But just because Vienna is a destination rich in history, art and undeniably delicious coffee and wiener schnitzel, it doesn’t mean you have to be rich to visit!

We found five places to stay in Vienna where you’ll love to lay your head for a few nights.

The best budget hotels in Vienna

The city has plenty of lovely, family-run hotels that deliver excellent service, cleanliness, comfort, and charm for a great price. Read on for some of our favorite budget hotels in Vienna.

A simple but well-appointed room at Pension Lerner. Photo: Booking.com

Pension Lerner

Neighborhood: Innere Stadt
Doubles from $112

It may not be swanky, but Pension Lerner is a solid cheapo pick. Rooms are simple, and creature comforts like TV, free Wi-Fi, and laundry service sweeten the already good deal here. The location, at the edge of Innere Stadt, is also excellent. Read the full review

Score excellent deals at the family-run Pension Wild. Photo: Booking.com

Pension Wild

Neighborhood: Josefstadt
Doubles from $72

Located in a beautiful building that’s more than 100 years old, this peaceful pension, run by the Wild family for decades, offers a range of rooms and amenities to fit your budget. Dedicated Cheapos can enjoy low rates on rooms with shared baths, and those looking to “splurge” still get great deals for an en suite room. Read the full review

We love relaxing in the lush courtyard at Pension Pharmador. Photo: Booking.com

Pension Pharmador

Neighborhood: Neubau
Doubles from $120

We love the Pension Pharmador for its leafy courtyard, organic breakfast, and ultra-helpful staff. Rooms at Pension Pharmador are standard hotel fare, with amenities like free Wi-Fi, cable TVs, and minibars. It’s a bit far from the action but a perfect place to rest if you value peace and quiet. Read the full review

Hotel Pension Corvinus is tucked inside a handsome residential building.

Hotel Pension Corvinus

Neighborhood: Mariahilf
Doubles from $130

The comfortable Hotel Pension Corvinus offers a chain hotel vibe (read: basic decor), but with the upside of friendly owners and an excellent selection of amenities. In addition to free Wi-Fi and a cozy lounge, rooms also come with a TV, air conditioning, minibars and soundproof windows. Read the full review

Some rooms at Ibis Wien Mariahilf offer views of Maria vom Siege. Photo: Booking.com

Hotel Ibis Wien Mariahilf

Neighborhood: Mariahilf
Doubles from $187

Sure, it’s a chain hotel, but we can’t deny the real value that can be had at Hotel Ibis Wien Mariahilf. Rooms have a hint of style, and the hotel houses a restaurant and a location near bustling Mariahilferstrasse. If you score an upper-level room, you may even enjoy stunning views of the Maria vom Siege. Read the full review

Looking for more options in Vienna? Check out more than 30 cheap hotels in Vienna in our guide or search for Vienna hotels under $100 per night.

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

Here’s one strategy for lowering costs: eschew particularly expensive locations for cheaper alternatives. As always, think broadly about alternatives. In some cases, a neighboring city will be less expensive than a popular tourism draw in spitting distance. In other situations, you might consider swapping one region for another half-way across the continent.

Here are five suggestions to get you thinking.

1. Consider Bratislava instead of Vienna

Vienna is glorious. It is impossible to forget that the city was once the seat of an empire. Though there are low-cost hotels, it can also be expensive and, during the summer months, overrun with tourists.

Enter Bratislava, the cute, relatively diminutive capital of Slovakia, just 40 miles to the east. It is a quieter and far less expensive alternative to Vienna. You can count on paying around €40 per day less in Bratislava between budget accommodations, meals and bar tab. Plus, hotels in Bratislava can go for as little as $40-50 per night when we did some searching for dates in the spring.

Furthermore, it’s easy and relatively cheap to travel between the two capital cities. A one-hour one-way train fare will set you back €15; the almost two-hour bus journey costs only €8. You can upgrade the trip with a 75-minute boat ride for as low as €20.

2. Switch out the Slovenian Alps for the Swiss Alps

Let’s compare two popular Alpine destinations, one in Switzerland and the other in Slovenia.

