Web platformBooking & travelOriginal by GetYourGuide
The strength of the GetYourGuide model is that it gathers scattered experiences from around the world, such as museum tickets, city tours, boat trips and workshops, into a single trusted storefront. Travellers plan what to do in their destination in advance; instant mobile tickets, flexible cancellation and genuine reviews give them the confidence to buy from an operator they have never heard of. Building something similar means creating an experience marketplace: a supplier panel where tour operators define products, time slots and capacity, ticket sales by time slot, QR-code mobile tickets and an app that scans tickets on site. Multiple languages and currencies, operator payouts and content quality control also need planning from the start.
How GetYourGuide works: the core user flow
How many apps and dashboards do you need?
Traveller site and app
Users discover activities, pick time slots and get mobile tickets.
Operator panel
Tour companies manage their products, time slots, capacity and bookings.
Field / ticket scanning app
Guides scan QR tickets at the meeting point and record attendance.
Admin panel
Product approval, commission, operator payouts and content moderation are handled here.
Critical features of a product like GetYourGuide
Slot and capacity management
Time slots, maximum participants and language options are defined for each activity, and occupancy updates in real time.
QR-code mobile tickets
After purchase, a QR ticket that also opens offline is generated and verified by scanning on site.
Multiple languages and currencies
Product descriptions and prices appear in different languages and currencies, and a draft machine translation can be offered.
Flexible cancellation rules
A free-cancellation window is set per product and refunds are calculated automatically.
Meeting point and map
Each activity's meeting point is shown on a map and included in the reminder notification.
Operator settlement system
Commission is deducted from completed activities and operators are paid periodically.
What goes into the first version, what comes later
First version (MVP)
- City-based activity listings, search and detail pages
- Operator panel: defining products, time slots and capacity
- Online payment and QR-code e-tickets
- Support for at least two languages
- Admin panel: product approval and commission settings
Later releases
- On-site ticket scanning app
- Mobile app and an offline ticket wallet
- Verified review system and photo gallery
- An affiliate programme for hotels and travel agencies
Modules and how the budget is calculated
The budget is calculated with 360 SOFT’s pricing model from the modules below, about 32 screens and the project’s complexity: roughly 187 person-days for the full scope and 124 person-days for the first version. Every module you drop lowers the budget directly.
| Module | Phase |
|---|---|
| Sign-up, login, social login | First version |
| User profile and settings | First version |
| Roles and permissions | First version |
| Admin dashboard | First version |
| Online payments (Stripe / PSP) | First version |
| Product / content catalogue | First version |
| Advanced search and filters | First version |
| Booking / reservations | First version |
| Barcode / RFID / handheld | Later release |
| Maps, location, routing | First version |
| Multi-language | First version |
| Ratings and reviews | First version |
| Marketplace integration (Amazon, etc.) | Later release |
| Reporting and analytics | First version |
Hosting, SMS, map APIs, app store accounts and payment-provider fees are separate items. Maintenance and improvements (optional): €650 / month. We send a fixed written price within 24 hours after a free discovery call.
The hard parts
Managing supplier quality
Many small operators differ in description, photo and service quality; an approval process and rating-based ranking are needed.
Time zone and language complexity
If sessions in different countries, local times and multilingual content are not managed properly, travellers miss their activities.
International payments and payouts
Collecting with foreign cards and paying operators in multiple currencies should be built on a licensed payment infrastructure.
Business model
The foundation of revenue is the commission taken from the operator on every ticket sold. Operators can be sold prominent placement in search results and campaign slots, and an affiliate programme with hotels and travel blogs brings in extra traffic. Small service fees can also be charged for add-ons such as free cancellation or priority entry.
Get a free quote for your project
Let us scope it together and send a fixed written quote within 24 hours. NDA on request; you own the source code.
Choosing a company to build an app like GetYourGuide
Most people searching “website like getyourguide” are really looking for a reliable app development company. When comparing quotes, check four things:
- Can you try similar products they have shipped, in the stores or live?
- Are the source code, design files, servers and store accounts transferred to you by contract?
- Do they show a working demo every two weeks, with written scope and acceptance criteria?
- Are maintenance, scaling and GDPR/security costs written into the quote?
Copyright and trademarks
A business model and features are generally not protected on their own, but the GetYourGuide name, logo, interface design, content and source code are. That is why we build a product with similar functionality but your own brand, design and code. This is not legal advice; we recommend a trademark search before launch.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build a website like GetYourGuide?
A first version starting with one city or country, with an operator panel and e-tickets, can be ready in a few months. The field app, multilingual support and an affiliate programme come in later phases.
How many separate apps are needed?
The traveller site, operator panel and admin panel are the basic three. A separate field app for ticket validation is also recommended.
Ready-made script or custom software?
Ready-made marketplace scripts usually do not support slot and capacity logic well. For a business focused on selling experiences, custom software scales more healthily.
What should I look for when choosing a developer for an activity marketplace?
Prefer a team with experience in marketplace payments, multilingual builds and QR ticket validation. The usability of the operator panel also directly affects success.
