Vienna Shopping Tips by longsanborn Top 5 Page for this destination

Wolford: Only for the Ladies!

Wolford's boutique is clean and modern. The products are well displayed, and the sales ladies are professional and helpful. Wolford's products are of very good quality and worth their high prices, although I don't tend to shop there often.

The Wolford AG runs 10 international branches and sells its goods through mono-brand boutiques and partners in 60 different countries worldwide. Through co-branding, Wolford entered seasonal collaborations with famous international designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Philipp Starck, Vivienne Westwood, Karl Lagerfeld and Emilio Pucci. For Fall 2004, Wolford has also been producing tights and bodies for the Italian world brand Giorgio Armani through a license agreement.

Wolford was started by Reinhold Wolff, an industrialist from Vorarlberg and Walter Palmers, a retail entrepreneur from Vienna. In 1949 they founded the company of Wolff & Co. KG in Bregenz at Lake Constance. In 1950, Wolford brand name became a registered trade mark.

In 1964 the company started production of women’s outerwear, the first garments in this area being pullovers. In 1988 the internationalisation of Wolford achieved a new dynamic for the future. Today, Wolford, a company operating for over 50 years, is specialising in the manufacture and sales of high quality leg- and bodywear, in particular stockings, tights, bodies, swimwear and lingerie in the luxury segment.

What to buy: High quality hosiery leg-and-bodywear, in particular stockings, tights, bodies, swimwear and lingerie in the luxury segment; You can also buy women's outerwear, pullovers, etc.

What to pay: Depends on your budget! Starting from Euro 30 for pantyhose, and Euro 100-200-300++ for clothes!

Address: Kartnerstrasse

Directions: Available in most major shopping areas in Vienna

Theme: Women's Clothes

Website: http://www.wolford.com

Swarovski: Just like Diamonds but Cheaper (maybe!)

Swarovski was founded in 1895 by a Bohemian, Daniel Swarovski who established a crystal cutting factory in Wattens (near Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria) where he could take advantage of the local hydroelectricity for the energy-intensive grinding process. He invented and patented a machine, enabling him to cut crystals with the outmost precision.

Today, Swarovski produces jewelry, fashion accessories, home accessories, eyewear, books, home décor, desk accessories, silver crystal, miniatures, treasures, inspirations and gift ideas.

Swarovski crystals are famous around the world as high-end fine crystal glass jewellery, fashion and home accessories. There are 2 large Swarovski stores located on Kartner strasse in the city centre, around Stephansplatz.

The Swarovski company runs a crystal-themed indoor theme park, Swarovski Kristallwelten (Crystal Worlds) at its original Wattens site (near Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria); this is also one of the popular tourist attraction in Austria.

What to buy: Swarovski jewellery and accessories are very popular with tourists, especially the Japanese and Chinese. You can buy crystal rings, earrings, brooches, bracelets, necklaces, charms, etc.

You can also buy phone and fashion accessories such as crystal-encrusted iPod holders, handbags, belts, and watches; Home and decoration accessories include crystal figurines, wine glasses, bowls, etc.

What to pay: Earrings starting from Euro 49 to Euro 100++ Fashion accessories starting from Euro 50 up to Euro 500++

Directions: Kartnerstrasse in city centre

Other Contact: www.swarovski.com

Theme: Gifts

Website: http://www.thecrystalsociety.com

Triumph: Experience Undercover Wear

Triumph is a lingerie shop catering to the women's personal needs.

What to buy: Underwears such as cotton, lacy or silky bras and panties, stockings/nylons, sleeping gowns and pajamas, lounging robes, etc.

What to pay: Bras prices range from Euro 25 to Euro 100, depending on fabric, size, comfort, style, sexyness and quality. Panties prices range from Euro 15 to Euro 30, depending on the fabric, style, size and quality. There're offers like boxed cotton panties (3x in 1) can cost Euro 15 - 20.

Directions: Stores available in the Graben, 1st District, and Mariahilfer strasse, 6th District

Theme: Women's Clothes

Website: http://www.triumph.at

Sacher Hotel: Sweet Souvenirs

Sacher Hotel has a gift shop on the ground floor, and it is a large area with many packaged gift boxes for any tourists.

What to buy: Sacher cake, viennese coffee beans, teddy bears, austrian marmalade and jams, and other local produces.

