The Best European Cities for Low-Cost Adventures

Free attractions, museums with no entry fees, and complimentary events: exploring Europe’s iconic cities doesn’t have to break the bank. From awe-inspiring historical landmarks to rich cultural experiences and scenic tours, many European destinations boast a variety of free activities for travellers to enjoy.

Holidu, the booking portal for holiday homes, has analysed the 50 most popular cities in Europe where you can make the most of your trip without spending a penny.

1. London, England

 96 Free Museums // 1222 Free events // 79 Free guided city tours

London is the number one city to enjoy for free. You can immerse yourself in this vibrant atmosphere without spending a lot of money, where more than 1,200 free events and 79 free guided tours of the city can be found – from exciting concerts to comedy shows and admission-free disco nights. Here are some free sights to see:

• Natural History Museum
• Westminster Cathedral
• Horizon 22 observation platform

2. Paris, France

30 Free Museums // 685 Free events // 94 Free guided city tours

In second place is Paris. Here you can visit a total of 30 museums, accessible free of charge all year round. On the first Sunday of every month, even more museums open their doors to visitors. This is the busiest day, but with over 690 free attractions, 685 free events and 94 guided tours, there are plenty of opportunities to get to know the city on other less busy days and save money. Find out for free:

• Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral
• The Champs-Elysees boulevard
• The public square ‘Le Trocadero et son esplanade’ with a view of the Eiffel Tower
• The Petit Palais exhibition centre

3. Madrid, Spain

31 Free Museums // 227 Free events // 176 Free guided city tours

Madrid is third in the ranking. This vibrant capital offers a wide variety of free guided tours that will bring you closer to the city in different ways. With a total of 176 offers, every visitor will find the right guide for their interests. Whether you’re interested in gastronomy, art or history, or fancy a tour guided by a local quiz, there’s something for everyone in Madrid. The variety of tours is particularly impressive, including special offers such as Black History tours. The volunteer guides not only have in-depth knowledge and local expertise but above all a passion for their city. What you can visit on a budget:

• Retiro Park
• Cibeles Square
• Matadero de Madrid Museum
• Juan March Foundation Cultural Centre

4. Rome, Italy

33 Free Museums // 82 Free events // 80 Free guided city tours

From ancient ruins to vibrant squares, Rome offers a world of free wonders. In fourth place in the ranking, you can count on more than 30 free museums and more than 80 free events, too. Stroll around the Roman Forum or relax in the Villa Borghese Gardens. Immerse yourself in history at the Trevi Fountain and the Stairs of Piazza di Spagna, or discover hidden gems like Trastevere. With countless free attractions, Rome is a city where every corner holds a surprise. So get your walking shoes ready and get ready to explore this iconic city without spending too much! Discover these places for free:

• Piazza del Popolo
• Trevi Fountain
• Museu Boncompagni Ludovisi de Artes Decorativas

5. Barcelona, Spain

14 Free Museums // 205 Free events // 164 Free guided city tours

In the middle of the ranking, we have Barcelona. Here, you can find 14 free museums and 205 free events, too. For a taste of the local culture, stroll along La Rambla, a bustling pedestrianised street lined with shops, cafés and street performers. Immerse yourself in art at the Palau de la Virreina, or simply relax in Ciutadella Park, a green oasis with a zoo, a lake and a botanical garden. Enjoy free festivals and events all year round, from the vibrant Festa de la Mercè to the lively Barcelona International Jazz Festival. Take a free cultural tour of these places:

• Palau de la Virreina
• Castell de Montjuïc – Free entry from 3pm
• MNAC (National Art Museum of Catalonia). Free entry on Saturdays from 3pm. Free admission on the first Sunday of the month.

Who completes the top 10?

6. Milan, Italy // 17 Free Museums // 670 Free events // 34 Free guided city tours

7. Amsterdam, The Netherlands // 18 Free Museums // 721 Free events // 49 Free guided city tours

8. Prague, Czech Republic // 15 Free Museums // 59 Free events // 134 Free guided city tours

9. Lisbon, Portugal // 15 Free museums // 81 Free events // 140 Free guided city tours

10. Berlin, Germany // 35 Free Museums // 419 Free events // 28 Free guided city tours

5 tips to save even more during your stay in town:

• Take a bottle of water with you! Especially in city centres, bottled water from kiosks is often prohibitively expensive. However, tap water is generally drinkable in most European cities, so you can save a lot of money.
• Plan your trip wisely! Before and after the holidays, as well as during school holidays, accommodation is often more expensive than at other times. If you’re not dependent on school holidays, it’s best to travel in the low season to save on your holiday budget.
• Take public transport! Taxis can be quite expensive, even for short distances, whereas most major European cities are well served by bus and train. Another great alternative is bike hire, which lets you explore the city at a lower cost.
• Check out local eateries on social networks! In preparation for your trip, you can look on Instagram or TikTok for publications where locals share cheap and good-quality restaurants, cafés, bars or other eateries – don’t forget to save them!
• Stay in the EU! With EU data roaming, you can continue to use your mobile data as you normally do at home, without fear of high roaming charges. EU data roaming is valid in all European Union countries, as well as Liechtenstein, Norway, and Iceland. Be careful in the UK, Switzerland and Turkey, where you can’t use your mobile data as easily.

Methodology

The aim of the study was to determine a ranking of European cities according to their free offer for tourists. The 30 most popular cities in Europe in 2023 were selected (according to Euromonitor’s Top 100 Destinations 2023). All data on annual tourist arrivals was obtained from various sources, such as local tourism organisations or media coverage. The selected cities were then analysed for their free offer in the following four categories:

1. Free museums. The total number of museums that are free to all visitors on all opening days. Museums that are only free on selected days or for selected visitors, such as children, were not analysed. The tourism platform Tripadvisor was used for the research.

2. Free tourist attractions. The total number of tourist attractions that can be visited or viewed free of charge and without paying an entrance fee. Attractions include landmarks, places worth seeing, buildings, monuments and churches, parks and gardens, viewpoints and other places attractive to tourists. Museums were excluded. The tourism platform Tripadvisor was used for the research.

3. Free events. General and quantitative information on one-off or recurring events, such as concerts, theatre plays, comedy shows, etc., which the public can attend free of charge and without paying admission (for some, prior registration may be required). The results presented take into account all events in the month of March 2024, which was selected as a proxy. Only leisure events were selected. Professional and business events were excluded. The Eventbrite events platform was used for the research.

4. Free guided tours of the city. General and quantitative information on guided tours of the city, one-off or recurring, which can be taken free of charge. Guided tours may cover specific themes and prior registration may be required. As a general rule, the guide is expected to be tipped at the end of the tour. The amount of the tip is determined by the participant. The results presented take into account all the guided tours of all themes offered in the month of March 2024, which was selected as the representative month. Free Tour, a platform for free city tours, was used for the research.

A statistical method using a points system was used to calculate the ranking. The more offers in the respective category, the more points were awarded to the corresponding city. Between 0 and 100 points were awarded for each category. The city that received the most points in total came first in the ranking of the best destinations for little money. All categories and results were carefully researched and checked for plausibility. All data refers to the time of the survey. The survey was carried out in February 2024.