Luckily, Stockholm’s museums continue to draw crowds, even if those crowds now have to pay to get in. The Stockholm tourist board boasts that the city has over 70 museums, and for the Cheapos out there, some are still free to the public. Many museums offer free entry to children, which tends to be anyone under the age of 19. (Just be sure to ask before you waltz in.) Others offer discounts for students and retirees. Still, others open their doors free to the public for a few hours every week.

Related: 5 budget tips for keeping things cheap in Stockholm

Our top Stockholm free museums

Here’s a quick rundown of ten museums in Stockholm that are easily reachable by bus or subway. All ten are free to the public no matter your age or the day for that matter. So check-in at one of our favorite hotels and start exploring:

1. Dance Museum (Dansmuseet)

The Museum for the Performing and Visual Arts focuses on dance and theater from various cultures; they even offer live performances at times. Check the upcoming calendar for the latest events.

2. The Living History Museum (Forum för Levande Historia)

This living history museum provides a haunting look at crimes against humanity (the Holocaust for example) that aims to remind people of the past in order to avoid such events in the future.

3. Färgfabriken

This space is a gallery that works with contemporary art of various forms. Färgfabriken offers plenty of exhibitions as well as workshops for those interested in getting their hands dirty.

4. Haga parkmuseum

Quite a distance from the city center, the Haga parkmuseum describes the history and architecture of the surrounding park. The park itself is beautiful and includes the ruins of Gustav III’s unfinished castle.

5. Kulturhuset

The famous Kulturhuset offers temporary exhibitions throughout the year (we’ve written about it before), everything from photography, theater, and comic books. Not all exhibitions are free, but there is always something open to the public.

6. National Library of Sweden (Kungliga biblioteket)

This museum, also known as the National Library of Sweden, is home to the Codex Gigas, often referred to as the Devil’s Bible. Unfortunately, the Codex Gigas is not viewable by the public; however, the collection of historical documents is still impressive.

7. Magasin 3

You’ll have to take the bus to get out there, as it’s located near an industrial shipyard. However, the location of the Magasin III art museum only adds to the atmosphere and the various contemporary art exhibitions that are displayed.

8. Museum of Medieval Stockholm (Stockholms medeltidsmuseum)

The Museum of Medieval Stockholm offers a look at Middle Ages Stockholm set in an underground building just a stone’s throw away from the royal castle. The only visible remains of Stockholm’s medieval city wall are located, still intact, in the museum. There is even a medieval tunnel from the museum to the castle, which is very much closed to the public.

Stockholm City Museum is another freebie that shouldn’t be missed! Photo: arjanrichter

9. Stockholm City Museum (Stockholms Stadsmuseum)

Stockholm’s City Museum provides a quick look at the history of Stockholm from the past to the contemporary issues dominating the city today. If you’re new to the city, it’s a great place to get your bearings.

10. Tullmuseum

This Swedish Customs Museum offers plenty of exhibitions about the history of customs in Sweden. Of course, when it comes to customs, it tends to be the smuggling that is interesting, and the museum focuses much of its efforts on smuggling and anti-smuggling displays.

The post 10 free museums in Stockholm appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

And despite the oncoming Brexit issue, with the British pound still holding fairly strong against other currencies, we don’t expect prices to be dropping anytime soon.

However, as documented throughout our London guide and our list of the best cheap hotels in Central London, it is possible to live it up in London on a modest budget — with a little planning.

Related: 21 ways we saved on our trip to London

How? Besides the obvious (choosing a budget hotel, knowing how to eat cheaply, and getting around with an Oyster card, you’d be crazy not to take advantage of London’s free museums and attractions. Most of the nationally-run museums and art galleries are publicly financed and don’t cost visitors a pence. There are literally dozens of options from the incredible (and very busy) British Museum to lots of lesser-known gems.

Free is always a beautiful thing, and we’ve put together a list of our 20 favorites:

9 Must-visit free museums in London

British Library
World’s largest library holding an impressive 150 million+ items. Browse hotels near the British Library.

British Museum
A true blockbuster with artifacts from the Rosetta Stone to the Elgin Marbles. Stay close by at these
hotels near the British Museum.

National Gallery
Stunning collection housing works from masters like Cézanne and Van Gogh. Get there early by staying at these hotels near the National Gallery.

Natural History Museum
Earth science hub with hands-on exhibits and millions of specimens.

National Portrait Gallery
See depictions of the most famous Brits in history up close. Find nearby hotels.

Science Museum
Interactive exhibits, historic collections, and an IMAX theater.

Tate Modern
Huge collection of modern art situated in a former power plant along the Thames. Book a hotel close to the Tate Modern.

The Tate Britain
British art, ranging from 16th-century pieces to contemporary works. Nearby hotels.

Victoria and Albert Museum
The world’s biggest destination for design and decorative arts.

