City breaks can be super-pricey when you factor in the cost of flights, accommodation, eating out and so on. Luckily, Europe is brimming with incredible destinations that offer an abundance of fascinating museums, awesome events and unforgettable guided tours that won't set you back a thing, freeing up funds for those all-important essentials. To save you the hassle, holiday home booking portal Holidu has analysed the continent's 29 most popular cities to uncover the ultimate destinations for gratis experiences.
Read on as we reveal which European cities have the most free attractions...
From the Turkish to the French Riviera, Nice offers four free museums, an impressive 93 gratis events and 12 guided city tours that don't cost a euro cent. Holidu has left out two free-of-charge museums in its round-up, though they could be considered art galleries. There are actually six to choose from if the Villa Arson Centre of Contemporary Art and Asian Arts Museum are included. The vast number of free events in the Provençal city range from concerts and music festivals to theatre shows.
Freebies in the Swedish capital include 11 museums, 32 events and 12 guided city tours. The top gratis museums are the City Museum, National Sports Museum, Accelerator and the Living History Forum. The Stockholm Culture Festival in August and the summertime Parkteatern outdoor theatre festival are among the best free events. Companies that put on free walking tours of historic Gamla Stan, hip Södermalm and more include Rainbow Tours Stockholm and Nordic Freedom Tours. It's important to point out though that while many city tours are advertised as free, tips are usually expected.
Holidu has identified seven free museums, 17 gratis events and as many as 36 complimentary guided city tours in Palma de Mallorca. You can admire artworks by Picasso and other renowned artists for zilch at the Juan March Foundation Museum of Spanish Contemporary Art. Other free museums include the Military History Museum of the Balearic Islands. There are plenty of free fiestas, exhibitions and other events in Palma and the city council as well as a slew of private companies put on free guided tours.
Copenhagen features in Guinness World Records as the most expensive city in the world for a weekend break. Fortunately, the Danish capital has five museums, 64 events and 19 guided city tours that don't cost a krone, according to Holidu. Highlights include the city's Open Air Museum, Visit Carlsberg, the David Collection, the Bloom Science and Nature Festival in May and the humorous Politically Incorrect Tours.
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Zurich isn't the cheapest city for a getaway either. But its eight free museums, 280 gratis events and two complimentary city tours can help you get the most out of your visit without breaking the bank. The most noteworthy freebies include the city's Old Botanical Garden, the Migros Museum of Contemporary Art, the Archeological Museum of the University of Zurich, the gratis river swimming pools and the electronic music Street Parade in August, which is billed as the world's largest techno party.
Frankfurt offers five free museums, 262 complimentary events and nine guided city tours that cost nothing, as per Holidu. The best free attractions include the Kobelt Zoo, the Frankfurt Museum of Applied Art and Klassikart, a gallery showcasing vintage cars. Among the free events, the spring and autumn Dippemess folk festival is a standout. Firms that provide complimentary guided tours of the city include Free Tour Frankfurt and Viva's Tour.
Warsaw has five free museums, nine events and a not too shabby 48 complimentary guided city tours. Topping the list of free museums in the Polish capital is the Copernicus Science Centre, which features over 450 interactive exhibits. You can enjoy freebie summer Chopin concerts and outdoor cinema in the Royal Łazienki Park and jazz in the Old Town. Orange Umbrella Warsaw and Walkative! Tours are just two of the many companies that offer free guided tours of the city.
In terms of freebies, Munich offers four museums, 244 events and 20 guided city tours according to Holidu. The dinosaur-heavy Paleontological Museum, Motorworld Munich and the Sammlung Goetz gallery of contemporary art are some of the gratis museums and art galleries worth checking out, while the best free summer festivals include backstage at the Free & Easy festival, the Isarinselfest on Steindorfstrasse and Isarflux in the Gasteig. Walkative! Tours also operates in the Bavarian city.
Valencia has 12 free museums, which is pretty impressive for a city of its size, as well as 66 gratis events and 53 guided tours that cost nada. In addition to fiestas and other events such as the unmissable Las Fallas in March, you can enjoy the Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia for free. Spain's second largest art gallery, it features prized works by the likes of Goya, Velázquez and El Greco. Other museums and art galleries with free entry include the Military Museum of Valencia and the Municipal Historical Museum housed in the Town Hall.
