The world’s 20 last great free attractions (plus five close to home)

The vermilion 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).

The Grand Bazaar, established in the 15th century, is one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, with more than 4000 shops and teahouses lining 65 streets in a labyrinthine blaze of colour.

If you can keep your wallet in your pocket, the bazaar is a free Aladdin’s spectacle of brass lamps, carpets, spices, sequined clothes and everything else from kitchen sinks to antique maps. It’s also a repository of Islamic architecture: vaulted ceilings, gateways, a mosque, old trading inns, kiosks and marble fountains. It’s Istanbul’s only major monument that doesn’t require an entrance fee.

It’s rare to find a free zoo and, while Hong Kong Zoo is modest, it features orangutans, monkeys, lemurs, sloths and many reptiles. The walk-through aviaries, which house some 160 species of birds, are especially worthy. The zoo adjoins botanical gardens that were also established in the Victorian era and are graced with greenhouses, fountains and statuary set amid lush vegetation that creates a wonderful contrast to towering background skyscrapers near the throbbing heart of Central. Trees with spring blossoms and autumn foliage are especially impressive. There’s also a children’s playground.

Some mosques bar non-Muslim visitors, many famous ones charge entrance fees, but the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the world’s largest, doesn’t cost a thing, although you’ll have to prebook. You can learn more on a 45-minute cultural tour, which is also free.

The Peace and Light Museum, devoted to the history of Islamic arts and sciences, does however charge AED50 ($19) admission.

The vast mosque is a splendid apparition in blinding white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, and fuses Moorish, Mughal, Ottoman and Arab influences. Even the outsized chandeliers and patterned carpets are magnificent.

Botanic gardens are a good bet anywhere if you’re looking for a free attraction, and Singapore Botanic Gardens is a great example. The only thing you have to pay for is the National Orchid Garden, which costs SGD15 ($16). You could spend a good half-day here, roaming the sprawling lawns shaded by giant tropical trees, skirting the lakes and enjoying several zones such as Marsh, Sundial Garden and Ginger Garden. There’s a children’s garden with a small farm, maze and outdoor puzzles that teach about plants. Also free are regular outdoor concerts and guided tours by volunteers.

The Bund or embankment that runs along the Huangpu River provides one of the greatest urban spectacles anywhere and captures the dynamism of contemporary China. It’s lined by 1920s buildings, while across the river soar the skyscrapers of Pudong where, a few decades ago, you saw only fields. If you can stay away from the posh restaurants and upmarket hotels you don’t have to spend anything. Enjoy crowds of hawkers, tourists and (in early morning) fan-dancing retirees, and admire the art deco and neoclassical facades of former colonial-era trading houses, banks and consulates. Pudong’s nighttime glitter creates a reason to return.

Many national parks charge fees, but all 13 of New Zealand’s national parks, which showcase its spectacular variety of landscapes from fjords to high alps, are gratis.

Abel Tasman National Park is an often-unsung gem compared to other, better-known national parks, and despite easy access. The Abel Tasman Coastal Track is one of the country’s eight Great Walks.

Its 60 kilometres take between three and five days across headlands and wild beaches and through subtropical rainforest. Overnight huts cost from $NZ42 ($35 depending on the season) and campsites are $NZ21 but, once again, there are no fees for day walks.

Easily reached from Kuala Lumpur by bargain-priced public transport, Batu Caves provide an unusual combination of limestone weathering and Hindu temple architecture and, moreover, is a very active site for worship and tourism, which lends the site a perennially festive air.

You’ll have to pay a small entrance fee to some caves, but the main attraction requires no tickets. Dress conservatively or you’ll have to rent a sarong, however.

You ascend via 272 multicoloured steps, dodging monkeys as you go, to find a giant golden statue of Lord Murugan. You can see Kuala Lumpur’s skyline in the distance. Incidentally, the area has numerous endemic plants.

The Smithsonian Institution has 17 museums and galleries and a National Zoo in Washington DC that don’t cost a cent, the only downside being that the most popular, such as the Air and Space Museum, can get very crowded during summer holidays.

Some of the museums require a (free) ticket booked in advance, and some have paid components such as the Space Museum’s planetarium and IMAX theatre. The sheer scale and quality of what’s on offer is stupendous, with museums covering Asian art, American art, African American history, Native heritage, natural history and more. You can admire a space shuttle, the Hope Diamond, Marie Antoinette’s earrings, dinosaur skeletons and moon rocks.

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.

The Canadian capital’s Parliament Hill is graced with several buildings, mostly in Gothic Revival style, that house the federal government. While you have to book tickets, there’s no cost. Be aware when planning that each building requires sometimes lengthy security screening.

The main Parliament Building is currently closed for renovations, but you can visit the Senate (housed in a former train station), House of Commons and the East Block, which houses the historic rooms of the 19th-century parliament.

The complex also has an ultra-modern underground visitor centre. Parliament Hill is the focus of regular celebrations such as Canada Day (July 1), the daily summer changing of the guard, and the regular sounding of the carillon from the Peace Tower.

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 nine metres above ground. Despite its elevated position, the High Line is extremely accessible, with lifts and ramps from street level making it wheelchair and pram friendly. The park commissions artworks, runs tours and nighttime stargazing sessions.

Manly Scenic Walkway, Sydney NSW The 10-kilometre Manly Scenic Walkway is the best bushwalk you can do in any Australian city, taking you along Middle Harbour from Spit Bridge to Manly via beaches, headlands, Indigenous carvings, pockets of lush vegetation and viewpoints over the harbour towards the city centre, of which Dobroyd Head is the highlight.

Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT The Australian War Memorial requires a booked ticket, but there’s no charge. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies at the centre of the monument, whose exhibitions cover key conflicts such as Gallipoli, the fall of Singapore and the Korean War. The Last Post Ceremony is at 4.30pm. ANZAC Parade beyond is lined by various other commemorative monuments.

Arid Lands Botanical Garden, Port Augusta, SA We’re blessed with many free botanic gardens but, while some are more spectacular, perhaps none is more Australian than Arid Lands Botanical Garden, which showcases wonderful and sometimes rare outback plants. More than 150 bird species have been spotted on the grounds. A Children’s Garden section makes a visit family friendly.

Burrup Peninsula, Karratha, WA The Pilbara’s rugged red Murujuga National Park (Burrup Peninsula) features more than 10,000 works of art that constitute Australia’s largest collection of rock art. It’s World Heritage listed, yet there’s no park entry fee. The petroglyphs depict spirits, people and animals. Turquoise coastal views and the wildflowers that erupt in springtime are a bonus.

Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT Despite its compact size, MAGNT will detain you longer than expected thanks to excellent exhibits on Indigenous art, Cyclone Tracy, traditional boats and local wildlife. The museum does a great job of linking Aboriginal, Pacific and South-East Asian cultural influences. Although entry is free, there are occasional paid touring exhibitions and public programs.