If your travel bucket list is bigger than your budget, good news: CheapFunThingsToDo.com just launched a series of city guides built to help you squeeze the most joy out of every dollar. These aren’t your average “10 free things” lists; they’re curated by real experts and local insiders who know what’s actually fun, quirky, and worth your time.
Whether you’re headed to Paris, Portland, or Prague, these guides are designed to help travelers of all stripes explore more while spending less.
Not Just Free But Actually Fun
Each guide goes beyond museums and monuments to include offbeat parks, local festivals, surprising food finds, and oddball history spots. Expect:
- Best seasons to visit (and when crowds chill out)
- Neighborhood cheat sheets that show where the cool stuff’s hiding
- Low-cost bites and hidden haunts that only the locals know about
They even flag free-entry days at attractions and quirky, can’t-Google-it experiences, like old-school diners with secret menus or tiny art galleries in someone’s backyard.
How to Use Them (and Feel Like a Genius)
First off, you’re going to pick your city (they’ve got over 100 on the map). Then you’re going to scroll by your travel interest, i.e., food, culture, free stuff, offbeat fun. As you look through the list, make sure you’re taking notes or screenshotting your faves.
Then, when it’s time for your trip, you’ll talk into the city with confidence and a plan that won’t wreck your wallet.
Why These Guides Matter Now
Travel’s back in full swing, but so are high prices. Hotel rates, ticket costs, and even coffee runs can drain your trip budget faster than you’d expect. These guides offer a clever workaround, spotlighting the good stuff that doesn’t come with sticker shock. And because the picks come from locals and travel-savvy curators, you’re not just getting cheap options; you’re getting better ones.
What sets these guides apart is the voice. They read like a friend showing you around, not like a spreadsheet. And they’re updated regularly, so you’re not stuck following a five-year-old recommendation to a bar that’s now a mattress store.
This real-time approach is similar to beloved local-tip platforms like Spotted by Locals, but with more structure and a wide range of themes, from family-friendly outings to date-worthy detours.
For Curious Travelers Who Hate Tourist Traps
Let’s be honest: some “budget travel” advice feels like punishment (eat crackers in your room! Take six buses to avoid a cab!). These guides are different. They’re for people who love exploring, who want their travel to feel joyful and real, not just cheap.