The outside of Sir John Soane’s Museum. Photo: Craig Nelson

11 Notable free museums

Bank of England Museum
The story of the country’s main financial institution since 1694.

Imperial War Museum
Framing the British wartime experience from World War I to the present day.

The Geffrey Musem
Focusing on living rooms highlighting furniture, textiles, and decorative arts.

Museum of London
Walk through the entire timeline of the city at this urban history institution.

National Maritime Museum
The world’s biggest collection dedicated to seafaring objects.

Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology
Exhibiting 80,000 ancient artifacts from the Nile Valley.

Royal Airforce Museum London
Displaying over 100 military aircraft from historic to modern.

Sir John Soane’s Museum
Quirky personal art collection and effects in a stately townhouse.

V&A Museum of Childhood
Huge collection of toys, games, and clothes in an airy, historic space.

Wallace Collection
18th-century French painting, an armory, and more in a London townhouse.

Wellcome Collection
A fascinating collection exploring the intersection of medical history and art.

The Geffrye Museum is located in Shoreditch and offers a unique look into living room design. Photo: Heather C.

2 Bonus fun and free attractions

The Changing of the Guard
British pomp and ceremony at its best outside Buckingham Palace. Find the best cheap hotels near Buckingham Palace.

The Ceremony of the Keys
Witness an ancient Tower of London tradition. Book way in advance.

More budget help for London:

• Our article on budget tips for London
• What’s Free in London’s list of no-cost attractions, talks, tours, and festivals
• VisitLondon’s suggestions for free London attractions

The post London: 20 free museums in London appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The development of free museum nights has really taken off across Europe, with city after city opening their doors once or twice a year for a free evening. Paris usually holds its free night each year on the third Saturday in May.

This year, Cheapos headed to Paris should mark their calendar for May 19, 2018, when most museums will be free and museums will keep their doors open later than usual to give guests the experience of a lifetime.

Paris hotels:  Our favorite budget picks for 2018

“La Nuit des Musees”: Museum Night in Paris

While there will be more 1,600 museums participating throughout France, we’ve narrowed down a list of 10 museums in Paris that will be open. Follow this Museum Night guide to quench your thirst for adventure and art while exploring the different neighborhoods that Paris has to offer.

1. Le Musee Nissim de Camondo

63 Rue de Monceau
8th arrondissement
website

Have you ever wondered what kitchen looked like the housed the inspiration for the movie Ratatouille? The museum of Nissim de Camondo was given by Nissim’s father, Moise de Camondo, to the French government upon his death. After his son and only heir died in World War I, Moise de Camondo was heartbroken and dedicated his house to his son in order to carry on his child’s memory and legacy.

This museum will give you a history lesson of what it was like to live in the 1% in France during the early 1900s. Amenities include two elevators (one for the guests and one for the maids), a food lift (forget farm-to-table fresh, Moise de Camondo demanded kitchen-to-table fresh), color-coated tile bathrooms (green, blue, and white for dad, his sister, and Nissim), heated floors and walls, a grand staircase, and many more opulent perks that were simply unimaginable in the early 20th century.

2. Musee Gustave Moreau

14 Rue de la Rochefoucauld
9th arrondissement
website

After enjoying stunning architecture in the 8th, we’ll take a stroll into the 9th arrondissement to have a look at the house of the symbolist painter, Gustave Moreau. This three-floor museum is filled with his paintings that draw inspiration from the Italian Renaissance. Furthermore, you even get to see some of his unfinished paintings and sketches to truly experience the life of a Parisian artist of the mid- to late-1800s.

3. Musee de la Franc-Maconnerie

16 Rue Cadet
9th arrondissement
website

What’s a French vacation without a little conspiracy theory? The Museum of Freemasonry is also located in the 9th arrondissement, and it’s sure to scratch whatever itch you’ve had about the 14 US Presidents that were part of this organization. Yup, George Washington, the first president was indeed a Mason, and the Museum of Freemasonry will give you all the inside scoop on the French history of this secret society, complete with many paintings and drawings of the famous triangular Illuminati eye. You might have to unstrap your Ben Stiller Night at the Museum character for a more appropriate Nicholas Cage in National Treasure while you peruse through this museum.

Accommodations: Cheap Paris hotels in the 9th arrondissement

4. Musee des Arts et Metiers

60 Rue Reaumur
3rd arrondissement
website

Now that you have enjoyed the architecture, art, and organization of Paris, it’s only fitting that you also explore the scientific innovations that kept this city running. Located in 3rd arrondissement of Paris, this industrial museum of art and trade houses seven sections about the history of scientific instruments, materials, energy, mechanics, construction, communication, and transportation. You’ll get to explore early prototypes of carriages, printing presses, airplanes, industrial sewing machines, steam engines, satellites, locomotives, and many more technological inventions.

