Shopping streets to pedestrian zones, flagship stores to shopping palaces, departmental stores to shopping malls and antique stores to art galleries, shopping in Vienna is a never-ending affair. A paradise for shoppers, Vienna is one of the best shopping destinations in Europe.
Shoppers in search of designer labels or upscale stores selling jewellery, watches, books, souvenirs or apparels can head towards shopping streets that are located within the city centre. Some of the most popular shopping streets of Vienna include Kärntner Straße, Am Graben and Kohlmarkt.
Luxury brands such as Valentino, Chopard, Dolce & Gabbana, Tiffany & Co., Diesel, Gucci and Armani are all available on these streets. Some of the other international brands available on these streets include the Cartier, Ferragamo, Prada, Akris, Chanel and Burberry.
From high-end shops, galleries, second hand stores and organic shops to flagship stores and international brands stores, all kinds of stores can be found in Vienna. Some of the shopping streets located in the Core district are Schleifmuhlgasse, Favoritenstraße, Mariahilferstraße and Praterstraße.
Apart from shopping streets, there are palaces which house several shops, selling everything from apparels and watches to jewellery. Some of the shopping palaces located in the city are Harrach Palace, Ferstel Palace and Dorotheum Palace. Shopping malls such as Millennium City, Gasometer and Columbus Centre are other shopping places.
Tourists can also enjoy duty free shopping in Vienna. Located next to the ticket control counters, a duty free shopping area is present at the airport. VAT is refundable to non-residents in Vienna, on a minimum purchase of $107.52. In order to receive the refund, it is important for tourists to ask the salesperson to fill a Global Blue Cheque, which needs to be stapled with the original invoice.
The cheque will be stamped with the customs' emigration stamp, by the custom officer. Once stamped, tourists are entitled for refund at over 700 refund offices located worldwide, including office at the Vienna airport. On an average, 13% of the purchase price is refunded to tourists after deduction.
