And if you’re not careful, you could spend a fortune before the time it takes to listen to Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21.

For a trip down the less-touristy path, follow our tips on the best cheap (and free) activities in this stately city in Austria.

Cheap and free things to do in Salzburg

Toy Museum

Bürgerspitalgasse 2
Tel.: +43-662-62 08 08-300
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday
Admission: €5

To every city’s expensive modern art museum, there is a cheaper, quirkier collection to check out. Enter Salzburg’s Spielzeugmuseum (Toy Museum), home to Austria’s largest collection of European toys. If you’re a die-hard toy train fan, you’ll find plenty to feast your eyes on; if not, the inoffensive €3 admission is worth it for a chuckle.

If you have children in tow, make sure to stop for one of the Punch and Judy shows, offered every Tuesday and Wednesday at 3 p.m. Check the museum’s Web site for a complete list of children’s programs.

Schloss Mirabell

Mirabellplatz 4
Tel.: +43-662-80722334
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m
Admission: Free

One of Salzburg most photographed attractions is also free to visit! Schloss Mirabell is as elegant as can be, with marble statues, grand hallways and perfectly manicured gardens stretching in all directions. The palace was built under Prince Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau as a present for his concubine Salome Alt.

Nowadays, Schloss Mirabell is best known for being a coveted place to tie the knot; couples must reserve their weddings here at least a year in advance. The palace also offers a concert series, though attending a performance is not free.

Museum of Historical Musical Instruments

Bürgerspitalgasse 2
Tel.: +43-662-62 08 08-300
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday
Admission: €5 (or free with admission to the Toy Museum)

If you visit the Toy Museum, your ticket is also valid for admission to the Museum of Historic Musical Instruments. If the centuries-old pianos start giving you déjà vus of the exhibit at Mozart’s House, check out the collection of audio samples demonstrating the ancient instruments’ sounds.

The organ in St. Peter’s Church. JNH53

St. Peter’s Church and Catacombs

Sankt Peter Bezirk 1
Tel.: +43 -662-844576
Hours: Open daily from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Admission: Free (€1 to visit the Catacombs)

The self-proclaimed “oldest cloister in the German-speaking world,” St. Peter’s Church dates back to 696. (The church also boasts the oldest library in Austria.) Visiting the church is free, so stop by to admire the Baroque-style ceilings or to catch a performance on the church’s organ.

Outside, St. Peter’s Cemetery houses centuries-old tombstones. For €1, visitors can access the Christian catacombs in the cliff face above the cemetery.

Hangar-7

Salzburg Airport
Wilhelm-Spazier-Str. 7A
Tel.:+43-6620-2197
Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Admission: Free

Located near the Salzburg airport, Hangar-7 is a restaurant and bar complex that also houses “The Flying Bulls” aircraft. While the aircraft exhibit — complete with large Red Bull logos stenciled on each plane’s side — smacks of sponsorship, Hangar-7 does showcase some interesting work from a variety of international artists. Though Hangar-7’s dining options come with a hefty price tag, stopping by to gaze at the art (and marvel at the super-modern building) is completely free.

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Sure, New York is home to many a great art museum (some even free on certain days of the week), but when summer comes nothing beats enjoying free out-of-doors art in bustling parks. Here is the best of the bunch. And, because everyone loves a good art hotel, I’ve thrown in a few picks where you can sleep near interesting art for less.

Union Square

See: Jaehyo Lee’s naturally elegant works currently grace the southeast triangle of Union Square Park. The artist highlights “beauty in what is seen but not noticed.” Quite apropos for this oft-frenetic Manhattan hub, full of locals pushing through to the subways and teenagers rolling by on skateboards.

Tip: Head over on a Farmer’s Market afternoon (Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday) to pick up a cheap and yummy lunch and enjoy it, and the art, in the park.

Sleep: Not far from Union Square’s bustle is one of our most interesting hotel picks. Ye Olde Carlton Arms Hotel is part hostel, part hotel and all art. What it lacks in amenities (no TV or air conditioning here), it makes up for in flair (each room is decorated floor to ceiling by a different artist). Rooms are available with or without private baths.