Visitors during Museum Night 2011 at Musee de la Chasse et de la Nature. Photo: Knowtex

5. Musee de la Chasse et de la Nature

62 Rue des Archives
3rd arrondissement
website

For this visit, we’ll need a bit of help from our Ben Stiller character from the Night at the Museum because this museum of “hunting and nature” is not so much about hunting as it is about animals and their relationships with humans. The exhibit has been heralded as one of the best-curated museum in Paris… as long as the animals don’t come back to life at night!

6. Musee Picasso

5 Rue de Thorigny
3rd arrondissement
website

Although he is a Spanish artist, Paris has a Picasso Museum that’s worth visiting. It includes over 5,000 works of art by Picasso including paper art, ceramics, sculptures in wood and metal, and paintings. The museum also houses the African art that inspired Picasso’s cubism style, as well as paintings that Picasso did when he was much older.

Accommodations: Cheap Paris hotels in the 3rd and 4th arrondissement

7. Centre Pompidou

Place Georges-Pompidou
4th arrondissement
website

The Centre Pompidou is not for the faint of heart (or legs). It is a large complex that houses three important structures: The Public Information Library, the Musee National d’Art Moderne, and Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics/Music. Most people go for the Modern Art Museum aspect because it not only holds the largest collection of European modern art, but the top floor boasts one of the best panoramic views of Paris.

8. Musee Curie

1 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie
5th arrondissement
website

As we cross into the Rive Gauche (Left Bank), we’re met by a blast from the scientific past. Formerly Marie Curie’s laboratory, the Museum of Curie is a historical institution located in the 5th arrondissement focusing on radiological research. It holds archives and documentation about the history of radiology and oncology — the same two topics that allowed Marie Curie to become the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.

9. Musee des Arts Decoratifs

107 rue de Rivoli
1st arrondissement
website

A trip to Paris is incomplete without a visit to the Art Decoratifs. Not only does it house artifacts of decorative arts and design, but it also includes must-see exhibits that explore the Haute Couture fashion aspect of Paris (think Dior, Hermes, and Margiela). Furthermore, it even has part of the actual house of French designer, Jeanne Lanvin of the House of Lanvin! The Art Deco, as it goes by for short, houses jewelry, furniture, tableware, and carpets of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. It gives visitors a chance to see how the French upper class lived.

10. Musee du Louvre

Place du Carrousel
1st arrondissement
website

It’s always high on everyone’s list, so we certainly couldn’t leave the dear Louvre off of ours. Because it’s so big, it may be more beneficial to experience the Louvre when you have a full day and use Museum Night to take advantage of the smaller Parisian museums with free admission. Nonetheless, the Louvre is phenomenal and has come to represent the epitome of Paris and the resting place of Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. And it is here, at the Louvre, in the center of Paris, that we end our Museum Night journey!

One caveat: We tried getting into the Louvre at midnight during previous Nuit des Musées only to find the entrance closed at 11 pm, so check the hours in advance. Our advice? Plan ahead. Fortunately, the Louvre’s terrace bar overlooks the pyramids. And, of course, there’s the adjacent Jardin des Tuileries, with its much more hospitable hours.

Hotels: And if you need a place to stay close to this world-famous museum, you can browse our list of cheap hotels near the Louvre.

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In addition to the more common free newspapers handed out on the tube, Cheapos can now get their hands on all sorts of other literature without spending a penny. It’s common knowledge for Londoners, but visitors to the city are often none the wiser. So here’s a quick run down of the city’s free publications available to you:

Daily Newspapers

Metro and City AM are free morning newspapers handed out at Tube stations from Monday to Friday. Metro is available nationwide, while City AM is London only and has more of a financial and city focus.

The Evening Standard accompanies most Londoners home in the evenings and is handed out at tube stations from 4 pm, Monday to Friday. Look out for the ES Magazine, which comes with the paper on a Friday and contains lots of London-centric weekend lifestyle reading.

Magazines

Tuesday: Time Out

The absolute staple for Londoners, Time Out has been going since 1968 and its success has been such that you can now find it in other destinations such as New York, Barcelona and Melbourne. It started out life as a paid for publication, but in September 2012 became free. A bitter sign of the times for the publishing industry, but on the plus side – great news for Cheapos!

The magazine is totally London-centric, including everything from features with musicians, book reviews, neighborhood focuses and, of course, extensive entertainment listings for the week ahead. Pick one up at tube and rail stations in zones 1 and 2 on Tuesday mornings, or at museums, cinemas and theaters across the city – see a full list of distribution points here.

Wednesday: Stylist

One for the ladies – Stylist is the hugely successful younger sister to Shortlist Magazine (see below). Distributed at tube stations on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings, pick up a copy to get your weekly fill of beauty, fashion, travel and lifestyle news for free.

