If this all sounds like a dream to you, you’re in luck! As with any city, there are certainly tourist traps and pricey hotels, but we’re always happy to be a trusted friend, scoping out the best budget hotels for you — hotels that might be low in cost but don’t skimp on everything you’ve come to expect from a comfortable vacation.

Related: Our top picks for free (and cheap) things to do in Salzburg

Our favorite budget hotels in Salzburg

Here are our top budget hotel picks for Salzburg.

Pension Elisabeth

Neighborhood: Schallmoos
Doubles from $68

With a sun-soaked courtyard and leafy plants dotted all throughout the building, Pension Elisabeth is warm and welcoming, and it’s one of our favorite budget hotels in Salzburg. Simple rooms are clean and offer flat-screen televisions and free Wi-Fi. Save even more by booking a room with a shared bathroom, or “splurge” (the rates are still very cheapo-friendly) on an en suite room. We even spied rooms with balconies and views of the Alps! Let Pension Elisabeth welcome you to Salzburg.

The bar at Hotel Drei Kreuz.

Drei Kreuz

Neighborhood: Schallmoos
Doubles from $59

We won’t lie to you, the decor at Drei Kreuz is nothing to write home about. But rooms are still clean and offer everything you need for a comfortable trip: private bathrooms, televisions, free Wi-Fi and cheap breakfast. The staff is kind, the rooms are fairly spacious, and two rooms even have kitchenettes. You’ll also find plenty of cheap eats all along the street. Score that room with a kitchenette before it is gone.

A charming courtyard at Hotel Krone 1512.

Hotel Krone 1512

Neighborhood: Right Bank
Doubles from $84

This historical charmer is located along a pedestrian-only street lined with old pastel buildings. In fact, the Hotel Krone 1512 itself is tucked into a 15th-century structure complete with vaulted ceilings and an ivy-covered patio. In the rooms, you can find modern televisions, free Wi-Fi, private bathrooms with bathtubs plus views of the city or garden. Just outside, you’ll find plenty of adorable shops and cafes. Book a dreamy room today.

We love the old-world feel of the Adlerhof Hotel.

Adlerhof

Neighborhood: Elisabeth-Vorstadt
Doubles from $104

Whether you prefer old-world charm or something more streamlined and minimalist, Adlerhof is ready to appease you. Some rooms feature hand-painted headboards and local furnishings, while others are modernly styled. Both options are equally pleasing, and you’ll find flat-screens, private baths and free Wi-Fi. We recommend a room in the front for more privacy and better views. Breakfast is free, and there are plenty of great cafes nearby. What are you waiting for? Reserve a room!

A stylish room at the Bergland Hotel.

Bergland Hotel

Neighborhood: Schallmoos
Doubles from $118

If you’re looking for an interesting place for your home base, the Bergland is it. It’s eclectic and bright in a fun way, with splashes of bright red among the knickknacks. Even the hotel lounge feels like a destination on your itinerary, with its shelves bursting with books, plenty of plant life and a bar to enjoy your nightcap. Among the playful decor, rooms also have flat-screen TVs, refrigerators, kettles, private bathrooms (that are quite beautiful for a bathroom!) and free Wi-Fi. Initiate your Salzburg trip planning by booking a room at Bergland.

Book a budget hotel in Salzburg

Looking for more picks in the land of Mozart? Browse our Salzburg hotel guide.

The post The best budget hotels in Salzburg for 2024 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

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.

The post Salzburg: Our favorite free (and cheap) things to do appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But there’s so much more to Austria’s 4th largest city than Mozart and The Sound of Music. And surprisingly, visiting Salzburg, Austria doesn’t have to put a big dent in your budget, and 2014 promises plenty of fun, hip events on tap. From free jazz festivals and mountain skiing with free shuttles to ancient (and affordable) beer halls and discounts on major attractions, here are some highlights on what to see in 2014—and how to save along the way.

Your key to Salzburg

If you really want to see the best sights in the city, the first thing to do is purchase the all-inclusive Salzburg Card. It only costs €36 for 72 hours (or €23 for 24 hours and €31 for 48 hours), and it gives you access to  attractions including Mozart’s Birthplace and Residence, the Cable Railway up to Hohensalzburg Fortress, Hellbrunn Palace and Gardens, all of the city museums, and many more.

On top of that, you also get free use of the city’s public transportation system. For one low price, you get an an in-depth look at the culture and history of Salzburg, and you get to explore the city on your own schedule.

