If you're looking for fun, free activities to do in Washington, DC, you are in luck. From world-class museums and beautiful parks, you will be spoiled for choice.

Accommodations in the city can be pricey, but with these top picks of the very best free things to do in Washington, DC, you'll easily be able to balance your budget.

Get local insight on destinations all over the world with our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.

Chill out under cherry blossom in West Potomac Park

DC's best meditation spot has to be the West Potomac Park, the area between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. It includes the Tidal Basin, which shimmers pink when the beautiful cherry trees bloom around March or April (according to spring's whim).

Soak up the atmosphere at The Wharf

Head just south of the Mall to The Wharf, DC’s newest neighborhood, a mile-long stretch along DC’s Potomac River. The waterfront is lined with funky eateries, elegant hotels and several boutiques. Browse in Politics & Prose, a fabulous book store, before dining at one of several high-end restaurants that overlook the river. Grab a water shuttle from here to Alexandria or Georgetown waterfronts.

Visit the Smithsonian Institution's many museums and galleries

Start counting the individual museums and galleries that are part of the Smithsonian Institution and you double this freebie list. The Smithsonian comprises 20 museums and galleries (plus the zoo), with the majority of them in the Washington, DC area and all are free to visit. See the website for a complete rundown of what's on offer.

Admire the FDR Memorial

Wander over to the Tidal Basin's left bank (it's especially beautiful at night), and it's hard to miss the grand Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. Set on 7.5 acres, the monument comprises four outdoor gallery rooms with 10 bronze sculptures that depict President Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt and events from the Great Depression and WWII.

Dance to the beat in Meridian Hill Park

Every Sunday at around 3pm, Meridian Hill Park (also called Malcolm X Park) plays host to the drum circle, a tradition that started in the 1960s during the Civil Rights struggle. These days it has the ambiance of a mini music festival: a crowd heads to the park to lounge, enjoy a picnic or just tap to the rhythm. While the atmosphere is especially great at the weekend, it's still worth a visit at other times of the week.

Take a cultural walking tour

Learn about local secrets and scandals, try a local cupcake, or head back in time on a ghost walk. These ultra-fun themed walking tours are run by Free Tours by Foot (you pay what you can afford.) You can even tap into your inner 1865 and head off on a mysterious and conspiratorial jaunt on the popular Lincoln Assassination Night Tour.

See masterpieces at the National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art has several wings jammed with masterpieces. The gallery's original building, a handsome neoclassical construction, houses Rembrandts, Titians and the like. The East Building (designed by architect IM Pei) is chock-a-block with abstract works. Walk between both buildings on the underground light sculpture, Multiverse, created by Leo Villareal. There's also a sculpture garden dotted with modern artworks.

Browse works by contemporary artists at Touchstone Gallery

Brush up on the works of local artists at Touchstone Gallery, an artist-owned gallery that represents 50 local artists – we're talking ultra-skilled folk who work in a variety of media.

Download and follow a self-guided neighborhood tour

Take yourself on a fascinating self-guided neighborhood walking tour, courtesy of Cultural Tourism DC. The free guides, downloadable to your mobile device, cover dozens of trails cover historic 'hoods (Adams Morgan, U Street and Barracks Row) and themes (Civil War to Civil Rights Downtown Heritage Trail). Signs en route feature stories, historic photos and maps.

Lucky ticket holders get to visit the White House

Tickets to the White House are available on a very limited basis. Chances are best for US citizens, who must request admission through their member of Congress. Overseas visitors should contact their embassy in Washington. Requests should be submitted up to three months and no less than 21 days in advance.

Pay your respects at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is the USA's official memorial to the Holocaust, taking you on a journey of a single Holocaust victim. There is a special exhibit geared more towards young children. It is free with timed-entry tickets, but passes do run out in busy periods. You can reserve a ticket online for just $1 to be guaranteed entry.

Follow the trail along the C & O Canal

The beautiful trail along the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal runs from Georgetown to Cumberland, Maryland, for around 180 miles (though most visitors tend to go only as far as Bethesda). Walk, jog or cycle along the former mule tow paths.

Get active in Rock Creek Park

Twice the size of Central Park, this is the nearest thing you'll get to a jungle in an American city. Rock Creek Park starts in downtown DC as a tree-lined path alongside Rock Creek itself. Further north, it widens into a lush oasis, where you can hike, go horsebackriding, and cycle.

Explore the beautiful landscapes of Dumbarton Oaks Park

This little known and very beautiful public park, on the northern edge of Georgetown, is one of DC's local secrets. Wander down Lovers' Lane off R Street and into the foliage and over quaint bridges. Dumbarton Oaks Park is the coolest place to be in the height of the humidity. (Note: don't confuse it with the mansion of Dumbarton Oaks or the historic house called Dumbarton House.)

Visit the memorials on the National Mall

The Mall – the 2-mile-plus-long rectangle of lawn, and the city's pride – is packed with monuments and memorials. You can visit everything from the Lincoln Memorial (which receives around 5.5 million visitors a year), the National WWII Memorial (4 million), the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (3.8 million), the Martin Luther King Jr National Memorial, and even more.

See the documents that built the nation at the National Archives

The National Archives is the spot to see John Hancock's John Hancock (American slang for "signature") on the country's Declaration of Independence, along with the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. For US citizens, visiting here is almost a rite of passage.

Stroll through the United States Botanic Garden

While crowds are drawn to the smelly "corpse flower" ( Amorphophallus titanum – we'll let you translate that), which blooms every three to five years, the United States Botanic Garden is equally fragrant at other times. The greenhouse conservancy and the children's garden are particularly beautiful spots to stroll through.

Explore miles of bookshelves at the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is to books what Google is to the internet. Here you'll find 838 miles of bookshelves with around 158 million items, including 36 million books and other print materials; 3.5 million recordings; 13.7 million photographs; 5.5 million maps; 6.7 million pieces of sheet music and 69 million manuscripts – all in more than 470 languages. Reserve your timed-entry tickets in advance.

Wander the best of DC's markets

Sunday shoppers can pick up a deal at the lively Eastern Market (Capitol Hill neighborhood): a three-in-one flea market, farmers market and arts-and-crafts market. Or head to Union Market, a funky, contemporary spot where you can buy your lunch from one of the ever-expanding funky foodie pop-up stalls.

Watch the action at the Supreme Court

A visit to America's highest court lets you can see justices, clerks, marshals and attorneys strutting their stuff. Access is temporarily suspended, but when it reopens, the public is allowed to enter the court to view sessions or "oral arguments" in action (seating is first-come, first-served and long lines form: one for those wanting to catch the full session, the second for those who want to get the gist of it in only three minutes). On the days when court isn't in session, you can catch lectures about the Supreme Court.

Take a free tour of the US Capitol

Check before your visit to see if free hour-long tours through the hallowed halls – packed with busts, sculptures and that fabulous dome – of the Capitol are available. The Capitol Visitor Center will be able to advise.

21 free things to do in Washington, DC: experience the best of the US capital for nothing

New York City evokes both high-rise luxury and savvy deals. And the best offer in town? The number of free attractions the Big Apple has to enjoy.

Read on for our roundup of some of our favorite concerts, museums, tours and much more to take in, all of which are always (rather than only occasionally) free.

See one of the world’s loveliest final-resting places at Green-Wood Cemetery

Once the nation’s most visited tourist attraction outside Niagara Falls, gorgeous Green-Wood Cemetery was built in 1838 and today is the eternal home to some 600,000 souls. The 478-acre cemetery is leafy and lovely, and features Brooklyn’s highest point, Battle Hill – named after a skirmish during the Revolutionary War and now marked with a seven-foot statue of the Roman goddess of wisdom, Minerva. Watch for the squawking green parakeets at the cemetery’s Gothic-style entrance pavilion: according to local legend, these non-native birds arrived after a mishap at JFK Airport in the 1980s and have called the cemetery home ever since.

Visit the moving African Burial Ground National Monument

In 1991, construction workers uncovered a burial ground filled more than 400 caskets containing the bodies of enslaved Africans from the 17th and 18th century – an age when New York had more people in bondage than any American city outside Charleston, South Carolina. Today, tucked among downtown skyscrapers, the African Burial Ground National Monument offers a space for visitors to contemplate the past and learn about the history of the African American community in early New York City.

Get local insight on destinations all over the world with our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.

