Austria: 2 Weeks, 4 Cities on a Budget

Vienna, Graz, Salzburg and Innsbruck keep the opulent accessible

- Morgan Awyong

AUSTRIA - "Affordable" and "Baroque palace" do not usually appear in the same sentence. Yet here I am, sitting on a bench surrounded by sculpted hedges and springtime flowers in a royal garden, biting into a hot dog piled high with toppings for lunch.

My view? Austria's most famous Baroque attraction, the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. The cost of this princely experience? Less than €10 (S$15).

As I learnt in April, when spending two weeks travelling through four cities in Austria, this juxtaposition is not uncommon. Despite its exquisite architecture, refined arts scene and lavish imperial legacy, the country has a knack for keeping the opulent accessible.

At the Schönbrunn Palace, entry to the royal gardens is free - as are most other such gardens across the country.

Meals at heritage buildings, such as Restaurant Zum Eulenspiegel in the city of Salzburg - where Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's family once resided - often cost around the same as at regular restaurants. And stehplatz (standing room) tickets at the Vienna State Opera house start at €4.50, about the price of a cup of coffee.

While Austria's renown is linked to culture, I follow the lead of locals partaking in activities that cost next to nothing.

Couples suntan on manicured lawns in Vienna, aspiring musicians perform at the Old Town square in the country's second-largest city of Graz, families stroll within the mediaeval Fortress Hohensalzburg in Salzburg and hikers head up the Nordkette mountain range in Innsbruck, known for winter sports.

On June 3, low-cost carrier Scoot launches direct flights from Singapore to Vienna, setting the stage for the Central European country to attract a new wave of value-conscious travellers.

Mr Ng Chee Keong, chief operating officer of Scoot, says its central location and gateway into Eastern Europe has demand potential for Scoot and the broader SIA Group network.