Free Parks and Palace Gardens in Central Europe

Europe's Expansive Green Sanctuaries

European civic planners preserved immense royal hunting grounds and palace estates as public parklands. These parks are open to all travelers without admission fees.

1. Royal Łazienki Park (Warsaw, Poland)

Once the summer residence of the last king of Poland, this 76-hectare park features classical palaces floating on lakes, resident peacocks, and red squirrels. On summer Sundays, free open-air Chopin piano concerts are performed at the foot of the Chopin monument by world-class concert pianists.

2. English Garden (Englischer Garten, Munich, Germany)

Larger than New York’s Central Park, this sprawling urban park features the famous Eisbachwelle, an artificial standing wave on the Eisbach river where surfers in wetsuits ride year-round to the amazement of spectators.