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As of this month, visitors to Cologne Cathedral in Germany must pay an entry fee. The colossal Gothic masterpiece has been free to visit for centuries, but that privilege ended on July 1, with tourists wanting to admire its cavernous interior now required to cough up €12 (£10.20).
It is the latest in a string of attractions around the world that have introduced admission charges in recent times. The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, for example, went from being free to costing €25 (about £22) in 2024, while Rome brought in charges for both the Pantheon (in 2023) and the Trevi Fountain (in 2025). Even the great outdoors is not immune to the trend, with hikers tackling Japan’s Mount Fuji now subject to a fee.
So, which of the world’s great landmarks are – for now – still completely free to visit?
The British Museum, London
More than 6.4million people visited the British Museum last year, most of them probably eager to catch a glimpse of the Rosetta Stone, the treasures of Sutton Hoo or the Elgin Marbles. And if that wasn’t enough of a reason to go, viewing its impressive collection costs precisely nothing.
Some temporary exhibitions do charge an entry fee; for example, standard tickets for the forthcoming loan of the Bayeux Tapestry carry a hefty price tag of £33. But fees do not apply to standard admission. That said, it is advised to book a timed slot to avoid the queues.
Of course, it is just one of many excellent and free museums in London. The Natural History Museum overtook the British Museum as the UK’s premier visitor attraction last year, while the Tate Modern, the V&A and the National Gallery are home to world-class artistic collections.
Niagara Falls, Canada/US
Straddling the border between the US and Canada, Niagara Falls are probably the world’s best-known cascades. The trio of roaring waterfalls – of which Horseshoe Falls is widely considered to be the most impressive – can be witnessed from a range of scenic viewpoints, all gratis.
Additional experiences, such as boat rides through the mist or tours of the tunnels behind the falls, are charged, however these are nice-to-haves rather than must-dos.
Notre-Dame, Paris
The Parisian cathedral of Notre-Dame, overlooking the Seine, charges a fee to climb the 424 steps of one of its towers, but tourists are still able to visit the rest of the building free of charge. As with the British Museum, reserving an entry time is advised, but this is also free.
The cathedral is older than Cologne’s and underwent extensive restoration following the 2019 fire that forced it to close for five years. Now, visitors can once again see its 13th-century rose windows and the Crown of Thorns relic in all their glory.
The High Line, New York
New York might be a notoriously costly city, but one of its attractions that won’t set you back is the High Line. This public park is built on a disused railway line which runs through Manhattan and provides views of the city from 30ft above ground.
Despite its elevated position, the High Line is extremely accessible, with lifts and ramps from street level making it wheelchair-friendly and pushchair-friendly.
The park also has plenty of free events including tours and nighttime stargazing sessions.
East Side Gallery, Berlin
This surviving section of the Berlin Wall now stands as the world’s longest open-air gallery, featuring more than 100 paintings across the best part of a mile. The East Side Gallery has official “Denkmal” (heritage-protected) status and is open 24 hours a day, attracting more than three million visitors annually.
Keep an eye out for one of its most well-known murals: the “Fraternal Kiss” depicts Erich Honecker, the East German chairman, and Leonid Brezhnev, the Soviet leader, locking lips.
Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto
Japan’s ancient capital has no shortage of captivating Shinto shrines, but this one at the base of Mount Inari has become one of the country’s most emblematic sites. Dedicated to the harvest deity, Fushimi Inari Taisha is best known for its 10,000 densely packed torii gates.
The vermillion structures symbolise the threshold between the earthly and spiritual worlds and hang over the trails that guide visitors on their two- to three-hour hike to the top of the mountain.
It will come as a surprise to no one that etiquette is key when visiting this Japanese attraction. Do not lean on the torii gates as you pose for pictures, bow as you pass under them, and avoid walking in the centre of the path (as this is reserved for the gods).
Jemaa el-Fnaa, Marrakech
The beating heart of Marrakech’s medina has been drawing the city’s visitors since the 11th century, and today, the square is an unmissable entry on any traveller’s itinerary.
Mornings are filled with the sound of snake charmers’ pungi flutes and the smell of freshly squeezed orange juice, while evenings see it transform into a labyrinthine, lantern-lit set-up filled with food stands and fortune tellers.
Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
According to science, Northern Ireland’s first World Heritage Site owes its existence to volcanic activity and continental drift. According to legend, it owes it to a rivalry between giants. Whatever its origin story, the result was 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns and one of the UK’s most spectacular views.
Book a paid visitor experience through the National Trust if you’d like to be accompanied by a storyteller, but otherwise, simply walk down to the stones on the Atlantic shore at no cost.
Plaza de España, Seville
With its azulejo-adorned benches and a charming canal dotted with rowing boats, the semicircle-shaped Plaza de España is one of Seville’s numerous architectural delights. It is also one of the few that remain free; the Royal Alcázar, the cathedral and the Giralda, as well as the Setas de Sevilla, all charge.
This might change. José Luis Sanz, the mayor of the city, announced plans to introduce an entry fee in 2024, and it would appear that the project is still in motion despite delays. The plaza could therefore follow in the footsteps of other ticketed open-air spaces in Spain, such as Barcelona’s Park Güell, which is priced at €18 (£15).
As it stands, however, the Plaza de España is free, even if not for much longer.
The Golden Temple, Amritsar
The Sri Harmandir Sahib complex, which houses the Golden Temple, feeds 150,000 people daily, free of charge, as a manifestation of the Sikh belief that its places of worship are open to all. Head coverings are mandatory for all visitors, but these are provided, as are foot-washing stations and shoe storage. A fee of any sort would jar with its entire ethos.
The temple seems to float on the waters of the Amrit Sarovar pool and is surrounded by marble walkways where gurus read scripture and visitors rest in the shade. Dawn is often said to be the best time to visit, when the building reflects in the tranquil waters while the morning light catches on its gilded domes.
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