Entrance to Sforza Castle in Milan; Photo by Bernt Rostad

Despite Milan’s reputation as the center of the fashion universe, the capital of Italy has plenty of (non-Gucci related) attractions for Cheapos to explore. Take, for instance, the Sforza Castle, or the “Castello Szforesco,” as it is known in Italian.

This impressive structure was built by the Sforza family in the 14th century to replace the Visconti Castle after it was destroyed. The Sforza castle played an important role in the history of Milan, serving as a fortress and barracks during various military confrontations. Napoleon seized the castle in May 1776 and it remained under French rule until 1799. The castle was soon back in French hands, when Napoleon defeated the then-ruling Austrian army. The castle was restored after the unification of Italy in 1861, with the help of the renowned architect Luca Beltrami.

Today the castle is best known for the civic museums it houses. Among the items on display are Michelangelo’s last sculpture, the Rondanini Pieta, and da Vinci’s Codex Trivulzianus manuscript. Besides the museums and its stately towers, the castello boasts a beautiful garden and the original moat that surrounded medieval Milan.

You can browse the castle grounds for free, though museum admission costs €3. Afraid you can’t afford to glimpse the works of your favorite Renaissance artists? Never fear: if you stop by between 4:30 pm and 5 pm (between 2 pm and 5:30 pm on Fridays), you’ll get into the castle museums liberare! (Who says being late is always bad?)

The Castello Szforesco is open daily from 7 am to 6 pm in winter, and 7 am to 7 pm in summer. Take the MM1 Cadorna to Cairoli or the MM2 Cadorna to Lanza. Visit the castle’s official site for more info.

Popularity: 8% [?]

A statue of the Dutch author Multatuli. Photo by underdutchskies.

By Audrey Sykes—

Amsterdam is bursting with arts and entertainment, and The Netherlands itself boasts over 400 museums to marvel at. Although viewing the work of Van Gogh and Rembrandt can often be pricey, there are still ways to satisfy a museum craving free of charge. Here are five hotspots that offer a complimentary dose of Amsterdam culture.

1. Botanical Gardens at Vrije University

Large and impressive glass houses and about 2.5 acres of botanical bliss await those willing to venture outside the city center for photo ops. Built in 1967 as a biology addition for the local university, the garden is home to about 10,000 plant species, from cacti to a variety of trees and orchids.You don’t need to know the difference between biennials and perennials to enjoy this plant paradise.

Address: Van der Boechorststraat 8
Get There: Tram 5 to de Boelelaan Vu, metro 50 and 51 to Amsterdam Zuid
Hours: September through May: M–F 8am–4.30pm May through September: M–F 8am–4.30pm, Sa 9am–5pm.
Email: info@hortus.vu.nl
Web: www.vu.nl/en

2. Melkweg Photogallery

The Melkweg’s west entrance from Marnixstraat leads visitors to a café and free photography room which boasts a new exhibition each month. The work on display ranges from portraits to photojournalism to scenic abstracts, and it’s rarely disappointing. The mounted photo selection is ample enough to keep you busy for a good half hour.

Address: Lijnbaansgracht 234a/Marnixstraat 409
Get There: Tram 1, 2, 5, 7 and 10 to Leidseplein
Hours: Daily from noon–8pm.
Email: info@melkweg.nl
Web: www.melkweg.nl

3. Hollandsche Schouwburg (The Dutch Theater)

During the height of World War II, this theater was a hub for Nazis deporting between 60,000 to 80,000 Jews to concentration camps. Today the building is a war memorial, with a number of touching monuments scattered throughout the building. The museum also offers up informative history of the building and the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam during WWII.

A view of the Dutch Theater exterior. Photo by cuv59.

