While prices in Vienna aren’t significantly cheaper than at home, during certain times of the year, especially at the end of seasons, leading up to Christmas (November-December), or in early January, you can enjoy fantastic sales and deals, finding the best products at very good prices.
It’s important to remember that for some purchases, you can receive a tax refund, saving a lot of money! At the end of this article, we’ve compiled information on tax refunds for shopping in Vienna.
You can navigate through the article sections by clicking these buttons:
- Largest Shopping Centers – SCS, Mariahilfer Strasse, Parndorf, Donauzentrum
- Luxury Shopping Areas – Kärntner Strasse, Golden Quarter, Ringstrassen-Galerien
- Urban Malls – Wien Mitte The Mall, Stadion Center, Central Station Mall
- Tax Refund on Purchases in Vienna
Largest Shopping Centers in Vienna and its Surroundings
Vienna itself and the surrounding villages boast several enormous shopping complexes. If you love to shop, you can easily spend an entire day browsing the many stores. To reach some of the shopping centers listed below, you’ll need to travel outside of Vienna. Luckily, some places offer shuttles for a small fee that will take you directly from the city to the entrance.
Shopping City Süd (SCS)
This is the most recommended shopping complex, and it even has a Primark! Located 5 kilometers outside the city, south of Vienna, between two small villages called Vösendorf and Wiener Neudorf, lies a gigantic shopping city – the largest in Austria! The complex spans a huge area of 173,000 square meters (so get your comfortable walking shoes ready!) and includes over 330 stores, restaurants, and cafes (prepare your wallet and savings!). The complex is covered and very convenient. On rainy and cold days, and especially on weekends, thousands of people flock here for a truly indulgent shopping spree. Among the stores you’ll find there are: Primark, Peek&Cloppenburg, Michael Kors, Mango, Intimissimi, Humanic, Rituals, Thomas Sabo, and many more stores! You can find the full list here.
Opening Hours:
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday: 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:30 AM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
Closed on the following dates: October 26th, November 1st, December 25th, December 26th. Shortened opening hours (9:00 AM to 1:00 PM): December 24th, December 31st.
Click to download the official shopping guide for SCS
How to get to Shopping City Süd (SCS)?
There are several ways to reach the Southern Shopping City by public transport, so you don’t need to take a taxi or Uber and pay a lot of money. It’s advisable to plan at least an hour for the journey from the city center to the shopping city.
- By Train:
- Badner Bahn – A train that departs from the heart of Vienna, from Karlsplatz near the Opera House, and arrives directly at the Shopping City (after 22 stops). The train journey takes approximately 40 minutes. You should get off at the Vösendorf SCS station. The fare is €4.20 each way (for adults).
- By Bus: There are several bus lines departing from the final stop of the U6 subway line (the brown line). You should travel to the final stop of this line, called Siebenhirten, and from there take the following lines:
- Dr. Richard Bus Line 207. Stops at several stations in the shopping city. You can get off at SCS Ikea.
- ÖBB Postbus Line 265. Stops at SCS Hotel Pyramide.
- IKEA Shuttle Line: From the same U6 station (Siebenhirten station), there is an IKEA shuttle directly to the Shopping City. This line operates every day the Shopping City is open, departing every half hour on weekdays and every fifteen minutes on Saturdays. Cost: €1 per adult. Children under 16 travel for free.
Address of Shopping City Süd: Vösendorfer Südring, 2334 Vösendorf
Mariahilfer Strasse – Vienna’s Popular Shopping Area
Mariahilfer Strasse is considered Vienna’s largest shopping street (for those who don’t have excessive money to spend in the luxury stores of the First District), and it’s just a short walk from the Museum Quarter. The street was renovated a few years ago and a large part of it became a beautiful and organized pedestrian zone. It’s essentially a kilometer-long pedestrian street with shops, restaurants, cafes, and a meeting place for both young and old on both sides. Mariahilfer Strasse offers a wide variety of fashion chains, shoe stores, sports shops, electronics, home goods, and leading brands. Prices are slightly cheaper than at home, but only slightly. Most visitors to the shopping street only walk along the main pedestrian zone; if you turn into the smaller streets adjacent to the main street, you’ll find many small and interesting shops. You can find stores like Zara, Swarovski, Pull & Bear, Pandora, Mango, Humanic, Bershka, Nike, and more.