The High Line

See: The popular elevated park features a number of interesting art works, including Busted, a series of figurative sculptures by various artists. Based on sculptures found in the streets of ancient Rome, the series examines the nature of heroes, democracy, the self and more.

Sleep with art at the quirky Ye Olde Carlton Arms.

Additionally, Carol Bove’s Caterpillar highlights the magical quality of the Rail Yards, the park’s final section, still untouched wilderness for one more year.

Tip: The High Line is populated with a number of street vendors. Pick up a snack and take a stroll. Also, since the Rail Yards are closed to the public, reserve ahead to get on a free public walk, offered Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. (Reservations are sold out until August 3. Tickets for August 3-September 28 will become available on June 18.)

Sleep: It’s the art of the Silver Screen that graces the walls of the Chelsea Pines Inn,  located a block east of the southern entrance to the High Line. Each of the inn’s rooms is devoted to a different Old Hollywood star, but this is far from your elitist Hollywood scene. In fact, it may just be the friendliest hotel in Manhattan.

Madison Square Park

See: Orly Genger’s undulating “Red, Yellow and Blue” weaves its way through the park, much as its nautical-knot composition gives the work itself a woven look. The work is monumental. It’s made from 1.4 million feet of rope (that’s nearly 20 times the length of Manhattan) collected along the Eastern Seaboard. Weighing in at 100,000 pounds, it changes the landscape of the park, creating nooks, crevices and open spaces like an urban version of the corn maze.

Tip: Wait in the long line for the Shake Shack, then find one of those private “chambers” to sit and enjoy burgers and Concretes.

Sleep: Situated two blocks north of the park, the Gershwin Hotel is bright, funky and artistic, so much so that it’s got its own “style guide,” a local artist associated with Warhol’s Factory. Rooms range from dorms to apartment-style, and all are decked out with quirky art pieces.

Riverside Park South

See: Meanwhile, on the Upper West Side… The Art Students League of New York brings back its “Model to Monument” program, showcasing seven sculptures by student artists, all addressing (in myriad ways) the theme of flux.

Now you can take a passeggiata on the High Line. Photo: Timothy Schenck, Courtesy of Friends of the High Line

Sleep: While it’s not exactly an art hotel, there is no shortage of pretty at the Harlem Flophouse, a truly special B&B about a 10-minute walk from Riverside Park. Each of the four guest rooms is named for a different Harlem personality, and décor is a grab bag of beautiful finds from all around the world.

Where else to get your art fix

Art abounds in many more New York parks, and there are even a number of not-so-cheapo hotels where you can view amazing art gratis. Here, a small sampling…

1. Take a stroll along the Park Avenue Malls to enjoy No Limits, Alexandre Arrechea’s series of sculptures representing iconic New York buildings from the Chrysler Building to the US Courthouse.

2. Wander through The James Hotel, a swanky Soho spot where the rooms are pricey but the art (in the entry, lobby, sky lobby and even elevator) is free to enjoy.

3. Take a trip out to the Rockaway Beach Boardwalk, where Heartwalk, commemorates both the devastation wrought by Hurricane Sandy (it’s constructed from the boardwalk the storm destroyed) and that fabulous New York resilience and love witnessed in the aftermath.

4. After taking in some museums on Museum Mile, take a peek in The Surrey Hotel, a schmancy spot with original modern art sprinkled throughout its public spaces. 5. Contemplate the confluence of humans and nature with Tomorrow, Akihiro Ito’s sculpture of a baby (the future) made from laminated wood (nature) in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene Park.

The post New York: Our favorite free outdoor art and budget art hotels appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are a few of my favorite FREE things to do in Amsterdam.

1) A walk, skate,  or museum visit, in the park…

Just south of the Leidseplein, you’ll find Vondelpark, a beautiful park nestled among the gray, towering blocks in Amsterdam’s city center.  Named for a famous poet, the space benefits from a location close to all the major museums and is a great place to stop after a busy day spent exploring the city.

