Under $100: Vienna, Austria

Vienna was once the capital of one of history’s greatest empires. Although it doesn’t play as large a role on a global scale, it has lost none of its glory and illustrious history. Add to the fact it is consistently ranked among the world’s most livable cities and you’ve got one special place.

Cafe Central © Castenoid | Flickr

Have breakfast at the most famous Viennese coffee house of them all: Café Central. Like most coffee houses in Vienna, Central opens late, at 10 a.m. You can order a la carte and have one of Vienna’s best breakfasts (or at least fanciest) for less than €20.

MuseumsQuartier © Markus Schieder | Dreamstime

Museums! Spend the morning in Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier, a complex of 12 different institutions where you can visit classic and modern masterpieces, catch a theater performance or concert or just have a drink and chat with the locals. The cost is €19 for admission to two of the museums.

Have lunch at 500-year-old Esterházykeller, where traditional Austrian meals start at about €6.

Vienna Hofburg Imperial © Tomas1111 | Dreamstime

In the afternoon visit Hofburg Palace, the former seat of the Hapsburg dynasty, for €15. From there, it’s an easy walk into the center of Vienna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and to visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

Tunnel Vienna Live is a favorite restaurant/music venue of the young crowd and is always hopping, for €15 with a drink.

The Vienna Staatsoper, the State Opera House © Castenoid | Dreamstime

After dinner, try to take in an opera at one of the world’s most famous opera houses. You can get cheap tickets for less than €20.

Stop in at Alt Wien for an after-show snack for about €3. You’ve just had an amazing day in amazing Vienna.