Getting hip to the performing arts scene

When the weather warms up, so does the art and music in Salzburg. Fans of creative theater will enjoy the performing arts festival Summer Scene that runs from June 25 to July 5. Many of the events are free, and the festival brings a vibrant buzz to the city.

Dance music lovers probably already have the Electric Love Festival on their calendar (July 10-12), and you should too. This three-day event brings the best DJ’s from around the world to spin tunes for a loving  audience of young Europeans and global citizens who want to dance the night away under the Austrian skies.

If you enjoy the sounds of a different kind of beat, then make sure to visit during the fall when Jazz & The City comes to life. From October 22 to 26, the best music clubs open their doors including cool hotspots like Rockhouse, jazzit, republic, and argeKultur. You can see top international stars and up-and-coming artists hit the stages and town squares of Old City for a memorable five-day event where every single show is free!

Sip the city’s ancient beer culture

Since the 14th century, Salzburg has been brewing beer for its citizens from monks to Mozart. It started out as a movement by religious orders, but today the modern beer scenes keeps moving forward thanks to ambitious newcomers. One of the best places to experience the 600-year old tradition is at the  Stieglbrauerei (founded in 1492!) or the classic Augustiner Bräu establshed by monks in 1621 that holds Austria’s largest beer garden. Don’t miss this bustling spot where locals and tourists drink fresh beer from traditional steins.

Get a sneak peek inside a private airplane hangar

If you don’t know that Red Bull is an Austrian/Salzburg brand, you will find out very quickly when you see the company’s presence everywhere. One of coolest contributions by Red Bull is Hangar 7, an airy architectural gem near the airport that’s home of the owners’ impressive private car and aircraft collection. You will find Formula 1 and NASCAR race cars, historic and modern jetplanes, and even the capsule and space suit of Felix Baumgartner’s famous stratosphere jump.

Hit the slopes with the help of  a free shuttle

When you’re ready for a break from the city, you can spend a day hitting the slopes at one of Austria’s popular mountain resorts. Salzburg provides a complimentary ski shuttle direct to Flachau Winter Resort. The ride is only about an hour, so you can be feeling the fresh powder beneath your feet by mid-morning.

And if you’re looking for even more skiing and snowboarding, Salzburg is perfectly located at the foothills of the Alps—all of the major resorts are easily accessible. Ride the slopes during the day, and enjoy a night on the town in the evening! Now that’s Salzburg living.

Sleeping for cheap

EuroCheapo has a range of excellent and affordable stays from hostels starting at $60 a night to four-star hotels around $90. Check out our hotel guide for rates and more information.

The post Beyond Mozart: The hip and affordable guide to Salzburg in 2014 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are our top five rail journeys for this month.

1. Zürich to Salzburg

A wonderful transect from west to east through the Alps, taking in three countries (Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria) and including the mountainous Arlberg route through the Tyrol. Depart Zürich at 10:40 a.m., enjoy lunch on board, and you’ll arrive in Salzburg at 4 p.m.

2. Riviera Cruise

Sit on the right side of the train for sea views aplenty as you ride local trains from Marseille all the way to Genoa. The train hugs the coast for much of the eight-hour journey. Leave Marseille St. Charles at 9:25 a.m., and with two easy changes of train along the way (at Nice Ville and Ventimiglia), you’ll arrive in Genoa just after 5 p.m.

3. Northward Bound

Central Finland has a delicate beauty as winter slips gently into spring. The rail route from Helsinki north through Kuopio is a gem – in our view outshining the more westerly route followed by the fastest trains from Helsinki to Oulu. So leave Helsinki at 8:12 a.m., change at Kajaani onto a delightfully rural local train, and you’ll arrive in Oulu at 5:24 p.m. There is no better way to mark the coming of spring in Finland.

4. Belgrade to Bar

The rail journey from the Serbian capital to the coast of Montenegro is one of the finest in Europe and at its best in early spring. Take the Tara Express from Belgrade at 10:10 a.m. and you’ll reach the port of Bar in Montenegro ten hours later. The journey passes through Bosnia & Herzegovina along the way. Rugged, wild terrain aplenty with fabulous mountain and gorge scenery.

5. Hebridean Adventure

The West Highland Line from Glasgow is a classic. Travel it this month and you’ll still see winter snow lingering on the Scottish hills. Depart Glasgow Queen Street at 8:21 a.m., cross lonely Rannoch Moor and skirt Ben Nevis to reach the fishing port of Mallaig at 1:34 p.m. You’ll have a couple of hours to wander before hopping aboard the afternoon sailing over the sea to Skye.

