The world is filled with incredible destinations, from ancient landmarks to natural wonders, but ticking off every item on your global bucket-list can quickly take a toll on your finances. The good news? You don’t have to sacrifice your dream destinations to stick to your budget.
Click through this gallery to discover 30 luxury bucket-list attractions – and how to experience them on a budget...
The Empire State Building is a favoured place to drink in the Big Apple’s skyline, but a trip to its observation deck doesn’t come cheap. You can save if you’re content to take in the views from the 86th floor (Main Deck), rather than the 106th floor (Top Deck) – prices for the former begin at £33 ($44), while they start at £60 ($79) for the latter. You could save even more by purchasing a CityPass for £110 ($146) which includes admission to the Empire State Building and four more iconic NYC attractions – American Museum of Natural History, 9/11 Memorial & Museum and Statue of Liberty.
Trekking is essentially just glorified walking, and can be a very cheap activity. Meanwhile, the cost of living in Tanzania is pretty cheap. However, it still costs a lot of money to climb Kilimanjaro. A decent trek will, in all honesty, cost a minimum of £1,500 ($2,000) per person. Luckily, you can knock that down by travelling directly to Tanzania and negotiating with various agencies, joining a group and opting for the cheapest route (Marangu or Machame) and doing the shortest number of days (five).
Flights to Athens may not come cheap – especially if you're travelling from the US, but there are ways to bring down costs once you arrive. The Acropolis is probably top of your list, and you'll most likely want to visit some of the city’s other ancient sites, from the Ancient Agora to Hadrian’s Library. If that's the case, it’s well worth buying the Combo Ticket made available by the Greek Ministry of Culture: it costs around £30 ($40) and grants access to seven sites, including those mentioned, and is valid for five days after your first entrance.
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A standard ticket for The Shard’s observation deck, The View from the Shard, will set you back at least £28.50 ($37) – and the cost increases depending on the date. Want to add on a glass of bubbly? That’s another £16.50 ($21). The viewing platform is the highest in London, so its appeal is understandable, but there’s a way to enjoy The Shard’s vistas for less. Opt for a trip to Aqua Shard, a swanky bar and restaurant on level 31 – you’ll get jaw-dropping views of the capital for the price of a nightcap.
A cruise across the Grand Canal in a gondola is a romantic notion, particularly at sunset, and especially with a serenade thrown in. But, in reality, this experience is eye-wateringly expensive: a private 30-minute gondola tour will set you back around £75 ($100) during the day, and £90 ($122) for 35 minutes at night. If you’re on a budget, hop on a traghetto instead – these larger gondola 'ferries' carry multiple passengers at once, and can whisk you across the Grand Canal for less than £2 ($2.20).
You’re never far away from a masterpiece by architect Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona – his feats range from colourful Park Guell to the spires of the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia. But entry to the latter alone will set you back around £23 ($31). Instead, admire this jewel from outside, where it’s arguably more impressive, along with other great buildings like Casa Batllo. If you’ve got your heart set on venturing inside, it might be worth paying £70 ($94) for the Barcelona City Pass: it includes fast-track entry to both Sagrada Familia and Park Guell, plus discounts on top attractions and more.
When planning a trip to Machu Picchu, the great Inca citadel in Peru, many will opt for the Inca Trail – the hiking route is the favoured way to reach the ruins, but it’s also the priciest. You’re unable to make this lengthy trek independently, and a reputable tour operator will likely charge upwards of £450 ($594), and more in the high season. However, if you're willing to compromise, routes like the Salkantay Trek or Inca Jungle Trek are considerably cheaper, and start as low as £150 ($200), which also includes your entry to Machu Picchu.
A glimpse of Lady Liberty is a bucket-list item for most visitors to the Big Apple, and there’s a way you can see her for no charge at all. A ferry to Liberty Island will cost adults £19 ($25), plus 20 pence (30 cents) more if you want to ascend to the statue’s crown. But, for no dollars at all, you can hop aboard the free Staten Island Ferry. It travels from the Whitehall Terminal (or South Ferry) in Lower Manhattan to the St George Terminal on Staten Island, granting passengers fabulous views of the Statue of Liberty on the way.
The London Eye has been showcasing the Big Smoke’s skyline since 2000, and prices start from £29 ($37) online – you’ll pay £42 ($53) if you buy your tickets on the day. But if you’re making your way to the Eye using Britain’s train service National Rail, you can save yourself some money. National Rail Days Out offers two-for-one entry at top London attractions, including the wheel, when you’ve travelled via train. If that’s not you, but you’re staying for an extended period, a London Eye Combination Ticket, which grants access to other attractions too, could be cost-effective.
