Vienna is perhaps best known for its musical heritage. Some of the world's greatest composers have lived and found their inspiration in this beautiful city. Likewise, Vienna is home to one of the most celebrated Opera houses in the world. The best opera singers on earth flock to Vienna to be a part of this world class opera. Naturally such a distinguished place is going to cost a pretty penny, but there are some tricks to getting in, even on the most limited budget.
Check the opera schedule to see what is playing and choose the day and the opera you would like to attend. You can easily access the monthly program online or by going to the opera house and asking for one.
Decide how much you can afford and then see if there are any tickets left for the performance you would like to see. Tickets are sold in advance and many shows sell out quickly. However, in order to save money it is best to wait until the day before the performance and purchase a left over ticket. These are sold at a discounted flat rate that is considerably cheaper.
Buy the reduced ticket the day before, if it fits your budget.
Dress appropriately. Even if you are paying less than most opera goers, that does not mean you shouldn't look fabulous. Men should wear nice slacks and a tie, a suit would be even better. Women should wear an elegant dress or a nice pant suit.
Go to the opera house at least 90 minutes before the performance you want to see, if the reduced ticket is still too expensive for you. Stehplatze or standing room tickets are made available 80 minutes before the show begins and can only be purchased at the door for evening performances. Since these tickets cost less than four Euros, they are popular with students and tourists, so you may need to line up long before they go on sale.
Enjoy the opera!