Vienna's free offerings are 10 museums, 165 events and 28 guided city tours. Among the gratis museums are the Wien Museum on Karlsplatz, the Circus and Clown Museum, and the city's Peace Museum. When it comes to events, the Donauinselfest is number one. Europe's biggest free open-air music festival, it takes place in June. Other notable free events include the summertime Rathaus Film Festival.
Istanbul has 12 free museums (though not all the time), 11 events and 63 guided city tours. The Hagia Sophia now charges tourists an entry fee but you can still visit the Blue Mosque for free. Museums and art galleries offering free entry include Istanbul Modern, Türkiye's first museum of modern and contemporary art, which is gratis on Thursdays, as well as the Pera Museum – it offers free admission on Friday evenings. Top free tours include those offered by Walking Guides, a group of local experts who work with History Travel.
The Irish capital has a total of 28 free museums, 19 events and 36 guided city tours. Dublin outshines many cities when it comes to gratis museums and art galleries. Unlike other destinations, its top museums and galleries offer free entry including the National Museum of Ireland, the National Gallery of Ireland and the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Free events-wise, you don't want to miss the city's annual St Patrick's Day Parade, the Dublin Book Festival in November, which offers numerous free events, and August's Smithfield Fleadh, a two-day outdoor celebration of Irish traditional music.
Seville's freebie count consists of 11 museums, 49 events and 94 guided city tours. Gratis museums include the engrossing General Archive of the Indies and the Casa de Murillo, the former home of the Andalusian city's most famous artist. Other museums are free on certain days, while the Museum of Fine Arts of Seville is only free for EU nationals. The April Fair is the city's top series of free events but you can enjoy free street flamenco performances and other shows all year-round. In terms of walking tours, Free Tours Seville is apparently the leading firm in the city providing complimentary tours.
Budapest offers eight free museums, 11 events and 91 guided city tours, almost as many as Seville. Museums that charge nothing for entry include the city's Geological Museum and the House of Royal Wines and Cellar Museum. Free events range from open-air summer concerts to the Budapest Fireworks Show every 20 August, which is Europe's largest and most jaw-dropping display. Among the companies that provide free walking tours are Go Zeppelin Tours and Luna Tours Budapest.
The Scottish capital has 28 free museums, 300 events and 14 guided city tours. The list of free museums, art galleries and other attractions is stellar. It includes the National Museum of Scotland, Royal Botanic Garden, Scottish National Art Gallery and Museum of Edinburgh. If it's complimentary events you're after, make sure you visit in August when the Free Fringe Festival takes place. It offers hundreds of gratis events, from stand-up comedy and cabaret to music, dance and theatre.
Florence's free round-up comprises 16 museums, 337 events and 24 guided city tours according to Holidu. Most museums and art galleries in the medieval city have an entry fee for adults but this is waived on the first Sunday of the month. Some are free all the time such as the three Medici Villas. Gratis events include regular free outdoor concerts in Florence's public squares, and you can even enjoy complimentary lasagna and watermelon along with the pageantry during the Feast of San Lorenzo on Piazza San Lorenzo every 10 August.
Athens has 12 gratis museums, the same number of free events and 115 complimentary guided city tours. The Acropolis, Athens' main draw, is free for all visitors on certain days of the year. Other attractions that are free all the time include the Museum of Engravings and Graphic Arts, the Hellenic Children's Museum and the Design Museum of the 20th Century. It's a good idea to visit the Greek capital in May when it holds the Athens City Festival, which offers a number of free events. Among the many companies offering complimentary tours are Athens Free Tour, Athens Walking Tours and Become Greek on Foot.
Venice's free round-up consists of 21 museums, 359 events and 37 guided city tours. A number of museums offer free entry on the first Sunday of the month. Those that are permanently free include the floating city's Museum of Music and Murano Glass Museum. If you visit during the famous Carnival and Biennial, you can expect to be regaled with a host of freebie street performances. As for tours, companies including ITAKA Tours and Venice Walking Tour will show you the city for nothing, though as we've mentioned, a tip may be expected.
Brussels has only three free museums as per Holidu, but it appears a zero has been left off the figure since the true number is around 30 according to Brussels Museums. They include the House of European History and the Marc Sleen Museum. The Belgian capital really shines when it comes to freebie events. At 915, only one other (much larger) European city holds more. On offer is everything from festivals to parades and flower shows. There are oodles of free guided tours available in the city too, 37 in total, provided by firms such as Belgo Tours.
