Shopping in Vienna- Austria

Vienna offers an array of shopping centers. The most interesting shopping place is the inner city, with its narrow streets and elegant façades. The modern Haas Haus opposite to St. Stephen Cathedral is well known among shoppers. For sightseers it has a platform on the top floor, from where one can view the cathedral. A short walk from the State Opera House the Ringstrassengalerien offers the convenience of a shopping centre.

The traditional shopping street of the Viennese is Mariahilferstrasse, which stretches from the Ringstrasse towards the Westbahnhof rail station. This street is home to major international stores selling clothing, music and other familiar commodities, as well as the department stores, Gerngross and the Euro-Center.

The most popular market with locals and tourists alike is the Naschmarkt, a colorful array of fruit and vegetable stalls, shops and eateries, located between the Linke  Wienzeile streets, near Karlsplatz. The market is open within the normal shopping hours Monday to Saturday. Some incredible bargains in second-hand clothes and goods, as well as more than a few unusual items, are on sale here. There are a number of Christmas and Advent markets in the city during the festive season. The most popular is the Christkindlmarkt.

Shoppers in search of souvenirs can choose from the many gifts that bear an image associated with Vienna – St Stephen’s Cathedral, the Giant Ferris Wheel or the Lipizzaner horses. Something a bit more distinctive, such as the Art Deco works produced by the artisans of the Wiener Werkstätten,

is available from Joh Backhausen & Sons, Europe’s second oldest porcelain manufacturer, once supplied its hand-painted wares to the Imperial family. Nowadays, visitors can take a tour of the factory at Augartenpalais.).

Shops are usually open Monday to Friday 0800/0900–1800 and Saturday 1200–1800. The 20% VAT can be reclaimed by visitors from outside the EU, on goods with a value exceeding €75. Visitors can do this at the airport, if traveling to a non-EU country. Otherwise, the claim must be made in the final EU country visited.