetYourGuide in your travel toolkit, you’ll be ready to find the best tours anywhere you go – and make unforgettable memories along the way.
