Page 223 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Vienna

SHOPS AND M ARKE T S  221

cash, however, as the odd shop,
café or restaurant may still be
cash-only.

Where to Shop
The pedestrian shopping areas
of Graben, Kohlmarkt and
Kärntner Strasse have many
of the best-known and most
expensive shops in Vienna.
A less pricey area is along
Mariahilfer Strasse, where
there are department stores
selling household goods, and
well-known chain stores such
as H & M.

Rights and Services
If a purchase is defective you Kohlmarkt, one of Vienna’s pedestrian shopping streets
are usually entitled to a refund, Sales
provided you have proof of so pack them somewhere
purchase. This is not always the accessible. Then post the The bi-annual sales are held
case with goods bought in the stamped form to the Austrian in January and July. The best
sales – inspect them carefully shopkeeper or collect the bargains are usually in fashions.
before you buy. Many shops in refund at the airport (there is a Electrical and household goods
Vienna will pack goods for you handling fee). If leaving by car are also much reduced.
– and often gift-wrap them at or train, present the form to
no extra charge – and send Customs at the border, where Shopping Centres
them anywhere in the world. you can also claim a refund.
If you are not disembarking There are a handful of shopping
the train at the border, there centres dotted across Vienna,
VAT Exemption
is sometimes a customs including Ringstrassen-
VAT (value added tax) or MWSt official on the train to stamp Galerien, Lugner City, Wien
(Mehrwertsteuer) is normally your form. Mitte The Mall and the
charged at 20 per cent. If you When you have goods sent BahnhofCity Wien West in
reside outside the European directly to your home outside the Westbahnhof station. Built
Union (EU), you are entitled to the EU, VAT is deducted at in the same style as the Café
claim back the VAT on goods the time of purchase. Since Central (see pp60–63), Freyung
purchased in Austria. This is only Austria is a member of the Passage is an arcade of elegant
the case, however, if the total EU, EU citizens cannot claim shops in the Palais Ferstel (see
purchase price (this can include back VAT. pp110 and 112).
the total cost of several items
from one shop) exceeds €73. DIRECTORY
Take along your passport
when shopping and ask the Shopping Centres
shopkeeper to complete Form BahnhofCity Wien West
U34 at the time of sale. This Westbahnhof, Europlatz 2.
should also bear the shop’s Map 3 A2.
stamp and have the receipt
attached. You may choose to Freyung Passage
Palais Ferstel 1, Freyung 2.
have the refund credited to Map 2 D5 & 5 B2.
your credit card account, have
it posted home, or pick it up Lugner City
at the airport. Gablenzgasse 1–3.
Map 3 A2.
Purchased goods must not
be used prior to exportation. If Ringstrassen-Galerien
you leave Vienna by air, present Kärntner Ring 5–7.
the form at Customs before Map 6 D5.
checking in, and have it Wien Mitte The Mall
stamped as proof of export. Landstrasser Hauptstrasse 1B.
You may also have to show The elegant Freyung Passage in Ferstel Map 4 F1 & 6 F4.
your purchases at Customs, Palace, with beautiful vaulted ceilings

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