9 must see attractions in Europe that are also very cheap or free

The Plaza Mayor is the most attractive and impressive square in Madrid, the site of a host of historical events from bullfights to executions. The square is firmly on the tourist map, so try not to be stung by tourist prices in the tapas cafés that overlook the area; instead head to the nearby San Miguel marketplace for delicious, inexpensive food.

Amsterdam's beautiful architecture is definitely attraction by itself and naturally it costs nothing to stroll around the city centre along the quiet canals. You just need a comfortable pair of shoes and a camera to capture the charm of the city's streets.

The Coffee House lies in the centre of Viennese life and culture. For a long time the Coffee Houses have been places where Viennese artists and intellectuals met to write, read the newspaper, and debate the issues of the day. It is easy to find a cheap café serving excellent coffee on just about any street in Vienna.

Despite its heat in summer, its platoons of buzzing scooters as annoying as mosquitoes, and its crowds of tourists, it is impossible not to fall a little in love with Rome, and to want to return nearly as soon as you leave. Guarantee your return by tossing a coin into the glittering depths of the Trevi Fountain and think of La Dolce Vita. Be generous, because the money thrown into the fountain now ends up with the Red Cross.

Ignore all of the expensive tourist cruises around the Bosphorus and head for an ordinary Turkish commuter ferry for a more authentic (and much cheaper) experience of the waters that mark the place where Asia and europe meet. Avoiding rush hour times, have a relaxing ferry ride, stopping off at Besiktas or Bebek for a closer look at the beautiful waterside parks and palaces.

Shopping in Copenhagen is fantastic, even though main shopping area, around Strøget, can also be fantastically expensive. In Strøget you should expect to pay high costs for good quality goods, but in order to grab a good deal it is better to head for the Nørrebro Flea Market, a long thin stretch of stalls and shops selling everything from clothes to furniture and records.

This fantastic Jacobean mansion houses a collection of art within carefully restored period rooms. Damage inflicted through the English Civil War by cannon belonging to Parliamentary troops remains visible on the building, which is a truly lovely example of Jacobean architecture. Aston Hall costs nothing to visit, and the gardens are also well worth exploring.

The Berlin Wall, symbol of a divided city and of the Cold War, still stands in the area east of the city centre referred to as East Side Gallery. As well as offering an insight into life in the city once the Wall was in use, the East Side Gallery section of the wall is covered by many beautiful murals which are considered to be art works in their own right.

In Barcelona, did you know that the city beach is totally free and consist of fine clean sand? Head down there after you've finished your shopping trip.