A standard ticket for The Shard’s observation deck, The View from the Shard, will set you back £28 ($34) at the very least – and the cost mounts even more depending on the date, and if you add in fast-track entry, which costs around £10 ($12). The viewing platform is the highest in London, so its appeal is understandable, but there’s a way to enjoy The Shard’s vistas for less. Plump for a trip to Aqua Shard, a swanky bar and restaurant on level 31 – you’ll get jaw-dropping views of the capital for the price of a nightcap.
A cruise across the Grand Canal in a gondola is a romantic notion, particularly at sunset, and especially with a serenade thrown in. But, in reality, this experience is eye-wateringly expensive: a private 40-minute gondola tour will set you back €80 ($85) during the day, and €120 ($128) at night. If you’re on a budget, hop on a traghetto instead – these larger gondola “ferries” carry multiple passengers at once, and can whisk you across the Grand Canal for just €2 ($2).
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You’re never far away from a masterpiece by architect Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona – his feats range from colourful Park Güell to the spires of the Basílica de la Sagrada Família. But entry to the latter alone will set you back €26 ($28). Instead, admire this jewel from outside, where it’s arguably more impressive, along with other great buildings like Casa Batlló. If you’ve got your heart set on venturing inside, it might be worth paying €86.50 ($92) for the Barcelona City Pass: it includes fast-track entry to both Sagrada Família and Park Güell, plus discounts on top attractions and more.
If you’re headed to the City of Love, its famous tower will no doubt be in your sights. Hordes of tourists come each year to picnic in its wake, or gaze up at its great expanse – and both of these activities are completely free. However, if you’re planning to scale the tower, we’ve got a money-saving hack. You’ll get the cheapest available tickets if you eschew the very top in favour of the second floor (which still offers great views), and if you reach this via the stairs rather than the elevator. This option will cost you €11 ($12) compared with €27 ($29) to travel to the top via two lifts.
When planning a trip to Machu Picchu, the great Inca citadel in Peru, many will opt for the Inca Trail – the hiking route is the favoured way to reach the ruins, but it’s also the priciest. You’re unable to make this lengthy trek independently, and a reputable tour operator will likely charge upwards of £444 ($550), and more in the high season. However, if you’re willing to compromise on route, you can save yourself some cash. The Salkantay Trek, beginning in Cusco and ending in Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu, is an excellent and generally cheaper and quieter alternative, as is the shorter Lares Trek.
A glimpse of Lady Liberty is a bucket-list item for most visitors to the Big Apple, and there’s a way you can see her for no charge at all. A ferry to Liberty Island will cost adults £19 ($24), plus 20 pence (30 cents) more if you want to ascend to the statue’s crown. But, for no dollars at all, you can hop aboard the Staten Island Ferry. It travels from the Whitehall Terminal (or South Ferry) in Lower Manhattan to the St George Terminal on Staten Island, granting passengers fabulous views of the Statue of Liberty on the way.
The elusive Northern Lights grace many a travel wish list, but a trip to northern Finland or Swedish Lapland is notoriously expensive. However, depending on where in the world you are, you may be able to see them a little closer to home. In the USA, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (think Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore) and parts of Minnesota (like Voyageurs National Park) are optimal places for a sighting, conditions permitting. In the UK, the Shetland Islands have been known to put on a show on clear nights.
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The London Eye has been showcasing the Big Smoke’s skyline since 2000, and prices start from £33 ($40) online – you’ll pay more if you buy your tickets on the day. But if you’re making your way to the Eye using Britain’s train service National Rail, you can save yourself some money. National Rail Days Out offers two-for-one entry to the wheel when you’ve travelled via train. If that’s not you, but you’re staying for an extended period, a London Eye Combination Ticket, which grants access to other attractions too, could also prove cost-effective.
Especially if you’re travelling from the US, flights to Athens may not come cheap – but there are ways to bring down costs once you arrive. The Acropolis is probably top of your list, and you may well also want to visit some of the city’s other ancient sites, from the Ancient Agora to Hadrian’s Library. If that's the case, it’s well worth buying the Combo Ticket made available by the Greek Ministry of Culture: it costs €30 ($32) and grants access to seven sites, including those mentioned, and is valid for five days after your first entrance.