Thursday: Shortlist

The original publication from award-winning publisher Shortlist Media, this weekly mag is aimed at a predominantly male audience, with the latest gadgets, health, tech, sport, fashion and grooming advice, but the excellent journalism and quirky features make it a good read for women as well. Pick up your copy on Thursday mornings at tube stations.

Friday: Sport

Sport-lovers can get their fill of news, interviews and analysis, as well as a look at upcoming events with this free sport-themed publication. Distributed at tube stations every Friday morning, it’s an informative and lighthearted read to welcome in the weekend.

Monthly magazines

Escapism

A relatively new kid on the block, Escapism is the UK’s first free glossy travel magazine and it’s doing a good job of rivaling the more established paid-for titles. While the content mainly serves as inspiration for your next trip, UK-based exhibitions and news are also featured in the magazine and accompanying website. The features are well written and the photography is great; a nice little pick-me-up on a drizzly London morning. Find Escapism at most zone 1 and 2 tube stations, as well as at UK airports and Eurostar terminals on the first Wednesday of every month.

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Here, 25 free events in New York City this summer that we’re particularly excited about:

Street scenes

From parades to festivals to block parties, New Yorkers like to party in the streets.

1. Pride Weekend
June 28-30
Various locations

As is the case with most things New York, the Pride celebration here is one of the biggest in the world. The parade marches down Fifth Avenue on Sunday, June 30, but festivities fill the weekend, including Dance on the Pier, Rapture on the River and Pride (Poolside). And in this critical year there’s a lot to celebrate, so be sure to come out and join in the fun.

2. Independence Day
July 4
Hudson River or Coney Island

There is little that feels more American than the smell of hot dogs, the boom of fireworks or the Fourth of July. The big Macy’s fireworks show lights up the sky over the Hudson, with various access points from 24th Street on up to 54th Street. A hint if you choose to go: Head farther downtown (below 12th Street), where the crowds will be (slightly) smaller. Wherever you go, get there early and bring along blankets for sitting and food for eating.

If you prefer the hot dog aspect of the day, head out to Coney Island to cheer on the big eaters in Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. The fun starts at noon, but arrive early to stake out your spot (and a hot dog).

3. Bastille Day
July 14
60th Street between 5th and Lexington Avenues or Smith Street, Brooklyn

France’s answer to Independence Day has several festivities of its own. Manhattan‘s party, on 60th Street from Fifth Avenue to Lexington Avenue, becomes a veritable Franco-wonderland, replete with cheeses, éclairs and crêpes (oh my!), plus crafts, live music and much more. Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, you can expect costumes, music and fabulous eats at the Bar Tabac Bastille Day celebration in Cobble Hill.

4. New Museum Block Party
July 20, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Sara D. Roosevelt Park

Experience art firsthand at this all-day extravaganza with performance art, interactive projects and workshops, plus free public tours of the museum.

5. Harlem Week
July 27 to August 30
Various locations in Harlem

Talk about understatement: Harlem Week lasts a month! Head Uptown for Gospel concerts, a jazzmobile, a fashion showcase, a basketball classic and much more.

6. Summer Streets
Dates and locations to be announced

For a few Saturdays every summer, New Yorkers receive a special gift: their streets. Traffic is diverted so that cyclists can cycle, runners can run and everyone else can walk, skip and cartwheel down the center of the street. Expect fun and games at stops along the way (last year saw a zip line and climbing wall).

Dance and sing

Whether you’re keen to cut a rug, groove in place or just sit and watch, outdoor music brings delights, especially the free kind.

Bust out your best garden party duds for the Jazz Age Lawn Party. Photo: Suzanne Russo

7. Celebrate Brooklyn
Throughout summer
Prospect Park Bandshell

All summer long, Prospect Park is alive and humming (literally). This year’s lineup includes Shaggy, They Might Be Giants and a live performance of the score from Beasts of the Southern Wild.

8. Midsummer Night’s Swing
June 24 to July 13
Lincoln Center

For 25 years now, live bands have filled the stellar space outside Lincoln Center with jazz, salsa, swing and disco, so that the good people of summer can jump, jive and jitterbug to their hearts’ content. Skip the $17 admission (which includes a lesson at 6:30 p.m. and admission to the dance floor) to shake and shimmy for free outside the ticketed area.

9. Jazz Age Lawn Party
August 17-18
Governors Island

A live concert and so much more, this 1920s-themed fête is the event of the summer (for this New Yorker, at least). Picture the old-fashioned splendor that is always Governors Island, now aglow with dashing costumes, games and all that jazz courtesy of Michael Arenella and His Dreamland Orchestra. A ticket ($30 in advance) gets you into the main area with access to dance floor, vintage clothing booths and food and drink offerings, but you can just as easily pack a picnic, claim a spot on the lawn and enjoy the festivities for free.