Address: Plantage Middenlaan 24
Get There: Tram 6, 9 and 14 to Plantage Kerklaan
Hours: Daily from 11am–4pm
Email: info@hollandscheschouwburg.nl
Web: www.hollandscheschouwburg.nl

4. Multatuli Museum
Multatuli was the pen name for Edward Douwes-Dekker (1820-1887), a former general during colonial Dutch times who was the first to speak out about the injustice and racism happening in the Dutch colony of Indonesia. His book, Max Havelaar (1860), was a revealing testimony to the realities of colonialism. The book sent a shockwave through The Netherlands and inspired the freethinker and anarchist movements. Multatuli’s house has been converted to a museum where visitors can view the space where the writer worked and learn more about how people of his time lived.

Address: Korsjespoortsteeg 20
Get There: Tram 1, 2, 5, 13 and 17 to Nieuwezijds Kolk (walking distance from Central Station)
Hours: Tu 10am–5pm, weekends 12pm–5pm
Email: multatulimuseum@zonnet.nl
Web: www.multatuli-museum.nl

5. Reflex New Art Gallery

This modest art gallery has been hosting a unique collection of work from young, international talent since 2003. Reflex features exhibitions showcasing the work of four to six artists. With a vibrant array of paintings, photography, and everything in between, Reflex will suit anyone interested in new and different modern art.

Address: Weteringschans 83
Get There: Tram 7 and 10 to Spiegelgracht, 16, 24 and 15 to Weteringcircuit.
Hours: M, Tu, Th and Sa 10am–6pm.
Email: info@reflexnewartgallery.nl
Web: www.reflex-art.nl

About the author: Audrey Sykes hopped across the pond from the US three years ago for a Masters degree in global journalism. Since then, she’s lived all over Europe, reporting and editing for music sites, snowboard mags, and travel media.

Popularity: 8% [?]

The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia.

Riga, the capital of Latvia, has no shortage of interesting sights and activities to offer budget travelers. For example, the city’s fine State Art Museum will only set you back a couple of lats, while the lift to the top of St. Peter’s Church, towering over Old Town, will cost about the same.

The following two museums, however, are completely free and should make your must-visit list:

Latvian War Museum
Located inside Gunpowder Tower at Smilsu iela, 20

For a quick-hit history of Latvia’s military past, and to catch an illuminating exhibit on the Soviet occupation, check out Latvia’s War Museum. The museum describes its mission as “to save collective, historical memory of the nation about political and military history of Latvia, the influence of the military conflicts… on the destiny of the nation, and the reflection of these conflicts’ consequences…”

Current offerings include a detailed exposition on the Latvian army’s role in Russia’s Civil War (1918-1921).

The museum is open year-round, and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia
Strelnieku laukums, 1, Old Town

Latvia was occupied by German and Soviet forces three times from 1940 to 1991. These included the first Soviet occupation (1940-1941), the Nazi occupation (1941-1944/45), and the long, devastating second Soviet occupation (1944/45-1991).

The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia provides exhibits and a permanent collection focused on these three occupations, their victims (including business and farm owners, Jews, political opponents, and artists), and the crimes committed by the foreign powers.

The museum is centrally located in Old Town, next to Town Hall Square (Ratslaukums). The museum is open daily May through September, 11 AM to 6 PM; October through April 11 AM to 5 PM, closed Mondays during this off-season. (The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia was also the answer to our previous “Name this Museum” post.)

Tell us: Have you ever been to either of these museums? Do you have a favorite free or budget sight in Riga?

Popularity: 10% [?]

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% [?]

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% [?]

photograph courtesy of purplepunk

For those on the hunt for a good cultural bargain, the Nuit des Musees in Paris can’t be beat. If you’re not familiar with it (yet), here’s the key info. In 2005, the French Department of Culture launched this program to provide free admission to select museums in Paris and throughout France, keeping museum doors open until 1 a.m.

The development of free museum nights has really taken off across Europe, with city after city opening their doors once or twice a year for a free evening. Paris holds its free night each year in May.

One caveat, though: We tried getting into the Louvre at midnight during last year’s Nuit des Musees only to find the entrance closed at 11 p.m.

Our advice: Plan ahead. Fortunately, the Louvre’s terrace bar overlooks the pyramids. And, of course, there’s the adjacent Jardin des Tuilleries, with its much more hospitable hours.

Popularity: 5% [?]