28 March 2007

Austria

Vienna, to celebrate Mozart's 250th birthday, opened the new (but disappointing) Mozart Haus Museum, near St. Stephen's Cathedral and the newly renovated Theater an der Wien (designed in 1801 for Mozart's operas).

The Vienna Opera House has long offered standing-room-only tickets for music fans on a budget. But, for many, it's more fun to drop in at the Opera Cafe and watch the opera live on video (reasonable menu and drinks).

You can easily day-trip by boat from Vienna to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia (daily trips, 75 minutes).


Czech Republic

One of Prague's landmark attractions, the Charles Bridge, will remain open to pedestrians throughout a multiyear reconstruction project.


Scandinavia

In Copenhagen, the Rosenborg Castle will be closed for most of this year, but its treasury and armory will remain open. The fascinating prehistory section of Denmark's National Museum is closed for renovation.

Norway now charges hotels an extra 8 percent value-added tax (VAT), which probably will be passed on to guests. In Oslo, the Munch Museum is displaying, with tighter security, the famous Munch paintings recovered from thieves last year.

In Stockholm, 7-Eleven and Pressbyran newsstands all over town host "Sidewalk Express" Internet terminals. Just buy a card and you can log on conveniently and inexpensively.

In Helsinki, Citysherpa (http://hs.fi/citysherpa) is an innovative free service that matches volunteer Finnish guides and foreign visitors with like interests.

The biggest cultural news in Tallinn, Estonia's capital in the Baltics, is its new Kumu Art Museum, where the best of Estonia's art is at long last properly displayed. Another new sight is the Kalev Spa, the country's largest and newest spa.

For a more comprehensive list visit Dallas News