Much-loved European city extends free entry to 60 attractions – here’s how to get tickets
A CAPITAL city in Europe has extended its free entry scheme for a further two years.
Both tourists and residents in Berlin will still be able to visit more than 60 museums in the city without having to pay.
On the first Sunday of each month, entry to more than 60 museums in Berlin is free.
The scheme first launched in 2021, with more than 1.5million people taking advantage of the free entry.
Earlier this month, Berlin’s Culture Senator, Joe Chialo (CDU) announced that the scheme would be extended for a further two years.
According to Berlin De, the free entry initiative has been secured for the next two years thanks to a “recently adopted double budget” that covers both 2024 and 2025.
The scheme includes free entry to popular museums like Altes Museum, which normally costs €12 (£10.27) to enter.
Several other top museums are also part of the scheme, including the Alte Nationalgalerie (The National Gallery) Berlin’s Gemäldegalerie (the Painting Gallery) and the Jewish Museum Berlin.
The next free museum day will take place on February 4, 2024, with the scheme running throughout the year.
Tourists to Berlin will also be able to bag free entry on the following days: March 3, 2024, April 7, 2024, May 5, 2024, June 2, 2024, July 7, 2024, August 4, 2024, September 1, 2024, October 6, 2024, November 3, 2024 and December 1, 2024.
Holidaymakers looking to visit popular museums, particularly those on Museum Island, are encouraged to register for a free place before visiting.
Time slots for most museums can be booked up to one week in advance online, with places filling up quickly.
For other museums, which are less popular with most tourists, visitors will be able to get free entry on the day.
While Berlin is extending its free entry scheme, other popular attractions across Europe are scrapping free entry.
One of those places is Hagia Sophia – one of Turkey‘s most popular tourist attractions.
The 1,500-year-old tourist attraction will see tourists charged €25 (£22) to enter.
Greece is introducing a new holiday tax and it could cost tourists hundreds.
Brits staying at a five-star hotel will have to pay £8.61 a night – meaning your two-week holiday could be another £120 more expensive.
And Venice is to trial a fee, which will see day-trippers paying €5 (£4.35) to visit the historical Italian centre.
In the UK, Manchester tourists have to pay a £1 tourist tax, with both Scotland and St Ives in Cornwall considering a tourist tax too.