What are the world’s best free attractions?

Jun 2, 2011 4:12:08 AM

Leif Pettersen
Lonely Planet Author

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Like most budget travellers, the word that makes my eyebrows leap the highest is ‘free’. While the you-get-what-you-pay-for statute makes it uncool to grade, compare or criticise free stuff, certain free attractions are indisputably superior to others and, in many cases, completely outshine their un-free neighbours.

Some cities like London and New York have enough exceptional free activities to easily fill a week. Other destinations want money from you for something as simple as peeking in the front door (Le Grand Casino, Monte Carlo), sitting down for a few minutes (Las Ramblas, Barcelona), or voiding your bladder (pretty much all of Norway).

Here’s a sampling of some of the world’s best free attractions:

The Kensington High Street Roof Gardens, London

Our previous, exhaustive article on free things to do in London omitted this singular attraction, comprised of three different gardens, covering 1.5 acres. Unfortunately, its popularity means that it’s frequently closed for special events.

Outdoor art, Buenos Aires

BA uniquely has a number of distinctive neighbourhoods and streets known for outdoor artistic expression like La Boca, Caminito and Calle Lanín. Buenos Aires’ official tourism site has several downloadable self-tour maps and itineraries.

St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican

In addition to being one of the planet’s holiest Catholic sites, St Peter’s Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world, capable of holding 60,000 people. It contains works by Michelangelo (notably the dome), Raphael and Bramante among many others.

Smithsonian, Washington DC

The world’s largest museum and research complex offers attractions like the Air and Space Museum, the American History Museum, the Natural History Museum and the National Zoological Park.

US Capitol, Washington DC

Going on a parliamentary tour is usually free. The Capitol is no exception – get your West Wing on with a tour of the United State’s political nerve centre. Be on the lookout for statues of two famous residents per state, plus some of the most stunning, baroque/neoclassical architecture in the nation.

Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris (aka Notre Dame), Paris

One of the world’s great landmarks, Notre Dame took over 200 years to construct, including its (at the time) cutting edge flying buttresses, three spectacular sections of stained glass windows and the unholy 7800 pipe organ. Wretchedly detailed, free English language tours run on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2pm and Saturdays at 2:30pm. Bonus freebie: if you’re in the neighborhood after 6pm on Fridays, or on the first Sunday of the month (or you can prove that you’re under 26 years old), slam several Red Bulls, cross the river and avail yourself of the free entry to the mammoth Louvre Museum.

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

One can find remarkable markets in numerous destinations around the world, but few compare in historical significance and sheer size to Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. Opened in 1461, it’s one of the largest covered markets in the world, comprised of over 58 streets and more than 4,000 shops.

Mosquée Hassan II, Casablanca

Morocco’s largest mosque, and the fifth largest mosque in the world, boasts a glass floor, the world’s tallest minaret and a retractable roof. Non-Muslims may only enter the mosque on guided tours, but everyone is free to wander the grounds.

Central-Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System, Hong Kong

This 800-metre-long, outdoor, covered escalator is the largest system of its kind in the world. Opened in 1993, it carries people up the 135 metres from the Central Business District to the Mid-Levels residential neighborhood.

Parc Güell, Barcelona

Gaudí’s outdoor masterpiece, where the artificial and natural flow seamlessly into each other.

Gateway of India, Mumbai

Stand under the monumental arch that faces Mumbai Harbour and bask in the chaos of touts and laughing kids. A fitting start to a trip to India.

Bahá’í House of Worship (aka Lotus Temple), Delhi

Completed in 1986, the Lotus Temple serves as the Mother Temple of the Indian subcontinent and is famous for its award-winning flowerlike architectural design.