Discover unsung talent at the American Folk Art Museum

With objects ranging from photographs to quilts to weather vanes in its collection, the American Folk Art Museum is devoted to the appreciation and expressions of self-taught artists, spanning all eras. And perhaps appropriately for an institution devoted to the work of creators from outside the canon, admission is always free.

Hear sizzling live jazz at Barbès

Having helped to launch the careers of legendary jazz artists like Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk, New York City’s club scene is enshrined into the pages of jazz history, and seeing a live show here is an essential NYC experience for music lovers. If iconic venues like the Village Vanguard and the Blue Note are way out of your price range, head across the bridge to Barbès in Brooklyn to enjoy stellar nightly performances for free. (Tips for the band are always greatly appreciated.)

Pay your respects at Grant’s Tomb

This imposing granite structure holds the remains of the Civil War hero and 18th president and his wife Julia, Built after a major fundraising campaign in the late 19th century, the General Ulysses S Grant National Memorial is the largest mausoleum in the USA, and was inspired by Mausolus’ tomb at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

See haute stuff at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) Museum

It’s always Fashion Week at the FIT Museum, which features rotating exhibits by students and engaging exhibitions that draw on a collection of 50,000 garments dating from the 18th century to the present.

Admire Brooklyn Collective’s curated street art in Bushwick

Curated by Bushwick native Joe Ficalora, the Brooklyn Collective is an unofficial graffiti museum that brings together top street artists from all around the world. Spanning multiple buildings over several blocks, the art you’ll see is all temporary, legal and a worthy rival to anything you’ll see in a museum with four walls.

Get a culture fix in the Boogie Down at the Bronx Museum of the Arts

A scrappy and vibrant institution on historic Grand Concourse, the Bronx Museum of the Arts ’ mission is to promote cross-cultural dialogue and make art accessible for diverse urban audiences. Founded in 1971 in the New York’s northernmost borough, the museum collects and exhibits pieces of contemporary and 20th-century art span all mediums. A universal free-admission policy was implemented to celebrate the museum’s 40th anniversary in 2012.

Savor each of Central Park’s 843 acres

Even though the real estate surrounding this famous urban oasis is some of the most expensive in the world, access to Central Park is gloriously free for New Yorkers and visitors of all means. Since Frederick Law Olmsted’s layout of the park was intended to be pleasantly disorienting, we recommend spending a few hours wandering aimlessly through its alluring paths, lush groves and delightful water features. You probably won’t want miss the Imagine mosaic at Strawberry Fields, just steps in from where John Lennon was shot in 1980. You can also retrace the steps of The Catcher in the Rye protagonist Holden Caulfield by checking out the ducks in the Pond at the park’s southeastern corner.

Gallery-hop in West Chelsea

New York’s most concentrated area for a gallery crawl is in Chelsea, in the West 20s between 10th and 11th Avenues. From small start-ups to established institutions like Pace and David Zwirner, all galleries are free to enter, with no pressure to buy. Check out the Art Dealers Association of America’s gallery guide has a comprehensive list of current shows and create your own arty adventure. Insider tip: plan your tour for a Thursday evening, when most wine-and-cheese openings take place.

Hop on a boat to bike around Governors Island

Though the ferry to Governors Island costs $3 round trip (free on Saturdays and Sundays before noon), access to the 172-acre island – now open year-round – is free. An eclectic range of attractions includes a 2.2-mile bike path, artificial hills offering splendid harbor views, a program of live events and rotating art installations, plus former military sites such as the Admiral’s House andF ort Jay. Frequent (and free) guided tours depart from the Soissons Landing Welcome Center.

Admire Lady Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry

The Statue of Liberty is a must-see, but ferry tours to Liberty Island start at $18 for adults. Enter the Staten Island Ferry, which plies New York Harbor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, offering a stellar view of this iconic monument at no cost at all. Having been in service since 1905, the ferry shuttles some 19 million visitors and commuters back and forth across the harbor each year.

See how the magic happens during a Brooklyn Brewery tour

Free tours of Williamsburg’s Brooklyn Brewery run Saturday and Sunday every half hour starting at 1pm, with the last tour offered at 6pm. Linger a while after in the tasting room.

Catch a cool show at BRIC House and Celebrate Brooklyn!

In a part of Brooklyn humming with cultural activity, BRIC House is a leading presenter of no-cost, multimedia programming, with free admission to two performance spaces and a gallery. In the summer, the organization curates the Celebrate Brooklyn! series in Prospect Park, with a majority of the concerts and performances – which in the past have sets from Chaka Khan, Janelle Monáe, the dancers of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and many others – free of charge, with no ticket necessary.

Promenade on the High Line

Technically a public park, the High Line has the feel of a runway, where New Yorkers and tourists (sometimes a lot of them) sashay for a stroll. Created from an abandoned stretch of elevated railroad track, this transformative 1.5-mile-long park stands 30 feet in the air, connecting the Meatpacking District with Chelsea’s galleries, before ending at gleaming Hudson Yards. Along the way, wonderful views open up of the Hudson River to the west, and of pedestrians on the sidewalks below. Keep an eye out for pop-up public art installations and events.

Explore Native American culture at the National Museum of the American Indian

Situated in the spectacular Alexander Hamilton U.S. Customs House (1907), the National Museum of the American Indian, a branch of the Smithsonian, offers one of the country’s finest arrays of Native American art. The focus of its million-item-strong collection, as well as its programs, is on culture rather than history; prepare for a visual feast.

Get inspired to put down that phone at the New York Public Library

New York’s most famous library (today known as the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building) is situated in a grand, world-famous Beaux-Arts icon east of Times Square. Guarded by marble lions named Patience and Fortitude, it’s a jaw-dropper to walk through – particularly the Rose Main Reading Room, with space for 500 patrons to pore over tomes under the library’s original Carrère and Hastings–designed lamps. Exhibitions showcase the institution’s astonishing holdings, which include a copy of the original Declaration of Independence, a Gutenberg Bible and some 431,000 old maps. Free tours of the building and the Rose Main Reading Room take place throughout the week.

Attend a Shakespeare play

You can try your luck to win free tickets to Shakespeare in the Park, presented each summer in Central Park’s Delacorte Theater by the Public Theater, via the digital lottery and standby lines. You can also get your fix of the Bard – with some awfully romantic lighting – at Shakespeare at Sunset, produced by New York Classical Theatre at non-traditional public venues across the city, including Brooklyn Bridge Park.

See a work of art made from 140 tons of dirt

No frame would be big enough for this. The Earth Room , Walter De Maria’s 1977 installation, is a single room in a nondescript SoHo building filled with 280,000 pounds of dirt, combining the familiar confines of an urban space with the scent of a wet forest. Strange? A little. Memorable? Definitely.

Interact with the art at Socrates Sculpture Park

Overlooking Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side on the East River, the site of a former landfill now hosts Socrates Sculpture Park, a playful and free outdoor museum and public park with large-scale interactive sculptures and multimedia art installations. On Wednesdays in the summer, free movie screenings take place, with an emphasis on foreign films, preceded by corresponding music and cultural performances.

You might also like:
Bright lights, kids’ city: the best family-friendly things to do in New York
The Detour: How to explore Central Park in New York City
Greenways and bike shares: top tips for cycling NYC like a pro

Cheap thrills in the Big Apple: New York City’s best free experiences

As with every major Italian city, elegant Turin has its fair share of world-class museums and art galleries commanding an admission fee. But for budget travelers, the wide porticoed streets and grandiose squares of Piedmont’s understated capital make a beautiful starting point: Turin’s ornate baroque architecture makes it a ravishing spot to soak up Italian elegance without spending a cent. Or get to know a local on a free walking tour.

Many museums, including the blockbuster Museo Egizio, are free to kids under five, any visitor on their birthday (bring ID with proof of birth date), and to every donna (woman) on International Women’s Day (8 March). Or invest in a Torino+Piemonte Card (€29 for 24 hours) to unlock the city’s unmatched treasure chest of Unesco-listed Savoy palazzi (palaces) and dozens of other sights for ‘free’.

Squeeze every moment out of your next vacation with tips and tricks from Lonely Planet in our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.

Get around on foot or by low-impact tram

Unsung Turin is relatively compact and affordable compared to Rome, Florence and other more touristed Italian cities. It costs nothing to cruise around downtown Turin on foot and the reward is soul-soaring views of the surrounding Alps at every turn. Or pay €4 to rattle around by tram all day with a one-day public transport ticket.