Victoria Peak, better known as The Peak, is the highest bluff in Hong Kong, affording fabulous views (pictured) and attracting millions of visitors per year. While most choose to ride the famous Peak Tram to the summit, there is a cheaper way to make the journey. There are several bus routes that wind their way from the city up to the famous hill – the cheapest of these is just £1 ($1), compared with £6 ($8) for a single tram ticket. Alternatively you could tackle the 1.5-hour hike from MTR Central Station to The Peak Tower.
A ticket to France’s most famous museum, home to Leonardo da Vinci’s enigmatic Mona Lisa, will usually cost you €15 ($16), or €17 ($18) if you choose to buy online beforehand. But those under 18 can enter for free, as well as those under 26 who are residents of the European Economic Area (EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein). The Louvre also offers free entry to all visitors on 14 July, but prepare for even longer queues!
Many travellers choose to gaze upon Turkey’s Cappadocia region from the skies, but you’ll definitely save money if you stay on the ground. A hot air balloon ride over the landscape, with its whimsically warped rock and "fairy chimneys", will almost certainly cost you more than £120 ($148). However, entrance to Goreme Open Air Museum, where you’ll get to see the fascinating rocks up close, is just £6 ($8). If your heart is set on a balloon ride, prices can be lower in the winter off season.
This juggernaut in Dubai is the world’s tallest building and visiting its lofty viewing platform can be an expensive experience indeed – tickets for the 148th floor begin at £87 ($108). You’ll save some pennies if you stick to levels 124 and 125 (which are still sky high), for which ticket prices start at £53 ($66). Or, for even less, you could drink in a craft cocktail and Dubai’s incredible skyline at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel and its Level 43 Sky Lounge.
The Big Apple has some incredible museums, but many of them charge an entrance fee – however, a fair few also offer free days at some point during the week or month. Swing by the revered The Guggenheim on a Saturday between 6-8pm for their ‘pay-what-you-wish’ entrance. Of course, it’s a popular time to visit, so expect to queue.
St Paul’s Cathedral as we know it has been an iconic part of London's skyline since the 17th century, and it still attracts visitors from all over the world. If you want a St Paul’s sightseeing ticket you’ll need to pay £18 ($22) online, or £21 ($26) on the door. This will grant you access to the crypt, the cathedral floor and the dome’s galleries (the Whispering Gallery is temporarily closed). However, there’s no charge if you want to visit as a worshiper and attend a service: you’ll not be able to explore, but you’ll certainly still experience the cathedral’s grandeur.
Many US national parks charge an admission fee, and the Grand Canyon, which is high on many a bucket list, is one of them. However, if you visit on a handful of national holidays and milestones (including the National Park Service’s birthday and Veterans Day) you’ll be able to enter the Grand Canyon, and all other sites in the National Park Service system, for free. Be aware, though, that waived entry fees means sites are likely to be busier than normal, and charges may still apply for campgrounds, guided tours etc.
This mighty arch is one of the most recognisable sights in Sydney, and many tourists pay to climb it during their trip. The price for the Summit ticket, which involves ascending 1,332 stairs and reaching a height of 440 feet (134m), starts at £181 ($224) – however, a free pedestrian walkway hugs the eastern side of the bridge and offers fabulous views across the harbour. You can also drink in epic vistas for cheaper from The Opera Bar at the iconic Sydney Opera House.
Chichén Itzá, a sprawling Maya city, is a top attraction in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. When visiting the site, many travellers feel the need to shell out on pricey all-inclusive tours, but an independent visit to the site is actually perfectly doable. The price of a hire car, the admission charge of £24 ($29) and a local guide on arrival is likely to be significantly less than a package tour, and it also means you can explore the ancient wonder at your own pace. Make time to slip away for a cheap and delicious lunch in nearby Pisté too.
One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Colosseum is an enduring symbol of the Roman Empire and the Eternal City’s rich history. The herculean structure is actually at its most impressive from the outside, and it doesn’t cost a thing to admire the age-old amphitheatre from the street. However, if you do want to explore inside, where bloody gladiatorial battles were once fought, and where Roman emperors once walked, it’s €18 ($19) for a ticket that includes entrance to the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and Imperial Forum too.
The most popular way to reach the Christ the Redeemer statue, perched atop Corcovado mountain in the buzzy city of Rio, is by cog train – in the high season, this costs around £23 ($29). However, if you want to preserve some of your budget, it’s free to hike up the mountain instead – the main trail, which spools out from Parque Lage slicing through lush forest, is pretty steep and strenuous, but completely worth it. You’ll still need to pay a very small admission charge to enter the monument site itself.
