How To Find Free Things To Do While Traveling

Who doesn't like a good deal? It doesn't get "more good" than free. Cities around the globe have so much going on at any given time, and it can really pay off to find activities that don't cost a dime.

Here are my best tips for finding free things to do while traveling.

[These are also great ways to find new things to do in your hometown!]

Tap into Local Tourism

• Find the Tourism Office — Many city tourism bureaus have maps, coupons, event calendars, and lists of free attractions not advertised elsewhere.

• Free Walking Tours — Nearly every city has “pay what you wish” walking tours you can technically do for free (just tip if you want).

• Library Bulletin Boards — Libraries are hubs for free talks, exhibitions, classes, and cultural events.

Be an Internet Sleuth

• Eventbrite + Meetup — Filter by “free” and “today/this week” to find events like dance nights, lectures, outdoor movies, and pop-up art shows.

• Atlas Obscura — Find unusual and hidden attractions (often free) that aren't in guidebooks.

• Facebook Events Map — Use the map view, filter by free events, and zoom in on your location.

• Museum Free Days — Most museums have one or two free days a month, sometimes weekly.

• Student Exhibitions — Art, music, and theater schools often have free public performances or gallery nights.

• Open Rehearsals — Symphony orchestras, dance companies, and theater troupes sometimes let the public watch rehearsals for free.

Act Like a Local

• Check Out Local Markets — Wander farmers markets, flea markets, or fish markets for sights, smells, and music without spending.

• Public Parks as Art — Research urban sculpture gardens, botanical gardens with free entry, or famous staircases and murals.

• Transit Lines as Sightseeing Tours — Find bus or tram routes locals use that pass through scenic or historic areas (often cheaper than tour buses).

• Local Universities — Public lectures, film screenings, and cultural nights are almost always free and open to outsiders.

Explore the Neighborhood

• Geocaching — A global treasure hunt that’s 100% free once you download the app.

• City Stairways & Hidden Alleys — Search for stairway trails, historical alleys, or elevated paths locals use daily to get sweeping views of the city you're in.

• Sunrise & Sunset Missions — Google the best viewing spots and turn them into mini pilgrimages.

Seasonal & Special Events

• Street Festivals & Parades — Use local government event calendars to find free public celebrations.

• Cultural or Religious Holidays — Diwali, Lunar New Year, Carnival, Holi — many celebrations welcome tourists for free.

• Free Film Screenings — Outdoor summer film showings, library movie nights, or embassies hosting foreign film nights.

Pro Tip:

When in a new city, run a simple search on Google for:

"Free things to do today [city]"

... then use Google Translate and run the same search in the local language — you’ll likely get a completely different set of results!