ExperienceFirst

Guided Walks in 8 U.S. and European Cities

ExperienceFirst runs its own guided walking tours and attraction tours, led by its own local guides, in 5 U.S. cities (New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Boston) and 3 European ones (Paris, Barcelona and Madrid). The about page states "2009 Founded in NYC," "100+ Guided tours" and "85k+ 5-star reviews." The founding story is specific: founder Andrew Luan was asked by a visiting friend for a tour of Wall Street, where he used to work, and "That same year, he launched our Wall Street tours, led by Wall Street insiders," followed by Broadway tours led by actors. The about page describes the guides as "locals with a passion for telling stories," adding "You might walk Wall Street with a trader, tour Hollywood with an actor, or climb the Eiffel Tower with a lifelong Parisian." The homepage names several of them, including Tony, "A New York tour guide for ExperienceFirst since 2017," and Zeynep, "An architect in Gaudí's city" who guides in Barcelona. Prices are listed in US dollars, with a currency switch that also shows euro, pound, Canadian and Australian dollar equivalents. The footer links an "Insider Tours" line and an accessibility statement.

The Tours on Offer

The homepage menu sorts tours by city and by attraction: the Statue of Liberty, Alcatraz, Times Square, the Hollywood Sign and 9/11 Ground Zero in the U.S., and the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, the Sagrada Familia and the Madrid stadium in Europe. The featured New York product is the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour at $79, shown with 4.9 from 8,063 reviews, and a Statue of Liberty tours listing starts from $69. In San Francisco, a North Beach Walking Tour With Alcatraz Ticket starts from $109. In Paris, the Eiffel Tower Elevator Tour starts from $73 with 4.8 from 4,758 reviews, the Montmartre Walking Tour With Optional Wine Tasting starts from $42 with 4.9 from 2,003 reviews, the Notre-Dame Cathedral Guided Tour is $83, and a Behind the Scenes French Baking Experience starts from $109. The Paris page describes the Eiffel Tower climbing tour, where guests can "upgrade your experience to take the elevator to the summit where you'll find a champagne bar, Gustave Eiffel's private office, and more incredible views," and an outdoor Notre Dame walking tour that covers "the tragic 15-hour fire in 2019" and "includes admission to the archaeological crypt of Île de la Cité." It also points to a Le Marais walking tour, a Louvre-area tour that includes a museum ticket, a Père Lachaise cemetery tour and a Catacombs Guided Tour. In Madrid, the Highlights of Madrid Walking Tour is $23 with 4.9 from 21 reviews, and the Bernabéu Stadium & Real Madrid Museum Tour + Optional Tapas starts from $68 with 4.8 from 10,191 reviews. A "Premium Experiences" menu adds destinations such as Athens, and there are private tours and gift cards in the main menu.

How the Tours Work

The city pages double as travel guides. The Boston page recommends starting with "a Freedom Trail tour" to get "a lay of the land," and covers the North End, Boston with kids and places to eat; the Paris page walks through neighborhoods from Montmartre to Le Marais and suggests which tours suit families, noting that the catacombs and the cemetery are "creepy and fun family experiences" unless traveling "with really young kids." The Madrid page names Plaza Mayor as one of the stops on the highlights tour and suggests nearby Plaza de la Villa, Puerta del Sol and the Mercado de San Miguel, which it calls "a meeting point for friends to grab drinks and delicious tapas." The Boston page lists the Freedom Trail, the Granary Burial Ground, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Boston Tea Party Ships among the places not to miss, and has a food section on clam chowder, lobster rolls and the Parker House hotel, which it says was "founded in 1855" and invented Boston cream pie. Guest reviews quoted on the site mention guides who "always had us at the front of the lines" and groups where "We met amazing people," which is the company's own selection. The homepage and city pages do not give tour lengths, meeting points, group sizes or the languages tours run in, so those details have to be read on each tour's booking page.

Booking and Terms

Booking is online, with a wishlist, private tours and gift cards in the menu. The cancellation rule is stated plainly on the homepage: "We value flexibility and offer free cancellation 24 hours before your tour." A newsletter sign-up offers "a 10% tour discount." The awards section lists "Best Tour on Two Feet," "Best Day Tours and Excursions," "#1 Global Cultural Experience," a "Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Award Winner" and "Top 1% of Experiences Worldwide,"; the page does not give years or say which tours won them. The footer links Terms & Policies, a contact page, careers and a blog, and the homepage invites guides to apply, saying it recruits "for new guides across all our destinations." The site does not list payment methods or say how private tours are priced.

What the Site Leaves Open, and Who It Suits

Beyond the 24-hour rule, the homepage does not say whether private tours or premium experiences follow the same cancellation terms. Group sizes are not published, which matters for crowded sites like the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty. Tour lengths and start times are not shown on the city pages. Barcelona, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston appear in the destination menu, but the homepage and city pages list few of their specific tours or prices. ExperienceFirst suits first-time visitors to New York, Paris or Madrid who want a guided visit to a headline sight, such as the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower or the Bernabéu, with a named local guide and a simple 24-hour cancellation rule. It also suits travelers interested in its niche insider walks, like Wall Street with someone who worked there. Anyone who needs a small capped group or step-free route should check the specific tour page or the accessibility statement before booking.