Because of this illustrious past, prospective visitors might think that the largest city in Austria is  too expensive for the average Cheapo. On the contrary! Vienna, while not exactly a bargain (it was BusinessWeek’s 24th-most expensive city in 2010), boasts enough free events, attractions and activities that you’ll be able to have a great time whether you’re a Habsburg or a habs-not.

Here’s our guide to free activities in Vienna:

Saint Stephen’s Cathedral
Daily, year-round

An impressive structure that looms over the heart of the city, St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the most important religious building in Vienna, as the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna and also as a historical site that dates back to 1147 AD.  It is instantly recognizable for its multi-colored mosaic roof that features the double-headed eagle of the Habsburg dynasty.

It’s also completely free to enter! Open to the public from 6 a.m. (7 a.m. on Sundays and holidays) to 10 p.m. every day, the interior of the church is as impressive as its exterior.

The cathedral also offers guided tours to anyone interested in learning more about St. Stephen’s and its history, though these are unfortunately not free. Depending on the tour, visitors also have the option of seeing the towers of the cathedral, the catacombs and the treasury—areas off-limits to non-paying guests.

Tours range in price from €5 for just the main area to €12.90 for the all-inclusive package.

Mass at the Augustinian Church 
Sundays, year-round

If touring Saint Stephen’s doesn’t get you your fill of religious sights in Vienna, then head to the Augustinian Church next to Vienna’s imperial palace (Hofburg) for Sunday mass.  Services begin every Sunday at 10 a.m. and feature a full orchestra and choir performing works by the likes of Mozart, Schubert and Haydn—appropriate fare for the City of Music.

Schönbrunn Palace gardens
Daily, year-round

Another one of Vienna’s signature sights is the Schönbrunn Palace.  While admission to the building itself isn’t free (€11.50), the gardens are, and are equally as impressive as the palace. Featuring numerous statues, fountains and fields, the park stretches  a kilometer from north to south and 1.2 km east-to-west.

Most of the complex is completely free to the public, though certain areas charge admission fees.  These include the viewing terrace of the majestic Gloriette, the maze and labyrinth, and the Crown Prince Garden.  Charges range from €3 to €4.50 for these attractions.

Also located on the palace grounds is the Tiergarten Schönbrunn, the world’s oldest zoo.  Admission is €15 (€7 for children).

Summer in the MuseumsQuartier
Daily during summer

Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier is a cultural complex that features, obviously, museums, but also trendy restaurants, shops and many smaller art and culture initiatives.  With over 70 cultural facilities, there’s plenty to do here throughout the year, but during the summer is when the MuseumsQuartier really picks up.

Throughout the warmer months, the many courtyards of the complex feature free, open-air entertainment, from concerts to street theater to literary readings. Public art installations and micro-museums are also installed in squares and passageways. Combined with the numerous sidewalk cafes of the MuseumsQuartier, these exhibitions make for a lively atmosphere.

Perhaps even more significantly, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., every institution in the MuseumsQuartier is available to visit free of charge.  This year’s program runs until October 1st. If you’re in Vienna during the summer, this is the place to spend your evenings.

Museum of Applied Arts
Tuesday nights, year-round

If you visit Vienna in the off-season, though, you’ll have to get your free art fix somewhere other than the MuseumsQuartier.  Luckily, the Museum of Applied Arts offers free evening admission on Tuesdays throughout the year. Featuring furniture and other decorative arts from around the world and from various historical periods, the museum is a great compliment to a city that values design as much as Vienna.

Free admission lasts from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. every Tuesday.  During the rest of the week, (except Mondays, when it is closed) the Museum of Applied Arts is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Regular admission is €7.90 (€5.50 for students, seniors and military).

Anything to add?

 If you know of any other free activities in Vienna, please let us know by posting in the comment box.  We’re always on the lookout for Cheapo ways to save! And if you’re interested in discovering Vienna for yourself, check out our recommendations for the best budget hotels in the city.

The post Five free cultural attractions in Vienna appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

While these churches are the most well-known in Florence, they are certainly not the only ones—and in my opinion, not the most interesting ones. While the Duomo has free entrance, the inside is relatively sparse. Santa Maria Novella and Santa Croce are definitely worth a visit, but both require paid entry.

So, try to take a step away from the guidebook and visit these three interesting and peculiar (and admission-free) churches that you’ll find tucked away where you’d least expect them.

The Chiesa dei Santi Michele e Gaetano.

