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Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to have fun on vacation—even in big cities. Take Chicago, for example. Although there’s no shortage of places to spend your hard-earned cash in the Windy City, there are also some freebies to be had. Here are a few money saving suggestions for your next Chicago visit.

Sign up for a Chicago Greeter Tour
Introduced in 2002, the Chicago Greeter program (http://www.chicagogreeter.com/) offers more than 40 free walking tours to visitors. This volunteer program is overseen by the Chicago Office of Tourism and staffed by local tour guides or “greeters.” Because of the individualized nature of this service, accessible tours are available. Advance reservations are required.

Download a Walking Tour
If you’d prefer to set out on your own, then download a free MP3 tour from the Chicago Loop Alliance website (http://www.chicagoloopalliance.com/) or the City of Chicago Tourism website (www.cityofchicago.org/tourism). These entertaining and informative audio tours all travel along accessible routes and can be done at your own pace.

Hop on the Loop Tour Train
If you’d like a taste of Chicago’s architecture, then make plans to hop on the summer Loop Tour Train. Presented by the Chicago Office of Tourism (www.cityofchicago.org/tourism), this 40-minute architecture tour is narrated by docents from the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Accessible boarding takes place at the elevator-equipped Clark/Lake Street CTA Station, and free tickets are available at the Chicago Office of Tourism Visitor Information Center.

Enjoy a Lunch Time Lecture
The Chicago Architecture Foundation (http://www.architecture.org/) offers free lunch time lectures every Wednesday, from 12:15 to 1 p.m. These programs are presented in the barrier-free John Buck Lecture Hall Gallery, which is located in the ground-floor atrium of the Santa Fe Building. Topics include everything from Chicago landmarks to prairie architecture. Afterwards, save some time to browse through the adjacent ArcelorMittal CitySpace Gallery.

Get your Art Fix
Chicago is known for its art museums, and if you plan your schedule accordingly, you can visit two for free. The Art Institute of Chicago (www.artic.edu/aic) offers free admission on Thursdays after 5 p.m, while The Museum of Contemporary Art (http://www.mcachicago.org/) is free every Tuesday. Both museums have a barrier-free entrance, elevator access to all floors, and plenty of space to roll around the galleries.

Take the Trolley
Getting around Chicago is easy too, thanks to the free City of Chicago trolley system. These accessible trolleys operate on popular tourist routes and stop at many of the top attractions. Most of the trolleys only operate in the summer, but the Navy Pier line runs year round.

Finally, if you’re looking for an accessible place to rest your head, consult Easy Access Chicago (http://www.easyaccesschicago.org/). Although this print access guide doesn’t offer any free lodging options, the web version includes an advanced search feature that allows users to search for a property based on price, access features, and location. Best of all, the price is right; like many other things in Chicago, it’s free.

Candy Harrington is the editor of Emerging Horizons and the author of Barrier Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide For Wheelers and Slow Walkers. She blogs regularly about accessible travel issues at http://www.barrierfreetravels.com/.

Want to read more about traveling around Chicago? See Open Doors Launches Easy Access Chicago Guide.