Watch out for the revival of historic tram line 7, temporarily suspended by the Covid pandemic. Launched to promote the environmentally low-impact form of public transport, the ‘mobile museum’ takes visitors on a circular tour of Turin’s main squares and avenues in vintage, racing-green tram wagons from the 1930s and 50s.

Poke around an icon of early 20th-century architecture

No single building is more evocative of Turin’s Herculean industrial heritage than its landmark Fiat factory in Lingotto. Considered one of Italy’s most hallowed examples of early 20th-century industrial architecture, the 1923 car factory closed in 1982 and was later redesigned by Italian architect Renzo Piano as a shopping mall, congress center and exhibition hall. Allow ample time for browsing and taking in the aura of the enormous, five-story building.

The rooftop – with a 1920s test track now used to take new-gen e-Fiat 500s for a debut spin and recently planted urban garden with yoga and meditation areas – is only accessible via the ticketed Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli. Visiting the modern art gallery and track is free however if you are a guest at the DoubleTree by Hilton Turin Lingotto hotel, inside the original factory hall.

Time travel on Piazza Castello

Amble around regal Piazza Castello, the city’s most elegant square framed by the 17th-century Palazzo Reale and Palazzo Madama – the palace’s rear is the original medieval construction, while the baroque facade was added in the 1700s. Contemplate its dual-faceted façade to time-travel from the 16th century, when the palace was owned by the powerful Medici family, to 1871 when it became the first seat of the Italian Senate Italy’s unification.

Plog and play green at Eataly

Piedmont spawned the global Slow Food movement and its capital cradles the Eataly mothership – a staggering space celebrating regional food, wine and culinary culture in Lingotto’s Fiat complex. Themed dinners, masterclasses, cooking workshops and live cooking demonstrations usually involve a fee, but the green-thinking food hall hosts plenty of free tastings, events and happenings too. Plogging in the Lingotto neighborhood (an environmentally friendly combo of jogging and picking up litter), Vermouth tastings and kid-friendly educational workshops are regular freebies. Check Eataly’s Facebook page for the month’s diary.

Weekend with locals in Parco Valentino

The passeggiata (afternoon stroll) is as sacred in Turin as any other Italian city. At weekends families flock to the seemingly endless, grassy grounds of 19th-century Parco Valentino to stroll along the Po river banks, peruse botanical gardens, snap selfies in front of mock chateau Castello del Valentino and kick balls around. Joggers enliven serpentine footpaths by day, romancing couples come dusk. Don’t miss the Borgo Medievale, a replica 15th-century village complete with fortress, prisons and beautifully recreated kitchen, herb and flower gardens.

Get lost in the Roman quarter

Delve into the heart of Roman-era Augusta Taurinorum in the Quadrilatero Romano neighborhood, an atmospheric tangle of tiny cobblestoned streets and squares. Admire remains of the Roman city walls and red-brick Porta Palatina, the colony’s well-preserved gateway from the 1st century BCE. Little remains of the Roman Amphitheatre or the second smaller theater that stood on the site where the Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista now is. Nip into the cathedral to enjoy the peal of bells emanating from its freestanding belfry and learn about the Holy Shroud of Turin, stashed away in a concealed casket in the 15th-century cathedral.

Promenade like royalty in the Giardino Reale

Palazzo Reale is ticketed, but its manicured gardens – Giardino Reale – are free to mooch at leisure and provide a peaceful respite from Turin’s busy, traffic-clogged streets. Trees on the garden’s lower level frame the tip of Mole Antonelliana, a 167m-high (548ft) tower built as a synagogue in the 19th century and an emblem of contemporary Turin.

Window shop in all weathers

Window-shopping in Turin is particularly delightful thanks to a myriad of porticoes, built for the Savoy dynasty in the 1600s to ensure safe, dry passage between royal residences. Over the centuries the elegant arcades framing regal Piazza Castello were extended to other piazzas and boulevards – clocking up 18km (11mi) of covered walkways in all. Those lacing the length of Via Pietro Micca, Via Roma and Via Po are particularly charming. Beneath the porticoes of the latter, browse old-school bancarelle (stalls) piled high with antiquarian and second-hand books.

Mooching around independent boutiques and cafes tucked inside old-world covered passages – another royal tactic to encourage wandering through the city in all seasons – is equally delightful. Galleria Subalpina near the Museo Egizio; Galleria San Federico, a stone’s throw from the Chiesa San Carlo di Borromeo; and Galleria Umberto I, right by Porta Palazzo, are all beautiful.

Get high – on the natural and sacred

Hills – foothills of the snow-capped Italian Alps and greener, lower-lying Colline Torensi – encircling the city sport stupendous views. Emblematic Basilica di Superga can be spotted from all over Turin, and while there is a fee to enter the hillside basilica, wandering the vast grounds of the lavish 18th-century church rewards with a scenic 1.5km (mile-long) hike spiked with soul-soaring city vistas.

No religion is required to appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship inside Turin’s historic churches – and many are free to access. Across the Po from Piazza Vittorio Veneto, 19th-century striking Chiesa della Gran Madre di Dio was built like a mini-Pantheon to commemorate the return of Vittorio Emanuele I. If you’ve seen the 1969 classic movie, The Italian Job, these are the church steps driven down by Michael Caine and his gang in their Mini Coopers. Post-church, head uphill to Monte dei Cappuccini, crowned by the bijou Chiesa di Santa Maria del Monte dei Cappuccini and panoramic views across the Po River and Turin rooftops. The show at sunset is spectacular.

Quench your thirst at toretti and stamp for good luck

Bring your own water bottle to fill up for free at one of the city’s many drinking-water fountains, handsomely capped with a bull’s head. Nicknamed toretti or ‘little bulls’ in the Piedmontese dialect, the animal is a symbol of the city and appears everywhere, be it on the Torino football club crest or the occasional street-art mural. On Piazza San Carlo, rub your foot across the genitals of the gold brass bull embedded into the stone pavement, beneath the porticoes in front of historic Caffè Torino – it brings good luck.

Lap up local life at the market

Even if you don’t spend a cent, mooching Turin’s epic Porta Palazzo – one of Europe’s largest outdoor markets – is a prime op to learn what fresh produce is in season, improve your epicurean knowledge of regional Piedmontese cuisine and meet local producers, farmers and artisans. Butchers, bakers and cheesemongers fill the indoor arcades to bursting.

Equally action-packed and a fascinating window on local life is the open-air Gran Balon antique and flea market which sees 300-odd vendors set up stalls on backstreets winding to the edge of the Dora River on the second Sunday of each month. Bustling with bargain hunters, it’s an incredible trove of vintage goods.

Hike along the Po river or up a hill

Lifeblood to the city, the mighty River Po cuts through Turin and across the north of Italy. Admire its swirling waters and scenic viewpoints along a marked footpath that begins by the Regina Margherita bridge and trails the massive waterway for 30 minutes to Parco Valentino. The footpath is flanked on one side by the historic city center and, on the other, by verdant colline (hills) peppered with pastel-colored art nouveau villas.

Or hike in the Colline Torinesi (‘Turinese Hills’) – forested hills, flower-strewn meadows and striped vineyards yielding Collina Torinese DOC wines east of the city. Contact Turin Tourism for trail information and maps, including the Superga Vezzolano Crea linking the Basilica di Superga with the Sacro Monte di Crea in Monteferrato via 64km (40mi) of old-world villages, vines and rolling hills.

You may also like:
The 5 best day trips from Turin
Piedmont’s top dishes and where to try them
22 free things to do in Milan

The best free things to do in Turin after you've blown your budget on Eurovision

Earth Day has inspired people all over the world to go green. The organization's leaders believe that small eco-friendly decisions can add up to a huge difference to our planet and estimate they've prompted more than 2.5 billion green acts since their inception.

With leaders in the travel industry taking major steps to reduce their carbon footprint, there has never been a better time to get involved. But how to start, especially when you're watching your pennies? Rest assured, being a budget traveler doesn’t need to cost the earth and being eco-friendly doesn’t need to empty your wallet. Here are seven easy tips to make a real difference on your next holiday.