The train times given in this article generally apply to weekday services. Weekend timings may vary. You can check current schedules in the March 2011 issue of the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable.

The post 5 daytime rail journeys to consider in Europe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are some tips for visiting Innsbruck on a budget:

1. Fly there

Innsbruck is one of the few ski towns with an airport, and in my opinion the only affordable one. Low-cost airlines fly in and out of the valley numerous times a day, which beats the frequent changes and possible weather delays travelers encounter when taking the train (and rarely are there special rail offers coming from surrounding countries).

Drink here!

2. Ski there

Another plus is Innsbruck’s convenient location to ski areas. Over a dozen different resorts surround the town and are accessible by car and public bus. Terrain varies from steep back country to easygoing trails and many freestyle parks.

Cheapo Tip: Buy the half-day tickets for the best rate. Rental stores are not only abundant, but also offer competitive prices.

3 Drink there

Innsbruck is one of those legendary European locations where beer flows cheaper than water, and I recommend taking advantage of it. Stiegl, Ottakringer, Zillertal and the local brewery Theresienbrau are some of the best beers on tap.

Beware, however, that Austrian beer sizes follow that of their Bavarian cousins: The average size is a half-liter stein.

4. Sled there

The old-fashioned wooden sleds are cheap, easy to handle and a lot of fun. Any winter sports rental store will carry sleds, and it’s a perfect activity for when the streets are snowed over. Watch out for the cars, stick to the daytime and bundle up—these mini race cars can move it!

5. Sleep there

On top of being a good deal for winter sports and food, Innsbruck has a lot to choose from for accommodation. There are a handful of Innsbruck hostels that stay cozy at a low cost and plentiful cheap hotels in Innbruck. Even bed and breakfasts can be found at a lower price than other more touristy Austrian ski towns. Do a search in the box above to see options.

The post Innsbruck, Austria: 5 Ways to keep it cheap appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

A great weekend bargain in Germany

On the weekends, for example, travelers can roam the length and breadth of Germany by local and regional trains using the Schönes Wochenende Ticket (SWT), which allows unlimited travel for just €37. And the beauty of the SWT is that you can take along up to four other travelers without having to pay an extra cent.

We have friends who last Sunday traveled from Aachen (on the Belgian border) right across Germany to Salzburg using the SWT, effectively paying €7.40 each for a journey of over 500 miles that took in the Rhine gorge and much more fine scenery. The SWT can even be used to selected stations beyond Germany’s borders (i.e. Salzburg in Austria, Schaffhausen in Switzerland, Wissembourg in France and Szczecin in Poland).

Cheap regional tickets in Germany

While the German SWT is a weekend-only deal, regional tickets in Germany give the freedom to roam within a more limited area on any day, but only after 9 a.m. Mondays through Fridays. These tickets are named after the federal states (Länder in German) in which they are principally marketed. These tickets are typically priced at €20 for one person or €28 for a group of up to five people traveling together.

Roaming Germany’s Baltic coast

The Länder tickets are often valid for substantially larger areas than the federal states after which they are named.

You might expect the “Schleswig-Holstein” ticket only to be valid in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. Think again. This ticket also covers the German states of Hamburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, not to mention selected cross-border stretches of railway into Denmark and Poland. This validity area thus covers Germany’s entire Baltic coast and offshore islands (several of which have causeways carrying railways to the mainland). So devotees of branch lines can use the Schleswig-Holstein ticket to travel very cheaply along rural rail routes from Padborg in Danish Jutland to the Polish town of Swinoujscie.

Similarly, the Sachsen ticket is valid far beyond the borders of Saxony. It can be used over a huge area that encompasses part or all of five German states, two cross-border routes into Poland, and one through the Czech Republic.

As with all Länder tickets, and with the Schönes Wochenende Ticket (SWT), just buy the ticket at the ticket machine before hopping on your first train. You can book a ticket online, but there is really no need to do this. The online tickets are no cheaper than those sold at station ticket machines.

Criss-crossing borders

In many border areas of Europe,  special rail passes are available, even to non-residents, to promote mobility in frontier regions. These are superb deals, often covering not merely the immediate border region but substantial areas well beyond the frontier.

