self-guided tour

Meaning

A 'self-guided tour' is a tour where you explore a destination, museum, or attraction on your own schedule using a map, booklet, or mobile app, rather than being led by a human tour guide. It offers flexibility and independence while still providing structured information about the sights.

Examples

• We decided to do a self-guided tour of the historic district instead of joining a large group.

  We decided to do a self-guided tour of the historic district instead of joining a large group.

• The museum offers a fantastic self-guided tour through their smartphone app.

  The museum offers a fantastic self-guided tour through their smartphone app.

• If you prefer traveling at your own pace, a self-guided tour is the way to go.

  If you prefer traveling at your own pace, a self-guided tour is the way to go.

• They downloaded an audio file for a self-guided tour of the ancient ruins.

  They downloaded an audio file for a self-guided tour of the ancient ruins.

• The brochure includes a map for a self-guided tour of the city's street art.

  The brochure includes a map for a self-guided tour of the city's street art.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We took a self-guide tour of the castle.

  ✓ We took a self-guided tour of the castle.

  You must use the past participle adjective 'guided' (not the noun 'guide') to describe the tour.

• ✗ I prefer to make a self-guided tour.

  ✓ I prefer to take a self-guided tour.

  In English, we 'take', 'do', or 'go on' a tour, we do not 'make' a tour.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Instead of paying for a guide, we downloaded an app for a ___.

  💡 A tour you do by yourself.

  Show answer

  self-guided tour

• The tourist office provides free maps for a ___ of the old town.

  💡 Use the hyphenated adjective form.

  Show answer

  self-guided tour