1. Where to get your water

There are still lots of places where it’s unsafe to drink tap water, but constantly buying plastic bottles in the shop is a big no-no. Investing in a water filter is the perfect way to always have clean water to hand and you can re-use it on any future adventures. Water purification tablets are also a budget-friendly option or you could research some local solutions. In Southeast Asia for example you can use an app to find water refill stations in more than ten countries.

10 incredible sustainable travel experiences

2. Eat and drink locally

Step away from Starbucks and McDonald's and seek out the best in local produce. Jonathan Engels from Green Global Travel recommends seeking out traditional dishes which tend to use local ingredients. "The beauty of ethical eating while we’re traveling", he says, "is that it encourages us to try what’s on the menu rather than eating stuff imported to recreate the same unhealthy food we try to avoid at home." Street food is always a cheap way to experience the best a region has to offer and if you opt for vegetarian, even better. At night, choose local craft brews or wines.

Into the green: eight destinations for an eco-friendly escape

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter .

3. Airplane tips for saving carbon and money

Believe it or not, there are ways to make flights a little greener. Did you know flying first class can be more than five times as heavy on carbon per person according to a 2013 study by the World Bank?

The Points Guy: Is it ethical to fly business class in light of the climate crisis?

So squish into economy and feel a bit more virtuous. You can also help by taking direct flights and packing as light as possible to cut down on the weight of the airplane, thus saving fuel — and baggage charges. Choosing the right airport can also make an impact. The Center for Responsible Travel recommends Seattle-Tacoma, Baltimore-Washington and San Francisco International as green airports that are doing their bit.

Innovative sustainable tourism attractions around the world

4. Slow down your travels

The ‘travel’ part of holidays is where even the most eco-conscious travelers can fall down. Where possible, opt for the train instead of a flight. In a comprehensive analysis, the Union of Concerned Scientists said "those seeking a carbon bargain should seriously consider rail and motorcoach travel," with rail especially suitable for long distances. When you need to get a flight for a trip, aim to stay for longer; you'll save on all those pesky airline taxes and charges and keep your weekend trips for staycations.

Slow travel – the new sustainable way of exploring the world

5. Do not disturb

One of the simplest ways travelers can help the environment is by hanging up a 'Do Not Disturb sign on their door, according to Bret Love and Mary Gabbett of Green Travel Media. "You're saving the electricity needed to vacuum, the water needed to wash linens and clean bathrooms, not to mention the harsh chemicals used in the cleaning process," they said. "Best of all, some hotel chains will now reward you for choosing not to have your room cleaned."

16 stunning eco-hotels for the environmentally conscious traveler

6. Interact ethically with animals

Sadly, there are plenty of unethical animal attractions and otherwise well-meaning tourists can be charmed by the prospect of an amazing image. World Animal Protection even created a Wildlife Selfie Code to help travelers make the right choices. "Only take photos if you’re a safe distance from an animal, they can move freely, and they’re in their natural home" they advise.  Always do your research before booking on any animal-related tour or attraction; just because it has ‘sanctuary’ in its name doesn’t mean they’re animal-friendly.

How to choose a sustainable volunteering project

7. Ask for eco-friendly options

Continuing the trend for more sustainable, eco-friendly travel is really in your hands. The World Travel and Tourism Council says "providing tour operators and destinations with feedback is the number one way travelers can ask for the change they would like to see." They recommend leaving positive reviews when something is done right or contacting places via social media beforehand to check out their eco-credentials. "If a travel provider is not providing you with sustainable options," they say, "demand to know why."

Sustainable travel doesn’t mean sacrificing luxury

You might also like:
How to experience Yellowstone National Park sustainably
Why New Zealand is leading the way with regenerative travel
How to find a sustainable hotel

7 easy tips for eco-friendly travel on a budget

The capital of Spain is a city of fine food, rich history, buzzing nightlife and creative exuberance, but taking in its sights and experiences can burn through your travel budget. By the time you've factored in a morning trip to the Museo del Prado, tapas-grazing in La Latina, a late-night bar crawl in Huertas, and a hotel room close to the center, you'd be lucky to get change from €200 (US$218) for a day and a night in Madrid.

But help is at hand. While the city is rich with paid-for cultural attractions, if you aren't quite as rich yourself, there's plenty to do on a budget. Many of Madrid's world-class sights are free, including parks, churches and museums. Here are our favorite free attractions that offer the best of Madrid for travelers on a budget.

Visit Museo de Historia de Madrid to discover Madrid's back story

Behind a fabulous baroque facade, the free Museo de Historia houses a fine collection of paintings and artifacts outlining the history of Madrid. Highlights include Goya's Allegory of the City of Madrid, which lampoons the occupying French rulers of 19th century Madrid and the fractious political climate at the time, as well as an incredibly detailed model of the city as it looked in 1830.

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

Casa de Lope de Vega is a free dip into Spanish literary culture

Although relatively unknown outside the Spanish-speaking world, Lope de Vega was one of the greatest playwrights, poets and novelists of Spanish literature, and the house where he lived offers a window into his life and times. This is where Lope de Vega wrote and lived with his mistress – scandalous at the time – before his death in 1635. It's packed with memorabilia related to his work and free guided tours can be booked in advance via email or phone.

El Rastro is the place for free flea market browsing

El Rastro started out as a meat market in the 17th century ( rastro is the Spanish word for "trail," after the trail of blood left behind the butchered animals) but it evolved into Madrid's liveliest flea market. Every Sunday, stalls are piled high with antiques, vintage T-shirts and old records, alongside new clothes and souvenirs. The eclectic items on display have price tags but browsing is free and wandering the stalls is a great way to get a feel for what makes Madrileños tick.

Iglesia de San Ginés offers a taste of old Madrid

Existing in one form or another since at least the 14th century, San Ginés is one of Madrid's oldest churches. The current stone structure was constructed in 1645 but extensively rebuilt after a fire in 1824. Housed inside are some excellent works of Spanish art, such as El Greco's Expulsion of the Moneychangers from the Temple (1614). It's free to visit and just a short stroll from Plaza Mayor.

Templo de Debod is a taste of Egypt in Madrid

This curiously translocated monument is actually a giant thank-you card. Constructed at the tail end of the New Kingdom period in Egypt, the Templo de Debod originally stood in the area now covered by Lake Nasser, and it was saved from the rising waters by Unesco with help from Spanish archaeologists during the construction of the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s. As a statement of gratitude to Spain for helping to save this and other monuments, Egypt donated the temple to the Spanish government and it was moved block by block to its new home in Parque del Oeste. It's been there ever since, and it's free to visit.

Head to Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida to see Goya paintings in situ

We're going to let you in on a little secret: the southern chapel of Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida is one of the few places you can see Francisco de Goya's work in its original setting. The chapel's rather unadorned exterior belies the riches inside – the centerpiece of the chapel is Goya's depiction of the miracle of St Anthony, with the saint shown raising a young man from the dead to absolve his father of murder. Also in the chapel are the remains of Goya himself – bar the painters' head, which mysteriously went missing when his remains were transferred from their original burial site in France. Guided tours are available for free with prior registration.

Browse the Museo del Prado for free in the evening

By day, there's a charge to view the Museo del Prado 's massive collection of 1500 artworks, but the museum is free to visit from 6pm to 8pm Monday to Saturday and from 5pm to 7pm on Sunday. So long as you don't mind an early evening browse, you can admire some of the world's best-known works of art. Seek out Hieronymus Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights – a vision of paradise and hell that puts the trippy into triptych – and Diego Velázquez's Las Meninas, depicting the Spanish royal family from a unique (and, at the time, revolutionary) perspective.

Drop into the Iglesia de San Jerónimo on a museum trip

Somewhat in the shadow of the ever-popular Museo del Prado, the Iglesia de San Jerónimo sits on the site of a former monastery dating back to the early 16th century. The buildings were damaged in the early 1800s during the Peninsular War, and then restored half a century later, during the reign of Isabel II. The remains of the former cloisters are now part of the Museo del Prado. With free admission, it's a rewarding detour to bolt onto a museum visit.

For gratis garden grandeur, head to Campo del Moro

Encompassing 20 hectares of lush green spaces in central Madrid, Campo del Moro sits just beneath the Palacio Real, providing one of the prettiest views in Madrid. The gardens' were laid out in the English style in the 18th century, centered on the Fuente de las Conchas (Fountain of the Shells), which was designed in the 18th century by Ventura Rodríguez and erected in the middle of the east-west pradera (meadow).

