Downtowns have a reputation for being expensive, and hotel and restaurant prices often prove it. Yet most city centres offer a surprising number of free experiences. Here are the categories to look for in any downtown, with examples from cities we cover.
"Free" needs a little care. Some things are free only with an advance booking, on certain days or for residents, and free walking tours run on tips. The categories below hold in almost every downtown, but opening hours and booking rules change, so check the official site before you go.
Free views
Paid observation decks are popular, but many cities have free alternatives. Tokyo's Metropolitan Government Building has free observation decks. London's Sky Garden is free with an advance booking. Montréal's Mount Royal lookout is a walk from downtown. Bridges, ferries and hilltop parks offer views without a ticket.
In Berlin, the glass dome of the Reichstag building is free if you register in advance. Seattle's Kerry Park and the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade in Hong Kong give classic skyline views for nothing. Pedestrian bridges and public library terraces are worth a look in any city.
Free museums and galleries
Some cities have long traditions of free museums. In Washington, D.C., most Smithsonian museums are free. In London, many national museums, including Tate Modern, are free to enter for their permanent collections. Many other museums offer free days, free evening hours or free entry to certain galleries. Check museum websites for current schedules.
Other strong free collections include the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney (general admission) and the City of Paris museums, such as the Petit Palais and the Musée Carnavalet, whose permanent collections are free. In Paris, national museums are also free for under-26s who live in the European Union. Elsewhere, look for a free evening each week, a free first Sunday, or pay-what-you-can hours.
Free rides: ferries and transit
Free boat rides
Commuter ferries can be the best-value harbour cruises. New York's Staten Island Ferry is free and passes the Statue of Liberty. Amsterdam's ferries across the IJ to the north of the city are free. Elsewhere, ferries are often cheap enough to feel free.
Free transit
Some downtowns run free transit: Melbourne's Free Tram Zone covers the CBD, and Miami's Metromover is free. These double as sightseeing routes. In Calgary, CTrain rides along 7 Avenue through downtown are free, and other cities run free downtown shuttle buses, so check the transit agency's site.
Markets
Browsing markets costs nothing. Pike Place in Seattle, St. Lawrence in Toronto, Queen Victoria in Melbourne and Borough in London are attractions in their own right.
Go early for the atmosphere and the best produce, or late for end-of-day deals. In Singapore, hawker centres aren't free, but they serve some of the best-value meals in the city centre, and watching the lunch rush is a show in itself.
Parks, waterfronts and walks
Riverwalks, seawalls, botanical gardens and historic walking trails are free and often the most memorable part of a visit. Chicago's Riverwalk and Millennium Park, Vancouver's seawall and Boston's Freedom Trail are examples.
Botanical gardens are often free too. The Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, charges only for its orchid garden; the outdoor gardens at Gardens by the Bay and the nightly Garden Rhapsody light show cost nothing. Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden is free and runs right to the harbour. Most tourism offices publish self-guided heritage trails as free maps or downloads.
Festivals and events
Many downtown festivals include free outdoor events: Montréal's jazz festival stages (late June to early July), Chicago's Blues Festival (June), Toronto's Nuit Blanche (early autumn) and Paris's Fête de la Musique (late June). Our festival calendar lists signature events by city.
Seasonal events are often free as well: holiday light displays and Christmas markets from late November, Lunar New Year street celebrations in January or February, and summer outdoor film screenings and concerts in parks. For headline free concerts, arrive well before the start: the best spots fill early, and bags are often checked at the entrance, so travel light.
Buildings, art and libraries
Architecture and public art
Lobbies of historic buildings, cathedrals, public art and street art are free. Melbourne's Hosier Lane and Miami's Wynwood are well-known street-art destinations.
Look out for open-house weekends, when normally private buildings open their doors for free: Doors Open Toronto (late spring), Open House London (September) and Open House Chicago (October) are well-established examples. Places of worship are usually free to enter outside services, though a donation is welcome and modest dress is expected.
Libraries
Central libraries are often architectural landmarks with free exhibitions and quiet spaces: Seattle Central Library and State Library Victoria in Melbourne are two examples. Many also run free talks, and some lend museum passes to cardholders.
Free highlights in ten downtowns
| Downtown | Free view | Free culture | Free walk or ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Staten Island Ferry | New York Public Library's main building | Brooklyn Bridge, the High Line |
| London | Sky Garden (book ahead) | British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern | The South Bank along the Thames |
| Washington, D.C. | Lincoln Memorial steps | Smithsonian museums, National Gallery of Art | The National Mall |
| Chicago | Riverwalk bridges | Chicago Cultural Center | Millennium Park, the Lakefront Trail |
| Tokyo | Metropolitan Government Building | Meiji Jingu shrine | Imperial Palace East Gardens |
| Singapore | Marina Bay promenade | Garden Rhapsody light show | Singapore Botanic Gardens |
| Melbourne | Free Tram Zone window seat | NGV collection, State Library Victoria | Laneways and Hosier Lane |
| Montréal | Kondiaronk Belvedere, Mount Royal | Summer festival stages | Old Montréal and the Old Port |
| Berlin | Reichstag dome (register ahead) | East Side Gallery | Brandenburg Gate to the Tiergarten |
| Paris | Steps of Sacré-Cœur, Montmartre | City of Paris museums, Notre-Dame | The Seine quays |
How to find the free stuff anywhere
- Start with the city's official tourism office, which usually publishes a free-things list and heritage trail maps.
- Check museum websites for free evenings, free first Sundays and pay-what-you-can hours.
- Look up the transit agency for free zones, free shuttles and day passes.
- Browse library and university event calendars for talks, exhibitions and concerts.
- Check the city's events calendar and our festival calendar for free outdoor programmes.
- Search for open-house weekends and public tours of city halls and legislatures.
- Budget a tip if you join a "free" walking tour.
Free, with fine print
Advance bookings fill up, and timed free tickets can run out on busy days. Many museums suggest a donation, and some free days are for residents only. Security checks may bar large bags, and cloakrooms or lockers can cost extra. In parts of Europe, public toilets charge a small fee, so carry a few coins.
Many of these perks get better if you live nearby: residents get library cards, local free days and the festival season on their doorstep. If a free day has you wondering what living downtown would be like, our city guides cover housing, neighbourhoods and costs.
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A free-day plan
Combine a free view in the morning, a free museum, a market lunch you pay for, a free park or waterfront walk, and a free festival event or street art in the evening. You'll see more of the city than many paid tours show.
This guide is general information, not legal, financial or real-estate advice. Read our editorial policy and disclaimer.
Questions people ask
What free things can you do in most downtowns?
Almost every city centre offers free views from bridges, hills or public buildings, museums with free collections or free hours, markets to browse, parks and waterfront walks, free festival events, architecture and public art, and a central library. Some also have free ferries or free transit zones.
Are free walking tours really free?
There's no ticket, but guides work for tips, and you're expected to pay what you think the tour was worth. For a genuinely free walk, pick up a self-guided heritage trail from the city's tourism office or follow one of the routes in our city guides.
Which cities have the best free museums?
Washington, D.C. (most Smithsonian museums and the National Gallery of Art) and London (many national museums, including the British Museum, the National Gallery and Tate Modern) are the best known. Sydney, Melbourne and the City of Paris museums also have free permanent collections, and many other museums offer free evenings or days.
Do I need to book free attractions in advance?
Some, yes. London's Sky Garden and the Reichstag dome in Berlin need advance booking, and popular free museums may use timed tickets at busy times. Check the official site a few days before you go.
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