Lonely Planet - The Best Things in Life Are Free

ARTS & CULTURE

SPORTS & LEISURE

MUSIC & FILM

ARTS & CULTURE

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

AFRICA

Cape Town

Africas wildest
experiences

Marrakesh

Safari without
the big bucks

ASIA

Bangkok

Beijing

Beirut

Asias best sunsets
without the
pricetag

Delhi

Dubai

Hong Kong

Mumbai

Asias best cheap
gourmet grub

Shanghai

Singapore

Tokyo

EUROPE

Amsterdam

Athens

Barcelona

Europes best
national parks

Berlin

Bruges

Budapest

Copenhagen

Europes best
wild swimming

Dublin

Edinburgh

Geneva

Helsinki

Europes best
free museums
and galleries

stanbul

Lisbon

London

Europes best city
walking tours

Madrid

Milan

Moscow

Stinge Henge

Oslo

Paris

Prague

Deric Olschner | 500px, Matt Munro, Lottie Davies, Gavin Quirke | Getty Images

SPORTS & LEISURE

FESTIVALS & EVENTS

ARTS & CULTURE

FOOD & DRINK

Reykjavik

Europes best tours by
public transport

Rome

Stockholm

Venice

Vienna

NORTH AMERICA

Austin

Boston

The Caribbean

Chicago

Detroit

Top 10 free-wheelin
all-American
adventures

Las Vegas

Los Angeles

Miami

New Orleans

North Americas
best free
movie nights

New York City

Portland, OR

San Diego

San Francisco

Top 10 free-range
adventures in
Americas
national parks

Seattle

Toronto

Free spectator sports
in the USA

Vancouver

Washington, DC

OCEANIA

Brisbane

Melbourne

North Island, NZ

Australia & New
Zealands best
free walks

South Island, NZ

Sydney

SOUTH AMERICA

Bogot

Buenos Aires

Wine tasting on a
shoestring in
South America

Lima

Rio de Janeiro

How to party at
Carnival in Rio

San Salvador

Sao Paulo

PRICE INDEX

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Matt Munro, Jack Vartoogian | Getty Images, Philip Lee Harvey

INTRODUCTION

Last year, while taking our children on their first
foray into Africa we visited Marrakesh in Morocco.
On our first evening we walked into the Djemaa
el-Fna (page 16), the citys world famous open
square. It was like walking into another world. The
smoke and smells from food stalls, the sound of
drummers and the clamour of people shouting,
singing and hawking their wares. Everyones eyes
were out on stalks, senses in overdrive. I had been
worried it would be too much, but the kids asked
to go again the following night. One of the most
memorable moments Ive had travelling cost
nothing beyond the gumption to walk into the
square that night.

The monetary value implied in the term free can
misrepresent whats on offer within these pages. The
quality of an experience, after all, is not attached to
a price tag. Many of the suggestions here involve
unearthing the worlds secret wonders, whether thats
swimming around Sydneys ocean pools (page 267)
or strolling the tombs and monuments of Delhis Lodi
Gardens (page 37). Walkers tackling the great tracks
of New Zealand (page 260) will find themselves close
to the soul of those beautiful islands.

For many of us, when we take our first steps
travelling free things are not only appealing but
essential if were to make our backpacking days last
as long as possible. And its not just formative forays
many unforgettable blasts of freedom and discovery
tend to be budget affairs. You quickly realise that

cheap can mean much, much better. No Roman
dinner will ever match the bread and cheese picnic in
Villa Celimontana, a short walk from the Colosseum,
on my first visit to the Eternal City. And if were talking
life lessons, there are few better insights into the
human condition than sharing a dorm room with a
dozen others from around the world.

Nations all around the world recognise the value
of making the wonders under their stewardship
accessible. 5000 years of Chinese history? Free
(National Museum of China, page 28). 19 museums
and galleries in Washington DC? Free (Smithsonian
Institution, page 242). Britains national parks? All
free. Donations always welcome, of course. And if
you want to experience all those popular places at
their best then get up early and get their before the
crowds arrive. The priceless calm of early mornings
doesnt come with a price tag either, by the way.

Its an exaggeration to say that everything good
is free, so youll find plenty of excellent value cheap
things to experience throughout this book. Dip into
your spare change for classy street food like
a choripn (chorizo sandwich) in Buenos Aires (page
277), the best views of Hong Kongs skyline from the
Star Ferry (page 48) and a Boston brewery tour (page
179). Great memories, a happier you and a grateful
wallet; one glance through these pages and you
may never aspire to the indulgences of top-end
travel again.

Tom Hall

Michael Heffernan