Rent a bike for free in Madrid. Photo by sindandune.

By Cynthia Kane in Madrid–

Looking for things to do in Madrid that won’t put a hole in your wallet? If so, check out the following list of activities you can do for absolutely free!

Free Madrid walking tours

If you’ve just arrived in Madrid (or even if you’ve been here for a while but haven’t yet explored the city), take one of the two free Madrid walking tours offered daily at 11 AM and 3 PM. The tours are 3.5 hours long, and you’ll learn the history of the city, see the most popular sights, and uncover hidden treasures.

Note: Although the tour itself is free, tips are very much appreciated. For more information, visit the tour’s website.

Free bicycle rental

If you’re in the mood for some exercise or just want to take a nice stroll around town, head over to Juan Carlos I park to pick up a free bicycle. Yes, we said free! How does it work? Simply register for an electronic card at the tent next to the park’s first parking lot. And it gets better: The card offers you unlimited bike access for an entire year.

Parque Juan Carlos I, Avenida Manuel Azaña, Avenida Logroño, Via de Dublin s/n (Metro: Campo de las Naciones). Bike rental hours: Mon-Fri 10 AM-1 PM, 4:30-7:30 PM. Sat, Sun, and holidays: 9:30 AM – 7:30 PM.

Free museums

Ready for a day of art but not for a hefty admission charge? Then take advantage of these free times at the city’s most popular museums:

Head over to the Museo del Prado (Paseo del Prado Metro: Banco de Espana) on Tuesday- Saturday from 6 PM – 8 PM or Sunday from 5 PM – 8 PM for free entrance.

If Dali and Picasso are more your style, then head to the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia on Calle Santa Isabel, 52 (Metro: Atocha) on Saturdays for free admission from 10 AM – 2 PM.

For museums that are always free, check out the following:

CaixaForum. Paseo Prado, 36 (Metro: Atocha) Open daily 10 AM – 8 PM.

La Casa Encendida. Ronda de Valencia, 2 (Metro: Embajadores) Open daily 10 AM – 10 PM.

Museo Municipal de Arte Contemporanea. Calle Conde Duque, 9 (Metro: Noviciado). Open Tuesday – Saturday 10 AM – 2 PM, 5:30-9 PM, Sunday 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM.

Templo de Debod. Montana del Principe Pio (Metro: Plaza de España). Open Tuesday – Friday 10 AM – 2 PM, Saturday, Sunday 10 AM – 2 PM.

Free food!

Free food may sound too good to be true, but here in Madrid, if you order a drink, then olives, potato chips, or tasty tapas will be on their way! Some suggestions for great free food:

El Tigre. Calle Infantas, 30 (Metro: Gran Via)

Entretapas y Vinos. Calle Fuencarral, 93 (Metro: Tribunal)

La Bardemcilla. Calle de Augusto Figueroa, 47 (Metro: Chueca)

About the author: Cynthia Kane is the editor of MAPMagazine.com, a Madrid travel e-zine, written by native English-speaking Madrid experts.

Popularity: 9% [?]

MAMAC's architecture looms over Nice; photo by abragad

Nice is a happening summer destination, but all that beach time can get hot, hot, hot! When you need a break from the heat, step on into the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art) for a cool respite full of beautiful, mind expanding art—and all for free!

What’s on?

The Musée switches up its offerings annually giving each group of artists it showcases a good, long run. Current exhibits include a retrospective of the work of Robert Longo, and the paintings of Djamel Tatah. Past exhibitions have featured artists like Michel Gérard and Denis Castellas. Be sure to check out the museum’s spectacular structure too, a dream-come-true for architects Yves Bayard and Henri Vidal. For more information, visit the museum’s web site (exhibit info only in French).

If you go-

The Musée is located in central Nice on the Promenade des Arts, near the Garibaldi tram stop. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM (closed Mondays) except on holidays. Entrance into the museum and gallery is free of charge. Guided tours are €5, €2.50 reduced and occur daily at 3 PM.

Popularity: 8% [?]

By Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries—

The "World's Smallest Museum" in Superior, AZ. Really? Photo by Danny McL.

Years ago, we drove across Arizona on US Highway 60, and after hours of agave, mesquite, and thorny acacia, stopped off in Superior. Ground squirrels, Harris hawks, and lizards were everywhere in this Arizona backwater.

The town also offered a museum that claims to be the smallest in the world, which is actually a piece of arrant self-delusion. The Superior museum turned out to be about as exciting as the Cawker City Twine-A-Thon, but did encourage us to start combing Europe for even smaller museums.

A Parisian contender

What about the tiny Paris apartment which was the one-time home of eccentric French composer Erik Satie? Open only by appointment, the one room where Satie spent most of the last twenty-seven years of his life not only has real content (and lots of it), but it also affords insights into the mind of a man who gave his compositions bizarre names like “Préludes flasques pour un chien” (Drivelling preludes for a Dog) and “Trois Morceaux en forme de Poire” (Three pear-shaped pieces).

