Are you traveling Rome on a budget? Check out the stunning Piazza Novana in Rome for free - Photo: © Andrey Anisimov

When in Rome there are hundreds of things to do and places to see – but do all of them mean spending a small fortune? Think again. There are loads of awesome sightseeing activities that you can do and they are all virtually free. Here are some suggestions for a thrifty but still fun way to enjoy Rome.

Go to church – at the St. Peter’s Basilica, you can walk around the cavernous halls when there is no Mass, explore the grounds or visit the Vatican Museum, which offers free admission every last Sunday of the month. Rome has hundreds of churches with impressive architecture to boot so get out your map and start walking.

Take a fitness test – walk up the 138-steps of Scalinata della Trinita dei Monti (the Spanish Steps), the longest and widest staircase in Europe. Once you get to the top, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the whole city.

Pyramid of Cestius - Photo: © Jacek Cudak

See Egypt in Rome – or one of Egypt’s iconic figures, the Pyramid of Cestius. The 87-foot tall structure is one of the best-preserved monuments in Rome and is a popular tourist attraction.

Enjoy nature – on a sunny day there is nothing better to do than to be in a lovely park such as the Villa Borghese. Take a stroll in the heart-shaped park, read a book or take a nap under one of the trees.

Take an ancient polygraph test – the Bocca della Verita is an ancient sewer grate with a rather dreadful legendary power. According to old tales, if you place your hand inside its mouth and tell a lie, your hand gets bitten off.

Be in the center of everything – in Rome, the Piazze are where most people converge and chances are there will be free events happening. Walk around the Piazza Navona and enjoy watching the fountains or the Piazza Campo dei Fiori where there is always a local market.

Rome's Pantheon and Fontana del Pantheon - Photo: © Ben Savill

Soak up on Roman history – visit the Pantheon, an ancient pagan temple turned into a burial ground. Built in 27 BC, it is one of the best-preserved Roman monuments. Or stroll through the ruins of Foro Romano – the center of government, religion and commerce in ancient Rome. Another leisurely walk to enjoy would be down the old road out of Rome, along the Appia Antica.

Get a free pass to the museums and galleries – check out calendars or websites and find out when they are open free to the public. The Musei Capitolini, for instance, offers free admission on the last Sunday of the month.

Explore the eerie and unusual side of Rome – visit the Capuchin Crypt in the Santa Maria della Concezione with its collection of the bodies of 4,000 Capuchin friars.

Enjoy open-air music and shows – mark your calendar for special festivals and holidays where there will be parades and performances throughout the city. During summer, there is the Estate Romana where Rome is transformed into an outdoor event spectacle – concerts, film showings, dances and art on display are often offered free to the public.

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The breathtaking Nærøyfjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Photo: © tupungato

As one of the three Scandinavian countries, Norway has the unusual distinction of being both the westernmost and easternmost of the group. Embracing Sweden and Finland, Norway is a vast country where the land is both harsh and beautiful and the rocky wilderness hides amazing natural landscapes.

While the oil and seafood exports are the backbone of the Norwegian economy, nature explorers and tourists with an eye for beautiful geography are drawn in year after year. The tourism industry revolves around this variety of landscapes that extend across the cold of the Arctic Circle. Most consider the main attraction to be the fjord coastline but many visitors also enjoy staying at ski resorts and exploring the lakes and snow covered woods. Norwegians take pride on keeping fit and enjoying sports so visitors can expect a variety of options for their trip. In winter, you can try cross-country or alpine skiing and snowboarding. In the summer the climate is gentle and both hiking and biking become a great way to enjoy an outdoors vacation.

The Fjord Coastline

Norway enjoys the highest concentration of fjords in the entire world. These are long and narrow inlets surrounded by steep cliffs; passageways carved into the stone and rock by glacial activity during successive ice ages. Fjords can be considered nature’s own works of art, formed as the glaciers retreated and the sea water flooded the valleys that remained.

Flåm is an excellent choice for those who wish to sign up for a visit to the Norwegian fjord coastline. The area surrounding this village enjoys some of the most extreme and beautiful fjord scenery and offers a variety of “fjord safaris.” These experiences get you right into the thick of things, as you explore the fjords at close range in rigid inflatable boats. During the trip, there will be frequent stops when you’ll be able to appreciate some of the local wildlife and see the old settlements perched on the high mountain sides.

