The TRAVELER'S JOURNAL: July twenty-third, making European culture more affordable.

Europe's great museums hold virtually endless art and history, but, with adult admission fees that average $10 or more per person, the cost of individual visits can add up quickly. Fortunately, many major cities have developed programs to help ease the expense.

Consider the advantages of Paris's Carte Musees et Monument. Sold widely around the city, including all Metro stations, these passes offer unlimited admission to the permanent collections of more than 75 museums and historical sites in and around the city. That includes all major Paris museums, the Louvre, Musee d'Osay and Versailles, as well as dozens of smaller museums, historical houses and other sites of interest. Adult one-day passes cost $20, three-day passes $40 and five-day passes $60. In addition to significant savings, the passes also allow holders to avoid waiting in the long lines that form outside many museums in the height of summer. A separate pass provides unlimited public transportation around Paris for two, three or five days.

Budapest has a similar program which, in addition to public transportation and museum visits, offers discounts on tours, theater tickets and meals. Cards cost $15 for two days and 20 for three. The London for Less Pass costs $20 for 4 days with discounts on hundreds of restaurants. The Copenhagen Card also includes unlimited use of the city's public transportation system. Similar discount cards are available in Amsterdam, Helsinki and Munich.

Check with local tourist offices for details.

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