Finally, while crowd-sourcing for this post, I received lots of feedback on non-location specific free things that you could do in any number of destinations around the world. Some of those include:

Bridge walks – the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, the Ponte Vecchio in Florence.
Free ferries – the Buiksloterweg ferry (Amsterdam), Staten Island (New York), Algiers Ferry (New Orleans) and the not-quite-free, but very inexpensive traghetto, aka ‘the poor man’s gondola’, for quick trips across the Grand Canal in Venice (look for the green signs).
Scenic vistas – Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the Grand Canyon, any Tuscan hill town.
Unnatural attractions - the nightly Hong Kong Symphony of Light show, the hourly dancing fountains at the Bellagio, Las Vegas.
Public libraries – for example, the Humanities & Social Sciences Library (part of the New York Public Library)

And then there’s perhaps the best free travel idea of all: the nearly always fascinating pastime of people watching.

What are some of the great no-cost attractions you’ve encountered on your travels?

Further reading: Check out our articles, 20 free attractions in London and 40 free attractions in New York. The Thorn Tree forum also has plenty of great suggestions when it comes to free things.

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Comments

3 June 2011 9:44AM twoweekstotravel Report this comment
I love this list! Am always looking for free sites to hit when traveling, and its one of the reasons why I love going to DC, all those fantastic museums for nothing!
http://twoweekstotravel.com
3 June 2011 10:43AM beckersde Report this comment
The churches in Italy, especially Florence and Rome. Most are free admittance, and many include beautiful Renaissance art.
3 June 2011 12:55PM leahmaria Report this comment
"if you’re in the neighborhood after 6pm on Fridays, or on the first Sunday of the month (or you can prove that you’re under 26 years old)... avail yourself of the free entry to the mammoth Louvre". Not quite true. The after-6pm-on-Friday freebie is only for under 26s (any nationality). Every other day of the week, under 26s only get free entry if they're EU citizens or residents.
3 June 2011 2:12PM ansh_jain_97 Report this comment
Pantheon in Paris and Rome
Best is just a walk around a city. It's an attraction in itself (like Lucern's Old Town and Lake area)
3 June 2011 2:14PM yanniutah69 Report this comment
If you are in Istanbul to see the Grand Bazaar (on the list above) you may as well visit the Blue Mosque, also free.
5 June 2011 2:23AM marcioantonio Report this comment
Almost all churches in Florence charge a fee (average 5 euros) to let you in. Otherwise you'll only have access to a chapel used for prayers and masses. But in Rome it's all for free.
5 June 2011 1:57PM thesuiteworld Report this comment
The best things in life are free, and looking at this list above I have to agree!!! Good stuff :)
7 June 2011 3:09PM dahiyamanisha Report this comment
The first image mouse over says "India Gate" whereas its "Gateway of India".....
14 June 2011 12:36PM sallyoz Report this comment
2 1/2 hours west of Cairns in Far North Queensland, Australia is old mining town called Chillagoe, population 300. There is no charge for walking in some of the ancient aboriginal caves, to looking at 'balancing rocks', for driving to the ruins of an old iron smelter, or for walking and swimming in pristine creeks with natural white marble stones.
14 June 2011 2:30PM ayngaran Report this comment
Waling on the Sydney Harbor Bridge, Darling Harbor Maritime Museum, Old Tram ride in Melbourne
14 June 2011 4:03PM jimbo132 Report this comment
If you are in transit at Singapore airport for 6 or more you can take an excellent FREE city tour, which includes a short boat cruise. Tour times are 0900, 1100, 1300, 1500 and 1600 daily but note that it is a first come, first served basis.
14 June 2011 5:45PM triminx145 Report this comment
local markets - usually interesting insight into local life and often a good place to get bargain gifts and souvenirs :)
15 June 2011 12:02AM caroline6 Report this comment
The Park "El Buen Retiro" in MADRID, beautiful!!!
15 June 2011 12:07AM nowornever Report this comment
the free concert of the philharmonic orchestra once a year ,around end of may in the garden of the schönbrunn Palace in vienna,great classical music , about 40.000 people attending... but still not cramped and easy to listen...
15 June 2011 1:09AM phryne2 Report this comment
Split (Dalmatia) - the old city - set completely within the walls of Roman emperor's (Diocletian) palace.