Hundreds of acres of land are sprinkled with thriving greenery, colorful blooms, and the occasional wildlife (read: ducks, swans). Best of all? This urban oasis is FREE and open to the public every day of the year.

What to see and do: The National Film Museum, a treasure trove of more than 30,000 films, will wow eager art fans who will be tempted to stop and catch a screening. Playgrounds abound in Vondelpark, making it a delight for traveling family groups. You can rent a pair of skates from Snoephuisje (Vondelpark, 7) if you are up for some fun and games or just bring along a blanket and goodies for an idyllic picnic in the sun. And of course, summertime brings in numerous free concerts in the park’s quaint Open Air Theater.

Opening Hours: Daily (9 AM to 5 PM)

2) Narrowest house in the world?

Rather than visiting the high-profile tourist spots, wouldn’t it be more exciting to check out one of those little known record-breaking monuments? How about something quirky or innovative, something that made a mark above all its more glamorous peers? Well, this is one of those fascinating sites, and it’s FREE to enter and explore.

At Singel #7 (just off of the Singel Canal), barely reaching one meter in breadth, this house is definitely one of the narrowest in the world. Admittedly, it’s the entrance that boasts the most tiny proportions; the rest of the house is pretty run-of-the-mill. Nonetheless, it’s worth checking out.  And, hey, you could always stay at the Liberty Hotel (next door at #5) and snap some photos from your room.

Cheapo tip: If this topic continues to fascinate you, head over to Oude Hoogstraat, 22 which is also queuing up for the narrowest house title.

3) Statue-yes-que!

Amsterdam’s rich historical background is evident in a variety of city landmarks; no need to dish out oodles of cash for a bit of Dutch culture. Most landmarks signify amazing turning points in human history too, so catching a glimpse of them is certainly worth a jaunt. Here are three must-sees:

The Spinoza statue, located outside Amsterdam’s City Hall, is a requisite for history buffs. Dedicated to the renowned philosopher by the same name, the statue is a tribute to a great thinker of our time. Do snap a shot of the phrase near the statue: ‘The purpose of the State is freedom.’

Situated in the midst of Dam Square, the Dutch National Monument is a towering symbol dedicated to loved ones lost during World War II. A worthy testament.

Finally, in 2007, a bronze statue depicting a female prostitute was placed in Oudekerksplein, in front of the Oude Kerk.  As is the custom in Amsterdam, the sculpture aims to show respect for all those who choose prostitution as their line of work.

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Homeward bound

You know the scene, Cheapos. It was a bleary day in Amsterdam and we were a bit veklempt about bidding farewell to all the old school bicycles, chocolate with our morning coffee, and gorgeous canal views, but alas…it was time to return to New York.

A heavy fog loomed over the city causing airport delays. We were in a fog of our own, after multiple nights out on the town, days spent roaming the streets, and a less-than-friendly sleeping arrangement due to a hotel room that was directly under a construction site (but more on that later!).

Happy trails

So we were overjoyed to end up in the middle of gates E and F in the international departures terminal at Schiphol Airport where we could take our good ol’ time browsing the drawings and paintings of Dutch masters like van Dyck, Rembrandt, and Peter Paul Rubens.

Earlier, we had read and even blogged about the free art on display. We were also pretty well aware of the lay-out and comforts that Amsterdam’s well-known airport offers its drifters.

Private collection

We had the gallery to ourselves and spent about 30-minutes combing the exposition, feeling particularly smitten by the watercolors. All in all, a terrific idea. Free art while you wait to take-off. When we finally settled into our seats on a KLM Royal Dutch flight we felt properly cultured, and even watched half of Wall-e in Dutch. (Did somebody say roboten?)

Need to know…

The exhibit, comprised of about a dozen works of art, is sponsored by the Rijksmuseum and ING and focuses mainly on what the Dutch tend to refer to as their “Golden Age” of art, i.e. stuff produced during most of the 17th-century. Visit Schiphol’s Rijksmuseum site for opening and closing times, directions to the terminal, and more.

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During his time in Rome, Michelangelo charged the ancient city with works of incredible beauty. His sculptures, frescoes, and architecture still inspire a city-wide love affair.