In the winter, a double at a cheap bed & breakfast in St. Moritz, Switzerland runs 110 CHF ($112) per night; in Bled, Slovenia: €29 ($35). In the summer, rate differentials aren’t quite so dramatic. A cheap studio in St. Moritz in mid-July is 63 CHF ($64); an equivalent property in Bled mid-July runs €36 ($44). Bled is less developed than St. Moritz, and (arguably) more interesting in terms of geology and landscape.

As an aside, Slovenia offers far more than Alpine vistas. Other places of note include Ljubljana, the country’s dynamic, pretty capital, and a tiny little arc of the Adriatic, centered on Koper.

Lisbon is one of Europe’s greatest and cheapest cities to visit. Photo: Francisco Antunes

3. Try Lisbon over Madrid and Barcelona

Lisbon is one of the most appealing cities in all of Europe — and an outstanding value to boot. It’s got everything one might want in a European capital: atmospheric neighborhoods, grand plazas and boulevards, good coffee, affordable public transportation, cheap taxis, great restaurants, and perfect egg tarts at more or less every bakery. It’s much cheaper than Madrid, Barcelona, and even Paris.

Hotels in Lisbon start around $30 for simple rooms, and you can score 3-star accommodations for as little as $60. In other words, Lisbon is still a cheapo paradise!

The French coastal region of Côte Bleue, west of Marseille, is a great alternative to the ritzy Cote d’Azur. Photo: Jeanne Menj

4. The Côte Bleue in place of the Cote d’Azur

The Côte d’Azur remains charming despite the glitz and celebrities that keep it humming. But goodness gracious is it pricey. For a less expensive holiday, look to the Côte Bleue, to the west of Marseille.

Carry-le-Rouet, a fishing village surrounded by a nature reserve, is one idyllic spot. In Carry-le-Rouet, the Villa Arena Hotel offers double rooms for €60. And in the nearby village of La Rove there is a simple, welcoming guesthouse called L’olivier, with double rooms for just €55 in July.

Jahorina in Bosnia offers a fun ski vacation for almost 75% less than the Alps! Photo: vladotesanovic

5. Go east for an affordable ski vacation

A quick glance at the top resorts in France, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria turns up exorbitant daily lift pass costing as high as €70 ($86) in Zermatt. Even relatively good value resorts in the region, like Courmayeur in Italy’s Aosta Valley, cost €44 ($54) per day for a lift pass.

A turn to the east reveals much less expensive territory: Jahorina, Bosnia (€20, or $24 for a lift pass); Popova Sapka, Macedonia (900 MKD, or $18); and Brezovica, an ethnic Serbian mountain enclave in the south of Kosovo, where a lift pass costs just €12 ($15) per day.

Related: 5 affordable ski vacations in Europe

The post 5 cheapo alternative destinations in Europe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Built in the 1860s in the Neo-Renaissance style, the opera house itself is a treat. It dominates the southern portion of the “Ring” with its ornate facade, statues, and arched windows. And with 300 performances a year, it offers visitors a chance to treat themselves to a different performance every night of their trip.

Another reason to go this year is that 2019 marks the 150th anniversary of the Vienna State Opera which opened on May 25, 1869. And the performance that filled the stage on that historic night? Mozart’s Don Giovanni!

Advance Tickets

Ticket prices vary greatly depending on the performance, date of the show and, of course, seat location. Rates can range from around €7 for a spot in the top balcony to €500 for prime seats on opening night.

The safest bet is to visit the Staatsoper website before your trip to check on the schedule of performances and ticket prices. And fear not, budget travelers can book the cheap seats through the site. However, there are cheaper options…

Standing Room Tickets

Cheapos with a bit more flexibility and willingness to take a risk may opt for a €2-€4 standing room tickets, sold 80 to 90 minutes before the show starts from the western side of the Opera (the opposite side of the building from the gift shop). Keep an eye out for the sign that says “Stehplatz-Kasse | Standing Area”.

You read that right: Standing in the back of the auditorium will only cost between €2 and €4, depending on the show and the location of your standing “spot.” Spots are available in the “Parterre” (ground floor), higher up in the “Balkon” and all the way up in the “Galerie.”

The number of tickets is limited and given out in order of those lined up. For an 8 pm show, for example, tickets will be sold at 6:40 pm, but the line will most likely form well before that.