15 June 2011 2:32AM ksr Report this comment
Don't forget my 'hometown' of St Louis Missouri... 1,300 acres of Forest Park, the St Louis Zoo, the Science Museum, the Gateway Arch, the Art Museum, Grant's Farm, Anheuser-Busch Brewery, the Cathedral Basilica of St Louis (with one of the largest mosaics in the world composed of over 40 million tiles)... all free! And in the summertime the St Louis Muny still offers free seats for it's musical productions.
15 June 2011 4:48AM kathrynfk Report this comment
Entering Istanbul's Grand Bazaar may be free, but to get out of there without spending any money, you must be an individual of impressive fortitude....
(Also, as a San Franciscan, I feel the need to mention that it's free to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge -- an awesome outing on a sunny day, though if you're unlucky and the fog rolls in, you'll barely be able to see your own feet.)
15 June 2011 8:19AM jacquiewhitt Report this comment
Colonial Williamsburg, in Virginia, Colonial Quito & Otavalo Market in Ecuador and Colonial Cusco in Peru are all free to walk around and soak up the ambiance of a different time. Kioska Street in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island is the best "free" place in the Galapagos. Just walking the street is an experience, but if do decide to eat, I recommend "William's" place.
15 June 2011 8:28AM gocanucks Report this comment
Walking/biking/roller blading the sea wall around Stanley Park, Vancouver.
15 June 2011 5:21PM jan_p Report this comment
As a native New Yorker, and for a ride in the "country," I vote for Central Park in midtown Manhattan. When the roadways are closed to traffic, you can bike or skateboard or jog around the entire park from south to north to south, up and down the hills. In several sections, the trees are so thick that you cannot see any buildings.
16 June 2011 1:08AM flojo93 Report this comment
As a native New Yorker, I always tell people that the BEST free thing to do in NYC (and there are tons!) is to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Stop in the middle and read the history of the bridge, or just take in the million dollar view of Manhattan.
16 June 2011 3:55AM headbum Report this comment
There are tons of free events and concerts in LA. Also some fun places to stroll and soak up the scene.
http://brokela.com
20 June 2011 8:04AM jdubyu Report this comment
My job pays peanuts so I’ve become adept at finding the free (or failing that, the cheap). I go to Cardiff occasionally and each time I do I go to Roath Park. It’s right by the (very nice) youth hostel and is a great place to just stroll and chill for a while. There is a small entrance fee for the hot house but hey – heating ain’t cheap in the UK. Now (June) probably sees the gardens at their best.
27 June 2011 12:30PM lovemydogs Report this comment
What? No one's mentioned the Reichstag in Berlin. It's an amazing space, with amazing views and great museum-like info on the history.
29 June 2011 10:51PM bendigo Report this comment
Washington DC - Smithsonians; the Capitol building; Library of Congress and any of the memorials on the National Mall. New York - Staten Island Ferry; Brooklyn Bridge and standing in the middle of Times Square watching the world surge by. Chicago - The Art Institute has free admission for the whole month of February! And on a hot summers day, no matter what country you are in, try to find yourself a Free Beach!
12 July 2011 5:09PM zacharydschroeder Report this comment
Carhenge should definitely be on this list.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_henge
20 July 2011 8:41PM remelila Report this comment
The fabulous Art Institute of Chicago offers free admission on the first and second Wednesday of every month.
20 July 2011 8:42PM remelila Report this comment
Whoops, hit the submit button too fast -- the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne has free admission *every* day.
12 August 2011 8:38PM gmelanzana Report this comment
MOMA free entry on friday from 4pm till 8pm
6 September 2011 9:58PM wmills Report this comment
Magic Fountains in Barcelona -water cascades down from the Palace above and music accompanies the cacophony of light and fountain show - just 300 yards from Placa de Espanya. Romance fills the air at this spot where I proposed to my beautiful wife. We returned this year and it was as great as we remembered it (from 9pm - certain nights only, according to season).
5 January 2012 10:45PM free_sofia_tour Report this comment
There are also a number of free tours all over the world that you can take:
http://freesofiatour.com/blog/free-walking-tours