Is your travel budget taking a hit? Indulge your love of culture, history and nature with these free or nearly-free activities.

Who says everything travel-related has to be expensive? Rising fuel costs and airline fees are certainly taking a bite out of everyone's travel budget, but free or almost-free activities can be found just about anywhere. Whether you're staying close to home this year or heading overseas, here are some suggestions to get you started:

Take a walking tour
You already know about the many benefits of seeing a place on foot, including the low cost. You can download materials from the Internet or pick up free brochures at your destination to guide you on your way. Many historical programs or volunteer organizations also host guided tours, if you know where to look for them. For more information, see Your Guide to Walking Tours.

Cycle in the city
Looking to pick up the pace? Cycling is growing in popularity and offers many of the same benefits of walking, but with a little more speed. According to a recent article on MSNBC, many major European cities such as Copenhagen and Helsinki offer free bicycle sharing programs. Other cities such as Paris, Rome and Vienna do charge for rentals, but the first half-hour is usually free and day- or week-long passes are reasonably priced and often cheaper than taking a taxi or the subway. Watch for this trend to make inroads Canadian and U.S. cities in the near future.

You can even make cycling a major part of your vacation. Many airlines, buses, and trains let you bring your own bike onboard as for free in an effort to promote environmentally-friendly practices. Many cities offer bike trails and paths, and self-guided bike tours and travel guides are appearing online. Look for guides such as Air Canada's onAir which has a Paris by Bicycle route or contact a local cycling organization for ideas.

Have fun at a festival or outdoor event
Local events aren't just for the locals, but they will take a little research to find:

- Look for parades around major holidays and events such as Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day, Chinese New Year, local arts or cultural festivals and special events. What better way to see lively costumes, music and dance?

- Free theatre performances and concerts are held throughout the summer. Picnic in the park while watching Shakespeare, or attend a recital lunchtime recital at a local opera house. Concerts are a great way to try out new types of music like jazz, opera, classical, folk and blues.

- Many places around the world also offer outdoor cinemas, many of which you can attend at no cost. Look for movies you wouldn't see in your hometown, and ask about subtitles if language barriers are an issue.

- Food, music or cultural festivals often have free events. Visit the arts and crafts merchants who attend, and take the opportunity to try ethnic foods.

Go to a gallery or museum
You may want to spend a little more time in London, England when you find out how many museums are free to visit, or work your schedule around free admission events to some of the top museums and art galleries around the world. Here's what to look for:

- Permanent collections: The Smithsonian, the Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal, and many major museums and galleries through the United Kingdom are some the institutions that don't charge a fee to visit their permanent collections. Special or touring exhibitions usually carry a cost, but access to the permanent collection is free with your ticket.

- Special events: Look for an annual open house event when admission fees are waived. This could be a city-wide or cultural event, or particular to the museum. Watch for free admission on national or municipal holidays, World Heritage Day (April 18) and World Tourism Day (September 27).

- Regular times: It might be three hours per week or a day each month, but many institutions have a regular time where anyone can visit for free. For example, admission to the Louvre and the Musée Eugène Delacroix is free the first Sunday of every month and the Vatican Museums waives its fees on the last Saturday of every month. Many countries throughout Europe and Asia are currently testing out free admission days.

Peruse a public building
Looking for interesting architecture, history and art work? Public buildings might not be the first places that come to mind, but they're often attractions in their own right.

- Churches, monasteries and other places of worship (both big and small) welcome visitors. Notre Dame de Paris and the Pantheon in Rome are on many people's must-see lists, but Buddhist temples, Hindu temples and mosques offer different cultural and religious learning experiences. You may need to call ahead, and be aware of any customs like dress codes.

- Many municipal, provincial and federal government buildings won't charge you to tour or attend special events. For example, Ottawa's Parliament Hill has free outdoor and indoor guided tours during tourist season, and free events on the grounds. Visitors to Washington D.C. can take a guided tour of Capitol Hill by reserving free tickets. In general, some areas may be closed while parliament is in session, but some parliaments like England's permit overseas visitors to watch debates and hearings. Before you go, make sure visitors are welcome and read up on security procedures.

- Many public ceremonies are free to watch, such as the changing of the guard at Ottawa's Parliament Hill or at London's Buckingham Palace.

- Look for events such as Canada's Doors Open that grant access to buildings that are normally closed, or offer free admission to ones that usually charge. These events usually last a day or two, and can include other activities such as guided tours.

- Libraries and archives also have interesting exhibitions drawing on their collections. Canada's Library and Archives have free exhibitions as well. The University of Cambridge's Museums, Collections and Libraries offer free admission that include art, archaeology, culture, natural history and gardens.

One word of caution: Make sure photography is permitted before you wield that camera. In today's tight security environment, it's risky to take pictures of anything having to do with the military or transportation services.

Meander through a market or shopping district
Whether you're touring London's Piccadilly Circus, Toronto's Kensington Market or a local farmers' market or flea market, your only cost will be items you decide to purchase. Markets are a way of life in many parts of the world, and a great place to find local arts, crafts and textiles. Sharpen your negotiating skills and get some great deals on souvenirs. You can also find fresh local produce to prepare your own meals.

Focus on the atmosphere: the sounds and smells are part of the experience, not just the sights.

Doubting the deals?
If these activities sound too good to be true, perhaps you're right to be a little suspicious. The one pitfall to free activities is that they are very popular -- which means there's the potential for crowds and long line ups. Your time is important, so it might be worth the cost to book a ticket in advance or see an exhibit at a more convenient time.

On the other hand, crowds are inevitable if you're travelling during peak season, and paying for an activity doesn't mean you'll avoid long waits. When in doubt, call ahead and ask how busy the event is likely to be, and how early you should get there to line up.

Where to find the facts:
Fortunately, details on free activities aren't top-secret. Here's where to look:

- Official tourism web sites -- look for national, provincial or municipal sites for activities and links.

- Try an online database like the World Events Guide or Whatsonwhen.com.

- Museum, gallery and historical society web sites have information about admission costs and special events.

- A good guide book, whether it's online or in print, can be an invaluable source of information.

One final word of advice: Always double check the dates. It's not hard to find out of date information on the Internet, and the dates and times of annual events often change from year to year.

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