See sculpture for free at Museo al Aire Libre

Tucked underneath an overpass, this excellent open-air sculpture collection features over a dozen abstract sculptures from some of Spain's foremost artists, including works by Basque sculptor Eduardo Chillida, Catalan artist Joan Miró, kinetic artist Eusebio Sempere and Civil War veteran Alberto Sánchez Pérez. The slight hint of traffic grime only adds to the appeal of this fascinating urban art space, and being out in the open, there's no entry fee.

Indulge your inner bibliophile at Biblioteca Nacional

A must-see for booklovers, the museum within the Biblioteca Nacional (National Library) has interactive displays on the history of the printing press and Spain's national library, as well as exhibits of illuminated manuscripts. Although you need a reader or researcher card to check out any of the books in this massive collection of more than 30,000 manuscripts, the free museum downstairs has enough for bibliophiles to while away an afternoon.

Learn more about Madrid at Museo de San Isidro

Named after San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of Madrid, the free-to-visit Museo de San Isidro details the rich history of Madrid from prehistoric times to its establishment as the capital of Spain. The museum is believed to sit on the spot where San Isidro worked and died. Of particular historical interest is the "miraculous well" – according to legend, the saint's son fell into the well but was saved when the waters miraculously rose thanks to his parent's devout prayers.

Admire the grand exterior of the Palacio de Longoria

This extravagant art nouveau structure, with its organic, swirling flourishes, is the headquarters of the Sociedad General de Autores y Editores, a society of music composers and publishers. Although the interior is off-limits to travelers, the exterior is what you're here for – it's a decadent ode to Modernisme (also known as Catalan modernism) of which Antoni Gaudí was the most famous exponent.

Step back into Madrid's past at Estación de Chamberí

The Estación de Chamberí is a chance to step into Madrid's recent past. In the 1960s, several of Madrid's train stations were upgraded, but the layout of Chamberí station meant that it couldn't be similarly modified. Instead, the station was bricked over and abandoned, before reopening in 2008 as a museum and time capsule. The interior appears much as it did in 1966, down to the posters, advertisements and art deco furnishings that were first installed in the early 20th century.

Catch your breath in the green spaces of Parque del Buen Retiro

Established by King Felipe IV as a garden for Spanish royalty, El Retiro park has become the green heart of Madrid. Festooned with white marble monuments, carefully landscaped lawns, ponds and several interesting buildings (the elegant metal-and-glass Palacio de Cristal greenhouse is a standout landmark), the park is usually quiet on weekdays, but it comes to life on weekends, when it's a great spot for people-watching.

You might also like:
5 stunning hikes near Madrid
Madrid vs Barcelona? I live in both cities but my heart loves this one
12 best things to do in Madrid

Enjoy Madrid for less with these 15 cost-free things to do

With a few hundred pounds in her bank account, Rachel Horne decided to leave her job in palliative and dementia care in 2019 and travel full-time.

She started in Scotland and, from Glasgow, covered the full North Coast 500 route as well as the Outer Hebrides and several lesser-known islands on a budget of just £3 a day. While inflation has risen the cost of many items in recent months, here's how she learned to keep her costs low and her spirits high.

The budget

I didn’t set out with a plan to spend £3 a day – I simply have very little money and want to be able to travel indefinitely – but I achieved this budget with a combination of wild camping, hitchhiking* and by cooking basic meals on a small camping stove. When you travel in this way, you can’t be too uptight about your diet, your schedule, or your destination. But, on the plus side, with your accommodation on your back, it doesn’t really matter where you end up.

Before setting off, I packed everything I thought I’d need: waterproofs, warm clothes, good boots, first aid supplies, a tent, a sleeping bag, a camping stove, a head torch, a charging bank, a travel towel and an emergency blanket. Luckily, I already had supplies from previous trips which saved a lot of money. If you don’t have any gear, buy as much as you can from charity shops to keep costs down.

Scotland's best places to visit for hiking, golfing and whiskey tasting

Eating well on the move

Sticking to a tight budget cannot be to the detriment of your health, so make sure you’re getting enough to eat. Where possible, buy food from budget supermarkets. I bought big bags of oats and rice, cans of vegetables, fruit, biscuits and gas from these cheaper stores. Shops become a lot more expensive when you reach isolated villages and islands – balance this with how much you can safely carry in your backpack, including water. My first grocery bill came to around £25 but I only had to buy a couple of top-up items in the smaller shops between towns.

Canned vegetables are already cooked and therefore use little fuel, so cooking them with rice in stock was the most efficient meal in terms of calories for weight, gas usage and space. Shelter your stove from the wind to avoid wasting fuel (and therefore money) when you’re cooking, and always have a second compatible gas canister in reserve. There’s nothing worse than eating half-cooked rice when you’re cold and tired.

You can forget about eating out if you’re serious about keeping to this budget. I had a pub meal once in three months of traveling, but it was bought for me by a farmer in exchange for helping on her croft. After a few weeks on the road, I found the compulsion to go to bars and restaurants faded away, and I actually wanted to opt for peace over the noise.

Top experiences in Scotland's national parks

Discovering the joys of wild camping

Wild camping is legal in Scotland and can present more spectacular views than any hotel could offer you, no matter how soft the sheets might be. From my little yellow tent in the sand dunes I saw dolphins leaping in and out of the ocean; golden eagles circled above me in the forests of Mull and the bobbing heads of curious seals crept ever closer to my waterside campsites at Port Appin.

I would drive 500 miles: road-tripping the Scottish Highlands

So long as you follow some basic rules such as avoiding enclosed fields with crops and animals, keeping a respectful distance from people’s homes, leaving no trace (including toilet paper) and burying your 'number twos', you can walk and camp pretty much anywhere. There are a few places where the practice is restricted for ecological reasons; check the Scottish Outdoor Access Code for details.

The climate is wet and windy so, if you need a break from your tent, make use of Scotland’s network of bothies. These are basic huts with a fireplace that can be used free of charge. And always remember to take your boots inside the hut or your tent to avoid having to squelch miserably over the heather with your feet in plastic bags.

Top 18 beaches in Scotland

Seeking shelter

If the wind and rain become too much, or the notorious midges get too persistent, it’s time to head indoors. Libraries, harbor buildings, leisure centers, churches and many community museums are free places where you can dry out, plug in your devices and take shelter from the storm. The legendary hospitality of the Scots saw me invited into strangers’ homes to shower and drink tea to a backdrop of Celtic rock music and yapping terriers.

I washed in rivers, lochs, public toilets and leisure centres. Swimming pool showers have the added benefit of spinners to ring out swimwear which you can throw your clothes into after you've given them a scrub in the sink. Using plant-based shampoo and conditioner bars can help to minimize pollution.

The 5 most beautiful road trips in Scotland

Staying entertained

Setting off from home, I was worried I’d be desperately bored without money to splash on pub dinners or wildlife tours. This was a complete misconception.

Traveling like this helps you find a new rhythm, or rather discover the old one; a rhythm that came before smartphones, cheap flights and office jobs. Life moves more slowly, and watching a driftwood fire crackle on the beach becomes far more rewarding than whatever happens to be on the telly back home.

To me, travel is much more than a hobby. I found that I didn’t need a lot of money, or even much of a plan; I just needed to find time, and to prioritise my freedom over any obligations and expectations that rested on my shoulders.

You might also like:
The 13 best places to visit in Scotland
The best time to go to Scotland
The Caledonian Sleeper: Britain’s best train journey?

* Editor's note: Rachel chose to hitchhike. Hitching in Scotland is fairly easy but it's never entirely safe and Lonely Planet doesn’t recommend it. Travelers who hitch should understand that they are taking a small but potentially serious risk.

How I traveled around Scotland on an extremely tight budget 

With perfect coastal weather and beautiful Spanish-colonial architecture, it's no wonder that so many celebrities and A-listers call Santa Barbara home. But the city has sights and activities for all budgets, not just those on a Hollywood salary.

From period local architecture to sun-drenched beaches, from a historic walk to a beautifully scented rose garden, here are the best free things to do in Santa Barbara.