Visiting the fjords is an excellent option for travellers who like to appreciate natural marvels and are willing to get out of the crowded cities to enjoy the humbling visage of towering cliffs and thundering waterfalls. If you would like to experience Norway for yourself, we recommend going during either Autumn or Spring. While Summer enjoys the most stable temperatures (and long warm days) it is during these two seasons when the country blooms with colours and you can enjoy most of its natural charm. Regardless of your choice, remember that climate is always fickle on mountain country and be prepared for an adventure.

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Moscow's Red Square. Photo: © Olga Demchishina

Having received decades of free publicity from a large number of espionage movies, it’s hard to find a film-exposed individual who hasn’t heard about the Red Square. Its popularity, however, is not only due to an unwarranted attention by Cold War crazed film-makers. The Red Square is massive and humbling, especially for those familiarised with crowded cities and cramped streets; the sheer open space and massive size of the buildings surrounding it will make you feel exceptionally small (ironic, considering both are products of human achievement.)

The square separates the royal citadel (the Kremlin, currently the official residence of the country’s president) from the Kitai-gorod, a merchant quarter of Moscow. Major streets radiate from its centre and turn into highways as they slither outside the city; because of this, the Red Square is often considered the centre of Moscow and, by extension, of all of Russia. The site pulls crowds throughout the year and it would be a crime to miss it on your first visit to the city.

St. Basil’s Cathedral

Saint Basil's Cathedral. Photo: © Oleg Doroshin

Standing at the South-East end of the Red Square is the St. Basil’s Cathedral. Also known as The Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, it is one of the country’s most popular attractions and quite possible the most recognisable building in the whole of Russia. The origins of the cathedral go back to the time of Ivan the Terrible, who commissioned it to celebrate the capture of Kazan after over a century of intermittent wars with the Tartan Mongols. Named after Basil the Blessed (a holy figure whom Ivan the Terrible was fond of) the edifice was erected on the site of the old Trinity Cathedral and eventually became the final resting place of the man who had inspired its name.

St. Basil is hard to miss even from the distance; the cathedral wears an array of swirling colours that saturate its domes and redbrick towers. The layout comprises a total of nine individual chapels (the last of which houses the remains of Basil the Blessed), each built in commemoration of a battle in the long siege of Kazan. The nine chapels are topped by onion domes, each unique, which are one of the building’s most impressive features. The design pays homage to Christian symbolism and was created to become an architectural representation of the New Jerusalem.

While St. Basil’s exterior is whimsical and colourful, its interior is quite different. Once inside the church, visitors can wander through a number of small and dimly lit chapels connected by a literal maze of corridors all bathed in soothing pastel colours. The transition is abrupt but serves to put the emphasis on the themes of introspection and meditation that permeated the ethos of the Russian church during the 16th Century.

St. Basil’s Cathedral is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in summer.

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Bran Castle at sunset. Photo: © warmcolors - Fotolia.com

The largest region of Romania is also the one that’s been most visited on the page of most novels. The true Transylvania might be lacking in the “bloodthirsty-creatures-of-the-night” department, but makes for an excellent holiday destination for those who fancy a trip down the pathways of history.

Transylvania is a cultural hotbed; the cohabitation of groups such as Romanians, Hungarians, Saxons and Romas is the thing which defines its particular cultural flavour. This diversity extends to both its landscapes and architecture. The region is encircled by the harsh Carpathian Mountains and, as you travel close to its centre you find the landscape transform to one of rolling hills and criss-crossing rivers. The region’s architecture is a mixture of the old and the new; travellers can visit big cities with a distinct Western flavour or tour the country-side, a beautiful landscape dotted with numerous medieval fortress towns, ancient monasteries and castles which have survived throughout its history.

Journey to the Past

Transylvania is the gateway for a trip that can transport you to a time far gone where you can immerse yourself in the culture of times long past. The remnants of yesterday are the heritage of a multi-ethnic culture that can be seen (and felt, and heard) on the folk costumes, medieval architecture, traditional cuisine, music and local festivals. Tradition is very much alive in the small villages of the country-side, where you can find fine folks making a living as shepherds and weavers, while blacksmiths and carpenters make the items people use everyday.

