Munster

Munster is built for travelers who would rather walk and pedal than pay, since the best of the old town costs nothing. The 4.5 km tree-lined Promenade rings the centre on the old fortification line and stays closed to cars, so a free loop on foot, or on a cheaply rented Leeze (the local word for bike), strings together the cathedral, the Aasee lake, and the prize-winning lakeside park without a ticket. Step inside the St-Paulus-Dom for free and catch the noon performance of its 1540s astronomical clock, then wander the twice-weekly Wochenmarkt on the cathedral square (Wednesday and Saturday) where browsing is free and a warm snack is a few euros. Art lovers should aim for the second Friday of the month, when the LWL-Museum fur Kunst und Kultur opens free from early evening to midnight, and the usually free Botanical Garden behind the castle rounds out a no-spend day. Shoulder months like May and September bring mild cycling weather and lighter crowds than the summer peak, and the regional train network makes budget day trips out to Dortmund, Cologne, or the peace-treaty twin town of Osnabrück simple to reach.