Travel is all about experiences, and GetYourGuide has become a go-to platform for discovering and booking those experiences. Founded in 2009 by a group of classmates who wanted to revolutionize sightseeing, GetYourGuide is an online marketplace that connects travelers with tours, attractions, and activities across the globe.
Headquartered in Berlin, it has grown into the world’s leading platform for travel experiences, offering over 150,000 experiences in 12,000 cities worldwide.
From skip-the-line museum tickets in Europe to scuba dives in Asia, the platform curates a vast array of things to do, all in one place. It has already sold more than 200 million tickets to travelers around the world – a testament to its popularity and trustworthiness.
In this article, we'll explore how GetYourGuide works, why it’s loved by both everyday tourists and travel professionals, and highlight some of the top adventures you can book through this service.
How GetYourGuide Works for Travelers
Using GetYourGuide is simple and traveler-friendly. The platform (available as a website and a mobile app) lets you search for a destination or activity and instantly browse all the relevant tours and tickets available.
Just enter your desired city or landmark, choose your dates, and you'll see a list of options complete with prices, descriptions, and ratings from past customers. You can filter results by category (history, food, adventure, etc.), duration, language, or rating to find exactly what suits your interests.
Each activity page details what's included, meeting points, and traveler reviews, so you know what to expect.
Booking is as easy as a few clicks. You select the number of participants and an available date, then enter your details and payment method (credit card, PayPal, etc.) – secure online payment confirms your reservation instantly.
In fact, most activities offer instant confirmation, meaning no waiting around for a tour operator to get back to you. Once booked, you receive a confirmation email and the tour ticket or voucher, which is also accessible in the GetYourGuide mobile app.
Often, that mobile voucher is your ticket – simply show it on your phone when you arrive. No printing required! (In the few cases where you need a paper ticket, the app/website will clearly tell you, and you can exchange your voucher on-site.)
Another traveler-friendly feature is GetYourGuide’s flexible booking policies. Many experiences come with free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time, so if your plans change or the weather doesn’t cooperate, you can cancel or reschedule easily for a full refund.
There’s even a "Reserve now, pay later" option on some bookings, allowing you to secure a spot without immediate payment. And should you need help at any point, GetYourGuide provides 24/7 multilingual customer support to assist with questions or issues that arise.
In short, from search to payment to ticket delivery, the platform streamlines the entire tour booking process into a fast, reliable, and user-friendly experience.
Why Book with GetYourGuide?
GetYourGuide has earned its reputation by offering several compelling benefits for travelers. Here are some of the unique selling points that make it stand out:
- One-Stop Shop for Experiences: Instead of scouring dozens of tour companies, GetYourGuide puts virtually all activities in one place. It features all the major sights and tours in each destination (and plenty of off-beat options too), so you can easily see what’s available wherever you go. With listings spanning over 150 countries and every type of activity imaginable, the platform makes trip planning convenient.
- Verified Reviews and Ratings: Wondering if a tour is worth it? GetYourGuide uses a review system where only people who actually booked that activity can leave feedback. That means the millions of ratings and reviews on the platform come from real travelers like you. You can read detailed comments to get a sense of what each experience is like, and even filter by highest or most recent reviews. This transparency helps you book with confidence, knowing the 5-star boat cruise or food tour is truly as good as advertised.
- Skip-the-Line Access: For popular tourist attractions, GetYourGuide often provides special tickets that let you bypass the ticket queues. For example, you can book a skip-the-line tour of the Vatican Museums in Rome to walk straight in past the crowds, or reserve fast-track entry to the Louvre in Paris. Having your ticket in hand (on your phone) means no waiting at the ticket office – a huge time-saver, especially in peak season. This perk lets you spend your vacation time enjoying sights, not standing in long lines.
- Easy Booking & Instant Confirmation: The platform’s interface is built for ease of use. Searching, filtering, and booking can be done in minutes, even if it’s your first time. Most activities offer instant confirmation, so you can secure last-minute plans on the fly. One traveler recalls deciding on a cave tour in Portugal the night before – booking via GetYourGuide was so quick that she went to bed with the next morning’s tour already confirmed. This immediacy and reliability take a lot of stress out of travel planning.
- Flexibility and Free Cancellations: Plans change – GetYourGuide gets that. The flexible cancellation policy (usually free up to 24 hours in advance) means you can lock in popular activities early without risk. If you need to adjust, cancellations are hassle-free and refunds are prompt. Many travelers love this peace of mind: you get the benefit of securing a spot, but retain the freedom to pivot if needed.
