Where to Find Free Entertainment While Traveling

It’s easy to blow through your travel budget on airfare, accommodations and food before you’ve factored in any downtime or entertainment. Skip the expensive attractions and look for free entertainment while traveling for a budget-friendly adventure.

Art Districts
Art districts are gold mines for free activities from open gallery nights with complimentary snacks and wine to monthly events. Look for free art walks in the neighborhood. Usually hosted every week or month, you’ll stumble into a pedestrian party with lots of samples and freebies on your art-inspired stroll.

Libraries and Bookstores
You’ll be hard-pressed not to find a public library or bookstore in just about every corner of the world. You may not see your preferred selection of books, but most literary establishments offer free readings, talks and weekly workshops.

Historic Sites and Parks
Historic sites and parks are usually open to the public for free or a nominal amount. Even national parks are often free to the public if you’re not parking a car. Come for a hike, a history lesson, stroll past the monuments and look for free tours and events for budget-friendly fun.

Reciprocal Passes
Open up your wallet and see what kinds of memberships and passes you already have. A membership to a museum, zoo or botanical garden could come with free admission to a reciprocal location in your destination. If you come up empty, scour the list of attractions in your destination to look for free days and events that waive admission.

Tourism Boards
Savvy travelers often walk right past the local tourism boards and visitors bureaus and skip the maps and promotional materials. Make it a point to seek out a tourism board or organization on your next trip and ask about all things free. They’re likely to share a wealth of information on walking tours, events and concerts in the park you wouldn’t have heard about otherwise.

There’s always something free going on just about anywhere in the world. Pick and choose your favorite budget-friendly fun and save your money for the pricier attractions that matter most to you.