One final consideration: You do have to stand, although many spots offer a wall for leaning.

While these standing room tickets may sound risky or even exhausting, think about how exhilarating it will be to take in a world-class opera or ballet for less than you’d pay for a beer. Or coffee. Or würstchen.

And, as one local opera lover told us, “If you’re not into the show, you can leave at intermission. You only paid €3!”

Vienna hotels

For suggestions on affordable places to sleep while visiting Vienna, be sure to check out our guide to Vienna’s best budget hotels, all inspected and approved by EuroCheapo’s editors.

The post Buying cheap tickets to the Vienna State Opera House appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

In addition to the ubiquitous döner kebab that is always a reliable choice, you’ll find cheap pizza, traditional Austrian food at excellent prices and more than a few vegetarian options.

Our cheap picks run the gamut from cozy pub grub to pay-what-you-wish Pakistani fare. Here are five of our favorites to keep in mind for your next trip to Vienna.

Related: Our favorite budget hotels in Vienna

5 cheap eats in Vienna

1. Tunnel

Florianigasse 39
Neighborhood: Josefstadt
Website

If it’s an unabashedly young and laid-back vibe you’re after, look no further than Tunnel. This restaurant-live music hybrid offers a large menu with very reasonable prices.

The menu includes sandwiches, pastas, soups and vegetarian dishes ranging from €5 and up. Tunnel’s drink list is equally expansive, with juices, beers and cocktails all about €4. You’re guaranteed to hear a live band nightly (at 9 p.m.), though there is often a cover charge.

2. Esterházykeller

Naglergasse 9
Neighborhood: Innere Stadt
Website

More than your average charming Austrian restaurant, the Esterházykeller offers the added bonus of historic significance. Opened in 1683 and named after the Esterházy noble family, the place was famously frequented by Joseph Haydn.

The restaurant serves typical Austrian cuisine (think plenty of meat) though vegetarian options are available as well. Meals start around €6, and you can order a fine wiener schnitzel for around €11. Wine from the Esterházy vineyard is on the menu, along with apple strudel and other sweets, most under €5.

3. Der Wiener Deewan

Liechtensteinstraße 10
Neighborhood: Alsergrund
Website

Der Wiener Deewan puts a Pakistani twist on one of our favorite restaurant concepts: Take a hip, colorful atmosphere, add a buffet with a pay-what-you-wish policy, and you have yourself a wi(e)nner!

A buffet is served all day with a mix of meat and veggie curries that also comes with fresh nan bread and salad. And yes, you decide the price at the end of the meal. Just pay the cashier on the way out. The restaurant also offers takeaway boxes and drinks are also available, though these come at fixed prices. Stop by on Monday evenings to catch some live music.

4. Pizzeria Mafiosi

Reindorfgasse 15
Neighborhood: Mariahilf
Website

If you want a cheap slice of pizza or a hefty portion of lasagna, this Italian eatery is a safe bet. The topping selection is impressive, and the prices are quite low; nothing on the food menu costs more than €6, and they have a handful of pizzas under €4.

A beer will set you back €2, while a glass of wine can be had for the super cheapo price of only €1.20. The Pizzeria Mafiosi is located south of the city center near the Schönbrunn Palace.

5. Kent Restaurant

Brunnengasse 67
Neighborhood: Ottakring

A local favorite in Josefstadt, the Kent Restaurant has a sprawling menu of Turkish entrees. Choose from variety of salads, kebabs and Middle Eastern sandwiches. They’re all very tasty and very affordable.

A complete breakfast is available for around €5, and desserts (including baklava) are also served. They also have two other locations in Vienna.

The post 5 Cheap eats in Vienna appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

From their famous music scene (think: Vienna Boys Choir and the Vienna State Opera) to several free festivals in the summer, Vienna should be on your must-see list for coming year.

Music fans should note that Vienna will be celebrating a number of note-able anniversaries. 2017 marks 150 years of the Blue Danube waltz and 175 years of the Vienna Philharmonic. Music fans will be in heaven with literally thousands of concerts taking place across the city throughout 2017. You can check the calendar on the Visit Vienna Tourism website to see what’s on tap.