10. Summerstage
Throughout summer
Various locations

Mambo, hip-hop and everything in between. No matter your music preference, Summerstage will have something for you. Free concerts take place in Central Park and other parks throughout the boroughs.

11. Sweet Spot Festival
Select Saturdays through September 22
Jackie Robinson Park or Pier 1

The whole family can partake in this celebration of Harlem culture. In addition to vintage shopping, rotating shows include a reggae party and a roller skating jam.

That’s Entertainment

High culture, out of doors.

Rock out at Lincoln Center Out of Doors. Photo: Ian Muttoo

12. New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks
July 10-16
Various locations

Now’s your chance to hear the famed New York Philharmonic, Cheapos. The orchestra spends a week playing at one location in each borough (Prospect Park, Brooklyn; Cunningham Park, Queens; College of Staten Island; Central Park, Manhattan; Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx). There’s something extra magical about classical music under a blanket of stars.

13. Lincoln Center Out of Doors
July 24 to August 11
Lincoln Center

Once the dancers have had their fill, Lincoln Center opens the floor to all array of entertainment, from Afrobeat with Red Hot + FELA to the jazzy Kronos Quartet to funky Ozomatli. This year also includes the 30th Annual Roots of American Music Festival.

14. Shakespeare in the Park
Through August 18
Delacorte Theater

One of New York’s favorite summer traditions: the Bard, performed live, in Central Park’s lovely Delacorte Theater. Tickets are free, but can be hard to come by. Check out our trusty guide to free Shakespeare in the Park tickets for tips on claiming yours.

15. The Met Summer Recital Series
July 16 to August 1
Various locations

Just like the Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera brings its art to the masses, with six performances throughout the five boroughs. Bring a blanket, a picnic and your best falsetto.

16. New York Classical Theatre
Through July 28
Various locations

Free Shakespeare. In parks. (Minus the Shakespeare in the Park lines.)

17. River to River Festival
June 15 to July 14
Locations vary

Theater, art, dance, city… The R2R Festival has it all. Watch open rehearsals, listen to poetry readings, or get your hands dirty at interactive events. The festival takes place on waterfront spaces (Governors Island, South Street Seaport…) throughout the city.

Films alfresco

It’s a bit overwhelming how many free movie series there are in New York, and each is awesome in its own way. Here’s the rundown.

You don’t know what to watch, movie or scenery in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Photo: Courtesy of Movies with a View

18. HBO-Bryant Park Summer Film Festival
Mondays through August 19
Bryant Park

The grand daddy of the summer film fests has the throngs arriving hours early (the lawn opens at 5 p.m.) to score a spot. Movies won’t start until dusk, but the wait is part of the pleasure. It’s fun to strike up conversations with strangers, and we can certainly think of worse places to lounge than Bryant Park. Movies here tend toward the tried-and-true (this year’s season closes with E.T the Extra Terrestrial).

19. RiverFlicks for Grown-ups
Wednesdays, July 10 to August 21
Pier 63, Hudson River Park (enter at W 23rd Street)

For more modern selections, movies on the river are a good bet. This year’s theme is “bands of heroes and bands of singers,” so you’ll see everything from Argo to Pitch Perfect. It’s a good chance to catch up on the blockbusters you missed last winter. Plus, the staff passes out free popcorn while supplies last.

20. RiverFlicks for Kids
Fridays, July 12 to August 23
Pier 46, Hudson River Park (enter at Charles Street)

Don’t let the name fool you. This youthful version of RiverFlicks offers nostalgic kid-friendly favorites like Beetlejuice and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Oh, and more free popcorn.

21. Central Park Film Festival
August 22-26
Central Park just north of Sheep Meadow

Classics for a classic. This five-day film festival tends to go retro in its pickings, and this year the “People’s Park” let the people decide the movies. The winners include West Side Story for Classics night, The Shining for horror night and Raiders of the Lost Ark for adventure night. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and movies start at 8 p.m.

22. SummerScreen
Wednesdays, July 10 to August 14
McCarren Park, Williamsburg

This hipster fest kicks off each evening with live music and food trucks at 6 p.m., followed by a ’90s throwback movie (Can’t Hardly Wait, The Goonies…) at sunset. We’d expect no less from the ‘burg.

23. Syfy Movies with a View at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Thursdays, July 11 to August 29
Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn

And the winner for best scenery goes to… With the Brooklyn Bridge looming off to one side, and lower Manhattan as backdrop, the atmosphere at Brooklyn Bridge seems like something from, well, a movie.  Snag a spot early and be rewarded by not only a seat but fabulous views and DJ tunes (from 6 p.m.) Feature films—this year kicks it off with Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and ends with Lost in Translation—are each preceded by a short. 