And, his priceless work is on view at no cost to modern admirers. Angela K. Nickerson, author of A Journey into Michelangelo’s Rome, takes us on a very cheapo-friendly tour of Michelangelo’s Rome.

The Sistine Chapel: (Viale del Vaticano, at the Vatican Museums)

The Sistine Chapel, the ceiling of which is known as Michelangelo’s lifetime achievement, is free and open to the public on the last Sunday of each month. As Goethe once wrote, “Until you have seen the Sistine Chapel, you have no adequate conception of what man is capable of accomplishing.”

St. Peter’s Basilica: (Vatican City)

Michelangelo’s Rome ‘Pieta’, the piece that cemented the 24-year-old’s reputation as a gifted sculptor, occupies a chapel just inside the church’s entrance. Soaring over the central altar, Michelangelo’s dome marks his last great work. Late in Michelangelo’s life, he was charged with reorganizing the architectural design of St. Peter’s. For a small fee (€7; €4 if you just take the stairs), take an elevator to the roof and enjoy a spectacular view of the city. From the roof, take the 300-some steps up the dome and bask in a vision of Rome that Michelangelo himself did not live to see.

Basilica Di San Pietro in Vincoli: (Piazza di San Pietro in Vincoli 4a, Vatican City)

Just up the hill from the Colosseum sits a small, non-descript church called San Pietro in Vincoli. Inside is one of Michelangelo’s most controversial works, a sculpture that depicts Moses with full beard and horns. The statue, and two others (Leah and Rachel) are part of Pope Julius II’s tomb, a project that took Michelangelo 40 years to finish.

Farnese Palace: (250 Via Giulia)

Via Giulia is a renowned street in Rome, and here sits Michelangelo’s Farnese Palace (now the French Embassy), was never bulldozed despite Pope Julius II’s best efforts. Stop here for an afternoon cup of coffee or glass of vino. The piazza and fountains in front are some of the best, and most inspired, in all of Rome.

Santa Maria sopra Minerva: (around the corner from the Pantheon )

Santa Maria sopra Minerva hosts Michelangelo’s statue of a ‘Risen Christ’. Beloved and highly acclaimed in his day, Michelangelo’s depiction of Jesus—as regal, muscular and triumphant—is often overlooked.

Piazza del Campidoglio: (on Capitoline Hill)

When Rome granted Michelangelo citizenship in 1537, the ceremony was held in the mud at the top of the Capitoline Hill. A year later, Pope Paul III asked Michelangelo to redesign the hilltop. Michelangelo transformed its summit into a lovely piazza and redesigned the buildings there as well.

Basilica dei Santi Apostoli: (at Piazza dei Santissimi Apostoli)

When the elderly artist died, at 89-years of age, his funeral was held at Santi Apostoli church and was attended by the entire city including the pope himself. Then, under cover of night, his body was whisked away in a wagon of straw, to be buried in his beloved Florence. However, a plaque was erected at the church in his memory. (Cheapo tip: Knock at the monastery next door and ask about Michelangelo. The plaque with a portrait of the artist is in the monastery’s courtyard.)

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In past years, there have been many illuminating Caravaggio exhibits in Rome, namely the one held at the Ala Mazzoniana exhibition space at Termini Station titled, “Caravaggio: Masterpieces in Private Collections”. Unfortunately, they all charge a fee.

But, three churches in Rome provide free access to Caravaggio’s infamous works. The Crucifixion of St. Peter and The Conversion of St. Paul on the Road to Damascus are housed in Santa Maria del Popolo, an Augustinian church in Piazza del Popolo. Near Piazza Navona, the Madonna dei Pellegrini can be viewed at the church of Sant’Agostino, and three scenes from the life of St. Matthew—one of Caravaggio’s favorite apostles and muses— including The Calling of St. Matthew, are on display at San Luigi dei Francesi.

Other works though not for free—at the Vatican Galleries, Borghese Gallery, Palazzo Barberini, Doria Pamphilj Gallery, and the Capitoline Museum.

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