Related:EuroCheapo’s top 20 budget hotels in Vienna

Top reasons to visit Vienna in 2017

Here are a just a few of the reasons we think you should visit Vienna in 2017:

1. Viennese Modernism of Egon Schiele

February 22 – June 18, 2017

A new exhibition celebrating the influence of Viennese Modernism will be on display at the Albertina from February 22 to June 18, 2017. The exhibit features masterpieces by Egon Schiele, a protege of Gustav Klimt known for passionate works of art. The exhibit celebrates his work and life in a major show commemorating the 100th anniversary of his death at the age of 28.

The Maria Theresa Monument in Vienna. Photo: Katharine Hunter

2. 300 Years of Maria Theresa

June 30 – November 5, 2017

This is the first-ever exhibition to explore the relationship between Maria Theresa (the only female ruler of the Hapsburg dominions) to the visual arts. Entitled “300 Years of Maria Theresa: Strategist – Mother – Reformer,” this groundbreaking exhibit will take place at four venues throughout Vienna.

3. Music Film Festival at City Hall

July 1 – September 3, 2017

Attracting over 500,000 attendees, this outdoor summer festival brings film, music, and food to the heart of Vienna. Located on Rathausplatz, the Music Film Festival allows visitors to catch films on everything from opera to pop, while noshing on culinary treats from over 25 food vendors. The best part for Cheapos? All of the screening are free!

Related: 5 Cheap eats in Vienna

The Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper) before the opening curtain. Photo: Roman B

4. Vienna State Opera

Seeing an opera in Vienna is a breathtaking experience, and should really be a required activity, as the Vienna State Opera schedule is always filled with memorable performances (and Cheapos can always score cheap seats). Productions on tap for 2017 include classics such as Turandot, Parsifal, Tosca, Otello, Faust and Don Pasquale, among many others.

5. 2017 Danube Island Festival

June 23 – 25

Danube Island transforms into a giant outdoor party for more than 3 million visitors every summer. The 2017 Danube Island Festival features live entertainment spanning a variety of genres on over a dozen stages. This all-ages festival also wins points for budget travelers — admission is free!

6. Vienna Boys Choir

Two of the most famous Austrian cultural institutions join forces for “A Tribute to Vienna.” In between beautiful songs by the Vienna Boys Choir, the Spanish Riding School performs highlights from the “Ballet of the White Stallions.” Performances take place in May, June, September, and October.

Christmas World at Vienna City Hall Square. Photo: Nico P

7. Vienna Christmas World

November 17 – December 26, 2017

It’s never too early to start making plans to visit one of Europe’s most beautiful Christmas markets. The 2017 Vienna Christmas World at City Hall Square (Rathausplatz) kicks off on November 17 and runs through December 26th.

More help with your trip to Vienna

Looking for more ways to save when you visit Vienna? Be sure to stop by our guide to budget hotels in Vienna, and check out these additional posts in our Vienna blog.

The post 7 Reasons to visit Vienna in 2017 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

From an unforgettable (and free!) summer evening concert at Schönbrunn Palace’s Gardens to a brand new 48-hour tourist card that offers an incredible value, it’s time to think about adding Vienna, Austria to your 2014 travel plans. And be sure to keep reading for an affordable hotel option that offers something truly different!

All city public transit is included with the new 48-hour Vienna Card. Photo: Luca Sartoni

New 48-hour tourist card launches April 1

In years past, visitors to Vienna only had the option of getting a 72-hour tourist card, but that all changes on April 1, 2014. Perfect for those in town for a quick two-day trip, the soon-to-be-launched 48-hour Vienna Card offers all of the same perks as before, but for a cheaper price (€18.90). If you plan on riding public transit during your stay, it almost pays for itself, since fares are a little over €2 each way. Enjoy unlimited travel on all city public transit including buses, trams and subways within the city borders (Zone 100). You can hop on and off as you please, without having to worry about not having an extra single ticket in your pocket.

The Vienna Card also gives you discounts on 210 attractions and musuems around the city. Good luck trying to cram all of them in during your 48-hour period, but even if you hit a handful, you’ll save big because discounts range from 10% to 40% off regular admission prices.