Stroll the length of Stearns Wharf

Santa Barbara’s thriving main drag, State Street, dead-ends southbound in Stearns Wharf, an 1872 wooden pier that is a long-running tourist attraction. Get a scoop of ice cream, fall prey to the Siren song of the souvenir sellers, go on a short, guided boat trip or just meander out to the end of the long and gently curving wharf, where the views are always free. It's free to fish, and you can rent any needed gear from a wharf vendor. Three restaurants provide all the fish and chips or other briny sustenance you need. To learn about the rich local marine life, including the whales, buy a ticket for the Sea Center, an aquarium and education center.

Marvel at the Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park

Before European colonizers arrived, the Santa Barbara region was inhabited by the Chumash people. In 1600, an individual or group of Chumash made some elaborate paintings inside a small, limestone cave. Today, you can visit this state historic park for free. See the paintings through gaps in a security gate, although (being a cave) conditions are dark, so use your phone’s flashlight to illuminate the elaborate creations. The meaning of the complex geographic shapes, which are rendered primarily in blues and reds, has been lost.

The park is on a narrow and rugged road, two miles northeast of Hwy 154, the road to the Santa Ynez wine region.

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter .

Revel in art and architecture at Santa Barbara County Courthouse

Coming up on 100 years as the city’s premier landmark, the Santa Barbara County Courthouse is an architectural showpiece with expansive gardens right downtown. Constructed in Spanish Colonial Revival style from 1925 to 1929, the building is filled with artistic creations, including hand-painted ceilings, wrought-iron chandeliers, and tiles from Tunisia and Spain. On the second floor, the Mural Room depicts Spanish-colonial history, while El Mirador, the 85ft clock tower, offers arch-framed panoramas of the city, ocean, and mountains.

Opening hours are variable during the pandemic shutdowns, so check before your visit. Meanwhile, visit the open-air Great Arch, which takes its design cues from triumphant Roman arches, and don’t miss the elaborate Spirit of the Ocean fountain as well as public art installations and elaborate botanical displays.

Travel through history at Santa Barbara Historical Museum

Built in the visually appealing local cliché, Spanish mission-style architecture, the small Santa Barbara Historical Museum traces Santa Barbara’s history. Exhibits start with the Chumash people and continue through the Spanish, Mexican, and American eras, with spurs into local stories, such as the city’s once segregated yet vibrant Chinese community and the origins of the local art community, which remains rich and varied today. Don’t miss displays that include Chumash woven baskets, artifacts from Father Junípero Serra and surviving equipment from the period when the city was a center for early film production before the industry consolidated in Hollywood.

Spot sea life from Shoreline Park

Follow the waterfront promenade west 1.2 miles from Stearns Wharf to Shoreline Park, a vast grassy expanse on a small bluff with views out across the harbor. From the cliffside paths, you can spot migrating whales (and note the bronze sculpture of a whale tail in the park), dolphins, and more. Kids love the playground. Wooden stairs lead down to a small and sheltered beach where tidepools offer a glimpse of starfish, urchins, and other tidal sea life.

Pound the sand at East Beach

It’s not just location, location, location, East Beach would still be Santa Barbara’s most popular beach even if it was a hike from the center. But it’s not! Right next to both Stearns Wharf and downtown, the strand is long and lined with many amenities, including volleyball nets for pickup games, a children’s play area, and a cultural pavilion. On Sunday afternoons, dozens of local artists set up booths along the sidewalk. The waterfront promenade extends for several miles along the entire shore, perfect for relaxed walks in beautiful surroundings.

Breathe deeply at AC Postel Mission Rose Garden

Right across from Old Mission Santa Barbara, where the modern city began, this peaceful and sunny park features over 1500 rose bushes, with flowers in a stunning array of colors and shapes. Nearly 60 years old, the extensive gardens are maintained by staff and volunteers. The best months to take time to smell the roses are April to November.

Take the Red Tile Walking Tour

See prime examples of Santa Barbara’s mandated mission-style architecture on the self-guided Red Tile Walking Tour. Across 17 stops in 12 downtown blocks, you’ll see 22 examples of the best local white stucco and red tile roof buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Among the highlights is the Hill-Carrillo Adobe, which dates to 1825 and was the first building in town to have a wooden – as opposed to a dirt – floor. Follow alley-like Presidio Avenue, Santa Barbara’s oldest street, and take a break in shady public gardens. For something more consumptive, cafes abound along the walk.

This walk is the best introduction you can have to the structures that make Santa Barbara Southern California’s most visually appealing city.

Have an artful 1st Thursday

Savor Santa Barbara’s vibrant and varied art scene during 1st Thursday, which takes place the first Thursday evening of every month. Scores of art galleries on and off State Street open their doors for browsers to enjoy new exhibitions, artists’ receptions, wine tastings, and live music. Pick up a copy of the 1st Thursday Passport, a guide to everything that’s on, at any of the galleries.

You might also like:

santa - barbara -link" href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/top-things-to-do-in-santa-barbara">The 14 best things to do in Santa Barbara

santa - barbara -from-the-waterfront-to-wine-country-link" href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/getting-around-santa-barbara">How to get around Santa Barbara: from the waterfront to wine country

santa - barbara -the-best-weather-and-the-liveliest-events-link" href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-time-to-visit-santa-barbara">When to visit Santa Barbara: the best weather and the liveliest events

The 9 best free things to do in Santa Barbara: history, art, and gorgeous gardens

Sleek and sophisticated, the City of Love isn't known for being a cheap date. However, Paris has a whole heap of fun and free attractions even the most budget traveler can enjoy, ranging from free-entry museums and galleries to frenzied markets and canal-side strolls.

Here are the best free things to do in Paris.

Watch the Eiffel Tower light show from Parc du Champ de Mars

A lift to the peak of the Eiffel Tower can squeeze the budget but views from below can be equally stunning. Parc du Champ de Mars has lawns and flowerbeds manicured with military precision (as you’d expect from a former army marching ground). Bring a blanket, wine, and the best picnic ingredients you can find to this expanse of greenery and wait for the light show at dusk to set La Tour Eiffel a-twinkle.

Go window-shopping in Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen

Window-shopping (or lécher les vitrines to the locals) is a great way to take an indulgent peek at objets d’art and wild curiosities you’d never actually buy. The St-Ouen flea market and antiques fair is the perfect place to let your imagination run riot. Marvel at bearskin rugs, antique tapestries, and brass diving bells in this decadently eccentric marketplace. (But try to keep your eyebrow-raising in check when you look at the price tags.) Hop off the metro at Porte de Clignancourt (line 4) and continue under the bridge until the souvenir stalls give way to side streets crammed with beautiful buys.

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

See the permanent collections at Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris

For a surreal view of French culture, dive into the permanent collections at the Museum of Modern Art, one of Paris's many free museums (a €5 donation is recommended). From the bolshy cubism of Braque to Matisse’s dancers, there’s sure to be something to lift your spirits. Take metro line 9 and alight at Alma-Marceau.

Take an atmospheric stroll through Cimitière du Père Lachaise

The most haunting spot in Paris allows you to rub shoulders with the ghosts of literary greats like Proust and Balzac, and modern icons like Oscar Wilde and Edith Piaf. Jim Morrison also lies in this ancient cemetery, his grave barricaded off to protect it from over-zealous fans who make a musical pilgrimage here. The tree-lined avenues and calling crows make Père Lachaise the most atmospheric walk in Paris. Head to the 20th arrondissement and jump off the metro at Père Lachaise (line 2) or Gambetta (line 3).

Promenade in Parc Monceau

If celebrity-spotting in a cemetery is too morbid, march among France’s greats in Parc Monceau, which has statues of luminaries such as the composer Chopin and celebrated writer Guy de Maupassant. The park’s rich history makes it a fascinating spot for a promenade (stroll): this peaceful green space was the site of a massacre in 1871, and was a favorite painting spot for Monet. Throw in an extra freebie with a gander at the wonderful collection of rarely seen Chinese statuary showcased in the Musée Cernuschi, a municipal Asian Art Museum inside an elegant mansion next to the park’s eastern entrance on av Vélasquez. Take line 2 to the Monceau metro station in the 8th arrondissement.

Enter Basilique du Sacré-Coeur for free

This palatial white marble church crowns the lively Montmartre district in the 18th arrondissement. Its interior is bedecked with gold mosaics and towering stained-glass windows, and you can listen for the peal of one of the world’s heaviest bells. There's a charge to ascend into the dome or explore the crypt, but visiting the basilica itself is free. This is also a great place to come at night, with the monument lit up by floodlights, and couples strolling happily arm in arm through the neighborhood.