The following are particularly good bargains for one-day tickets:

1. The Euregio Bodensee Tageskarte gives unlimited travel around Lake Constance (called the Bodensee in German) including ferries and selected rail routes in Austria, Germany and Switzerland: €28

2. The Euregio Maas-Rhein Tageskarte permits rail and bus travel throughout parts of eastern Belgium, the Limburg area of the Netherlands and over the German border to Aachen and beyond: €15.50

3. The EuroNeisse Ticket covers a large part of northern Bohemia (Czech Republic), part of Silesia (Poland) and eastern Saxony (Germany) and affords unlimited travel on trains, buses and trams: €10

All the passes mentioned in this post give travelers the chance to really explore a region or make longer hops at a bargain price. Local trains with frequent stops along the way often give a sense of engaging with landscape and communities in a way that is less possible on fast express services.

The post Exploring Germany: Rail passes for local train services appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

We took a day out from our regular work with hidden europe magazine last week and conjured up a tempting palette of trips criss-crossing the continent. And then we compared the ticket prices on a national rail website (that of the Deutsche Bahn) with the prices offered for those journeys by rail ticketing agents based in Britain and North America. We took care to ensure that the tickets we purchased were in every case for exactly the same trains.

So a straight comparison, comparing like-with-like. Same class of travel, same comfy seat, same scenery slipping by outside the window – for all five routes in our basket of European rail trips.

The five routes we tested
1. Berlin to London single (by day, depart after 9:00 AM, any route) on September 3: one adult, 2nd class.
2. Amsterdam to Salzburg single (by day, no more than one change of train) on July 14: one adult, 1st class.
3. London to Cologne via Brussels single (depart at 8:00 AM or later) on September 10: one adult, 2nd class.
4. Berlin to Zagreb single via Hamburg (2 night stop) and Munich (2 night stop) on August 20: one adult, any class.
5. Nuremberg to Dresden same day return (direct trains only) on June 20 for a family of five, 2nd class.

For each of these five journeys, we thought that the German Railways (viz. Deutsche Bahn) website at www.bahn.de would offer some reasonable fare advice, and so it did. Indeed, all five journeys could be booked online through their website.

Then we turned to agents selling rail tickets in North America and Britain to get quotes for precisely the same journeys. This was done first by online research, often followed up by telephone calls to check precise details.

The results

And guess what? The leading agencies specializing in European rail tickets always charged at least twice as much as would the Deutsche Bahn for exactly the same journey.

The key point here is that in most of Europe, rail operators have a whole raft of special promotional fares that massively undercut the regular tariffs (often with discount of more than 80% on the standard fare). But agents rarely offer those discounted fares, preferring to safeguard their hefty commission fees by selling only the full fare.

Comparing the fares

Now take a look at how those fares compared. Listed below are the Deutsche Bahn (DB) fares that were available for purchase around midday of Friday, June 12, 2009 followed by the cheapest fare quoted the same day by a leading North American or British agent (all sterling and dollar fares have been converted to euros just to make things clearer).

1. Berlin to London (2nd class) DB: €49 / Agent Fare: €209
2. Amsterdam to Salzburg (1st class) DB: €79 / Agent Fare: €255
3. London to Cologne (2nd class) DB: €49 / Agent Fare: €106
4. Berlin to Zagreb with stops in Hamburg and Munich (2nd class) DB: €29 / Agent Fare: €322
5. Nuremberg to Dresden day return for family of 5 (2nd class) DB: €37 / Agent Fare: €705

Helpful advice?

We found one leading British agent who was extremely helpful on the phone, going to some lengths to suggest that for certain routes it might be wiser to get the tickets from a German source (but declining to give the specific name of the company or website).

A well-known North American agent emphasized that their dollar fares on offer would undercut anything we might purchase in Europe – a claim which is patently undermined by the results of our survey. The North American agent suggested that a rail pass might be a better bet for some of our journeys, and hinted that we would encounter a range of problems if we attempted to purchase directly from the Deutsche Bahn website.

Booking tickets in advance

The reality is that booking train tickets on www.bahn.de is pretty easy, even without a knowledge of German. The site has a decent English language interface, though in some instances you will find additional functionality on the German language website.

Also, it really helps to have a good knowledge of European patterns of service and railway geography. A good place to start is by studying the latest edition of the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable and the same company’s Rail Map of Europe.

Booking well in advance is often the key to finding cheap fares, but our research found that plenty of discounted promotional fares are still available for travel this summer. And we did not cast around trying to dig up the cheapest possible travel dates, having fixed our palette of routes and travel dates before embarking on our research. If you would like the see the full results of our survey, just click here.

