As a Trustees Member at the Contributing Level and above, your impact stretches across the globe. Thanks to our partnership with the International National Trust Organisation (INTO), your membership unlocks free reciprocal admission and unique benefits at thousands of breathtaking heritage and conservation sites worldwide.

If you are planning an international getaway, here are five spectacular National Trust organizations you can visit for free with your Trustees Membership:

FAI – Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano (Italy)

Founded in 1975, Italy’s national trust perfectly blends the protection of fragile ecosystems with the celebration of Italy’s incomparable art, history, and sensory traditions. FAI champions “high-quality tourism”, ensuring that ancient villas, castles, and wild coastlines are sustainably curated as lively community hubs where history remains a living, breathing part of modern Italian culture.

Properties to explore:

• Villa del Balbianello (Lombardia): A stunning 18th-century terraced villa perched over the lake, famous for its impeccably manicured gardens and cinematic history.
• Abbazia di San Fruttuoso (Liguria): A beautiful coastal ecosystem and wetland preserve highlighting FAI’s deep commitment to preserving threatened biodiversity.
• Castello e Parco di Masino (Piemonte): An imposing monumental fortress surrounded by an English-style park featuring one of the largest hedge mazes in Europe.

The National Trust for Jersey (Channel Islands)

Operating on a scenic island footprint, the National Trust for Jersey focuses intensely on island identity, sustainable agricultural heritage, and historic architectural restoration. They excel at creative adaptive reuse, meticulously transforming historic farm complexes, military structures, and historic cottages into self-catering holiday rentals and living museums to fund permanent island preservation.

Properties to explore:

• The Plémont Seabird Sanctuary (north coast): A vital conservation zone dedicated to protecting vulnerable nesting populations of puffins and razorbills along Jersey’s rugged northern coast.
• Plémont (north-west coast): A beautifully restored coastal landscape rescued from commercial development, now serving as an open public sanctuary for native flora and fauna.
• The Queen’s Green Canopy (island-wide): A dedicated woodland preservation and tree-planting initiative celebrating local biodiversity and environmental stewardship across the island.

An Taisce – The National Trust for Ireland

An Taisce functions uniquely as both a steward of historic properties and a powerful environmental advocacy voice across Ireland. Their core identity centers heavily around environmental urgency, climate action, and community-led science. From ancient stone structures to vital, carbon-capturing wild bogs, they prioritize preserving the raw Irish ecosystem alongside cultural history.

Properties to explore:

• Gortlecka to Mullaghmore (Co. Clare): A breathtakingly unique expanse within the Burren karst landscape, showcasing rare alpine and arctic flora growing side-by-side.
• Morehampton Road Wildlife Sanctuary (Dublin): A vital, historic urban woodland oasis that provides critical refuge for inner-city biodiversity and native wildlife.
• The Gull and Rough Islands (Co. Donegal): Untamed, protected islands that serve as crucial breeding grounds for diverse Atlantic seabird colonies.

The National Trust of Slovakia

The National Trust of Slovakia stands out for its emphasis on tangible community education and the preservation of historic parks, public gardens, and traditional folk architecture. They specialize in mobilizing international volunteers through “working holidays”, teaching forgotten, eco-friendly trade skills like historical masonry and traditional thatch-roofing to keep Slovak heritage alive.

Properties to Explore:

• Červený Kameň Castle (Častá): One of the most famous and well-preserved fortresses in the Small Carpathians, blending rich historical exhibits with vast estate grounds.
• Slovak National Gallery (Bratislava): A brilliant cultural partnership location where architectural heritage meets curated collections of historic and modern Slovak art.
• Farmer’s House of Ján Baláž (Bartošova Lehôtka): A meticulously preserved example of traditional rural folk architecture, showing historic, sustainable building techniques and daily life of the past.

Czech National Trust (Czech Republic)

As a younger, dynamic member of the global trust family, the Czech National Trust focuses heavily on civic pride and the democratization of heritage. Their mission centers around rescuing neglected, forgotten historic homes, châteaux, and landscape gardens, breathing new life into them through local grassroots volunteerism and community-centered art and music programming.

Properties to Explore:

• Kost Castle (Libošovice): A striking, well-hidden Gothic fortress nestled in the Bohemian Paradise region, showcasing centuries of architectural and structural endurance.
• Renaissance Brewery Lobeč (Lobeč): A beautifully rescued industrial heritage site that revives a historic brewing tradition while serving as a vibrant community gathering hub.
• The Old Dye-Works in Úštěk (North Bohemian): A rare and unique timber-framed building rescue project dedicated to preserving early industrial textile crafting history.

Ready to Explore? Before you pack your bags, make sure to upgrade or check your Membership to ensure it’s at the Contributing Level or above! Simply present your valid Trustees Membership card at the entrance of these international properties to enjoy your reciprocal benefits. 

All photos courtesy of their respective national trust organizations.