The Musée-Placard d’Erik Satie is packed in just the way that Satie left it when he departed this world. He owned two pianos, one kept on top of the other, a hundred umbrellas, and he was an inveterate collector of clothes, bric-a-brac, and correspondence.

But the winner is… in Macedonia!

But even better (and smaller) is a truly diminutive museum in Macedonia in the village of Dzepciste just north of Tetovo. Oddly enough, Dzepciste has that same kind of frontier feel about it as Superior in Arizona. Dzepciste is an outback place of rugged faces, cautious smiles, and expressive simplicity. Plus one fabulous museum devoted to local history and ethnography with more than a thousand artifacts that document two millennia of Macedonian civilization.

With a total exhibition space of just seven square meters, visitor rules are strict: no more than one person at a time is allowed to visit. And, best of all for Cheapos, it is absolutely free. It is no bad thing, though, to leave a donation to support the work of the locals who have, over many years, developed this fine diminutive attraction.

About the authors: Susanne Kries and Nicky Gardner are regular contributors to EuroCheapo and together edit hidden europe magazine. They live in Berlin.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Photo courtesy of Fragonard’s official web site

In the list of Paris museums, one sweet-smelling attraction is sometimes overlooked. The Musee du Parfum, run by the famous perfume manufacturer Fragonard, has been offering a “behind the scents” tour of the perfume business for 25 years. And happily for us, the visit is free!

The museum is housed in a gorgeous 19th-century townhouse that drips with romantic ornamentation. The house was built by Joseph Lesoufaché, a student of Garnier, for whom the nearby Opera Garnier was named. (When we say “nearby,” we mean it. The museum is less than half a block west of the opera!)

The Fragonard Museum provides free guided tours throughout the day. Learn how perfume has been made through the ages, and inspect the elaborate tools used in their production.

Just don’t be surprised if you’re inspired to buy some wares at the end of the tour!

Visiting Fragonard’s Perfume Museum

Le musee du parfum
9, rue Scribe
Metro: Opera
Tél: +33 (0) 1 47 42 04 56

The museum is open Monday to Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM, Sundays and holidays, 9 AM to 5 PM.

For more details, visit the museum’s website.

Join us again tomorrow, as our “Grand Tour” continues in Prague.

Popularity: 21% [?]

During his time in Rome, Michelangelo charged the ancient city with works of incredible beauty. His sculptures, frescoes, and architecture still inspire a city-wide love affair.

And, his priceless work is on view at no cost to modern admirers. Angela K. Nickerson, author of A Journey into Michelangelo’s Rome, takes us on a very cheapo-friendly tour of Michelangelo’s Rome.

The Sistine Chapel: (Viale del Vaticano, at the Vatican Museums)

The Sistine Chapel, the ceiling of which is known as Michelangelo’s lifetime achievement, is free and open to the public on the last Sunday of each month. As Goethe once wrote, “Until you have seen the Sistine Chapel, you have no adequate conception of what man is capable of accomplishing.”

St. Peter’s Basilica: (Vatican City)

Michelangelo’s Rome ‘Pieta’, the piece that cemented the 24-year-old’s reputation as a gifted sculptor, occupies a chapel just inside the church’s entrance. Soaring over the central altar, Michelangelo’s dome marks his last great work. Late in Michelangelo’s life, he was charged with reorganizing the architectural design of St. Peter’s. For a small fee (€7; €4 if you just take the stairs), take an elevator to the roof and enjoy a spectacular view of the city. From the roof, take the 300-some steps up the dome and bask in a vision of Rome that Michelangelo himself did not live to see.

Basilica Di San Pietro in Vincoli: (Piazza di San Pietro in Vincoli 4a, Vatican City)

Just up the hill from the Colosseum sits a small, non-descript church called San Pietro in Vincoli. Inside is one of Michelangelo’s most controversial works, a sculpture that depicts Moses with full beard and horns. The statue, and two others (Leah and Rachel) are part of Pope Julius II’s tomb, a project that took Michelangelo 40 years to finish.

Farnese Palace: (250 Via Giulia)

Via Giulia is a renowned street in Rome, and here sits Michelangelo’s Farnese Palace (now the French Embassy), was never bulldozed despite Pope Julius II’s best efforts. Stop here for an afternoon cup of coffee or glass of vino. The piazza and fountains in front are some of the best, and most inspired, in all of Rome.

Santa Maria sopra Minerva: (around the corner from the Pantheon )

Santa Maria sopra Minerva hosts Michelangelo’s statue of a ‘Risen Christ’. Beloved and highly acclaimed in his day, Michelangelo’s depiction of Jesus—as regal, muscular and triumphant—is often overlooked.

Piazza del Campidoglio: (on Capitoline Hill)

When Rome granted Michelangelo citizenship in 1537, the ceremony was held in the mud at the top of the Capitoline Hill. A year later, Pope Paul III asked Michelangelo to redesign the hilltop. Michelangelo transformed its summit into a lovely piazza and redesigned the buildings there as well.

