Shopping in Vienna can be much fun if you know where to go. We attempt to give you a short overview of the city’s best shopping destinations, along with a number of insider tips.
The articles "Treasure Hunt" and "Current Shopping Find" are provided by www.viennareview.net ("The Voices of Europe")
Treasure Hunt
Besides worldwide chains, like H&M, and department stores, like Steffl or Gerngross, Vienna has many hidden gems: curiosity shops, local designer boutiques, vintage stores and specialty food emporiums lace the 23 districts of the city. The Vienna Review gives you the low-down on the lesser-known and specialty shopping locations Vienna has in store. Seek and ye shall find!
Current Shopping Find:
Brace Yourself, It’s Ball Season
Young girls in flowing gowns on the U-Bahn, men in tails strolling along the sidewalk, and the sound of waltzes in the air: It’s ball season in Vienna. Prepping for a ball isn’t just dolling up for any Saturday evening. First you need tickets, then dancing lessons, then a gown, tuxedo or tails, shoes with a leather sole, and a special hairstyle. But don’t despair, here you’ll find the necessary gear for an unforgettable night.
Read more: http://viennareview.net/scenes-vienna/brace-yourself-it-s-ball-season-5675.html
"High on Shopping"
SCS Shopping City Süd
2331 Vösendorf
Coordinates: 48°6'36.35"N, 16°19'4.34"E
Donauzentrum
1220 Vienna, 81 Wagramer Straße
Coordinates: 48°14'32.31"N, 16°26'6.00"E
Shopping Center Nord
1210 Wien, 1. Ignaz Köck Straße
Coordinates: 48°16'0.81"N, 16°23'58.70"E
Shopping centres, our container style architecture on the outskirts of the city, aren't very easy to get to for pedestrians, if you don't count people who feel like hacking their way through dusty motorway side undergrowth, and even the public transport to these places is far from ideal. These new temples of consumerism are overflowing with every-day useless things.
They are built for absolutely losing yourself in the consumerist religion of shopping. Shopping to fill the empty space within with possessions, the only route to happiness, if you believe the ads. But we urbs aren't teachers, gurus or naysayers. Sure there are places that are more exciting but, even in these ‘hallowed halls’ and under these difficult conditions, we know how to move.
We simply switch the actual function of such structures around, so that, wanting is relegated to the background and experience comes to the fore. An urbie thing to do is to imagine you're at a museum of modern art. Andy Warhol predicted way back in the 60s that shopping centres could take over this role. Well, he seems to have been right, because the most bizarre, unusual and fascinating things that the creative spirit can vomit forth are definitely to be found there.
Shapes, colours, materials, an optical and tactile manifesto, lots of synapses are created here no question ;-) although none that are addictive. Urbie stuff. Simply wander around and soak up the expressive power of the pieces in the exhibition. You can even touch some!
The second way to spend an entertaining day in the shopping centre is to imagine it as a constantly changing obstacle course. Saturday afternoon is the ideal time for this. You wouldn't believe how challenging it is, to manoeuvre through the hectic, uncoordinated human mass. You need to be alert, have quick reflexes, be good at sizing things up, and judging people, to get to the other end without crashing into someone. This is particularly enjoyable as a team sport!
SCS SHOPPING CITY SÜD
In the early 70s, the first Austrian shopping centre was built among the fields. Over the years, these consumerist structures have expanded to cover almost 225,800m2 of pure sales space, even without including the surrounding home improvement stores. In other words, an enormous museum, visited by 25 million people annually, who arrive in their thousands at peak times and make the city a real indoor obstacle course.
This container city can also be reached via the Badner Bahn local train, as the 150,000 cars that visit the Shopping City every day are more than enough. A tip for victims of shopping stress is the nearby Blaue Lagune show homes, where a long walk is very relaxing!
DONAUZENTRUM
Here the exhibition area is around 130,000m? and it also sets new standards for shopping centre architecture for the visitor to enjoy. Whether these are really restful, or just encourage even more shopping is open to discussion.
SHOPPING CENTER NORD
“It's all I need to be happy,” is the slogan for this 32,000m2 centre. You won't find any elite stores, and the stream of visitors is declining. But the centre has something, there are few places better for studying the proletariat.