24. The Intrepid Summer Movie Series
Various dates through August 15
Intrepid Museum, Pier 86 (W 46th Street)

It’s no surprise that this massive aircraft carrier turned museum has the likes of Jaws, Top Gun and The Karate Kid on the docket this year. Space is limited and priority seating is granted to members, so arrive early (doors open at 7:30 p.m.), and note that there is no admission after 8:30 p.m.

25. Films In Tompkins
Thursdays through August 8
Tompkins Square Park

Somehow the thought of watching Rocky Horror Picture Show in the heart of the East Village just feels right. Gates open at 6 p.m., and musical entertainment starts around then too.

Looking for somewhere to sleep?

While you can catch free theater, concerts and movies outdoors, we wouldn’t recommend trying to sleep under the stars while in New York (Cheapo as that may be).  For our favorite cheap sleeps in the city, check out our guide to budget hotels in New York.

Anything to add? 

Know of any other free events in New York this summer? Feel free to share them in the comment box below.  And if you have any questions about the events listed, ask away!

The post New York: Summer 2013 free events calendar appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

While Parisians may pity their British neighbors having to pay for a toilet trip (why do you think Brits term it “spending a penny”?), or for bread at meals, Londoners rightly still feel smug about the host of freebies their city has to offer.

Here are my seven favorite things that will never cost you a penny:

1. Culture

This is the big one for anyone who has baulked at the entrance fee to the Louvre or the Prado: national museums in the UK are all free. That means there’s nothing to pay for getting into some of London’s – and the world’s – best museums, including Tate, British Museum, V&A, National Gallery, Science Museum and so on. (Here’s a list of free museums in London.)

There’s plenty of culture available for free outside of the museum world as well. Cinephiles, for example, can book a session at the Mediatheque at the British Film Institute (BFI) on the South Bank, where thousands of films can be watched at no cost to the viewer, or music lovers can take in one of the free classical concerts at St-Martin-in-the-Fields.

2. Wi-Fi

Another good thing about these free cultural institutions? Many (although, annoyingly, not all) offer free Wi-Fi. The South Bank is a particularly good bet because, alongside stunning views over the river, there’s free Wi-Fi available at most of its major attractions including the Southbank Centre, the National Theatre, the BFI and Tate Modern.

Couple that with the huge number of chains offering free Wi-Fi, such as cheap pub chain, Wetherspoons, popular lunchtime sandwich spot, Pret a Manger, or – as in Paris – McDonald’s, and you should always be able to avoid paying for Wi-Fi in the city.

3. Tap water

Paris, London has got your back on water, too. It’s a legal requirement for British pubs and licensed clubs to make tap water available for free. If you ask politely, you’ll normally also get it without a charge in the vast majority of restaurants.

However, the best free drink in London has to be the green tea available at favorite cheapo noodle chain Wagamama (who kindly also offer free Wi-Fi).

Bank of America client? Use Barclays ATM machines for free! Photo: Garryknight

4. ATM withdrawals (for Bank of America clients)

The Global ATM Alliance applies in the UK as well. To make cash withdrawals from ATMs without incurring a charge, Bank of America customers should seek out Barclays Bank cash machines (Their logo is an easy-to-spot blue eagle). You’ll need the four-digit pin for your card to get cash out. (Read our guide to ATM bank fees for Americans abroad.)

5. Tax

Well, kind of. Visitors from outside the European Union can claim back the Value Added Tax (VAT) on goods they have purchased. You’ll need to be leaving the EU in less than three months after making your purchase and – perhaps the biggest catch – you need to have bought it in a store signed up to the VAT Retail Export Scheme to obtain the correct customs forms (look out for the “Tax Free Shopping” signs).

There are various exceptions and complications to work through but, with VAT charged at up to 20% of cost of goods, it’s well worth the hassle if you are making substantial purchases. Check out the UK Revenues and Customs website for full details of how to claim.

6. Exercise

Given the city’s reputation both for inclement weather and an over-fondness for pints, London’s excellent free fitness events may come as a bit of a surprise. We’ve mentioned the weekly free Park Run before, which takes place at parks all over the capital each Saturday morning.

The London Cycling Campaign lists equivalent events for cyclists, or you could – literally – get your skates on to take part in the Friday Night Skate, a marshaled street skate which sets off from Hyde Park Corner each week.

Finally, for something really different, get a workout in exchange for helping with outdoor conservation projects at one of London’s 15 free Green Gyms.

7. Reading material

The Tube groans under the weight of reading matter that’s given out for free in London each day. Weekday travelers get offered Metro in the morning and the Evening Standard in the evening, both great sources of listings and, especially in the latter, reliable reviews.

A recent addition to the selection of freebie reads is Time Out which, since last year, has been given away every Tuesday and is an invaluable way to find out what’s going on and where.

