Free and cheap things to do for $5 or less
Bloggers from all over the world have submitted tips about their cities to help us create our ultimate $5 fun list.
This is a work in progress, and many more cities need to be included! Read submission rules and instructions in the sidebar.
Click on the state and city names to jump down to its listing. Or you can scroll the page to browse.
United States
- Alabama
- California
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Washington
- Virginia
Canada
Germany
Netherlands
Alabama
Birmingham, AL
Things to Do in Birmingham for $5 or Less by No Debt Plan
- Pepper Place Market
- Vulcan Park
- Oak Mountain State Park
- Samford University
California
Bay area, CA (San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz)
Less Expensive Ways to Enjoy San Francisco by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
- Legion of Honor
- de Young Museum
- Japanese Tea Garden
- Inner Richmond (real Chinatown)
- Golden Gate Park
- Cliff House
- Fisherman's Wharf Pier 45
- Castro Theatre
- Kabuki Springs
- Palace of Fine Arts
- Sho Chiku Bai Takara Sake Brewery
The activities and events in bay area under $5 by Learning the ropes
- Santa Clara Farmer's Market
- San Jose Flea Market
- Bike and jogging trails
- Gay parade
- Mystery Spot
- Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- San Jose Tech Museum
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Sausalito
- Fruit picking in Brentwood
- Open air movies
- Santana Row
- Intel Museum
- Maker Faire
- Santa Cruz beach and Half Moon bay
- Pier 39, San Francisco
- 17 mile drive, Monterey
- Santa Clara county fair
santa cruz on a shoestring by the part-time life
- Simpkins Family Swim Center
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Salsa party at Palomar Ballroom
Urban development by The Long View
- Lake Meritt
Los Angeles, CA
Top Ten Things To Do In Los Angeles For Less Than Five Dollars by Yield To Pedestrian
- Point Dume Beach
- Aidan's Place, a Universally Accessible Playground (UAP)
- Huntington Gardens, Library, and Art Collection
- Griffith Park & Observatory
- The Getty Museum
- The Grove & The Farmer's Market
- La Brea Tar Pits
- The Peterson Automotive Museum
- Santa Monica Pier
- Venice Pier
- Manhattan Beach Pier
Free and Frugal Things to Do in Los Angeles by Our Fourpence Worth
- Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade and Pier
- The Grove
- The Original Farmers Market
- Downtown Burbank
- The Hollywood Bowl
- TV show tapings and film screenings
- Universal City Walk
- Grand Performances Series at California Plaza
- Griffith Park & Observatory
- The Getty Center
- The Getty Villa
- Skirball Cultural Center & Museum
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
- Los Angeles Central Library
- California Science Center
- The Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Society Hollywood Museum 27
- Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
- Balboa Park
- The Stand
- Skirball Center
San Diego, CA
San Diego: The Land of Five Dollar Entertainment by The Art Of Frugality
- Free Flamenco at the Sky Lounge, Sheraton Suites
- Balboa Park free tuesdays
- Del Mar Racetrack
- La Jolla Cove
- Julian Apple Days Festival every fall
District of Columbia
Washington, DC
Smithsonian museums by herbertanzer
- National Museum of Natural History
- National Museum of American History
- American Art Museum
- National Gallery of Art
- National Museum Of The American Indian
- Air and Space Museum
- Arthur M Sackler Gallery
- Freer Gallery of Art
Florida
Daytona Beach, FL
Ten things to do in greater Daytona Beach under $5.00 by Treading Softly
- Daytona Beach
- Free concerts at the Bandshell
- Fish at Granada Pier
- Ponce de Leon Inlet Light Station
- Tomoka State Park
- Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
- Bulow Creek State Park
- Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens
- Southeast Museum of Photography
- African American Museum of the Arts
- Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail See map and info from official site
- The Casements, former winter home of John D. Rockefeller
Gainesville, FL
Your guide to a fun (and cheap) vacation in Gainesville, Florida by All About Appearances
- Devil’s Millhopper
- Paynes Prairie
- Gainesville to Hawthorne Trail
- San Felasco Hammock
- Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo
- Kanapaha Botanical Gardens
- Florida Museum of Natural History
- Ham Museum of Art
- Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park
- Haile Homestead at Kanapaha Plantation
- Plaza Series Concerts
Hawaii
Honolulu, HI
Honolulu Now on the Dollar Menu! by Go Visit Hawaii
- Free hula show at Kuhio Beach Park
- Free Polynesian dance and fireworks show at the Hilton
- Visit the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor
- Diamond Head Crater
- Self-guided Waikiki Historical Trail walking tour
- Waikiki Beach
Illinois
Champaign-Urbana, IL
Free and cheap things to do in Champaign-Urbana by Philip Brewer
- Strawberry Jame
- Downtown Festival of the Arts
- Taste of Champaign
- Jazz Walk
- Bach's Lunch
- Krannert Uncorked
- Parkland College Theater and Art Gallery
- Art Fair
- Heartland Gallery
- Cinema Gallery
- Classes, Talks, and Demonstrations
- Allerton Park
- Arboretum
- Spurlock Museum
- Early American Museum
- Orpheum Children's Science Museum
Chicago, IL
Things to in Chicago do for under $5 by The Writer's Coin
- Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier
- Art Institute
- The Bean
- Botanical Gardens
- Garfield Park Conservatory
- Five Buck Club
Louisiana
Baton Rouge, LA
Things to do for under $5 in Baton Rouge by Personal Finance Analyst
- Bluebonnet Swamp Tour
- BREC Zoo
- Highland Road Park Observatory
- Magnolia Mound Plantation House
- BMX Raceway & Velodrome Skate Park
- Sunshine Socials
- USS Kidd
Maine
Aroostook County, ME
Family Fun for Five Dollars or Less: Houlton, Maine and Around Aroostook County by Myscha Theriault
- Driving tour around Presque Isle
- Free summer concerts
- Cary Library
- Peanut Carnival
- Memorial Park
- Star gazing
- Summer programs for kids
- Big Stop
- Agricultural Museum
- Aroostook State Park
Portland, ME
An absolute gem among America's small cities by Mary Webber
- First Friday Art Walk Portland Museum of Art
Massachusetts
Boston, MA
Enjoy Boston Every Day of the Week (On the Cheap!) by The Concrete Gardener
- Memorial Drive
- DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park
- Boston Public Library
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
- The Institute of Contemporary Art
- The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
Best activities in Boston for under $5 by The Simple Me
- Crane Beach
- Cambridge Summer in the City
- Carson Beach
- Capitol Theater
- Boston Common Frog Pond Skating Rink
- Swan Boat Rides
- Boston Landmarks Orchestra
- Freedom Trail self-guided walking tour
- Roller Skating at Chez-Vous
- Walden Pond State Reservation
- Arnold Arboretum
- Sculpture Garden at the Forest Hills Cemetery
Things to do in Boston for $5 or less… by Living Almost Large
- Freedom Trail with free audio guide
- U.S.S. Constitution
- Boston Common
- Swan Boat Ride
- Minutemen Bike Trailway
- Quincy Marketplace and Faneuil Hall
- Newbury Street
- JP Licks
- Trinity Church
- Public Library
- Harvard University
- Charles River
- Free museums (on certain days): Museum of Fine Arts, Children's Museum, Harvard Art Museum, Harvard Museum of Natural History
- Zoos
- Berkshire Mountains
- Cape Cod
Boston, MA by Amber
- Boston Common's Frog Pond
- Museum of Fine Arts
- Karaoke at the Limelight
- Live Music at Wally's Cafe
- Open night at the Observatory
- Harpoon Brewery tastings
- Sam Adams Brewery tours
- USS Constitution
- Free concerts at Copley Square
- Castle Island
Holyoke, MA
$5 Fun 2008 update by The Wonders Of