And, oh yes, just in case you were wondering, we were paid not a cent by the Deutsche Bahn to publish this!

The post European Rail Tickets: Deutsche Bahn fares better than rail agents appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Yes, we did!

On Tuesday, January 20th, 2009, Barack Obama will be sworn is as the 44th U.S. President and the world will be watching!

We’ve put together a list of places hosting inaugural day events in Europe.

As we said on Friday, the inauguration should be available in high-def at many locations, so if a bar or cafe has a television and gets satellite cable, you should be able to check in on the Washington, D.C. action.

As usual, let us know if you still need to find a place to watch the event.

Signed, sealed, delivered – again!

In Paris: The American Church in Paris hosts a prayer service at 7:30 PM followed by a viewing of the inauguration (one hour behind the live events) and a wine and cheese reception. Stop by and you might just see our Ed-in-Chief Tom Meyers! More info is here. You can also email Arlene Gross, the coordinator of the event, at arlbru2004@yahoo.com

For more ideas on where to hang your hat on inauguration day, check out this great forum on the Fodor’s Paris site. Other ideas include the Havane Cafe, at 70 Bis, Boulevard Auguste Blanqui (near Place d’Italie).

UPDATED: There’s an event at Carr’s Irish Restaurant and Bar (1 Rue du Mont Thabor). It begins at 4:30. The venue promises live coverage from CNN, via two large screen television sets. For further information, visit their web site.

In addition, a group of Democrats Abroad folks will gather to watch the inauguration at The Highlander pub (8 rue Nevers, across from the Pont Neuf).

Finally, if you really want to get your Obama-yes-we-can-can groove on, start out with the group of revelers organizing an event at Le Queenie (5, rue de Berri) for drinks, conversation, and to watch the inauguration. Then, head over to Queen nightclub (102, Avenue Champs Elysees). For info and to RSVP, email obama.obamaparisinauguration.p@gmail.com

Note: According to the Paris Expat Meetup group, the American Library also has inauguration events planned. More info here.

In Berlin: Our friends over at BootsnAll first broke the news that Berlin would be partying down on inauguration eve. As they so aptly reminded us, it was Mr. Obama himself who said, “People of Berlin, people of the world, this is our moment. This is our time.” Rock on! Head to Goya Nightclub for an evening of celebration or head to the Amerika Haus, where they’ve been celebrating Black History month for weeks already. Check out what they have planned here.

In Salzburg: An event is planned at the Hotel Stein (Giselakai 3-5). All are welcome, including children, but RSVPs are a must. Go here for more info. You can also contact Contact Mary Ann Balko-Koch at 0664 59 23 408.

In Vienna: There’s a big event planned at the Badeschiff (Donau canal between Schwedenplatz and the Urania in Vienna’s first district). The official invite can be downloaded here.  Live jazz music wil be provided. There’s a €5 optional donation. The reservation process officially closed on January 16th, but we recommend still trying to get in. Email: events@democratsabroad.at for more info.

In Brussels: There’s an event at the Hilton Brussels (38, Boulevard De Waterloo). Reservations are required. Email chair-be@democratsabroad.orgby today for info and to reserve your spot.

In London: A host of events are planned in Her Majesty’s great city. For a list of a bunch of them, visit Time Out London’s web site. Might we recommend the “Bye George” comedy celebration at the Southbank Centre on the evening before Obama takes office? By George, now that’s a pleasant thought!

For a real down-home feel, check out what the Chicago Rib Shack has planned. Just for the record, this is exactly where the other resident Cheapos would be if on the other side of the pond next week! They’re in Knightsbridge, near Harrods. For more info, email info@thechicagoribshack.co.uk

In Amsterdam: One of our favorite places to catch great entertainment and share laughs, Boom Chicago, has lots of fun stuff on the docket Tuesday night. Get in the mood earlier with a comedy show called, “Bye Bye Bush!”. For more information on the inaugural fest, go here.

UPDATED: If you’re in the Groningen area, head over to Wijkcentrum Het Floreshuis for pizza and revelry. Events start at 5 p.m. and the food and drinks are cheaply priced. More info: demsfungroningen@gmail.com

Also, check out the Democrats Abroad Netherlands site for up-to-date celebration info.

In St. Petersburg: Fellow Cheapo “Liz” suggests trying the folks at the Grand Hotel Europe, where events are planned. Contact: desk.concierge@grandhoteleurope.com

In Barcelona: This comes courtesy of ‘toshmon’ who commented via our earlier inauguration blog post.

