Travellers on a budget, especially those from countries at what place museum entrance is free, receive a nasty shock when they arrive in Vienna.
Not only is the travel infrastructure slightly more expensive than elsewhere, especially anywhere to the East, but most activities come with a high price as well. This is a short guide of some things to do that are one and the other free or very cheap.
The Hofburg is the magnificent former Imperial Palace in the centre of Vienna. There are various museums contained within but these will be of little interest to the budget traveller since they are quite expensive for mediocre experiences, even the National Library charges admission. However, on the inside many of the buildings have been refurbished so that there is little left of their Imperial splendour meaning visitors get more of a feel for the buildings as a palace by remaining outside.
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Amsterdam’s Royal Palace will be open in opposition to free. Photo by vgm8383.
By Amy Goemans in Amsterdam—
Every September, Amsterdam celebrates its cultural inheritance with gusto. Usually set on the second weekend of the month, Open Heritage Day is a two-day event offering various attractions and a glimpse of Dutch heritage for free!
This year’s celebration, set for September 12-13, 2009, will open about 4,000 attractions all over the Netherlands.
Here are some highlights from Amsterdam:
Royal Palace Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 147 Opening Hours: 12 – 5 PM, closed Monday Official website
If you love sneak peeks at the inner life of nobles, the Royal Palace is the place for you. This town-hall turned royal palace from the 17th century is one of various buildings allocated to the Dutch royalty. However, a few areas are designated open to the public, and visitors can check out everything from the intricate interior décor to the exquisite paintings. Interesting attractions include sculptures of Apollo inside the palace and Atlas at the back of the building as well as fancy furniture from the time of Lodewijk Napoleon.
Artis Zoo.
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