Page 222 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Vienna

220  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS SHOPS AND M ARKE T S  221
SHOPS AND MARKETS cash, however, as the odd shop,

café or restaurant may still be
Since Vienna is a compact city, it is a pleasant The pedestrian shopping areas of Kärntner cash-only.
place to shop. The main shopping area is Strasse, the Graben and Kohlmarkt are fun
pede strianized and full of pretty cafés, and for window-shoppers. A surprising number of Where to Shop
you can browse around at a leisurely pace. shops of all kinds, including coffee shops, now The pedestrian shopping areas
Austrian-made glassware, food and traditional feature online shopping. But nobody goes of Graben, Kohlmarkt and
crafts all make for good buys. Although the home empty handed from the street markets Kärntner Strasse have many
main shops tend to cater to comparatively selling antiques and outright junk. For more of the best-known and most
conventional and mature tastes, the flea details of shops and markets see the Directory expensive shops in Vienna.
markets appeal to every whim and budget. on page 225. A less pricey area is along
Mariahilfer Strasse, where
there are department stores
Best Buys an unusual and delicious selling household goods, and
Many of the best buys in dessert wine. Zum Schwarzen well-known chain stores such
Vienna are small and readily Kameel (see p223) sells the rarer as H & M.
transportable. Coffee addicts red version as well.
shouldn’t forget to buy freshly Other Austrian-made goods
ground coffee – the city imports include clothes manufactured Rights and Services
some of the best. in the felt-like woollen fabric If a purchase is defective you Kohlmarkt, one of Vienna’s pedestrian shopping streets
If you have a sweet tooth, known as Loden (see p223). If you are usually entitled to a refund, Sales
you couldn’t be in a more feel like treating yourself and provided you have proof of so pack them somewhere
appropriate city. Vienna is justly have space in your car or purchase. This is not always the accessible. Then post the The bi-annual sales are held
famous for its cakes, pastries suitcase, buy custom-made case with goods bought in the stamped form to the Austrian in January and July. The best
and Torten (see pp206–7) and sheets or high-quality down sales – inspect them carefully shopkeeper or collect the bargains are usually in fashions.
any good Café-Konditorei pillows or duvets made in before you buy. Many shops in refund at the airport (there is a Electrical and household goods
(cake shop and café) will ship Austria (see p222). Petit point Vienna will pack goods for you handling fee). If leaving by car are also much reduced.
cakes back home for you. In embroidery, which adorns – and often gift-wrap them at or train, present the form to
November and December, anything from powder compacts Chest of drawers chocolate box from no extra charge – and send Customs at the border, where Shopping Centres
try the buttery Advent Stollen to handbags, is a Viennese Altmann & Kühne (see p223) them anywhere in the world. you can also claim a refund.
available from Julius Meinl am speciality (see p222). If you are not disembarking There are a handful of shopping
Graben (see p223) or any good Glassware – including (see p223) stocks old prints the train at the border, there centres dotted across Vienna,
baker. Stuffed with fruit and superb chandeliers – and and maps. Early editions of VAT Exemption is sometimes a customs including Ringstrassen-
nuts and dusted with icing sugar, Augarten porcelain (see p222) works by writers such as Freud, VAT (value added tax) or MWSt official on the train to stamp Galerien, Lugner City, Wien
it is a tasty Christmas loaf. tend to be highly original, Kraus or Rilke can be found in (Mehrwertsteuer) is normally your form. Mitte The Mall and the
Alternatively, buy some although expensive. Many Vienna’s antiquarian bookshops charged at 20 per cent. If you When you have goods sent BahnhofCity Wien West in
prettily packaged Sachertorte people collect crystal ornaments (see p223). reside outside the European directly to your home outside the Westbahnhof station. Built
(see p207), available year round. made by Swarovski and should Union (EU), you are entitled to the EU, VAT is deducted at in the same style as the Café
The specialist chocolate shops head to Ostovics (see p222), a Opening Hours claim back the VAT on goods the time of purchase. Since Central (see pp60–63), Freyung
(see p223) are worth a visit, both good crystal and glass shop. purchased in Austria. This is only Austria is a member of the Passage is an arcade of elegant
for the unusual packaging and Trachten (Austrian costume) Shops usually open at 8:30 the case, however, if the total EU, EU citizens cannot claim shops in the Palais Ferstel (see
the chocolate itself. shops (see p223) are fun; they or 9 in the morning and purchase price (this can include back VAT. pp110 and 112).
Sweet Eiswein (so-called have a wide selection of hats, close at 6 or 7 in the evening. the total cost of several items
because the grapes are left on children’s dresses, jackets and Some of the smaller shops from one shop) exceeds €73. DIRECTORY
the vines until the first frosts) is blouses. INLIBRIS Gilhofer close for an hour at lunchtime. Take along your passport
Traditionally stores were when shopping and ask the Shopping Centres
required to close at noon shopkeeper to complete Form BahnhofCity Wien West
on Saturday, though all U34 at the time of sale. This Westbahnhof, Europlatz 2.
now stay open until 5pm. should also bear the shop’s Map 3 A2.
On Sundays, the food and stamp and have the receipt
clothing stores at shopping attached. You may choose to Freyung Passage
Palais Ferstel 1, Freyung 2.
malls in the railway stations have the refund credited to Map 2 D5 & 5 B2.
remain open, as do small your credit card account, have
supermarkets found at petrol it posted home, or pick it up Lugner City
stations. Many bakeries are also at the airport. Gablenzgasse 1–3.
Map 3 A2.
open on Sunday mornings. Purchased goods must not
be used prior to exportation. If Ringstrassen-Galerien
you leave Vienna by air, present Kärntner Ring 5–7.
How to Pay Map 6 D5.
the form at Customs before
As in most modern cities, checking in, and have it Wien Mitte The Mall
Vienna’s shops, on the whole, stamped as proof of export. Landstrasser Hauptstrasse 1B.
accept major credt and debit You may also have to show The elegant Freyung Passage in Ferstel Map 4 F1 & 6 F4.
The famous Julius Meinl am Graben delicatessen in Vienna cards. Visitors should carry some your purchases at Customs, Palace, with beautiful vaulted ceilings

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