Walk along the Seine by Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

Festooned with gargoyles and Gothic touches, the imposing Cathédrale Notre Dame is an icon of Paris and a must-see for every visitor. Although the interior of the structure remains closed to visitors following the devastating fire of April 2019, you can still stroll along the neighboring Seine for an alternate view of the cathedral's beautiful exterior.

Explore Roman heritage at Arènes de Lutèce

Trace the ruins of Paris’ Roman heritage at the Arènes de Lutèce in the Latin Quarter. Dating back to 1AD, it is thought to be the longest Roman amphitheater ever constructed. While the arena no longer hosts gladiatorial fights, it does provide a space for a competitive sport no less formidable: pétanque .

Wander the paths of Cimitière du Montparnasse

The final resting place for hundreds of glamorous and intellectual Parisians, Montparnasse cemetery is less ostentatious than Père Lachaise but perfect for a serene stroll. Get closer than you ever thought possible to Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Samuel Beckett. Ride metro line 6 to the Edgar Quinet or Raspail stop.

Enjoy peace in Parc des Buttes Chaumont

Paris’ steepest park is tough on your calf muscles but a feast for your senses. With abundant birdlife, rocky reliefs, and even a waterfall masterminded by landscaping genius Baron Haussmann, it’s easy to forget you’re in France’s hectic capital city. Find the park from Botzaris and Buttes Chaumont metro stops (both line 7) in the 19th arrondissement.

See into the mind of an artist at Atelier Brancusi

Immerse yourself in the smooth shapes of Brancusi’s sculpture with a free visit (between 2pm and 6pm) to his recreated studio in front of the Centre Pompidou. The Romanian-born abstract sculptor, who moved to Paris in 1903, is considered a pioneer of modernism, producing beloved works like The Kiss (not to be confused with Rodin's sculpture of the same name, which can be seen across town at the Musée Rodin). This Brancusi workshop is a lovingly assembled and surprisingly intimate glimpse into the mind of an artist.

Picnic alongside Canal St-Martin

Join chic Parisians at the water’s edge while the sun goes down or skip stones like the heroine of Amélie. The lively waterside haunt of Canal St-Martin, between République and Gare du Nord in the 10th arrondissement, is the perfect spot to bring a picnic, pop a cork, and eavesdrop on the locals.

Travel through history at Musée Carnavalet

Experience a tour de force through Paris’ history, from its ancient origins to the fashion-forward capital of sophistication it is today. Musée Carnavalet ’s permanent collection is free to visit, allowing you to saunter through fin-de-siècle drawing rooms and delicately reconstructed baroque interiors without spending a euro. The closest metro stops are Chemin Vert (line 8) and Saint Paul (line 1).

Pick up picnic supplies on rue Mouffetard

This cobblestoned market street is crammed with artisan bakers, fromageries, and gourmet sweet shops. Visit it on a Saturday when it closes off to form a huge food market, and listen out for the hum of bartering foodies and vendors enthusiastically touting their wares.

Tour the vibrant Belleville neighborhood

A stroll along the streets of Belleville, a district with a history of rebellion and multicultural flair, is certain to fire the imagination. Belleville’s bustling Chinatown and artist residents make it a lively place to explore. Wander up rue de Belleville to see where tragic chanteuse (female singer) Edith Piaf is said to have been born under a street lamp, then turn right onto pedestrian rue Dénoyez where you'll find Paris’ most dazzling street art. End your Belleville encounter with a meander through leafy Parc de Belleville, offering first-class views over the city.

Walk a former railway track at La Promenade Plantée

A railroad track with a floral makeover, this elevated walkway offers superb views and allows you to sidle through lush green archways high above the city crowds. The charming 4.5km (2.8 mile) pathway runs through most of the 12th arrondissement and you can join it from ave Daumesnil near the Bastille metro stop.

Overload your senses with the smells and sights of Marché d’Aligre

Feast your eyes on the finest local produce at this fabulous covered food market on Place d’Aligre in the 12th arrondissement. Mountains of cheese, artisan butchers, and a field of flower stalls can send you into sensory overload after wandering through a few aisles. It's worth parting with some cash for a discreet glass of Bordeaux and to get your hands floury on a crusty baguette, but otherwise admiring the mouthwatering produce is free. Ride metro line 8 to the Ledru-Rollin stop.

Tour the lovely artworks at Musée de la Vie Romantique

If you’re in Paris for the romance, there is no lovelier free place than the Musée de la Vie Romantique, a museum dedicated to two artists active during the Romantic era: writer George Sand and painter Ary Scheffer. Squirreled away at the end of a film-worthy cobbled lane, the villa originally belonged to Scheffer and was the setting for popular salons of the day, attended by notable figures such as Delacroix, Liszt, and Chopin (Sand’s lover). Objects in the museum centrer around Sand and Scheffer's life, with one notable inclusion being a bust of Chopin's left hand.

Catch free seasonal events in Parc de la Villette

As well as being one of Paris's largest green spaces, the Parc de la Villette is also one of the cultural hubs of the city, home to the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie (City of Science and Industry) museum, Philharmonie de Paris concert hall, and Grande halle de la Villette, an abattoir turned contemporary exhibition space. Though most of these institutions charge entry fees, each regularly hosts free events, sometimes in the actual grounds of the park, with a notable example the Parc de la Villette open-air cinema, which screens films to picnicking crowds throughout July and August.

Go to Paris' free festivals

Paris has an array of exciting, free festivals on offer throughout the year. Stay up all night viewing eclectic art instillations in quirky locations during La Nuit Blanche (October), see pros and rising stars perform impromptu sets throughout the city for Fête de la Musique (June) or catch the grand military parade (and accompanying revelry) along ave des Champs-Élysées that kick-starts Bastille Day (July).

You might also like:

paris -add-a-new-dimension-to-your-city-break-link" href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/the-best-day-trips-from-paris">The 7 best day trips from Paris: add a new dimension to your city break

paris -in-winter-spring-summer-or-fall-link" href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/getting-around-paris">How to get around in Paris in winter, spring, summer or fall
paris -vs-rome-which-iconic-city-is-right-for-you?-link" href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/paris-vs-rome">Paris vs Rome: which iconic city is right for you?

20 of the best free things to do in Paris: explore France's capital on the cheap

At the intersection of both two countries and the South and West of the USA sits a sprawling city that has gone by many names. Some have called it “Sun City” for its 302 days of sunshine each year and “Six Shooter Capital” as a nod to its Old West history. But you most likely know it as El Paso.

In the last few years, this border city has been undergoing a renaissance of development with new boutique hotels, a restored streetcar line, and a host of art galleries, farmers' markets, and microbreweries. But El Paso is more than its shiny new spaces of entertainment and hospitality or even its superfluous outdoor offerings. It’s a place where you can learn about Indigenous communities and Chicano cultures through art and food, and walk in the footsteps of Mexican revolutionaries, Hollywood stars, Buffalo soldiers, and famous figures of the Old West.

On your next trip to El Paso, experience some of the best things that the city has to offer without spending a dime. Check out our list of free things to do in Sun City and save your cash for a good meal and a margarita (which was apparently invented here!).

Contemplate Los Murales on a free walking tour

They're not always mentioned in guidebooks, but Los Murales, the street murals of El Paso, are perhaps the city's preeminent cultural treasure. Of the more than 100 murals in the city, the greatest concentrations are south of downtown between Paisano Drive and the Border Highway in what is known as the Segundo Barrio, and north of Paisano Drive near Douglass Elementary School. There are also more than 40 murals painted on the freeway columns around Durazno Avenue between Copia and Raynolds streets. Use the Visit El Paso app to locate the most notable murals around town.

Learn about the oldest town in Texas at the Tigua Cultural Center

The surrounding community of Ysleta del Sur Pueblo is sovereign home to the Tigua tribe and is recognized by many as the oldest town in Texas. Despite outside influences, the Tigua have strived to retain their identity as the oldest identifiable ethnic group in Texas. At this cultural center, you can check out photographs of Tigua history and examples of pottery, as well as a video explaining more about the tribe's history.

Stop by every other Saturday to watch bread being traditionally made by tribal members with the same equipment and methods that have been used for over 300 years. You can even purchase the bread on a first-come, first-serve basis after 11am.