- DAR State Forest and Lake Look Memorial Park
- McCray's Farm
- Holyoke Children's Museum
- Eric Carle Museum
- Forest Park Zoo
Minnesota
Austin, MN
New Ulm, MM
Owatonna, MN
Twin Cities, MN (Minneapolis and St. Paul)
St. Paul for under $5 by Dad By Dawn
- ComoZoo and Conservatory
- Amateur sports at local clubs
- Walker Art Center
- Free tours at Summit Brewery
The Twin Cities for under $5. by Dark Style Blog
- Como Zoo
- Lake Harriet bandshell
- Woodlake Nature Center
- Minnesota Heritage Park
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
- Walker Art Center
- Bell Museum of Natural History
- Summit Brewing Company
- Mall of America
- Foshay Tower
- Minnesota Fringe Festival
- Hollidazzle
- St. Paul Winter Carnival
Travels with Children by Minnemom
Missouri
St. Louis, MO
Nebraska
Omaha, NE
10 Things to Do for Under $5 in the Omaha Metro Area by Linsey Knerl
- Joslyn Art Museum
- Gerald Ford Birth Site and Monument
- Boys Town Hall of History
- Cancer Survivors Park
- Memorial Park
- Motto McLean Arena
- Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts
- Mahoney State Park
- Gene Leahy Mall
- Heartland of America Park
New York
New York City, NY
Rochester, NY
Things to Do In Rochester for Under $5 by Poorer Than You
- Mendon Ponds Park
- Legal Wall
- Geocaching
- ARTWalk
- Mount Hope Cemetery
- Free self-guided walking tours
- Ice skating at Ritter Ice Arena
- Cell phone tours
- Dollar Theater
- Bowl-A-Roll Lanes
North Carolina
Winston-Salem, NC
Fun Things For Five Dollars Or Less In And Around Winston-Salem, North Carolina by Julie Rains
- Salem Lake
- Tanglewood Park
- Reynolda Gardens
- Shallowford Square
- Stone Mountain
- "On the Same Page"
- Live music downtown
- Yadkin Valley Wine Trail
North Dakota
Fargo, ND
Ohio
Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati, Ohio by ichristine
- Shakespeare in the park
- Cincinnati Art Museum
Pennsylvania
McKean County, PA
Regional Events and Things to do for under $5 by On a Quest To Be Debt Free
- Allegheny National Forest
- Crook Farm Country Fair
- Kinzua Bridge State Park
Washington
Seattle, WA
Free and cheap things to do in Seattle by Andrea Dickson
- Asian Art Museum
- Wing Luke Asian Museum
- Frye
- Burke Museum
- Lakeview Cemetery
- Volunteer Park
- Jimi Hendrix Memorial
- Golden Gardens
- Arboretum
- Central Library
- Science Fiction Museum
- Self-guided walking tours
- Burke Gilman Trail
- Lakewood Park Disc Golf Course
- Pike Place Market
- Space Needle
- Hiram M. Chittenden Locks
- International District
- U-District
Virginia
Norfolk, VA
- Chrysler Museum by khorrell
Canada
Toronto, Canada
Toronto The Good & Cheap by Living With Money
- Dufferin Grove Farmer's Market
- Free Friday Films
- Toronto Islands
- Bluegrass night at the Tranzac Club
- Crazy Strings night at The Silver Dollar
- Trampoline Hall Lecture Series
- Music Garden
- Repertory Theatres
- Steamwhistle Brewery
Germany
Munich, Germany
10 things to do in Munich for less than $5 by This non-American Life
- Free guided city walking tour
- Free rollerblading event every Monday during the summer
- One-euro Sundays many museums
- Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church)
- Viktualienmarkt
- Starkbierfest (Strong Beer Festival) takes place every year during Lent
- Summer & Winter Tollwood Festival
- Auer Dult is a festival and market which takes place three times a year at Mariahilfplatz
Netherlands
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Fun on the cheap: Good times in Amsterdam for less than $5 by Liz K
- Free public ferries
- NDSM Werf
- Windmill Brewery
- Muziekgebouw
- Free jazz shows by the Amsterdam Conservatory
- Amsterdam Library (largest in the whole of the Netherlands)
- NEMO children's science and technology museum
- Amstel Park
- Amsterdamse Bos
- Open Atelier
- Roots Festival
- Grachtenfestival
- Uitmarkt
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