How To See a City For Free

Older generations of travelers may consider travel a money-sucking venture that needs to be saved for and can only occur once in a blue moon. A new crop of budget travelers, however, mastered the art of the cheap trip and found ways to get away as often as possible. With less focus on museum hopping and expensive guided tours, it’s easy to see various sides of a city without washing away savings. Here are a few ways to experience a location for little to no money.

Self-Guided Walking Tour

A handful of travel apps like Lonely Planet or TripAdvisor provide lists of the best things to see and do, often accompanied by maps for self-guided walking tours. Use these as a flexible guide to see what you want and pass on what you don’t. No mobile phone or guidebook? Go it alone. Act as an old-fashioned traveler and trust street signs and posted maps to lead the way on an unpredictable adventure.

Parks

Most cities and towns have at least one major park where residents go for a dose of fresh air. A park is the perfect place for a stroll and to catch locals enjoying a spot of leisure.

Hike

If the destination city has a hill or surrounding mountains, make it a point to climb to the top. Not only does this provide an exhilarating workout, it also rewards you with an ideal vantage point to scope out the city and get your bearings.

Happy Hours

Any amount of dining and drinking will require at least some of your travel savings, so scope out opportunities for discounts like happy hours at bars or lower-priced lunch menus at local restaurants. When booking your accommodation, filter for those that include breakfast each morning, and stash a few extra items for lunch on the go.