Even a single day at one of Disney’s parks can be excruciatingly expensive – but there are ways you can trim down costs. Firstly, make sure you book your tickets online in advance, rather than picking them up at the gate. You can also save money by booking accommodation and eating at restaurants outside of park limits, like on International Drive. To avoid photo queues and to get a more personal experience, pre-book a Character Dinner Reservation; breakfast is the cheapest option.
Victoria Peak, better known as The Peak, is the highest bluff in Hong Kong, affording fabulous views and attracting millions of visitors per year. While most choose to ride the famous Peak Tram to the summit, there is a cheaper way to make the journey. There are several bus routes that wind their way from the city up to the famous hill – the cheapest of these is just £1 ($1.30), compared with £11 ($15) for a single tram ticket. Alternatively, you could tackle the 1.5-hour hike from MTR Central Station to The Peak Tower.
This juggernaut in Dubai is the world’s tallest building and visiting its lofty viewing platform can be an expensive experience indeed – ‘At the Top’ tickets for the 148th floor begin at £82 ($108). You’ll save some pennies if you stick to levels 124 and 125 (which are still sky high), for which ticket prices start at £36 ($47). Or, for even less, you could drink in both a craft cocktail and Dubai’s incredible skyline at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel and its Level 43 Sky Lounge.
A ticket to France’s most famous museum, home to Leonardo da Vinci’s enigmatic Mona Lisa, will cost you around £19 ($22). But those under 18 can enter for free, as well as those under 26 who are residents of the European Economic Area (EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein). The Louvre also offers free entry to all visitors on 14 July, but prepare for even longer queues.
Many travellers choose to gaze upon Turkey’s Cappadocia region from the skies, but you’ll save money if you stay on the ground. A hot air balloon ride over the landscape, with its whimsically warped rock and 'fairy chimneys', will cost you between £75 and £130 ($87 to $150) per person. If you prefer to save, exploring the region from the ground is a more affordable option. A Cappadocia E-pass can be purchased for around £16 ($22), granting you access to key attractions like the Goreme Open Air Museum, where you can admire Cappadocia's famous rock formations and get a front row seat to those balloons drifting by.
For a budget-friendly way to explore the Great Barrier Reef, a Low Isles tour is ideal. Located approximately 10 miles (16km) from Port Douglas, the 55-acre reef offers calm, shallow waters, perfect for families and beginner snorkellers. Prices for a half-day trip range from £80 to £120 ($105 to $150) compared to pricier outer reef tours, which can cost more than £200 ($250).
The last survivor of the world's seven ancient wonders is a sight to behold. Combine that with cruising down the famed Nile River and a visit to the ancient Valley of the Kings, and you have an itinerary that is more than bucket-list worthy. And if you're happy with seeing the Pyramids and Sphinx from outside, it costs just £3.75 ($5) for adults.
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The Big Apple has some incredible museums, but many of them charge an entrance fee – however, a fair few also offer free days at some point during the week or month. Swing by the revered The Guggenheim on Mondays and Saturdays between 4pm and 5.30pm for their ‘pay-what-you-wish’ entrance. The suggested contribution is £8 ($10), and minimum is 80p ($1). Of course, they are popular times to visit, so expect to queue.
Many US National Parks charge an admission fee, and the Grand Canyon, which is high on many a bucket-list, is one of them. However, if you visit on a handful of national holidays and milestones (including the National Park Service’s birthday and Veterans Day) you’ll be able to enter the Grand Canyon, and all other sites in the National Park Service system, for free. Be aware, though, that waived entry fees means sites are likely to be busier than normal, and charges may still apply for campgrounds, guided tours etc.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb is a popular attraction, but it can be pricey depending on the time and type of climb. The Summit Climb, which takes you 440 feet (134m) above the harbour, starts at around £150 ($185) and involves ascending 1,332 steps over the course of 3.5 hours. If you're looking to save, there’s a free pedestrian walkway on the eastern side of the bridge offering excellent views of the harbour. Another cost-effective option is to enjoy the views from The Opera Bar at the Sydney Opera House, where you can relax with a drink while soaking in the iconic scenery.
Chichen Itza, a sprawling Maya city, is a top attraction in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. When visiting the site, many travellers feel the need to shell out on pricey all-inclusive tours, but an independent visit to the site is perfectly doable. The price of a hire car, the admission charge of £24 ($31) and a local guide on arrival is likely to be significantly less than a package tour, and it also means you can explore the ancient wonder at your own pace. Make time to slip away for a cheap and delicious lunch in nearby Piste too.