And when you get hungry or thirsty, you can even show your card and score savings of up to 25% for some authentic Austrian fare at local coffeehouses, restaurants and wine taverns. We always like to eat cheap in Vienna, but this card allows you to splurge a bit without hurting your budget. We’ll drink to that.

The Summer Night Concert finale in 2009. Photo: dorena-wm

Summer Night Concert on May 29

A true highlight of the summer season, this annual event draws thousands of music fans to Schönbrunn Palace for an epic night of live sounds from the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Christoph Eschenbach. This year’s Summer Night Concert takes place on May 29, 2014 and stars piano superstar Lang Lang.

The best part? It’s totally free. Seeing an unforgettable concert performed in front of an UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site will cost you nothing, so you’ll have extra euros to spend on an Austrian beer or glass of wine after the show. And it’s not the only freebie taking to the stage in Vienna throughout the summer. Check out EuroCheapo’s report from last year.

Cafe Goldegg is your breakfast hangout when you stay at Urbanauts. Photo: melquiades1898

Cool sleeps: Urbanauts Street Lofts

This boutique hotel is not new (it opened in 2011), but the innovative concept is still a pleasant surprise to many savvy travelers. Empty retail spaces on the ground level have been revamped into hip hotel rooms at Urbanauts Street Lofts. There’s no central lobby, but that’s the fun—you enter right into your room from the city street. The local block is literally your hallway, the cafe down the road is your breakfast room, and the sleek bar a few doors down is your hotel lounge.

Rates start at a surprisingly reasonable €120, on the higher range of typical cheapo stays, but a great deal for Vienna. If you’re up for a unique way to experience the city, this is the hotel for you. Of course if that’s a little out of your price range (or comfort zone), EuroCheapo has plenty of other great stays in Vienna that start as low as $55 per night.

The post Visiting Vienna: Free concerts, cool hotels and a new tourist card appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Do note a common misunderstanding. Just because a train styles itself as being a hotel train does not necessarily mean that it is any better than any other overnight train. So much depends on what grade of accommodation you opt for.

On most night trains in Europe, travelers have a choice of three grades of on-board accommodation: seats, couchettes and sleepers.

Night trains: what to expect

That’s the norm, but the situation does vary from train to train. Here are some exceptions. The services from France to Russia are very much top-of-the-range and there you’ll find only sleeping cars. On some other routes (eg. Paris to Rome, Prague to Copenhagen and Munich to Milan) there are couchettes and sleepers, but simply no regular seated accommodation. The night train from Berlin to Malmö consists exclusively of couchette cars – no seats or sleepers on that one. Move to Spain and many domestic overnight trains wholly within Spain have seats and sleepers, but no couchettes.

Even within the three broad-brush categories (ie. seat, couchette and sleeping berth) you will encounter great variations.

Take a seat

The seats on the Vienna to Venice overnight train are in classic six-seat compartments in a corridor coach. If you are lucky enough to travel on a quiet night, then two travelers might manage to bag a side each and stretch out in some comfort. But this is a train where seats are often in great demand, and a night spent sitting up in a regular seat in a full compartment just ain’t a bundle of fun. Believe us.

By contrast, the seated accommodation on the night trains from Zurich to both Berlin and Prague are spaciously arranged in an open-plan carriage. The seats recline and offer a measure of privacy – perfect for snoozing.

Opt for a couchette

Move upmarket to couchettes, and the key choice is between a four-berth or six-berth couchette option. Our view is that couchettes make sense for families traveling on a budget. A four-berther is a fun solution for parents traveling with a couple of children.

Take our advice. We’ve done the couchette deal, enduring long hot nights in stuffy couchettes shared with strangers traveling with mountains of luggage (and in one case a double bass). It does not make for peace and rest. You deserve more.

Enjoy sleeper carriages

So, if you possibly can, opt for a sleeper. Night trains were made for sleeping. And that requires quiet, privacy and crisp, clean sheets. An overnight journey in a comfortable sleeper is hard to beat. On some journeys (eg. Venice to Munich or Nice to Warsaw) there are even double beds on offer.

Even sleepers are infinitely variable, ranging from pokey little cabins to spacious compartments with en suite facilities. Russian Railways (RZD) have some very well-appointed sleeping cars on the routes to Moscow from Paris and Nice. But at a price.