LOCAL TIPS
SCS Shopping City Süd
2331 Vösendorf
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:30am to 7pm
Thursday: 9:30am to 9pm
Saturday: 9am to 6pm
http://www.scs.at
Donauzentrum
1220 Wien, Wagramer Straße 81
Monday Friday: 9:30am to 8pm
Saturday 9am to 6pm
http://www.donauzentrum.at
Shopping Center Nord
1210 Wien, Ignaz Köck Straße 1
Monday Wednesday: 9am to 7pm
Thursday and Friday: 9am to 8pm
Saturday: 9am to 6pm
http://www.scn.at
(Source by www.wildurb.at)
Luxury meets tradition in the city center (U1, U3 Stephansplatz; U1, U2, U4 Karlsplatz)
The range of shopping options is particularly rich in Vienna’s historic first district. The pedestrianized streets of Kohlmarkt, Graben and Kärntner Strasse form the so-called Golden U, a Viennese shopping Mecca. In recent years Kohlmarkt has developed into a center for luxury boutiques. It is lined with flagship stores of international labels such as Chanel, Cartier and Louis Vuitton. And at the heart of the Golden U, former Imperial court confectioner, Demel provides a reminder of Vienna of yore with its sweet treats and eye-catching window displays that showcase the high art of confectionary. A few buildings down is the equally illustrious Meinl am Graben, with its mouth-watering delicacies for gourmets and bon viveurs. Founded as a perfumery in 1809, J. B. Filz is a former purveyor to the Imperial Court. The title Purveyor to the Imperial Court dates back to 1782 and was a distinction bestowed upon merchants deemed worthy of supplying the Imperial Court thanks to the exceptional quality of their products. Over the years, the distinction became a highly prestigious honorary title and a truly first class seal of quality used by over 500 companies. While the Imperial Court disappeared long ago, the German-language title k.u.k. Hoflieferant endures as an assurance of quality to this day. Examples include textile manufacturer Backhausen with its Wiener Werkstätte fabrics; noble glass and chandelier maker Lobmeyr; jewelers Köchert and Anton Heldwein, Augarten Wien porcelain and the Hotel Sacher home to the original Sacher-Torte — all of which are located in the First District.
The side streets around Graben, (incl. Dorotheergasse, Stallburggasse and Bräunerstrasse) are brimming with boutiques selling Baroque armories, renaissance chests, fine carpets, magnificent timepieces, paintings, porcelain and antique jewelry. Wiener Silber Manufactur in Spiegelgasse offers authentic reproductions of Viennese silverwork. The antique section of Musikhaus Doblinger still contains a number of original sheets of Viennese classical music. The Dorotheum auction house (est. 1707) – one of the world’s largest – is a magnet for lovers of attractive antiques.
Kärntner Strasse is home to one of just a handful of department stores in the city. Split across several floors, Steffl’s offers fashion, fragrances and accessories. The nearby Ringstrassen Galerien is a spacious, indoor shopper’s paradise. In December 2009 world-famous crystal maker Swarovski opened a store on this popular shopping street. The three-floor boutique is packed with jewelry, fashion, accessories, design objects and its highly collectable crystal figurines.
The area Mariahilferstrasse is shopping zone and creative center at once (U2,U3 Museumsquartier; U3 Neubaugasse; U3, U6 Westbahnhof)
Emperor Franz Joseph used to travel along Mariahilfer Strasse as he shuttled between Schönbrunn Palace and the Hofburg . This street connecting the Ringstrasse boulevard and the Gürtel beltway cuts an almost two kilometer path through the 6th and 7th Districts. Today it is Vienna’s number one shopping destination. This large thoroughfare features broad sidewalks and has attracted hundreds of shops and flagship stores carrying international brands, with a particular focus on fashion, footwear, accessories and interior design.
A detour from the beaten shopping path is well worth it. A hip shopping zone has sprung up on Gumpendorfer Strasse in the 6th district on the south side of Mariahilfer Strasse.
In the 7th District on the north side of Mariahilfer Strasse there is an even greater range of products for individualists to choose from. This district is Vienna’s creative hub. The recently gentrified Baroque buildings and narrow streets around the Spittelberg quarter are home to numerous highly-original shops. Lindengasse is a great example. The street primarily concentrates on highly original fashions and fashion-related products with many pieces from up-and-coming Viennese designers. Just around the corner on Kirchengasse highlights include clothing from Viennese green fashion label Göttin des Glücks at “Das Studio”, while on Mondscheingasse Park stocks innovative designer labels.
Enjoy delicious food and a convenient life style at Naschmarkt (U4 Kettenbrückengasse)
Vienna’s largest market is a mandatory destination for lovers of fine food and drink, featuring fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, cold cuts and cheeses, spices and gourmet vinegar. There is practically nothing that the Naschmarkt doesn’t have. And if that is not enough, there are countless chic bars and restaurants where visitors can enjoy a culinary break. On Saturdays the area adjoining the Naschmarkt is transformed into a flea market where antique dealers and private stallholders sell treasures and trinkets. While in the area, the neighboring streets are always worth a visit. Schleifmühlgasse boasts a burgeoning gallery scene and a variety of great shops.
Kettenbrückengasse, at the end of the Naschmarkt, has come on strong in recent years.
Off the beaten track in the 2nd and 16th district (U2 Taborstrasse; U1, U2 Praterstern)
Located next to 1st district, only separated by the Danube Canal, the 2nd district has become Vienna’s most desired district to live in. The 2nd district is an island with the Danube River on one side and with the Danube Canal on its other side. The island is home to Vienna’s biggest leisure and recreation area, The Prater, and recently to many small, stylish boutiques and shopping opportunities.
The area around the Karmelitermarkt is home to countless interesting shops and bars.
The 16th District’s with two large markets in Brunnengasse and at Yppenplatz are a magnet for new business ideas.
(Source: www.vienna.info)
Feelslikehome strongly recommends our partner Astro, Qualibuyer!
Get up to 60 % discount from over 20 well known brands such as Lego, Playmobil, Ravensburger, Reebok, Puma, ESPRIT, Wrangler, LEVI'S, Burlington, Skinny and many more!
www.astro.ac.at offers their products at 7 shops in Austria. 
Get more info in our discount section: www.feelslikehome.at/discounts