“For Barcelona, information from http://www.amersoc.com/

“When: January 20th from 5 pm to 11 pm (entry at 4:30 pm)
Where: Le Meridien Hotel, C/ La Rambla, 111
Price: 15 euros
What’s included: Live coverage of the swearing-in ceremony on a big screen tv, live music, tapas, beer, wine, soft drinks.

“Make sure to RSVP to admin@amersoc.com and stop by Hotel Le Meridien to pick up your tickets in advance to avoid standing in line at the registration desk on day of the event.”

Thanks for posting ‘toshmon’!

In Granada: Democrats Abroad group will be convening at Paddy’s Irish Pub (on calle Santa Escolastica). Further directions to the venue, info, and more are available here.   The event begins at 4 p.m. and doors open at 3 p.m.

In Athens: The Democrats Abroad hosts an event at the Hardrock Cafe (18, Filellinon). Contact is Alexis Vasilakopoulou (ph: 210 325 2758). For more information, visit the event’s site.

In Madrid: The Hotel Intercontinental offers an event hosted by Democrats Abroad Madrid. The event is private, meaning you must RSVP, but all are welcome and entrance is free of charge. The hotel is at Paseo de la Castellana 49. More details here.

If you’re interested in a more fancy affair, check out this gala event that’s planned in Madrid.

In Rome: We were only able to track down information for the Democrats Abroad event at the Radisson SAS hotel. As of press time on Friday, the event was full. Please comment here if you’re in Rome and know of other events. Thanks!

In Milan: There’s an event at the Fiori Oscuri Bistrot (Via Fiori Oscuri 3, in Brera). All are welcome and there’s no entrance fee. Free copies of the International Herald Tribune will be distributed. For more information, contact Maria Lassila (maria.lassila@gmail.com).

Other suggestions: Check out sites like Democratic Underground, your city’s local Expat Meetup site, or Democrats Abroad for ideas.

Where will you be?

Tell us where you plan to watch the inauguration. Please include city, venue, and relevant contact info. Thanks!

And, go Obama!

The post UPDATED: Where to Watch Barack Obama’s Inauguration in Europe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

On Wednesday we put together a photo montage of some of our favorite things about Salzburg’s Christmas markets, so today we offer “some more of our favorite things” about Vienna’s Christmas markets.

(Cue: music!)

Brown paper packages (and puppets and ornaments) tied up with string…

Photo courtesy of tttaaaooo

**Tip: Be sure to pick up a Mozart-themed tree ornament, of which there are many.

Cream colored (Ok, so he’s brown.) ponies and crisp apple streudels…

Photo of the Christmas mini-horse by PaulaFunnell

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes…(but we’ll settle for boys in parkas)-

Ice skating at Town Hall; photo by Premshree Pillai

Snowflakes (stenciled into fancy decorations) that stay on my nose and eyelashes…

Photo of holiday lamps courtesy of Edi Weissmann

Silver white winters that melt into spring…

Photo by mosint

Ooooh.

Photo of Vienna’s Townhall by ahisgett

Ahhh.

Photo taken in front of Schonbrunn Palace, by tomanthony

Fancy!

These are some more of our favorite things!

(Repeat all verses.)

The post Vienna Christmas Markets: More of our favorite things appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Take a look at photos we hunted down of recent festive happenings at the Salzburg Christmas markets. These are truly a few of our favorite things…

Hand-painted egg ornaments

Hundreds of thousands of hand-painted egg tree ornaments are available at the annual Christmas markets. The fragile gems come in various patterns and designs, but traditional holiday symbols, like poinsettias and ivy, seem to be the most popular.

Photo courtesy of jon gos)

Santa Clauses on the march!

Photo courtesy of Savannah Grandfather

Ok, who doesn’t love a good Santa costume, especially when it’s a legitimate throwback to another era entirely, and worn by an enthusiastic teenage boy? (Or is that Harry Potter?) Bonus points if you can figure out what he’s handing out. Anyone want a coupon for a shave?

Carriage rides through the streets of Salzburg!

Photo courtesy of Savannah Grandfather

Horses and garland, and riding, OH MY! We love that Salzburg dresses up its carriages just in time for Santa’s sleigh ride.

Tell us, Cheapos: What are your favorite things about Salzburg Christmas markets?

See also: Our list of recommended budget hotels in Salzburg.

The post Salzburg Christmas Markets: A few of our favorite things appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.