The German capital offers 35 free museums, 419 events and 28 guided city tours. Must-visit free museums include the Berlin Jewish Museum, the Futurium, the Youth Museum and the Museum of Silence. In terms of gratis events, the city-wide Festival of Music on 21 June and August's Rave the Planet Parade are musts, as is the Carnival of Cultures in May. Firms providing free tours of Berlin include Walkative! Tours and Can You Handle It Tours.
Lisbon's freebie count comprises 15 museums, 81 events and 140 guided city tours. Among the city's free museums are the Museum of Design and Fashion, the Money Museum that ironically costs no money to enter, the National Sports Museum and the Electricity Museum. The best gratis events in the city include the Lisbon Carnival in February and the Out Jazz concerts that take place during the summer months. A multitude of firms such as Tours of My Life and Discover Lisbon provide free walking tours.
Prague has 15 free museums, 59 events and 134 guided city tours, though its infamous late-night pub crawls were recently banned. Free attractions include the Wallenstein Palace Gardens and Prague Aviation Museum, but many museums offer free entry on certain days of the year. Complimentary events range from the United Islands of Prague music festival in May to street food showcases and stand-up comedy shows. For city tours, Discover Prague Tours and Prague Pulse tours are among the firms that offer freebies, but participants are usually expected to give the guide a generous tip.
Amsterdam's array of freebies comprise 18 museums, 721 events and 49 guided city tours offered by companies like FreeDam Tours. Gratis attractions include the Rijksmuseum Schiphol in the city's airport, the Amsterdam City Archives and the quirky Mouse Museum. When it comes to free events, the Dutch capital's wintertime Light Festival, the King's Day celebrations in April and June's Holland Festival are essential experiences.
Italy's fashion capital offers 17 free museums, 670 events and 24 guided city tours according to Holidu. The Palazzo Morando, the Museum of Cultures and the Costume Fashion Image, Palazzo Moriggia are some of the museums that don't charge an entry fee. Free events worth scheduling your trip to coincide with include the live opera broadcasts offered during the Prima della Scala every 7 December and the Piano City Milan music festival in May.
Barcelona has 14 gratis museums, 205 events and 164 guided city tours. Many museums and other attractions in the city offer free entry on certain days. Those that are free all the time include the Temple of Augustus, the El Born Cultural & Memorial Centre and the unrestricted part of the Gaudí-designed Park Güell. Free events include the Easter Week parades, Pride in June and July, various neighbourhood fiestas all through the summer months and the La Mercè festival in September, which culminates in a spectacular fireworks display.
Rome's free round-up comprises 33 museums, 82 events and 80 guided city tours. The gratis museums are wonderfully diverse, ranging from classical art museums to those devoted to science and technology. Simply strolling around the Eternal City is a freebie feast for the senses, but Rome has more than its fair share of complimentary events too, including concerts in the church of Santa Cecilia, open-air jazz and enticing food festivals. And if you prefer your walks to come with a free guide, look no further than firms such as Walkative! Tours, Next Step Tours and What About Tours.
Madrid offers 31 free museums, 227 events and a bewildering 176 guided city tours, more than any other European city. Gratis walks include historic discovery tours, arty adventures, tapas bar crawls and creepy ghost tours. The Spanish capital's top museums and art galleries such as the Prado and Reina Sofía are free on certain days, while some such as the Madrid History Museum and Naval Museum have complimentary entry at all times. Among the free events are many of the city's plethora of fiestas.
The second-best European city for freebies, Paris has 30 gratis museums, 685 events and 94 guided city tours. Many of the city's finest museums and art galleries such as the Louvre and Pompidou Centre are free on certain days at certain times, while others such as the Édith Piaf Museum are always free. Paris has a diverse calendar of complimentary events. They include the Traversée de Paris vintage vehicle parade in January, the Festival of Music in June and Bastille Day fireworks on 14 July.
Budget-minded visitors are truly spoilt for choice in London with an incredible 96 free museums, 1,222 events and 79 guided tours to pick from. The city is hands-down Europe's free attraction champion. Many of the UK capital's world-class museums and art galleries charge zero entry fees, including the British Museum, the V&A, the National Gallery, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum. London's top free events range from the New Year's Day Parade to Pride in June and August's Notting Hill Carnival. London with a Local and Strawberry Tours are among the firms providing free tours of the city.
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