I’m sure you already know, but in case you’ve forgotten I’d like to remind you: art galleries are small museums where you can see the most up-to-date art without paying a penny. And wherever you may go, if you are interested in culture I would recommend a visit to the Instituto Cervantes. These are Spanish centres created to help spread learning of the Spanish language around the world, as well as to enable visitors to enjoy the best elements imaginable of culture with an international twist.

These institutions are usually located in the city centre in historical buildings, two important points to bear in mind when visiting a new place. The exhibitions and retrospectives that they host are worthy of the best museums in the world.

And, most importantly: you can enter the Institutes for free and enjoy projections, conferences, exhibitions, debates and book launches, not to mention first-class libraries.

Let’s begin with the most emblematic of cities. London, a city known for its musicals, provides the opportunity to sign up for theatre and acting courses using Spanish texts. In fact, in the Institutos Cervantes around the world you can always learn a great deal about art and literature, not only Spanish but also Latin American, which has become extremely fashionable in recent years.

If you prefer to visit other English cities, you can catch Spanish cinema in both Leeds and Manchester. If you’d rather see neighbouring Ireland there is a centre in Dublin, where you can watch experimental cinema in the first week of September.

France is another of the most-visited tourist destinations in Europe. And since we cannot leave its incredible capital city unmentioned, the Instituto Cervantes in Paris launches a season of cinema dedicated to Fernando Fernán Gómez this September. Can you imagine being in the city of the Seine and going to see historic cinema?

Bordeaux has another international centre on French territory, as well as the centre in Lyon. The Bordeaux centre is currently preparing courses based on poetry and is hosting an exhibition of urban art until the start of October. As you can see, you can’t complain: the most up-to-date culture, without having to dig too deep into your pocket. There are so many other expenses when you’re on holiday…

In Italy you can choose from among the most mythical of cities. Wherever you might be going there will almost definitely be an Instituto Cervantes. Milan? Rome? Naples? Palermo? There will be a wide variety of conferences held in the Milan centre during September, for example.

Lisbon, Moscow, Bratislava, Athens, Bremen, Belgrade, Stockholm, Zagreb, Vienna, Ljubljana, Hamburg, Sofia… Cities all over Europe, university cities, cities that welcome tourists and are full of monuments to see and museums to discover.

From now on, you will have to add the Institutos Cervantes around the world to your list, for several reasons: the history they describe is more recent; cinema is a major feature; there are book presentations in the presence of the author; they show exhibitions and retrospectives of the best art; hold conferences that deal with the most up-to-date themes; and provide snippets of history.

Not to mention courses for learning Spanish or on art, history, literature, theatre, etc. From now on you’ll be able to plan visits to the cities of your choice accompanied by an itinerary of very cheap cultural events. Is there a better way to travel?

Further information | Instituto Cervantes.