Even those on more modest budgets can however enjoy stylish overnight travel on some City Night Line (CNL) services. The upper deck sleeping compartments on selected CNL trains are very spacious and have a small bathroom (with toilet and shower). There is space to stretch out and watch the evening scenery slip by beyond the window. You’ll find these luxury compartments on, among others, the CNL Aurora (Basel-Copenhagen), the CNL Sirius (Zurich to Berlin) and the CNL Comet (Zurich to Hamburg).

The great thing about the three trains mentioned here is that they all have a full-service restaurant car. Now that really is travel as it should be. A relaxed dinner on board, before retiring to bed, to awake refreshed and relaxed at your destination.

The post Night Train Travel: A guide to snoozing across Europe by train appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

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.

And though that was centuries ago, if it sounds at all like Vienna, Austria is resting on its musical laurels, fear not—the city still has plenty to offer to music-lovers—provided you have a healthy appreciation for classical. Despite the high-society implications of this genre, it’s cheap and easy to get your daily dose of Mozart (or anyone else) while staying in Vienna.

In fact, it’s possible to take in tons of music while in the Austrian capital without spending a dime! To help you figure out how, here is our guide to finding free music in Vienna:

The Vienna Philharmonic’s summer concert
Annually in early June

If you happen to visit Vienna in late Spring (and who wouldn’t want to?), you might be lucky enough to catch the Vienna Philharmonic‘s annual free concert. Usually held in early June (though this year’s performance was on May 30th), the event provides the rare opportunity to catch one of the world’s most renowned orchestras in action without an accompanying price tag.

The ante is upped even further by the concert’s enviable location: in the gardens of the Schoenbrunn Palace. This former home to the imperial Habsburg family—now a UNESCO world cultural heritage site—provides the perfect atmosphere to match the Philharmonic.

Open-air opera
April-June, September

Continuing the theme of world-class music outdoors, the Vienna State Opera offers the opportunity to see its performances live for free, albeit on a projector screen in front of the Opera House.  Called “Opera for All,” the broadcasts take place at Herbert-von-Karajan Square in the pleasant evenings from April-June and in September.

Additionally, starting 45 minutes before the actual performance and during the intermissions, guests are treated to information about the Opera and the works being performed.

Organ concerts at the Peterskirche
Year-round

For a more intimate musical experience, Peterskirche (Saint Peter’s Church), holds daily organ concerts that are free to attend. Featuring works by such luminaries as Liszt, Chopin and Bach, and located in the heart of Vienna’s Innere Stadt, these performances are an easy and convenient way to get your classical music fix. Concerts are held Monday through Friday at 3 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m.

You may have to pay for this view of the Vienna Boy’s Choir, but if you can settle for just their voices, you’ll get in for free. Photo: Navnetmitt.

The Vienna Boy’s Choir
Year-round, except late summer

Along with the Vienna Philharmonic, the Vienna Boy’s Choir is one of the defining musical ensembles of the Austrian capital. Throughout the year (save for the end of June through the middle of September), they perform each Sunday at the Hofburg Chapel in Innere Stadt—a musical venue that dates back to Medieval times.

Seated tickets for these performances run between €7 and €35, but if you’re willing to stand, you can see the Boys Choir for free.  Well, technically you can hear them for free—the Hofburg Chapel’s website warns that standing room attendees will not get a view of the performers.  In fact, even the cheapest €5 seats do not feature a direct view.

Standing room opens at 8:30 a.m. for the performances, which begin at 9:15 a.m. If you do want to purchase seats, you must do so by mail, fax or e-mail.  Follow the link above for instructions from the Chapel’s website.

The Music Film Festival in front of City Hall brings scores of tourists and locals each night in the summer. Photo: Ivan C.

The Rathausplatz Music Film Festival
Late June – early September

Every summer, from the end of June until the beginning of September, the square in front of Vienna’s City Hall becomes a nightly tribute to the city’s status as a global music capital, by playing host to the vibrant Rathausplatz Music Film Festival.  Every evening at dusk, a different music-centric film plays on a giant screen displayed above the square.  The selection is diverse—from operas to ballets to jazz to rock concerts—which can be refreshing for those worn out by Vienna’s constant onslaught of classical.

