Carinthian Avenue is Vienna's main shopping street. Although it is competing for this title with the rival Mariahilfer Straße, Carinthia Avenue wins outright, not least because of its central location.

Kärntner Straße is one of the most famous streets in the world and connects the central Stepehnsplatz and Karlsplatz, two of Vienna's most important squares.

The history of Carinthian Street as a shopping street dates back to the 19th century, when the most luxurious shops for the wealthy class began to concentrate here.

After the bombing of Vienna during World War II, Kärntner Strasse was gradually rebuilt and since 1974 has been a purely pedestrian zone.

The shops on Kärntner Strasse

It is on this street that the most luxurious shops with clothes, watches, jewellery or fashion accessories are concentrated, as well as well-known shops of world brands with more "normal" prices.

Here you will also find the Vienna Apple Store or the most famous department store in Vienna, Steffl.

Of course, there are also shops with traditional Austrian delicacies, especially chocolate and marzipan sweets.

Other attractions

Right on this street is the Vienna State Opera, at one end of the street you will come across St. Stephen's Cathedral, and at the other end you will see, for example, the Church of St. Charles Borromeo.

A must-see and a must-do affair on Kärntner Straße is a stop at the famous Hotel Sacher and a taste of the only real Sacher cake.