- Expert Local Guides: Tours booked through GetYourGuide are run by professional local guides and vetted tour operators. The platform works with experienced providers, often the very best in each destination, to ensure high-quality experiences. Guides frequently add special touches or insider knowledge you wouldn’t get otherwise. As GetYourGuide puts it, their locally-vetted, expertly-curated experiences help you “connect with your destination” on a deeper level.
- Travel Convenience: With the GetYourGuide mobile app, all your bookings are stored in one place, even offline. The app sends reminders, provides offline tickets, and offers map directions to meeting points – super handy when you’re on the move. Additionally, GetYourGuide supports multiple languages and currencies, catering to a global user base. Customer service is available around the clock and in multiple languages if any issues arise during your trip. Overall, it’s like having a personal travel concierge in your pocket.
Local guides turn ordinary trips into unforgettable journeys. GetYourGuide’s focus on quality shines through in traveler testimonials. “The food was delicious, but learning about the neighborhood from our passionate guide really made this tour unforgettable,” said one user after an authentic food tour in Amsterdam.
Personal touches like this are common, as the platform’s guides often introduce you to hidden gems and cultural insights beyond the typical tourist path. The result? More memorable moments on your vacation – and stories you’ll be excited to share.
Expert guides and special access add value to GetYourGuide experiences. Many tours offer exclusive opportunities, like early entry to famous sites or unique vantage points.
GetYourGuide has even developed its own line of Originals – signature experiences with extra perks (think accessing the Sistine Chapel before it opens to the public, or tours led by niche experts).
It’s no wonder travelers consistently rate their experiences highly. “Reaching the summit just as golden hour began was the highlight for me. I’ll remember that sunset over the city skyline forever,” recalls Lauren, who joined a special rooftop climb in London. Such feedback underscores how using GetYourGuide can elevate your travels with well-crafted adventures that go above and beyond the ordinary.
Top Tours and Experiences to Book on GetYourGuide
One of the joys of GetYourGuide is browsing the sheer variety of experiences and finding the ones that excite you most. Whether you’re a culture buff, an adrenaline junkie, or a foodie, there’s something for everyone. Here are a few top-rated and trending tours (as of the latest season) that showcase the range of adventures you can find on GetYourGuide:
- Chasing the Northern Lights in Tromsø, Norway – Venture into the Arctic night on a guided aurora hunt. Tromsø is one of the world’s best places to witness the northern lights, especially during the peak solar activity of 2024–2025. Tours provide warm gear, hot cocoa, and expert guides who know how to find the optimal viewing spots. It’s a magical experience standing under the shimmering green and purple skies of the aurora borealis – often with a photographer-guide along to help you capture the moment. (And yes, if Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate, reputable tour operators will offer another try or a refund, so your dream of seeing the lights comes with peace of mind.)
- Skip-the-Line Vatican Museums Tour in Rome – Rome is packed with historic wonders, and the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel are must-sees. With GetYourGuide, you can join a skip-the-line guided tour that bypasses the massive entry queues at the Vatican. An expert guide leads you through ornate galleries filled with Renaissance masterpieces – Raphael’s frescoes, ancient sculptures, and of course Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling. You’ll hear the stories behind the art and gain priority access to St. Peter’s Basilica as well. This tour is hugely popular (for good reason) and has tens of thousands of glowing reviews from travelers who loved saving time and getting detailed insights into these iconic sights.
- Santorini Sunset Catamaran Cruise (Greece) – Few things are more romantic or relaxing than a sunset in Santorini, and a catamaran cruise lets you enjoy it from the water. This top-rated sailing tour takes you around the island’s stunning caldera, with stops to swim in hot springs and at beaches, followed by a barbecue dinner with Greek wine on board. As the sun sinks, painting the sky orange and pink, you’ll be lounging on deck with music playing and a drink in hand. Santorini’s sunsets are legendary (Oia village is known for them), and from the boat you get an unobstructed front-row seat – a truly unforgettable evening that consistently ranks among the best experiences on GetYourGuide.
- Desert Safari Adventure in Dubai – Experience the Arabian Desert’s thrills and beauty on a guided safari. These half-day excursions from Dubai have become blockbuster hits on GetYourGuide. You’ll ride out into the golden dunes in a 4x4 with an expert driver for some dune bashing – think off-road rollercoaster over sand hills! – and then have options for camel rides, sandboarding, or quad biking. As dusk falls, the tour brings you to a Bedouin-style camp where a BBQ dinner under the stars awaits (often with live music or dance performances). With top ratings (often 4.8 or 4.9/5) from thousands of travelers, the Dubai desert safari is praised for its mix of adrenaline and cultural immersion. It’s a perfect example of how GetYourGuide bundles convenience (hotel pickup, vetted operators) with an experience you’ll be talking about for years.
