12 ways to see Europe's top sights without crowds and high costs

The Eiffel Tower may be Paris's most famous landmark but climbing it can be a pain in the derriere because of the crowds. Add long waits, and tickets costing a hefty 36 euros ($59) to get up to the viewing platform, and sacre bleu, there must be a better way to see the city. How about climbing the Arc de Triomphe instead? From the rooftop terrace you get a sweeping 360-degree panorama along the Champs-Elysees and across the city's grand boulevards - including a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower itself. Entry is around 16 euros, less than half the price of a summit ticket for the tower, and the queues are usually far shorter.

A gondola ride at dusk ... it doesn't get more Venetian than that. But while it's still a must do for many, these days it comes with a hefty price tag (official rates are 90 euros for half an hour). A cheaper local option is the traghetto, a shared gondola that ferries passengers across the Grand Canal at several points. The ride lasts only a few minutes, but it still offers that quintessential glide across Venice's most famous waterway and costs just 2 euros. And there's more: If you were hoping for a Gondola cruise along the canal to do your sightseeing, why not try the Vaporetto Line 1 instead - this public ferry will give you great angles for that shot under the Rialto Bridge at a fraction of the price (9.50 euros for a single ticket).

The London Eye is the UK's most visited paid tourist attraction, but a ride in the sky costs £33 ($62) per adult (or £48 if you purchase a timed ticket). Ouch. If you don't want to pay that (or deal with the crowds) but still want the stunning London view, Sky Garden may just fit the bill. Occupying the top floors of the famous "Walkie Talkie" building, this public observation deck located at 20 Fenchurch Street offers panoramic views of London - and it's free. You just have to book tickets online beforehand.

Canal cruises are a staple of Amsterdam tourism, but you can also see the city from the water for nothing. Ferries depart throughout the day from behind Amsterdam Centraal Station, crossing the IJ river to reach neighbourhoods such as Noord. These boats are part of the city's public transport network and they're free, meaning you can get a quick boat ride and skyline views for nothing. Not a bad option when a one-hour cruise can cost about 22 euros.

Boat tours heading out to see Big Ben, the Tower of London and other attractions are popular, but here's a tip - why not use the commuter ferries run by Thames Clippers instead? These services run regular routes along the river and pass many of London's landmarks - including Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament - making them a practical and often cheaper way to see the city from the water. Tap on with your card and you've got out of this world sightseeing at everyday prices.

Climbing Brunelleschi's Dome at the Cathedral of of Santa Maria del Fiore is one of Florence's most exquisite excursions, but timed slots and narrow staircases can be intense, and it requires the Brunelleschi Pass, costing about 30 euros. Head instead to Piazzale Michelangelo, a hilltop square south of the Arno River. From here, you get one of the city's most famous panoramas - a postcard view of Florence's rooftops and cathedral - and it's completely free.

This may be controversial, especially given that just a couple of months ago the tallest tower on the Sagrada Familia was finished, but while Barcelona's most famous building (and that tower) is definitely worth a look, entry tickets costing upwards of 26 euros and large crowds can make a visit stressful. Not far away stands the Hospital de Sant Pau, a vast Art Nouveau complex. Now a UNESCO-listed cultural site, it costs 18 euros to enter, and its colourful pavilions, mosaics and gardens showcase the same Catalan modernist style associated with Gaudi, yet with far fewer visitors.

Many visitors pay to enter the Tower Bridge Exhibition in London, which includes access to the glass walkway and engine rooms. Adult tickets are about £15. But what you may not realise is that simply walking across Tower Bridge itself is completely free. The pedestrian walkway offers excellent views along the River Thames and towards landmarks such as the Tower of London and the Shard.

Watching sunset from the Acropolis is one of the most sought-after experiences in Athens, but entry to the site costs about 20 euros in summer and it can become very crowded in the late afternoon. There is an alternative. Just across from the Acropolis lies Filopappou Hill, a pine-covered park with walking paths and rocky viewpoints. From the top you get one of the best panoramas in Athens - looking straight across to the Parthenon and the Acropolis. The best bit? You can walk up here for free.

When in Berlin, it seems everyone wants to head up to the TV tower. Queues can be super long and tickets to the observation deck cost about 25 euros for adults. A cheaper alternative is the glass dome on top of the Reichstag Building. Visitors can walk up a spiral ramp inside the dome and look out across the rooftops of Berlin - including a view of the TV Tower itself. Entry is free, though you need to book a time slot in advance.

OK, so the cost may be similar - from 15 euros per ticket - but here comes the genius. Seine cruises are scheduled and once you're on and off you're done. A more flexible option is the Batobus, a hop-on hop-off river shuttle that travels past many of the same landmarks. It means you can board and disembark at several points including Notre-Dame and the Louvre - or just sit on board and go through the whole loop. A full-day ticket means you have 24 hours to do both.