Address: Kartnerstrasse

Directions: Sacher Hotel is behind the Vienna State Opera House

Theme: Gifts

Naschmarkt: Fresh Flowers for the Lovely Ladies

You can buy many many beautiful fresh flowers from the vendors in the Naschmarkt, at a reasonable price.

What to buy: Tulips, Roses, Orchids, Daffodils, Daisies, Birds-of-Paradise, and many more!

What to pay: One bunch (10x) of Tulips is Eur 7; A bunch (6x) of Roses is Eur 7; If you buy more, you can negotiate a discount.

Address: Naschmarkt, 1040 Vienna

Directions: Metro U4 Karlsplatz or Kettenbruckengasse stations.

Theme: Flowers

Nippon-Ya Japanmarkt: Japanese Supermarket

Japanese supermarket that sells all kinds of japanese food and household products

What to buy: Japanese food, drinks, snacks, and household products

Address: Faulmann-gasse

Directions: Near Naschmarkt/Rechte Wienzeile strasse

Theme: Food and Drink

Bendinelli Home Store: Cheapest Cappuccino Around

I was browsing through the Kettenbrucken gasse (street) off the Naschmarkt when I came upon this shop called Bendinelli Home Store. They don't have tables and chairs for seating (maybe they will do this in the future), but they have stands and bar stools where you can park your butt for 10-20 minutes enjoying the excellent aromatic coffee.

So, if you happen to walk by the Naschmarkt, just stroll over to Kettenbruckengasse 19 and enjoy a cup of excellent cappuccino or espresso.

What to buy: It sells Italian coffee and food products from Bendinelli company. They also sell excellent Austrian wines, apricot nectar/syrup, schapps/grappa and jams.

I was more interested in the hot coffee drinks made using the coffee beans sold by them. As side business, they sell espresso, cappucino & latte, and pastries.

What to pay: The prices were really reasonable. I paid only Euro 1.50 for a cup of excellent cappuccino.

Address: Kettenbruckengasse 19, 1040 Vienna

Directions: metro U4 Kettenbruckengasse station.

Theme: Food and Drink

FRUTH Chocolaterie Patisserie au marche: Very Rich Yummy Cakes

I was walking along the Kettenbrücken gasse when I came upon this new confectionery shop called "Eduard A. Fruth, Kuchen-und-Tortenmanufaktur". I happened to meet the owner one day in Dec 2006. I was browsing through the shop wondering what to buy for my best friend’s grandmother, who loves to bake and make great Christmas cookies. The owner used to work in Switzerland specializing in chocolates and other sweet/baked confections. Now he has retired & decided to open this shop as his hobby. He makes/bakes most of the confections in the shop and he uses high quality products in his foods. I ended buying 2 kinds of cakes, almond dragée (almonds coated with chocolate), orange cookies, and a chocolate mousse. All yummy...

If you want to enjoy the confections without leaving the shop, you can eat it there and have a cup of coffee as well.

What to buy: This shop specializes in high-quality bakery goods such as cakes (large & small), cookies, chocolate bon-bons, chocolate or raspberry mousse, uniquely flavoured chocolate spreads (chilli, chestnuts/maroni, etc.), chocolate-covered almonds, eclairs, etc. The sweet confectionary are all good and very yummy - rich, delicious, fattenting & a calorie bomb!

What to pay: Chocolate mousse or Raspberry mousse = Euro 3.50/pc; Chocolate Eclair = Euro 2.50/pc.;
Cakes = Euro 8/pc

Address: Kettenbruckengasse 20, 4th District, Vienna

Directions: Metro U4 Kettenbruckengasse station, go to Kettenbruckengasse and walk up. The confectionary shop is near an antique shop

Other Contact: office@fruth.at

Phone: 0664 143 22 43

Theme: Food and Drink

Website: http://www.fruth.at

Shopping Malls: Shop till you drop!

There are a few multi-storeys shopping malls in Vienna including Gerngross, Donauzentrum, Millennium City, Lugner City, and Gasometer.

What to buy: Clothes, household items, electronics, appliances, shoes, cosmetics, etc.

What to pay: Depends on your budget!

Theme: Women's Clothes

Mariahilfer strasse: A Long Shopping Street

Mariahilfer strasse is a long street lined with numerous brand name boutiques and stores, shops, etc.

What to buy: Clothings, household items, jewelery, cosmetics, etc.

What to pay: Depends on how much money you have!

Address: Mariahilfer strasse

Directions: Underground metro U3 to Neubaugasse, Zieglergasse and Westbahnhof.

Theme: Women's Clothes