Stylist, pitched at professional women, comes out on Wednesdays, while its male equivalent, Shortlist, is given away every Thursday. Both are more engaging reads than many charging magazines. Finally, the world of sport gets its own dedicated magazine on Fridays.

These publications almost (but not quite) make the astronomical cost of travel in London worthwhile.

Your favorite freebies?

Did we miss anything? Tell us about your favorite London freebie in the comments below!

The post London Free Things: 7 things that won’t cost you a penny appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The program connects first-time visitors to Dublin with hospitable locals: 1,000 of them to be exact. These “ambassadors” arrange to meet first-time visitors over a pint (that means a Guinness) or a cup of tea. And the best part? The service is completely free – both to the visitor and the ambassador.

The Concept

The concept is a simple one: get introduced to Dublin by a local. Over a pint or a cup of tea, learn about their inside perspective on Dublin. Pick their brain on favorite pubs, where to listen to live music, or underrated attractions.

For a few suggestions from ambassadors for the City of a Thousand Welcome programs, check out these incredible videos, shot throughout different neighborhoods in Dublin.

How it works

Once you know the dates that you’re traveling to Dublin, check out the City of a Thousand Welcomes Web site. All you have to do is let them know when you’re coming, and you will be sent a guide on Dublin and matched with an ambassador.

The ambassador – who is a volunteer and Dublin resident – receives two vouchers for a pint or a cup of tea. Then the ambassador and the visitor agree on a time to meet for a chat. Sponsors of the program pick up the tab.

Who are these ambassadors?

A total of 1,000 Dublin residents make up the ambassadors for this program. They have been carefully vetted by the police and are enthusiastic about their city.

One of the marvelous things about the program is that no two ambassadors will give the same advice. You won’t think you’re getting an inside perspective only to show up somewhere filled with tourists. Share your interests with the ambassador, and they might just have a piece of advice that slots in with what you like to do.

One piece of fine print: according to the terms and conditions, all participants must be 21 or older.

Questions?

The City of a Thousand Welcomes launched in June 2011 and just had its first birthday. It is based out of the Little Museum of Dublin, a new museum on St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin city center. You can contact the general manager of the program with questions, or simply sign up for your free pint.

Free pint? Free advice? Music to any Cheapos ear.

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Just ask and you shall (hopefully) receive:

1. Water at meals

All meals, from the ritziest restaurant to the lowliest donor kebab, should come with a free pitcher of tap water. Even an espresso comes with a glass of room temperature hydration.

If you don’t have a pitcher when your food comes, simply ask for “une carafe d’eau, s’il vous plait,” and don’t hesitate to ask for refills.

2. Bread at meals

Bread is also a staple at the table, so don’t hesitate to ask for it. In typical restaurants, mustard, salt, pepper and bread will be put on the table before you receive your meal. Of course there are many exceptions, but if you’re having a sit-down meal, asking for bread (“le pain, s’il vous plait”) will surprise no one. This is the birthplace of the baguette, after all.

3. Maps

Tourists hitting the streets of Paris with their guidebook maps are often disappointed by the missing streets and tiny Metro maps printed inside the cover of their books. Fortunately cartography is a big business in Paris. Metro maps, in both large and small formats, can be obtained for free at most Metro stations. (Simply ask for “un plan de Metro, s’il vous plait.”)

And the Galeries Lafayettes, one of Paris’ famed department stores, prints free city maps (“plan de Paris”) that can be found in the reception areas of most of Paris’ hotels and hostels, along with other major tourist sights.

4. Samples

This one’s delicate. Free samples are abundant in Paris – if you know when to ask. Many chocolate shops will offer a taste if you linger long enough, but play your cards right. If the shopkeeper can tell you’re going to buy something, he or she will have fewer qualms about offering up a sample to help you decide. And sometimes not.

When you stroll through outdoor markets, merchants are all too eager to have you taste their pineapples and mangos, so just say “Merci!” and taste away. Cheese shops will also be fairly willing to cut you a sliver if you ask to taste the difference between two choices, if you’re clearly going to purchase some fromage.

5. Toilets

While there are many free public bathrooms that look like small space pods located throughout the city, bathrooms are also available with any purchase at a café. If you purchase a café or a Perrier at the café bar (remember, it’s cheaper at the bar than at a table), you can ask for the bathroom without worries.

Note: If the bathroom door looks like it is coin-operated, simply ask for the “jeton” (token) from the server and he or she will hand you a silver coin that will open the door.

6. ATM withdrawals (for Bank of America clients)

Free money? Well, almost. If you want to avoid paying pesky bank fees, you can withdraw without charge from the BNP Paribas bank if you have a Bank of America account. If this applies to you, you will curtail any travelers’ checks or foreign exchange fees that have troubled travelers for so many years. (Read our guide to ATM bank fees for Americans abroad.)

