Bologna

Bologna is one of Italy’s best cities for spending almost nothing, because the things that define it are free to walk through. Its porticoes, the covered walkways that run for tens of kilometers across the center, were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and cost nothing to wander. Start at Piazza Maggiore, where the square, the giant unfinished facade of the Basilica di San Petronio, the Neptune Fountain, and the food stalls of the Quadrilatero market alongside it are all free to browse, then walk to the leaning Two Towers, which are striking from the street even if you skip the paid climb. For a longer free outing, follow the Portico di San Luca, the longest portico in the world, uphill to the sanctuary for a wide view over the city. A student town keeps food and drink cheap year round, and the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn bring mild weather and lower room rates than the summer peak.