Chiesa dei Santi Michele e Gaetano
Piazza Antinori, Via Tornabuoni

While gazing longingly into the windows of the Hermès store, you might not notice this behemoth looming behind you. The Chiesa dei Santi Michele e Gaetano, also known as San Michele degli Antinori, is a large, dark church of the Baroque style—one of the few Baroque churches in Florence.

Aside from its size and serious exterior, what I find particularly fascinating about this church is its opening hours. You will often find it open late in the evening, around 8 or 9 PM. Feel free to wander in and gaze at the interesting examples of 17th-century artwork so often ignored in the city.

Santa Margherita dei Cerchi
Via Santa Margherita, off of Via del Corso

From the winding, bustling Via del Corso, take a right onto a side street and you’ll find yourself in front of a small brick building that, aside from the signs, would not be easily identified as a church.

This miniscule church (pictured at top), while lacking in decoration, is rich with history. For anyone that’s heard of Dante’s famous love for Beatrice, this is reportedly the small church in which they met. As the story goes, Dante fell madly in love with the beautiful, nine-year-old Beatrice upon seeing her at mass one morning.

Inside the church, you will find a tomb supposedly belonging to Beatrice. Take a look at the basket placed nearby, as it’s filled with letters and notes addressed to Beatrice by visitors and students from around the world in appreciation of the work her beauty inspired.

Inside the Chiesa di Santi Apostoli.

Chiesa di Santi Apostoli
Piazza del Limbo

On the picturesque Piazza del Limbo, you’ll find one of Florence’s old bath houses, a fancy oil shop, a luxurious hotel, and also this small, well-maintained medieval church.

If you have one euro, use it to turn on the lights to see better. You will find a small, simple layout with exquisite carved and painted wooden beams, paintings from various time periods, and—my personal favorite—a brightly colored ceramic piece made by the Della Robbia family.

The post Florence: 3 lesser-known churches with free admission appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Between the different islands, Gamla Stan is home to several historical buildings including the Royal Castle and the Swedish Parliament. The islands are also home to three beautiful churches. Storkyrkan, or “The Great Church” and Tyska kyrkan, the “German Church,” are both located on the main island of Stadsholmen. Riddarholmskyrkan (Riddarholmens Church) is located, on, well, Riddarholmen, which means the “Knights’ Islet.”

The three churches give a glimpse of the religious and royal history of Stockholm and Gamla Stan. And you won’t pay more than 60 SEK (about $8 US) for the entire experience.

Storkyrkan
Stortorget 1
Visiting hours: 9 AM-6 PM Monday-Saturday; 9 AM-4 PM Sunday

Storkyrkan is the site of the last royal wedding of Sweden. It will also be the site of the next royal wedding of Sweden, as the Crown Princess and her fiancé are to be married there in June 2010.

Of course, it is not royal weddings that make the church so impressive. Instead it is the red brick, Gothic architecture inside. Highlights include the large statue of St. George slaying the dragon to the left of the altar and the beautiful paintings, some of which depict a Stockholm from hundreds of years ago. Plus, visiting the church is cheap. Between May and September you’ll have to pay 30 SEK, the rest of the year entrance is free.

Note: The Storkyrkan is closed for upkeep from January 11, 2010 to May 2, 2010.

Tyska kyrkan
Svartmangatan 16
Visiting hours: Tuesday and Fri: 9:30-11:30 AM and 1-4 PM, Wednesday: 9 AM-12 PM

Visiting Tyska kyrkan is free. Always. Built in the 1500’s, the church was the first German parish located outside of Germany. Mass in German is still held here every Sunday. Like so many centuries-old churches, Tyska kyrkan has seen several additions and renovations, the most notable after a large fire in 1878. This gave rise to the current church spire, which rises 96 meters into the Stockholm sky.

Riddarholmskyrkan
Riddarholmen
Visiting hours: 10 AM-4 PM in September and May; 10 AM-5 PM June-August (closed from mid-September to mid-May)

Riddarholmskyrkan is actually not a church anymore. By 1807, there were so few people living on the island that the city decommissioned Riddarholmskyrkan as a church and began charging admission. (Today, the island is said to have only one permanent resident, a man well into his 90’s).

Some people might argue that the beautiful black spire and the church’s wonderful architecture are reason enough to charge admission. However, it is actually what lies inside that attracts the crowds. Riddarholmskyrkan is the burial site of the Swedish royalty. For a stretch of over 300 years (1634-1950), all but one member of the Swedish royal family (Queen Christina who abdicated the throne) was buried in the church. Entrance to wander amongst old Swedish royalty is just 30 SEK, or 10 SEK if you’re a student.

The post Stockholm Cheap Sights: 3 churches in Gamla Stan you must visit appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.