7.  Wi-Fi

I’ve said it once and I’ve said it again: paying for the internet in Paris is a scam. With Paris’ public Wi-Fi program, and the various wireless networks available in cafés and McDonald’s, there is no reason to drop a dime to check your email.

For more information, read my previous post on where to find free Wi-Fi in Paris. Trust me, it still works as long as you have a smart phone or laptop.

Your favorite free things in Paris?

What other freebies have you found in the City of Light? Tell us, Cheapos, in the comments section.

The post Paris: 7 things that are always free in Paris appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The center of Dublin is packed with free museums–the following three options are less than a five-minute walk apart.

The National Gallery of Ireland
Merrion Square West, Dublin 2
website

When you first enter the National Gallery of Ireland, get yourself a map and head straight for the Jack B. Yeats gallery. These vibrant paintings hardly seem Irish–their intense colors seem to belong in another country. This gallery does an incredible job of showing how the artist progressed through the years.

After wandering through the many other galleries (check out the temporary exhibitions too) stop in the gift shop on the way out. Here you will find cheap postcards of the Jack B. Yeats paintings you can send to friends.

The National Library of Ireland
2 Kildare Street, Dublin 2
website

The National Library offers an exhibit devoted to a different Yeats brother: W.B. Yeats. Any fan of literature or poetry–or anyone looking to delve deeper into Irish culture–will want to explore this multimedia exhibit. Not only does it include artifacts (including the poet’s passport, handwritten poems and other memorabilia) but it also includes recordings, videos and more.

The most exciting part of the exhibit is an interactive experience. Walking up to a touch-screen, visitors have the chance to flip through the pages of the poet’s journals. You can zoom in, turn the page and try to decipher the Nobel Laureate’s scribbles. All for free.

The Natural History Museum
Merrion Street, Dublin 2
website

In Dublin, the Natural History Museum has a nickname: the Dead Zoo. This museum transports you back in time. The two floors of this ancient-feeling museum are packed with a huge variety of species–many indigenous to Ireland. The total collection of this museum reaches over two million specimens.

Some favorite exhibits include the Giant Irish Deer with massive antlers, stretching to 12 feet. Seeing the skeleton of this extinct species is striking when you first walk into the museum. Also be sure to check out the hundreds of butterflies, displays of birds you will find along Irish shores, and gaze up at the whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling.

More free museums

Beyond these three options, other free museums in Dublin include IMMA (the Irish Museum of Modern Art), the Hugh Lane Gallery of Art and the Chester Beatty Library.

The post Dublin’s Free Museums: 3 freebies in Dublin’s center appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

High on any visitor’s “must see” list when traveling to Madrid are the city’s fine art museums. The capital city is overflowing with classic, contemporary, abstract, expressionist and experimental art. What many may not know is that many of the best museums offer free admission–at least at some point during the week.

Here’s a quick overview of five of my favorite art museums in Madrid, and when you can visit them for free:

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia

Museo del Prado
Paseo del Prado s/n
Metro: Banco de España
Tel: +34 91 330 2800
Web site

The permanent collection houses works by El Greco, Ribera, Zurbarán, Murillo, Alonso Cano, Velázquez, Goya and more.

Free admission: Tuesday to Sunday 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Sundays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Other free days: Constitution Day (December 6), November 19, National Holiday (October 12), May 2, and on International Museum Day (May 18).

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia
Calle Santa Isabel, 52
Metro: Atocha
Tel: +34 91 774 1000
Web site

Check out Picasso’s Guernica, Dali’s Figure at a Window, or Juan Gris’ Portrait of Josette Gris.

Free admission: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 7 p.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday 2:30 p.m. – 9 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Other free days include World Heritage Day (April 18), International Museum Day (May 18), National Holiday (October 12), and Constitution Day (December 6).

Museo Naval de Madrid
Paseo del Prado, 5
Metro: Banco de España
Tel: +34 91 523 8789
Web site

Interested in seeing treasures accumulated by Columbus, navigational instruments, or murals of routes taken by Spanish explorers? The Naval Museum is the place to feast your eyes on all things maritime at no cost.

Free admission every day. Open Tuesday–Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m

CaixaForum Madrid
Paseo del Prado, 36
Metro: Atocha
Tel: +34 91 330 7300
Web site

Located in the heart of the city center, Caixa Forum holds events and art exhibitions all year round. Read more about the CaixaForum on MapMagazine.

Free admission every day. The CaixaForum is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Museo Arte Público
Paseo Castellana, 40
Metro: Rubén Dario
Tel: +34 91 701 1863
Web site

You’ll find sculptures and installations at this completely free outdoor museum. Open since 1970, the museum offers collections from Andreu Alfaro, Rafael Leoz, Pablo Palazuelo and more. Best times to go are during the spring, summer and fall.

Free admission every day.

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