Vienna Shopping and Districts

(Vienna / Wien, Austria)

The Vienna shopping scene is both elegant and at times modern. Many beautiful outlets and department stores line the narrow shopping streets around the Innere Stadt (Inner City) area of Vienna, often occupying historical buildings and boasting spectacular facades.

Vienna is also home to a number of large shopping malls, both old and new, such as the rather grand Ringstrassen Galerien on the Mahlerstrasse, close to the Staatsoper. The Ringstrassen Galerien is known for its period architecture, curving glass roof and wealth of fashion boutiques, and almost resembles a Victorian railway station in its appearance.

Where to Shop

Plenty of shopping opportunities arise along the pedestrianised street of the Kärntnerstrasse and also on the Graben, leading towards St. Stephen's Cathedral.

Locals in Vienna can often be found shopping along the Schottenfeldgasse, and on the Mariahilferstrasse, which is actually home to the city's longest stretch of shops and near to the Ringstrasse, being just a relatively short stroll from the Westbahnhof train station.

Vienna's Mariahilferstrasse contains several excellent shopping centres and department stores, such as the Generali Centre, where around 30 different stores are spread across two floors.

For something quite different, look out for the Gasometer on Guglgasse, a striking contemporary-style shopping centre converted from four disused, cylindrical gas towers Alternatively, the markets in Vienna offer a chance to pick up some real bargains, and with more than 20 markets, there is plenty of choice. Saturday is always a good day to pay a visit to the Vienna Naschmarkt, when the regular weekly food and clothes stalls are combined with a traditional Austrian flea market.