The festival doesn’t just offer audio delights either—a wide selection of international cuisine is available daily from 11 a.m. until midnight. Provided by twenty of the top restaurateurs in the city, the aim is to provide a “culinary world tour” for festival-goers.

This year’s festival began on June 26th and is running until September 1st. For more information, check out the Vienna tourism office’s website.

Donauinselfest
Annually in Mid-June

For visitors that have really had enough of concert halls and opera houses, Vienna also offers a much more modern music experience: Donauinsel, a free music festival on an island in the Danube River. The 30-year-old festival is held annually in mid-June and attracts a lineup of mostly German-language acts, though some major international acts have also performed.

The festival usually attracts more than three million guests and is one of the largest open-air events each year in Europe. In addition to the musical acts, Donauinselfest also features kid-friendly events, sports and a wide variety of vendors.  For those looking to see a different side of Vienna than the Baroque concert halls of the old city, this is the place to go.

Want more? Check out EuroCheapo’s guide to Vienna for travel tips and budget hotel recommendations.  And if you’ve got any questions or comments, be sure to leave them in the box below.

The post Vienna: City of (free!) Music appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are a trio of tips for budget travelers who don’t want to book their rail journeys months in advance.

1. Check for local and regional travel passes.

Global pass options (such as those marketed under both InterRail and Eurail schemes) can be a wonderful value if you are really making long hops by rail across Europe. If your geographical horizons are more limited, it is always worth checking for local passes that cover your intended travel area. The target markets for such passes are often budget-conscious locals rather than well-heeled visitors.

Many areas of Europe have such passes. Here are just three examples from among the hundreds of offers available.

Italy: The Mobilcard Alto Adige allows unlimited travel on selected mainline and mountain railways, buses and cable cars in the Südtirol area of northern Italy. There are various options, but the top-of-the-range seven-day pass is just €28.

Britain: The Derbyshire Wayfarer is a rover ticket allowing unlimited travel on trains and buses in much of the scenic Peak District. Its validity extends beyond merely Derbyshire, for it can be used on journeys from Derbyshire to selected points in five adjacent counties. It costs £11.10 for a day.

Germany: The Bayern Ticket is valid on most trains and buses in the German State of Bavaria (as well as on selected cross-border journeys to neighboring German states and into Austria). It costs €22 for one person for a day (with each accompanying traveler paying just €4 extra).

2. Think about return tickets.

If you are buying tickets as you go, rather than using a rail pass or pre-booking discount rail fares, bear in mind that a return may not cost much more than a single. Here are two examples:

Belgium: The regular one-way fare from Brussels to Bruges is €13.50. But a weekend return (valid from 7 p.m. Friday and anytime Saturday and Sunday) costs just a fraction more at €14.40.

Britain: Roll up at Kings Cross station in London at mid-morning on a busy weekday, expecting to travel at once to Scotland, and you will pay mightily for the privilege of traveling so spontaneously. The single fare to Edinburgh will set you back a hefty £125.70. But for just one pound more you can bag a return ticket from London to Edinburgh.

3. Consider stopovers.

On many journeys across Europe by train, it pays to buy a ticket through to the most distant point and then make use of any break-of-journey privileges that might apply to that ticket.

Take the case above, where we showed how on many long-distance journeys in Britain you can often pay just one pound extra for a return rather than a single ticket. The return half of such tickets is generally valid for a month and it is perfectly possible to stop off along the way. So there is no reason why you cannot break your journey from Edinburgh back to London with a night or two in Durham and then again in York. Indeed you can even vary your route: for example speeding north from London direct to Edinburgh via the East Coast route, but returning back to London via the West Coast – breaking your journey, for example, in the Lake District.

Think creatively about how you can map stopovers into your journey. A Berlin to Vienna ticket, for example, will usually allow you to break your journey at no extra cost in both Dresden and Prague. Do get specialist advice, though, when you buy the ticket. The rules on breaks of journey are famously complicated. With some tickets you may need to specify the place and duration of any break of journey at the time of purchase.

Happy traveling in 2013.

The post 3 Rail Tips for 2013: Consider regional passes, return tickets and stopovers appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.