Lower Manhattan: How the Money Started
95 min · 3 km · easy
GetYourGuide no longer sells the kind of tour Roamer makes. As of July 31, 2024, GetYourGuide removed standalone self-guided audio tours, self-guided walking tours, and city exploration games from its marketplace. It now focuses on live guided experiences and tickets. Roamer, by contrast, is a dedicated self-guided audio walking tour app. So if you searched GetYourGuide for a self-guided walk and came up empty, that is why, and Roamer is designed to fill exactly that gap.
Short answer: pick GetYourGuide when you want a live human guide or skip-the-line tickets and day trips, which is what its marketplace now sells. Pick Roamer when you want to walk on your own with narration at your own pace, since GetYourGuide stopped listing standalone self-guided audio tours in July 2024. Every Roamer tour is free to begin (you hear roughly the first 30% before deciding), then $4.99 for one tour or a pass ($12.99 for 7 days, $19.99 for 30 days). Start free at roamer.travel/explore.
Roamer vs GetYourGuide at a glance
| Roamer | GetYourGuide | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Self-guided audio walking tour app | Marketplace for guided tours and tickets |
| Self-guided audio tours | Yes, this is the whole product | No, removed in July 2024 |
| Guide | None, you go on your own | Live guide or operator-run |
| Booking | Start anytime, no time slot | Book a specific date and time |
| Price | $4.99 per tour; passes $12.99 or $19.99 | Set by each operator |
| Best for | Walking on your own, solo-friendly | Live guides, tickets, day trips |
Why can't I find self-guided tours on GetYourGuide?
Hear a stop from this walk
African Burial Ground: The Ground Underneath
GetYourGuide updated its rules in 2024 and now restricts experiences that have no physical ticket, no live guide, and no equipment, or that require downloading a separate third-party app. Standalone self-guided audio tours, self-guided walking tours, and mobile-guided scavenger hunts all fall under that restriction. The one exception is an attraction ticket that comes bundled with an audio guide. In practice, this means you can still book a live walking tour or a museum ticket on GetYourGuide, but not a pure self-guided audio walk.
What is a good self-guided alternative to GetYourGuide?
Roamer is purpose-built for self-guided walking. Every tour is free to start, so you can preview roughly the first 30% before paying. A single tour is $4.99 for lifetime access, or you can take a 7-day pass for $12.99 or a 30-day pass for $19.99 covering every tour. It works at your own pace with GPS-triggered narration, and there is no group, no start time, and no tip. Other self-guided options include VoiceMap and the free izi.TRAVEL, though coverage and quality vary.
When GetYourGuide still makes sense
GetYourGuide remains a good place to book things an app cannot give you: a live guide who answers questions, a small-group experience, a food tour, a day trip with transport, or a timed entry ticket. For self-paced walking with narration, a dedicated app is the better fit.
Weighing the alternatives? See the best self-guided tour apps and, if budget is the priority, the best free walking tour apps.
Ready to walk on your own? Explore Roamer's self-guided tours and try any one for free.
Frequently asked questions
- Does GetYourGuide offer self-guided audio tours?
- No. As of July 31, 2024, GetYourGuide removed standalone self-guided audio tours, self-guided walking tours, and city exploration games from its marketplace. Tickets bundled with an audio guide are still allowed, but standalone self-guided products are not.
- What is a good self-guided alternative to GetYourGuide?
- Roamer is a dedicated self-guided audio walking tour app. Every tour is free to start, a single tour is $4.99 for lifetime access, and a 30-day pass to everything is $19.99.
- Is Roamer or GetYourGuide better for exploring on my own?
- Roamer, because it is built for solo, self-paced walking with GPS narration. GetYourGuide is built to book live guides and tickets.
Ready to experience it?
Lower Manhattan: How the Money Started
95 min · 3 km · easy