Cruise the Rim Road and Scenic Drive

Check out the night-time views of El Paso and Ciudad Juarez while cruising the lofty roadway that is the Scenic Drive. It follows the southern tip of the Franklin Mountains and the winding Rio Grande, with plenty of benches and overlooks where you can stop and really savor the view. Turn onto Rim Road from either Mesa Street or Alabama Street to start the Scenic Drive journey.

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter .

Enjoy old masters and modern wonders at the El Paso Museum of Art

This thoroughly enjoyable museum is housed in a former Greyhound bus station. Its pride and joy is a 13th-century Byzantine Madonna and Child – which makes sense since the museum was born from a need to house a donation of European Baroque and Renaissance pieces by masters like Botticelli, van Dyck, Artemisia Gentileschi, and more. Today the EPMA has a collection of over 7000 works which include Southwestern art, Latin American art, and engaging modern pieces that round out the collection nicely. Even better news – it's absolutely free to visit.

Window shop in Paseo de las Luces

On South El Paso Street is Paseo de las Luces, a charming area full of historic buildings with open-air storefronts. It doesn’t cost a thing to window shop among the boutique stores and local clothing shops. Visit after the sun sets and you’ll see this magical area lit up by arched string lights.

Four times a year, El Paso puts on a free festival here called Downtown Fiesta de Las Luces. The city invites food trucks, art vendors, family-friendly activities, folklorico dancers, and mariachis out to entertain city residents and visitors.

See Indigenous art at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology

The El Paso Museum of Archaeology illuminates the lives and experiences of Indigenous peoples in the El Paso area and the Southwest over the last 14,000 years. The baskets, pottery and hunting tools on display are worth a look. The centuries-old effigy pots – complete with faces – are especially cool. Outside you'll find a 15-acre desert garden with nature trails. But be careful where you step – rattlesnakes are posted hazards.

Quick tip: head to the auditorium and open the visible storage drawers to see historic Indigenous items that aren’t typically put on display.

Learn about the past at the El Paso Museum of History

This museum has a shiny new location in the heart of the downtown museum district. It does a deep dive into a 1000-year history of this fascinating region, from the Native Americans that lived here for thousands of years to the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores and El Paso’s current position as a multicultural city.

In addition to 10,000 artifacts on display, the El Paso Museum of History is home to the only interactive Digital Wall in the U.S. and one of four of its kind in the world, called ‘DIGIE’ (Digital Information Gateway in El Paso). Visitors can interact with over 16,000 community video and image uploads that are displayed across five touchscreens which total 35 feet in length.

Experience a bit of history at the Socorro Mission

The community of Socorro was established in the fall of 1680 after Spaniards and Native Americans fled New Mexico following the Pueblo Revolt earlier in the year. The mission here was completed in 1691, making Socorro the second-oldest mission in Texas. Floods destroyed earlier buildings and churches here; the current structure was built in 1843. The carved and decorated support beams were likely salvaged from the first mission. The statue inside is St Michael, the mission's patron saint.

Explore the city on free self-guided tours

In 2015, Visit El Paso launched an app that offers free and self-guided tours around town. Download the app and click on the Tours & Tour Operator button which will redirect you to self-guided tours. Each tour has a list of notable locations with addresses, websites, and a description and audio recording explaining its significance.

The app provides nine walking tours. One focuses on the architecture of El Paso, and another takes you to notable places relating to the Mexican Revolution. Other walking tours focus on the Segundo Barrio, El Paso lore, San Elizario, the University of Texas at El Paso, and more.

Walking around El Paso may not be feasible for everyone, which is why the app also offers five driving, biking, and streetcar tours. Cycle between El Paso’s best statues and murals on the Downtown Public Art Bike Tour one day, and on another, take a self-guided Mission Trail driving tour to historic spots like Mission Ysleta, Mission Socorro, and the Tigua Indian Cultural Center. Hop onto El Paso’s newly renovated streetcars and follow the two tours in the app to learn more about notable buildings placed along the routes.

Step back in time to the Old West at Concordia Cemetery

Concordia Cemetery was established in 1856 and became incredibly popular among El Pasoans from the 1880s onward. Prominent figures, like Buffalo Soldiers, Texas Rangers, gunfighter John Wesley Hardin, and lawman John Selman, can be found among the cemetery’s eternal residents.

Today, this cemetery has over 60,000 graves and is open 365 days a year. While the historical and ghost tours they offer on the weekends may cost a fee, you can explore this Texas State Historical Site for free any other time. Take a look through the Concordia Cemetery website before you go to find information on notable graves.

Have an outdoor adventure in El Paso

Although we love the outdoor offerings at Hueco Tanks and Franklin Mountains State Park, we know that not everyone can afford the fees. Rather, spend the day by the lake at El Paso’s largest recreational park, Ascarte Park. Stroll along the lakeside boardwalk or the 1.5-mile loop trail that circles the 48-acre surface lake. Break a sweat at the tennis and basketball courts and refresh and relax at a picnic table. From April 2022 parking is free here Monday to Sunday.

For a more blood-pumping activity, hike the five-mile rocky trail called the Palisades Canyon Loop. The trailhead starts in Arroyo Park, and even though it partially goes into the Franklin Mountain State Park, it’s a free trail.

Cyclists, walkers, and hikers can experience sweeping mountain views in El Paso and mesas in New Mexico along the River Park Trail. This 10.5-mile paved trail parallels the Rio Grande from County Club Road in El Paso to the New Mexico State Line in Anthony, Texas.

Peek at the ceiling at the San Elizario Presidio Chapel

A Spanish presidio named for St. Elzéar, the French patron saint for soldiers, was established here in 1789 (San Elizario is a corruption of his name). A flood took out the first chapel and the present building, finished in 1882, is the fourth chapel for the fort. Note the symmetrical bells, the four buttresses and, inside, the colorful pressed-tin ceiling. Still an active parish, this eye-catching white chapel anchors the San Elizario Historic District.

See the stars at Plaza Theatre

Back in the day, the Plaza Theatre was nicknamed “The Showplace of the Southwest” because it was the largest theater of its kind between Dallas and Los Angeles. Travelers can book a free tour every Tuesday at this National Historic Building of Significance where they’ll be able to marvel at the theater’s Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, mosaic-tiled floors, antique furniture, and a design that gives the appearance of an outdoor courtyard – complete with a painted ceiling full of stars. Make sure you see the Mighty Wurlitzer Blaban III Organ, a musical instrument that can simulate 15 different instruments and is one of only six ever made.

Attend mass at Ysleta Mission

Home to Texas’ oldest continually active congregation, tracing back to 1680, Ysleta Mission was established for Spanish refugees and Tigua people fleeing New Mexico after the Pueblo revolt. The original mission building, erected by the Tigua in 1682, was replaced in the mid-1800s by the adobe-brick structure you see today. The silver-domed bell tower was added a few decades later.

Remember the past at El Paso Holocaust Museum

El Paso might not seem an obvious location for a Holocaust museum, but it was the first in Texas and is the only fully bilingual (Spanish and English) Holocaust museum in the nation. Created by local survivors, this excellent memorial in the Museum District of downtown El Paso holds thoughtful and moving exhibits, imaginatively presented for maximum impact. Spend the day exploring 4000 square feet of permanent exhibits that cover everything from how life was in Europe before the Nazis to the rise of the Nazi party, life in the ghettos, the concentration camps, WWII, and a gallery full of Holocaust survivors who made El Paso their home.

You may also like:
Under the radar USA: multiculturalism in El Paso, Texas
The most unmissable road trips in Texas for beaches, BBQ and big open skies
The ultimate guide to BBQ in Texas

All Stories

21 free things to do in Washington, DC: experience the best of the US capital for nothing

Cheap thrills in the Big Apple: New York City’s best free experiences

The best free things to do in Turin after you've blown your budget on Eurovision

7 easy tips for eco-friendly travel on a budget

Enjoy Madrid for less with these 15 cost-free things to do

How I traveled around Scotland on an extremely tight budget

The 9 best free things to do in Santa Barbara: history, art, and gorgeous gardens

20 of the best free things to do in Paris: explore France's capital on the cheap

Museums, missions and murals are all free things to do in El Paso

Featured in Best in Travel 2022

Norway

Europe

Country

Belize

Central America

Country

Slovenia

Europe

Country

Taipei

Taiwan

City