Who says you need deep pockets to travel the world? This list of free things to do in 10 cities will help keep your travels refreshingly light on your wallet.
London, England
Head down to Buckingham Palace early to get a prime viewing spot for the Changing of the Guard, which occurs at 11:30 a.m. every other morning during the winter and every morning in the summer.
Barcelona, Spain
Soak in the lavish architecture of Antoni Gaudi during a free walking tour of his famous works with Runner Bean Tours. If you’re a fan of things that go bump in the night, Runner Bean also offers a Haunted Past tour after dark.
Orlando, Fla., United States
If a Disney World vacation isn’t in your budget, you can still experience the Mickey Mouse magic on Disney’s Boardwalk. Take a quaint stroll along the waterfront and enjoy the free street performances from magicians and musicians.
Lima, Peru
Stroll through Barranco, a bohemian neighborhood filled with cafes, parks and laid-back attitude. Take a walk across the Bridge of Sighs for ocean views off Barranco’s cliffs.
Las Vegas, Nev., United States
Cruise the Strip to take in the free shows at several casinos, including trapeze artists and jugglers at Circus Circus, a pirate battle during “Sirens of TI” at Treasure Island, the “Fall of Atlantis” at Caesar’s Palace and the iconic fountain show at Bellagio.
Dublin, Ireland
Spend a day or two exploring the wealth of Dublin museums with free admission, including the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the National Museum of Ireland, which has three Dublin locations.
New York, N.Y., United States
At the famed Central Park, you can take in free performances, pay respect to John Lennon at Strawberry Fields and the “Imagine” mosaic and enjoy a bit of quiet time in the park’s Conservatory Garden.
Bangkok, Thailand
Several of Bangkok’s Buddhist temples are free to visit, including the Temple of the Golden Mount (Wat Saket), Wat Pathum Wanaram and Wat Ratchanatdaram, home to the metal castle of Loha Prasat.
Paris, France
Get a taste for the architecture and religious history of Paris at Sacre-Coeur Basilica in Montmartre and Notre Dame Cathedral, both free to enter.
San Francisco, Calif., United States
Explore one of San Francisco’s famed landmarks by foot by walking across the Golden Gate Bridge, which spans 1.7 miles. Before or after your walk, stop by the Bridge Pavilion for a look at the bridge’s history and other factoids.
(Main image: 4nitsirk used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)