Basilica dei Santi Apostoli: (at Piazza dei Santissimi Apostoli)

When the elderly artist died, at 89-years of age, his funeral was held at Santi Apostoli church and was attended by the entire city including the pope himself. Then, under cover of night, his body was whisked away in a wagon of straw, to be buried in his beloved Florence. However, a plaque was erected at the church in his memory. (Cheapo tip: Knock at the monastery next door and ask about Michelangelo. The plaque with a portrait of the artist is in the monastery’s courtyard.)

About the author: Angela K. Nickerson, author of “A Journey into Michelangelo’s Rome“ (Roaring Forties Press, 2008), married a Roman and fell in love with a country. She now leads small groups of travelers on trips to Italy, but her wanderlust is relentless. Living by the motto, “Just go,” Angela jumps on a plane wherever and whenever possible.

Popularity: 19% [?]

Planning to visit London on a budget could initially give a Cheapo a nervous breakdown. But, as documented throughout our London guide, it is possible to live it up in London on a modest budget — with a little planning.

How? Besides the obvious (choosing a budget hotel, eating cheaply, and getting around with an Oyster card), you’d be crazy not to take advantage of London’s free museums and attractions. Most of the nationally-run museums and art galleries are publicly financed and don’t cost visitors a pence. It’s a beautiful thing…

9 must-visit free museums:

British Library
British Museum
National Gallery
Natural History Museum
National Portrait Gallery
Science Museum
Tate Modern
The Tate Britain
Victoria and Albert Museum

9 notable, free museums:

Bank of London Museum
Imperial War Museum
London Political Cartoon Gallery
Museum of Garden History
Museum of London
National Maritime Museum
Petrie Museum of Egyption Archaeology
RIBA Architecture Gallery
Sir John Soane’s Museum

2 fun and free attractions:

The Changing of the Guard
The Ceremony of the Keys

More budget help for London:

• Our article on budget tips for London
• The “London Free List” of free and nearly-free London attractions
• VisitLondon’s suggestions for free London attractions

Popularity: 31% [?]

Photo by RichardsonA

Usually a late night in London means a long night out, a club with a cover charge, and kebabs as the sun comes up. Now, the more cultured among us can step out for something other than a sticky dance floor and over-priced mojitos. Okay, so the new Late Nights at London’s cultural venues don’t last until the sun comes up, but National Gallery, The Tate, and other London favorites now have extended weekday hours. Now we can have our culture after work during the week, freeing up coveted weeken hours, which could easily be spent country hopping on Ryanair.

Check out the Lates website for all information on what’s currently on and what’s upcoming.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Photograph by Rita Crane

Apparently the French Ministry of Culture caught on that €8 is a lot to pay just to get lost trying to find the Mona Lisa.

For younger visitors, there’s a better way. The Louvre is absolutely free for everyone under 26 years old, every Friday evening. The free hours are from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Who knew the Louvre was the place to be on a Friday night?

This Friday, March 23rd, 2007, there’s the added bonus of free music to compliment your art. Students from the National Conservatory of Music will be playing in front of their favorite pieces of art throughout the museum. Two for the price of none!

Take metro lines 1 or 7 to Palais Royal Musée du Louvre. The station connects to the museum underground.

Popularity: 9% [?]

photograph by Melanie Clatanoff

If you’re in Paris and starved for some English language press, don’t pay €2.20 for a newspaper.

The Museum of Parisian Architecture, located in the Pavillion de l’Arsenal, has a “bar à journaux” where anyone can sit and read the news for free. The International Herald Tribune is there, along with thirteen other daily papers from around the world. There’s even a vending machine for coffee.

The museum is also free, so take a look around! It just reopened this week following a renovation. It has cool models, maps, and drawings of Paris through the ages and bean bag chairs to lounge in. If you don’t know much about Paris this is a great place to get an overview of the city and start planning your visit!

The Pavillion de l’Arsenal is open 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. It’s located at 21 boulevard Morland in the 4th arrondissement. The closest metro is Sully-Morland, line 7, though Bastille is also nearby.

Popularity: 4% [?]

photograph by Melanie Clatanoff

Museums in Paris are free on the first Sunday of the month. So now that you have absolutely no excuse not to soak in a little culture, where to go?

We suggest avoiding the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, where there will be a herd of about six thousand fellow Cheapos standing in line.

Try the Picasso Museum. The museum is in a huge 17th century mansion, tucked away on a little backstreet in the 3rd arrondissement. It’s one of the best (and least-crowded!) museums in Paris.

The museum is located in the Marais, which is a great weekend neighborhood to begin with. While the rest of Paris shuts down on Sundays, the Marais keeps going. You can grab some falafel and even go shopping post-Pablo.

Located at 5 rue de Thoringy, metro Saint Paul (line 1), open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Popularity: 14% [?]