Museum Day, world-class fountains! Here are the top 10 globally renowned free attractions!

By Rita

Why is it that some people spend a lot of money on a trip but don’t get the quality they deserve, while others visit many iconic spots without spending much? The secret lies in whether travelers can take advantage of free resources. The British newspaper The Independent has compiledthe world’s 10 most famous free attractions—how can you miss them on your next trip abroad?

1. Staten Island Ferry, New York
Taking the Staten Island Ferry is the best and cheapest way to see New York (siferry.com). The ferry travels between Whitehall Street in Lower Manhattan and St. George Ferry Terminal in the western part of the city, passing by the Statue of Liberty along the way — all for free.

▲Staten Island Ferry (Photo/Wikipedia, the same below)

2. Paris
On the first Sunday of every month, certain museums in Paris offer free entry, such as the Paris Museum of Modern Art (0033153674000; mam.paris.fr), the Centre Pompidou – Musée National d’Art Moderne (0033140494814; centre-pompidou.fr), and the Musée d'Orsay (0033140494814; musee-orsay.fr).

▲Paris Museum of Modern Art

3. Melbourne Trams
Starting from January 1 this year, Melbourne’s city center has launched a new Free Tram Zone, covering areas from Queen Victoria Market, across the Yarra River, Spring Street, Flinders Street Station, and Federation Square. The routes include many major attractions, and aside from Victoria Market, the neighborhood alleyways also house numerous cafes, like Little Bourke Street.

▲Melbourne Light Rail

4. The British Museum, London
The British Museum (02073238299; britishmuseum.org) houses 8 million historical artifacts and is the UK’s premier museum — and the best part? It’s free.

▲The British Museum

5. Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.
The Smithsonian Institution offers access to 19 free museums in the U.S., such as the National Museum of American History (0012026331000; americanhistory.si.edu), where you can see the hat President Lincoln was wearing when he was shot, or the National Air and Space Museum (0012026332214; airandspace.si.edu) to view the Wright brothers’ airplane.

▲National Museum of American History

6. Mount Lycabettus, Athens
While visiting the Parthenon and the Acropolis Museum comes at a cost, many people enjoy hiking up Mount Lycabettus in Athens. Located northeast of the city center, the 277-meter-high hill offers stunning views — and it’s free.

▲Mount Lycabettus

7. Bellagio Fountains, Las Vegas
You might lose a lot of money in Las Vegas, but its spectacular fountain show is free (0017026937111; bellagio.com). From 3 PM to 8 PM daily, there’s a light-and-sound water show every half hour.

▲Bellagio Fountains

8. Rome
Like Paris, some attractions in Rome are free on the first Sunday of every month (archeoroma.beniculturali.it). However, most do not accept advance reservations, so expect long lines on the day.

▲Colosseum

9. East Side Gallery, Berlin
The East Side Gallery (eastsidegallery-berlin.de) features the largest remaining section of the Berlin Wall, showcasing 105 paintings created on the wall’s eastern side in 1990. Admission is free.

▲East Side Gallery

10. Urakami Cathedral, Nagasaki
This cathedral stands at the site of the 1945 atomic bomb explosion. The current structure was rebuilt in 1959. While many churches in the area charge admission, the most significant one — Urakami Cathedral — is free.

▲Urakami Cathedral