Fast forwarded to today. Vienna’s days as the center of the music world are past. Happily, however, there’s the Haus der Musik on Seilerstätte Street 30 in the First District. The museum represents and documents Vienna’s musical traditions.

Aside from the regular exhibitions, concerts, press conferences, podium discussions, and special children’s programs, the Haus der Musik boasts a virtual Dirigentenpult (virtual conductor room) where visitors can pretend that they’re legendary Austrian Meisterdirigent Herbert von Karajan conducting the Wiener Philharmoniker.

Starting this month, the Haus der Musik also offers a yearly membership card for a price of €27 per person. Card owners gets a 10 percent discount at the Mozart House in Vienna and free entry to the monthly Haus der Musik concerts and other musical and culinary museum events.

Though budget-seekers might find the €10 entrance fee a bit pricey, the museum provides a great way to enjoy the music of the early masters. Discounts are available for students, seniors, and children under the age of 12 and almost free for kids under three.

Haus der Musik opens from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more info, call +43-1-516-48 or email info@hdm.at.

The post Vienna: Historic Sounds at the Haus Der Musik appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The liner is not only a service to tourists but also another means of transport for locals of both cities as well as business people who would like to try an alternative to trains and cars. Ship passengers don’t have to worry about parking spaces or grumpy cab drivers—the liner takes passengers from city center to city center. Plus, the murky waters of the famous Danube afford great views along the way.

The cheapest one-way ticket costs €15 on weekdays and goes up to €17 on weekends and holidays. Kids up to two years old travel for free, and there’s a 50% reduction for children under 12. Twin City Line is also wheelchair-accessible and accepts dogs and bikes.

For the month of April, 2007, the line is offering a child-free-with-parent special. The offer is valid for all routes but can only be reserved by telephone: +43 1-588-80. For more information, please email twincityliner@ddsg-blue-danube.at.

The post Vienna-Bratislava by Boat appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Vienna has survived this year’s Fasching more or less intact. The Vienna Opera Ball, the extensive media coverage courtesy of Paris Hilton (construction magnate Richard Lugner’s special guest this year), and the numerous balls leading up to the start of the Lenten season have all come and gone.

As far as we’re concerned, the most important element of Fasching is Krapfen.

Krapfen is the equivalent of the American doughnut or the British/Australian pancake traditionally eaten during Shrove Tuesday. It is called Berliner Pfannkuchen in Germany. In Italy, it’s called Krafen.

Krapfen is a pastry of yeast dough fried in either fat or oil. Krapfen are dusted with sugar or iced. They are usually injected with a jam filling after being cooked. They are so tasty they’ll make even staid adults want to scarf a dozen in one sitting.

Krapfen are good and cheap, too. They cost between €.70 and €.90 apiece.

The post Vienna: Krapfen Pastries and Carnival appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.