Let’s face facts here: finding truly interesting attractions and places to visit for a reasonable price can be akin to hunting for a needle in a haystack. Just about everything seems to be rising in cost nowadays and the vast majority of us simply do not have the money to do all that we would like.
When it comes to finding great free places to visit in other destinations, there are some ideal tricks to this trade:
For a start, don’t forget you can head to local tourist information centers where the staff will be happy to advise you on the local attractions that can be enjoyed without cost.
You may also be able to ask the staff in your hotel: the concierge, waiting staff, bar attendants and bureau de change staff should prove to be especially helpful in this regard.
Often, during festivals and big events there are individual attractions and activities that can be enjoyed free-of-charge; again, ask the staff in the local tourist center for more details on this.
Whilst out and about, in general, you should be able to get into a conversation with locals and ask their opinion on the best local attractions that are free.
Finally, of course, never underestimate the boon that is undertaking your own research on the internet—this usually pays real dividends and should help you to produce a good list of all the complimentary attractions in your destination.
Well now, this is where it is hoped that you will find some real value in this article. We have come up with 5 awesome places in the USA and then a further 5 worldwide attractions that can be enjoyed for free. Yes, that’s right, there’s nothing wrong with your eyes, we really did say for ‘free’!
Okay, so now that we have your full attention, let’s get on with the business of finding out all about those top 10 free attractions both in the USA and around the world. We’ll start off with the United States:
The Grand Canyon
Many people may be surprised to see this huge attraction on the list of top free places to visit in the USA, but it really is true; The Grand Canyon can be visited on a number of days each year completely free-of-charge. What’s more, these complimentary days are scattered conveniently across the year with free entrance permitted on January 21, April 22-26, August 25, September 28 and November 9-11. This is your chance to visit one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places on earth and not have to pay a single penny for the privilege.
The Staten Island Ferry
When it comes to the city of New York, you would be hard pushed to find any major tourist attractions that are completely free—indeed we would definitely welcome your views on any others that may exist. However, if you do visit New York and fancy seeing The Statue of Liberty, the skyline of Downtown Manhattan and a number of other world-famous sites for free, take the Staten Island Ferry. This service runs 24 hours a day seven days a week, completely free-of-charge and it will save you a fortune compared with opting for one of the organized tours that depart from near Battery Park.
The Hotels of Las Vegas
While most articles on the internet will look to recommend just one Las Vegas hotel, we prefer to be completely honest and fair and suggest that you visit the hotels along the Las Vegas Strip in general. There are many that offer truly awesome and complimentary attractions: be this a volcano exploding every 15 minutes outside The Mirage, fabulous water and light shows at The Bellagio, and even the chance to watch people on gondolas going floating by at The Venetian. It would not be right to say that one hotel’s attraction is better than another; collectively they all make for an exceptionally memorable and ‘free’ experience.
The Getty Center in Los Angeles
Although there are a number of complimentary museums to choose between in the United States, The Getty Center in L.A. really ought to occupy one of the ‘Top 5’ spots in the US as it offers its visitors more than most for absolutely no charge whatsoever. Visitors to the museum can look forward to numerous artefacts from the Americas and Europe and there is even the opportunity to catch sight of Van Gogh’s world-famous painting of ‘The Irises’. One good tip for readers looking to visit The Getty Center is to make sure you travel there by public transport as there is a $15.00 parking fee that will tend to negate the free entrance.
Lincoln Park Zoo (near Chicago)
Situated just a few minutes’ drive away from Downtown Chicago, Lincoln Park Zoo is an attraction that can be enjoyed completely free-of-charge. This is always a huge surprise to people as there is just so much to see and enjoy at this beautiful park. Best of all, the zoo is open 365 days a year—so no matter when you decide to visit the Windy City, there will always be one day’s free enjoyment you can schedule into your itinerary.
Now that you’ve discovered the Top 5 free attractions in the USA, let’s turn our attention to 5 more top complimentary attractions across the rest of the world:
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul
Occupying some 58 streets and over 4,000 retail outlets, The Grand Bazaar of Istanbul is easily the biggest and most impressive covered market in the whole world. Visiting this immense bazaar is absolutely free and the atmosphere and scents that will fill the air will all make for a truly unforgettable experience. Certainly make every effort to visit The Grand Bazaar if you are ever in this part of Turkey.
Museums of London
We already know that London is definitely one of the most expensive cities in the world in which to visit; therefore, it makes a refreshing change to discover that some attractions can be enjoyed completely free-of-charge. With this in mind, it might surprise you to learn that all of the main museums of London (and indeed the whole of the United Kingdom for that matter) boast complimentary entry. So, from The National Portrait Gallery, to The Victoria and Albert Museum and British Natural History Museum—they are all free for you to browse around and enjoy.
The Symphony of Lights in Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong
This really is something very special for you to enjoy—and again, totally for free. Each and every night in Victoria Harbor you are able to enjoy a truly breath-taking lazer light and musical show that uses the closest 44 buildings around the harbor in order to create some spectacular effects. If you are ever in the Hong Kong vicinity, do your best to schedule this thrilling experience into one of your evenings.
The Pantheon of Rome
As there are just so many historic attractions to visit in the beautiful ‘Eternal City’ of Rome, choosing one that stands out above the rest is exceptionally tricky; however, The Pantheon, which was originally built as a temple to honor all of the Roman Gods, must surface as the overall winner in this regard. Re-built in A.D 126 and such an impressive example of Roman architecture makes The Pantheon a spectacular attraction to enjoy for free.
Park Guell in Barcelona
Located in the Gracia area of the city, the Park Guell is an amazing public park area that simply has to feature on this list of top attractions to enjoy for free. It was built between 1900 and 1914 by none other than the famous architect Antoni Gaudi himself, and due to its stunning innovative beauty, this park is now a proud UNESCO World Heritage site. Most definitely worthy of your time if and when you enjoy a city break to Barcelona!
So there we have it—the top 10 places to visit in the USA and the rest of the world for free. Best of all, you should have noticed that we have tried to include complimentary attractions in the world’s most expensive destinations—which should help you to save money when you most need to. Whenever you decide to visit the free attractions on this list, we hope you enjoy the experience. Feel free to share the details of your trip and tips for other great free attractions to be enjoyed around the world. We always love hearing from our readers and appreciate their comments and suggestions.