Where to start? With some of the best preserved medieval towns throughout Europe, the answer is not often easy. Great choices include cities such as Brasov, housing old Saxon architecture and citadel ruins; Sibiu, a postcard of cobblestone streets and soft coloured houses; or Sighisoara, the perfect locale for a suspense novel with its hilltop citadel, secret passages and 14th century clock tower. If you fancy something more spectacular, however, you can check out some of Transylvania’s stunning castles; the Bran, a massive Gothic structure with an ethereal design reminiscent of a fairy-tale is often associated with the famous Prince Vlad Tepes and should be included in any itinerary.

Final Words

After an eventful century which included the moving of political borders, ethnic tension, two World Wars and their own Communist totalitarian regime, Transylvania is now the most developed region in Romania. Part due to tourism and part due to having a strong capitalist tradition that underlined the culture before World War II, the region has been able to recuperate from challenging times and blossom into a true gem of Eastern Europe. An eclectic land that combines the influence of the western world without diluting its traditional heritage, Transylvania is definitely a place the modern traveller should not miss.

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Go for a free stroll through Park Güell - Photo: © berc - Fotolia.com

Being ranked by Monocle as the world’s 16th most livable city has boosted tourism in Barcelona even higher than it was before; not that the city needed the help! After Madrid, this is Spain’s second most populated city. Although one might assume that this exciting Spanish city would cost a fortune to explore, there are actually many things that you can do here for free.

1. Museum Free Days

Believe it or not, several museums in Barcelona offer free days as well as free lectures and seminars. Sunday is often one of these days; be sure to get there early as lines can get long later in the day. A few to enjoy include Picasso Museum, Natural History Museum, Maritime Museum, MACBA and Palau Robert.

2. Explore Port Vell

Narrow streets that line beaches, old ports and boats found in Barcelona really define the character and rich history of this city. This was once the place where the local fisherman and their families lived. Today it’s a haven for tourists and locals who want to enjoy the outdoors. There are an abundance of eateries along this strip if you get hungry or you can pack a lunch to eat on the beach.

3. Visit the Botanical Gardens

Although there are some steep steps to venture up to get into the garden, you are rewarded with some of the best views of the city. Whether you’re in need of being surrounded by lush greenery or if you just need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the streets, Barcelona’s Jardi Botànic is the place to go to enjoy a little tranquility.

4. Enjoy the Magic Fountain

Also referred to as The Fountains of Montjüic, Carles Bugas engineered this beautiful site many decades ago in 1929 and it remains one not to be missed. The fountain itself sits on a raised platform so no matter where you stand, you’re sure to get great views of the changing shape of the water.

5. Walk down Las Ramblas

This boulevard is only just over 1 km long yet it’s typically the most exciting place to be in the city. It’s made up of many ramblas that all offer their own themes, reflective in cuisine and art. Here you’ll find statues, artists and street performers to enjoy including fortune tellers, poets and musicians.

6. Enjoy a day in Parc dela Ciutadella

This park is a place you can easily spend a day exploring without spending any money or getting bored. Beautifully manicured gardens are complemented by impressive buildings like the Castel dels Tres Dragons. The Parliament building can be explored on weekends here and the museums offer free days sometimes as well. June through September there are jazz programs to enjoy in the evenings.

7. Stroll through the Port Vell Antique Fair

If you’re visiting Barcelona on a weekend you must keep your Saturday morning open for the Port Vell Antique Fair. This modern beachfront boulevard completely transforms into an antique-lover’s paradise. Entry is free to walk along many rows of old lace, porcelain and collectables.

8. Enjoy the Caixa Forum

This free art gallery features visiting and permanent exhibitions of all styles and eras. Open daily with varying hours, this is a great place to spend a day for free. If you get hungry, there is an inexpensive café with an outside terrace to enjoy coffee and homemade cakes.

9. Stroll through Parc Güell

Interestingly, this is voted the best place in the city to catch a sunset. The park sits on a hillside and features intriguing mosaic designs, colorful status, a large terrace and forested walking paths lined with benches. Artisans can be found selling hand-crafted jewelry or there’s a souvenir shop if you decide you want to buy something to take home with you.

10. Visit the Barrio Gotico

When one thinks of traditional Spanish architecture, this area often comes to mind. Some of the most beautiful buildings in the world are found here like the mysterious Chapel of Santa Agatha built back in the 14th century. This Gothic Quarter is located right off La Rambla and features narrow streets, ancient buildings, market stalls, bars and restaurants.

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