So, you have a holiday planned and your budget is pretty tight. Well don’t worry because the great thing about cities is the abundance of things to do – many of which don’t cost a penny. If you find yourself needing to stick to a strict budget, here are just 4 of the free things you can do in every city!
Just walk
There’s no denying that great public transport links in cities can be a godsend but if you have ample time to explore, taking the time to walk everywhere is one of the best things you can do. Firstly, you’ll instantly save money on taxi fares and the views are guaranteed to be better than the inside of a train tunnel. In many European cities in particular, the major tourist attractions are within walking distance of each other and who knows, you might just come across an unexpected hidden gem along the way.
Check out a museum
Come a rainy day, I fall in love with museums. While some charge admission, you should be able to find some in each city that are completely free of charge. Same goes for art galleries! Plus, many paid attractions have selected days where admission is free or discounted: for example, the Louvre in Paris is free to visit on the first Sunday of every month. Even better are the numerous attractions that give you free entry with an EU passport if you’re under 26 – make the most of it while you can fellow UK citizens….
Festivals
If you’re really organised, planning a trip to a city at the same time as a national holiday can be a fantastic way to see your chosen city at its very best. Thanksgiving in New York, Day of the Dead in Mexico and Mardi Gras in New Orleans instantly spring to mind as celebrations that I’d love to experience one day.
Take it in
Along the same lines of walking around each place getting to know it, spending time relaxing outdoors is free and incredibly fun – especially in the summer months! Most cities have beautiful public parks for you to walk, jog or just sit taking in the atmosphere and culture. I find that I instantly feel more at home when I visit a beautiful park in a new place. And if you’re lucky enough, hit the beach! Even on a breezy New Years break in Barcelona, wrapping up warm and sitting on the beach was brilliant and didn’t cost a penny.
Any other ideas to add? Leave them in the comments below!
Laura x
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