The airplane, lodging and transportation didn’t come out as cheap as you expected. Your meals are budgeted to the cent, but when it comes to exploring the sights, you’re strapped for cash. How can you see the city without spending a single dollar and still get the full experience? Here are some tips on how to see the city for free that I use myself:
Research Discounts and Deals in Advance: Look into discounts and promotions beforehand. Check the websites of the museums you want to visit. Often, certain days, like the third Sunday of the month, offer free entry. Many museums have discount days where you can get in for as little as 1 euro. Many city authorities encourage cultural exploration and offer incentives to attract curious tourists. By the way, all museums in London are free.
Find Free Tours: Most cities offer free or nearly free tours for a symbolic fee. For instance, in New York, there’s a free ferry to Staten Island that passes by the Statue of Liberty (book in advance due to high tourist traffic).
Utilize Discount Cards: Many cities offer discount cards for accessing all attractions. For example, the Innsbruck Card in Innsbruck provides substantial discounts on everything you want to see (museums, zoos, lifts, public transport, castles, tours). They come in 24, 48, and 72-hour options. For instance, if you pay 48 euros for 48 hours, you can see a ton in just two days. When a single lift ticket to the mountains costs 33 euros, it’s worth it. Such guest cards exist in many major cities like Dubai, Bergen, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bratislava, Bruges, Budapest, Warsaw, Vienna, Geneva, Salzburg, Jerusalem, and so on.
Look for Free Walking Tours: If you have at least 8 hours in the city, look for Free Walking Tours. This service works on tips, and the tours can be very engaging. How to see a city for free else?
Observe Your Surroundings: While strolling around the city, pay attention to the old buildings, house facades, and interesting architectural elements. For example, it’s worth visiting the capital of Latvia just to see the Art Nouveau architecture. After seeing Gaudi’s works in Barcelona, you’ll become quite knowledgeable. Prague’s Art Nouveau buildings catch the eye, and Polish cities are a treasure trove of street sculptures. Every European city is like an open-air museum; you just need to open your eyes wide to not miss all the wonders.
Enter Buildings: European shops, libraries, pharmacies, and bookstores sometimes resemble museums. You can take photos of interesting interiors, buy a trinket for a keepsake, and even make useful connections. Once, entering an antique boutique in German Lüneburg and striking up a conversation with the owner, I received several antique books and postcards as a gift. This pleasant surprise remains a vivid memory of the city.
Visit Markets: To understand how locals live, visit a market. Here you can not only try the national cuisine that locals eat, not just tourists; buy a couple of interesting trinkets, but also see how the city lives. Observe people, their habits, and look at unusual things. The market is the soul of the city, where passions boil, meetings take place, and everything buzzes with life.
Enter Churches: This advice is especially valuable for lovers of Europe, especially Italy. For example, in the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria, there’s Bernini’s beautiful altar “The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa,” and in the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli, there’s Michelangelo’s Moses. Even if a church isn’t globally renowned for its greatness, sometimes you can catch a free organ concert or attend a Catholic mass, which is also quite interesting.
Stroll in Parks and Gardens: Park entrances are often free or very cheap, and the emotions are endless. Often you’ll find interesting buildings, gazebos, sculptures, fountains, and viewpoints. Sometimes you can even stumble upon a city holiday or festival.
Check out my other travel tips – How to travel on short trips.
If you liked this post “How to see a city for free” then please follow me on Instagram, so you don’t miss any updates.
I am available for commercial work such as personal photography, brand photography, product photography and more. If you would like to work with me, feel free to email me – hello@foxgleann.com.