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Tokyo’s Imperial Palace, home to the Emperor of Japan, is one of the city’s most intriguing attractions – so it may come as a surprise that you can now tour the site completely free of charge. Guided tours run on select days, in the morning and the afternoon, taking in the palace’s sprawling grounds and passing close to several significant buildings. Points of interest include Fujimi-Yagura, a picturesque keep that formed part of the historic Edo Castle.
One of North America’s most famed natural wonders, Niagara straddles the USA and Canada – and it’s possible to visit the trio of waterfalls for no charge at all. Skip the paid attractions, which include the Maid of the Mist boat tour and the Cave of the Winds, and content yourself with simply taking in views of the falls and hiking around the state park.
A once-in-a-lifetime safari holiday, and the chance to spot the sought-after Big 5, is unlikely to come cheap – but there are ways to drive down costs. Firstly (and most obviously) swap a high-end lodge for a more basic camp, and look for accommodation beyond park limits. Next, travel in the ‘off season’, from October to May. The Great Wildebeest Migration sees wildebeest pour into the park between July and August, crossing the Mara River – as awesome as it is, this spectacle drives up prices even more, so it’s worth avoiding if you’re on a budget.
One of the most famous art museums in the world, Madrid’s Museo Nacional del Prado is home to huge stores of work from artists such as Velázquez and Rubens. A general ticket bought online will cost you €15 ($16), but if you’re happy to come in the evening, you can enter for free. The Prado grants complimentary entry from 6pm–8pm Monday through to Saturday and from 5pm–7pm on Sundays and holidays.
You might not know that St Peter’s Basilica – the magnificent church within the Vatican City, designed in part by Michelangelo – is completely free to enter, though you’ll need to stand in line a while. The Vatican Museums, on the other hand, do charge an admission fee, and a full-entry ticket costs €17 ($18). However, on the last Sunday of the month (9am to 2pm), the admission fee is waived. The free entry really draws the crowds, so it’s worth considering whether the saving is worth it for you – if it is, come by as early as you can.
The Empire State Building is a favoured place to drink in the Big Apple’s skyline, but a trip to its observation deck doesn’t come cheap. You can save some funds if you’re content to take in the views from the 86th floor (Main Deck), rather than the 106th floor (Top Deck) – prices for the former begin at £36 ($44), while they start at £55 ($62) for the latter.
Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument and World Heritage Site in Wiltshire, charges an admission fee of £22 ($25) if you book online, and slightly more if you pay on the day. But there are different price levels depending on the time and day you want to visit; popular peak times are the most expensive, while standard and off-peak are cheaper alternatives. While you’ll need to arrive within the 30-minute time slot you’ve booked, you can stay for as long as you like.
The Japanese capital has little shortage of places to soak in the skyline and the teetering Tokyo Skytree is one of the best. From its two observation decks you can look down on the buzzing city and even get a glimpse of Mount Fuji on a clear day. You’ll actually pay more (£14/$17) for a ticket to floor350 (Tembo Deck that's 1,148 feet/350m), which is of course lower down, but includes a glass floor, a café, restaurant and 360° panoramas. It's best to plump for floor450 (Tembo Galleria that's 1,476 feet/450m), which has fewer bells and whistles but all the epic views: on a weekday a ticket will set you back £6 ($7).
Even a day at one of Disney’s parks can be excruciatingly expensive – but there are ways you can trim down costs. Firstly, make sure you book your tickets online in advance, rather than picking them up at the gate – this will save you money and also allow you to compare prices by varying dates if you're flexible (costs can fluctuate depending on the time of your visit). You can also save money by booking accommodation and eating at restaurants outside of park limits. To avoid photo queues and to get a more personal experience, pre-book a Character Dinner Reservation; breakfast seems to be the cheapest option.
Given Petra’s beauty and heritage, it’s little wonder that it has been named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. If you’re coming from the UK or the USA, a trip to this fabled city, with its rose hue and rock-hewn architecture, is unlikely to be cheap – but there are ways to cut costs. A Jordan Pass offers significant savings, with the cheapest option costing £80 ($99) and granting day access to Petra, plus over 40 other sites including Wadi Rum. If you book your pass before arrival to Jordan and stay for a minimum of three nights, you won’t need to pay any tourist entry visa fees either.
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