Opening Hours:
Generally, shops on Mariahilfer Strasse close at roughly the same time. Restaurants continue to operate until late.
- Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Sunday and Holidays: Closed
How to get to Mariahilfer Strasse?
Since the shopping street is very long, you can reach it from 3 different subway stations.
- Purple Line (U2): Get off at MuseumQuartier station. This station is located at the lower part of the street, and from there you’ll need to walk up the street.
- Brown Line (U6): Get off at Westbahnhof station. This station is located at the upper part of the street, and from there you’ll need to walk down the street.
- Orange Line (U3): Get off at Neubaugasse or Zieglergasse stations. These stations are located in the middle of the street. You can exit directly into the many shops on the street.
Address of the Shopping Area: Mariahilfer Strasse
Donauzentrum – A Huge Mall in Vienna’s 22nd District
This shopping complex is owned by the same company that manages Shopping City Süd (SCS), so you can expect a high standard and a wide variety of stores. The great advantage of this mall is its location within Vienna, making it easy and quick to reach from the city center (if you want to read where the 22nd district is located, you can refer to our article on the City Districts of Vienna). The mall has about 270 shops, restaurants, and cafes. You can enjoy stores like Nike, Calzedonia, Esprit, Hollister, Levi’s, Mango, Geox, and many more great brands. Full list of stores. The mall is large and you can spend a good few hours walking around.
Opening Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
Closed on the following dates: October 26th, November 1st, December 25th, December 26th. Shortened opening hours (9:00 AM to 2:00 PM): December 24th, December 31st.
Click to download the official shopping guide for Donauzentrum
How to get to Donauzentrum?
You can easily reach the mall by public transport. The simplest way is to take the subway. Take line U1 (the red line) and get off at Kagran station. From there, the mall is a short walk away.
Other options include:
- Tram line 25
- Bus lines 22A, 26A, 27A, 93A, 94A
Address of the Shopping Complex: Wagramer Strasse 81, 1220 Wien
G3 Shopping Resort
Vienna’s northern shopping city, with a Primark, located approximately 10 kilometers outside the city.
This shopping complex is the fifth largest in Austria, featuring around 180 international and local brand stores, as well as local shops and restaurants. The complex is situated near the village of Gerasdorf bei Wien, a short distance from the city. You’ll find stores like Primark, Peek & Cloppenburg, H&M, Mango, Northland, Orsay, and more. For the full list of stores.
Opening Hours:
- Monday to Wednesday: 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM
- Thursday – Friday: 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
Closed on the following dates: October 26th, November 1st, December 25th, December 26th, January 1st, January 6th. Shortened opening hours (9:30 AM to 2:00 PM): December 24th, December 31st.
G3 Shopping Resort Official Website
How to get to G3 complex?
This shopping center operates a free shuttle every day from northern Vienna directly to the mall entrance. The bus departs from the last subway station on line U6 (the brown line), called Floridsdorf. Outside the station, opposite the Billa supermarket branch, there is a pick-up and drop-off point for the free shuttle.
The bus operates Monday to Thursday every half hour (8:00 AM, 8:30 AM, etc.). On Fridays, it departs every 20 minutes, and on Saturdays, every fifteen minutes.
Click here to view the shuttle timetable
Address of the Shopping Complex: G3 Platz 1, 2201 Gerasdorf bei Wien
Parndorf – The Outlet Village
Do you love buying brands and designer clothes with discounts of up to 70%? If so, Parndorf is probably the perfect place for you. On the way between Vienna and Bratislava, there’s a small village with about 160 shops, restaurants, and cafes. This place offers many great brands for sale, such as Armani, Baldinini, Burberry, Columbia, Calzedonia, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Intimissimi, and more! For the full list of stores.
All the stores in Parndorf are outlet stores, so prices are always reduced. Discounts range from 30% to 70%! You can definitely find great bargains here at truly good prices. In addition, all the stores in the outlet village participate in the program that allows tax refunds for tourists. Please note: the shops are outdoors, just like streets in a small village (on rainy and cold days, it’s good to keep this in mind).
Opening Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
Closed on the following dates: October 26th, November 1st, December 25th, December 26th, January 1st, January 6th.
Additional information in Hebrew about the outlet village
How to get to Parndorf Outlet Village?
If you don’t have a car, the best way is to use the dedicated bus service to the outlet village. Although the journey is not free (nor cheap), it is very comfortable and simple. The bus departs from the Opera station, directly opposite the entrance to the Opera House (address: Opernring 3-5). The line is operated by Blaguss Touristik about 12 times a day. The journey takes about 40 minutes.
