Costs nothing · Xi'an, China
15 Free Things to Do in Xi'an
The best budget in travel is zero. These Xi'an spots have verified free entry.
Only places with a confirmed free-entry policy make this list. Ranked by traveler review volume. Updated monthly.
Muslim Quarter
LandmarkXi'an's Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie) is the vibrant heart of the city's Hui Muslim community, a warren of lantern-lit lanes packed with food stalls, snack shops, and centuries of culture, just behind…
Read our full guide →Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta)
LandmarkThe Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayan Ta) is one of Xi'an's most important historic monuments, a towering, seven-storey Tang dynasty brick pagoda dating from the 7th century, built to house Buddhist…
Read our full guide →Qinglong Temple (Xi'an)
Religious siteQinglong Temple, also known as the Green Dragon Temple, is a Buddhist temple in Xi'an that was a key center for Vajrayana Buddhism during the Tang dynasty.
Read our full guide →Dayan Pagoda Northern Square
LandmarkDayan Pagoda Northern Square is a bustling public space in Xi'an's Yanta District, centered around the historic Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayan Pagoda), a Tang Dynasty Buddhist pagoda.
Read our full guide →Xi'an Museum
MuseumXi'an Museum is a comprehensive cultural institution located on Youyi West Road, showcasing the rich history of Xi'an and the surrounding Shaanxi region.
Read our full guide →Drum Tower Square
LandmarkDrum Tower Square is a lively hub in Xi'an's old city, centered around the iconic Drum Tower (Gulou).
Read our full guide →Muslim market
MarketThe Muslim Market, also known as Muslim Street, is the bustling heart of Xi'an's Muslim Quarter, a historic neighborhood that has been home to the Hui Muslim community for centuries.
Read our full guide →Bronze Statue of Master Xuanzang
LandmarkThe Bronze Statue of Master Xuanzang stands prominently at Dayanta North Square in Xi'an, a tribute to the revered Buddhist monk who journeyed to India in the 7th century.
Read our full guide →Xi'an Qujiangchi Site Park
Park & natureXi'an Qujiangchi Site Park is a large public park built on the site of the Tang Dynasty's imperial Qujiang Pond.
Read our full guide →Xi'an Town's God Temple
Religious siteXi'an Town's God Temple, also known as Chenghuang Temple, is a Taoist temple located in the heart of Xi'an's bustling Muslim Quarter.
Read our full guide →Tianshuijing Catholic Church
Religious siteTianshuijing Catholic Church, also known as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, is a historic Roman Catholic church located on Wuxing Street in Xi'an's bustling Muslim Quarter.
Read our full guide →Yongxing Fang
LandmarkYongxing Fang is a bustling pedestrian street located in the heart of Xi'an, near the historic city wall.
Read our full guide →Tian yi Jade factory
MarketTian yi Jade factory is a market located in the Banpo district of Xi'an, China, known for its extensive collection of jade products.
Read our full guide →Xi'an City Wall Light Show
SightThe Xi'an City Wall Light Show transforms the ancient fortifications of Xi'an into a dazzling canvas of color and light after dark.
Read our full guide →Tang West Market Museum
MuseumThe Tang West Market Museum in Xi'an sits on the excavated ruins of the West Market, the most important market in China during the Tang Dynasty.
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How we pick these
Every place here is genuinely free to enter. We filter the 38 Xi'an places we track down to those with no admission charge, then rank them by traveler reviews. Updated monthly.
Good to know
A few museums are free only on set days — check opening info before you go.
Entry is free, but transport, snacks and lockers in Xi'an still add up.
Free attractions draw crowds; mornings are usually the calmest.
Common questions
What can you do for free in Xi'an?+
This list ranks the best no-cost things to do in Xi'an, from parks and viewpoints to museums with free entry.
Are there free museums in Xi'an?+
Some museums are free all the time and others on specific days. The verified-free ones are included above.
Is Xi'an expensive to visit?+
You can see a lot of Xi'an on a tight budget by leaning on the free attractions here and eating where locals do.
Rather have a human do the planning? A Local Friend can build this day for you, at local prices.