- Hot-Air Balloon Ride Over Cappadocia, Turkey – Floating above Cappadocia’s otherworldly landscape at dawn is a bucket-list experience for many – and GetYourGuide makes it easy to book. Cappadocia balloon tours are extremely popular, often selling out weeks in advance. By reserving through the platform, you lock in your spot with a licensed operator for a sunrise flight. Imagine drifting over the “fairy chimney” rock formations and valleys as the sun rises, along with dozens of other colorful balloons speckling the sky. It’s a surreal, peaceful adventure followed by a champagne breakfast upon landing. Travelers consistently rate it among the top experiences in the world, and having a reliable booking through GetYourGuide ensures you won’t miss your chance to see Cappadocia from the clouds.
These are just a handful of the countless experiences available. Virtually every destination has its highlights on GetYourGuide – from Harry Potter studio tours in London to wine tastings in Tuscany, and from jungle adventures in Costa Rica to temple excursions in Japan.
The platform’s breadth means you can plan a whole trip’s activities in one place, reading reviews and comparing options until you find your perfect itinerary.
GetYourGuide for Travel Agents and Professionals
GetYourGuide isn’t only for independent travelers; it’s also a valuable tool for travel industry professionals. Travel agents and tour operators can leverage the platform in a couple of ways:
- Affiliate Partnerships: Travel bloggers, content creators, and agencies can join the GetYourGuide Affiliate Program to recommend activities to their audience and earn commissions on any bookings made through their referral links. It’s free to sign up and allows you to link clients or readers to over 68,000 tours and activities, earning around 8% commission per booking. For a travel agent, this could mean integrating GetYourGuide’s offerings into your own website or itinerary planning. You can provide your clients with hand-picked tour options (using GetYourGuide’s huge inventory) and get rewarded when they book. It’s a win-win: your clients get a convenient, vetted experience and you generate extra revenue for your business.
- Supplier Partnerships: If you are a tour operator or local guide, GetYourGuide can serve as a powerful distribution channel for your services. By listing your tours on GetYourGuide, you gain exposure to a global customer base that might never find you otherwise. The platform handles the marketing, payment processing, and booking logistics, while you focus on delivering a great experience. This can help fill up last-minute spots and increase your overall bookings significantly. Many established tour companies use GetYourGuide alongside their direct sales, treating it as an Online Travel Agency (OTA) partner. The site takes a commission on each booking (typically 20–30%, built into the price the traveler pays), but in return you tap into an audience of millions of users actively searching for tours in your area. For travel agents arranging custom trips, having a resource like GetYourGuide in your toolkit means you can quickly find and book reputable local excursions for clients rather than contacting suppliers one by one.
In essence, GetYourGuide acts as a bridge between travel demand and supply. Travelers get convenience and choice; travel professionals get a ready-made platform to either promote or distribute experiences.
The company even provides resources like an easy-to-use affiliate dashboard and a supplier portal with analytics to help partners succeed. This synergy has helped GetYourGuide grow into a comprehensive ecosystem for travel experiences – beneficial whether you’re planning a personal holiday or crafting journeys for others.
Conclusion
GetYourGuide has fundamentally changed how we plan activities when traveling. Instead of leaving those special tour moments to chance or scrambling upon arrival, travelers can now discover and book amazing experiences with the same ease as booking a flight or hotel.
The platform’s blend of user-friendly technology, curated quality, and global reach means that whether you’re standing in Times Square or a remote village in Bali, you can open the app and find something exciting to do nearby.
For tourists, it’s like having a local insider and a personal concierge all in one, helping you unlock the best of every destination. For travel agents and tour providers, it’s a modern tool to enhance service and broaden business.
In the end, travel is about creating lasting memories. GetYourGuide’s mission of “opening the world to everyone” comes to life each time a traveler tries something new and unforgettable – be it tasting street food in Bangkok with a local guide, or marveling at Machu Picchu with an expert telling its secrets.
You just might find that the highlight of your vacation – that story you can’t wait to tell friends back home – starts with clicking “Book now” on a one-of-a-kind experience you found on GetYourGuide.