One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Colosseum is an enduring symbol of the Roman Empire and the Eternal City’s rich history. The Herculean structure is actually at its most impressive from the outside, and it doesn’t cost a thing to admire the age-old amphitheatre from the street. However, if you do want to explore inside, where bloody gladiatorial battles were once fought, and where Roman emperors once walked, it’s £15 ($20) for a ticket that includes entrance to the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and Imperial Forum too.
There are a few different ways to get up to the Christ the Redeemer statue perched atop Corcovado mountain in the buzzy city of Rio. The most popular way is by cog train – in the high season, this costs around £13 ($17). However, if you want to preserve some of your budget, it’s free to hike up the mountain instead – the main trail, which spools out from Parque Lage slicing through lush forest, is pretty steep and strenuous, but completely worth it. You’ll still need to pay a very small admission charge to enter the monument site itself.
One of North America’s most famed natural wonders, Niagara straddles the USA and Canada – and it’s possible to visit the trio of waterfalls for no charge at all. Skip the paid attractions, which include the Maid of the Mist boat tour and the Cave of the Winds, and content yourself with simply taking in views of the falls and hiking around the State Park.
You can’t go to India without seeing its most famous monument. There are many ways to get from Delhi to Agra cheaply and safely, usually by bus or train. The best time to see the Taj Mahal is at sunrise, when it is less crowded. To enter the UNESCO World Heritage Site, it costs foreigners around £11 ($13), and all tickets include a pair of shoe covers (needed to enter the mausoleum) and a bottle of water. There is free entrance available on certain public holidays throughout the year.
You might not know that St Peter’s Basilica – the magnificent church within the Vatican City, designed in part by Michelangelo – is completely free to enter, though you’ll need to stand in line a while. The Vatican Museums, on the other hand, do charge an admission fee, and a full-entry ticket costs £16.50 ($22). However, on the last Sunday of the month (9am to 2pm), the admission fee is waived. The free entry really draws the crowds, so it’s worth considering whether the saving is worth it for you – if it is, come by as early as you can.
Given Petra’s beauty and heritage, it’s little wonder that it has been named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. If you’re coming from the UK or the USA, a trip to this fabled city, with its rose hue and rock-hewn architecture, is unlikely to be cheap – but there are ways to cut costs. A one-day Jordan Pass offers significant savings, with the cheapest option costing £74 ($97) and granting day access to Petra, plus over 40 other sites including Wadi Rum. If you book your pass before arrival to Jordan and stay for a minimum of three nights, you won’t need to pay any tourist entry visa fees either.
If you’re heading to the City of Love, its famous tower will no doubt be in your sights. Hordes of tourists come each year to picnic in its wake, or gaze up at its great expanse – and both of these activities are completely free. However, if you’re planning to scale the tower, we’ve got a money-saving hack. You’ll get the cheapest available tickets if you eschew the very top in favour of the second floor (which still offers great views), and if you reach this via the stairs rather than the elevator. This option will cost you £12 ($16) compared with £27 ($37) to travel to the top via two lifts.
St Paul’s Cathedral as we know it has been an iconic part of London's skyline since the 17th century, and it still attracts visitors from all over the world. If you want a St Paul’s sightseeing ticket, you’ll need to pay £25 ($33) online. This will grant you access to the crypt, the cathedral floor and the dome’s galleries (the Whispering Gallery has now reopened). However, there’s no charge if you want to visit as a worshipper and attend a service: you’ll not be able to explore the building, but you’ll certainly still experience the cathedral’s grandeur.
One of the most famous art museums in the world, Madrid’s Museo Nacional del Prado is home to huge stores of work from artists such as Velazquez and Rubens. A general ticket bought online will cost you £12 ($16), but if you’re happy to visit in the evening, you can enter for free. The Prado grants complimentary entry from 6pm–8pm Monday through to Saturday and from 5pm–7pm on Sundays and holidays.
Many don't realise that all tours of this Presidential abode are free – although they do require some advance planning. If you're an international visitor and want to schedule a tour, you’ll need to contact your home country’s embassy in Washington. The 45-minute self-guided tours run between 8am and 12.30pm, and you can see the public rooms in the East Wing, the State Dining Room, the China Room and a view of the Rose Garden. If you just want to see the White House’s famous exterior (albeit from a distance), you can see it from Pennsylvania Ave NW or the National Mall.
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