Ticket Prices (round trip): Adult (age 7+) – €15. Child (3-6) – €6.5. Child (under 3) – Free.
Each ticket also includes a €2.5 voucher for a drink purchase.
Contact Phone: +43216636143000
Address of the Shopping Complex: Designer Outlet Strasse 1
Luxury Shopping Areas
As befits the wonderful city of Vienna, there are especially beautiful and luxurious shopping centers. Some of these shopping centers are located right in the heart of the city’s historic center, exuding a wonderful and unique atmosphere. Of course, the prices will reflect this, but if you want to purchase luxury clothes, shoes, and jewelry, the places listed below will be especially suitable.
Ferstel Passage
Do you feel like shopping inside a palace? The small shopping street called Ferstel Passage will give you exactly that experience. Although the street isn’t a palace itself, it’s located next to Ferstel Palace, and there’s no doubt that it’s beautifully decorated and stunning. The small street was built in 1860 by the architect Von Ferstel, who also built the adjacent palace. The street is beautifully adorned, and in its center, there’s a beautiful and ancient fountain. On both sides are luxurious and interesting boutique shops, as well as nice cafes. You can reach this area with a short walk from the famous Café Central.
Opening Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Sunday and Holidays: Closed
How to get to Ferstel Passage?
By subway. The orange line (U3) stops at Herrengasse station, which is a 3-minute walk from this place and from Café Central.
Address of the Shopping Complex: Strauchgasse 2, 1010 Wien
Ringstrassen-Galerien
A short walk from Karlsplatz and the Vienna State Opera, you’ll find a beautiful shopping center designed in the old-world style characteristic of Vienna. The shopping center isn’t very prominent from the street and in fact, it’s not crowded at all during most hours of the day. There’s a variety of nice boutique shops, beautifully designed cafes, and a supermarket in the basement. If you’re in the area, it’s worth stepping inside to admire the shops and the design.
Opening Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Sunday and Holidays: Closed
How to get to Ringstrassen-Galerien?
From Karlsplatz, walk along Ringstrasse for about five minutes. To reach Karlsplatz, you can take 3 subway lines (U1, U2, U3) and many tram lines.
Address of the Shopping Complex: Kärntner Ring 5-7, 1010 Wien
Golden Quarter (Goldenes Quartier) and Kärntner Strasse – Shopping in the Old City
What’s better than combining a historical experience with enjoyable shopping! In Vienna’s Old City, you can enjoy both worlds at the same time. Walking through the ancient streets of Vienna is a wonderful experience in itself, but you can enhance it with a visit to the luxurious shops scattered along the old streets. The main shopping streets are Graben, Kohlmarkt, Tuchlauben, and Kärntner Strasse. These streets are located around St. Stephen’s Cathedral in the heart of the Old City. These ancient streets are bustling with luxurious shops, restaurants, and cafes. If you come to the church, you can turn onto Graben Street and walk along it, enjoying the regal atmosphere and ancient buildings. Along the street are beautifully designed statues and monuments. At the end of the street, you reach a junction, where you should turn left towards Kohlmarkt Street, which leads to St. Michael’s Square (Michaelerplatz) and the Hofburg Palace. Another option is to walk along the beautiful Kärntner Strasse, which eventually leads to the magnificent Vienna State Opera House (Wiener Staatsoper). This street is also full of shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Interesting to know: Many shops in these old streets were once Jewish-owned. The most well-known shop in the Old City still owned by members of the community is the fur shop Liska. It is located right on Graben Street.
Opening Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Sunday and Holidays: Closed
How to get to the Golden Quarter?
It’s best to start your tour of these streets from St. Stephen’s Cathedral Square. The subway stops right next to it. Get off at Stephansplatz station. Subway lines U1 (red line) and U3 (orange line) stop at this station.
Address of the Shopping Complex: Stephansplatz 100
Steffl Department Store – Next to St. Stephen’s Cathedral
In the heart of the Old City, at Kärntner Strasse 19, you’ll find a department store called Steffl. The department store offers a variety of fashion stores (women’s, men’s, and children’s), shoe stores, jewelry, bags, and more. On the top floor of the department store is the famous Sky Bar, from which you can view the cathedral roof (not the most impressive, just nice). Additionally, this department store houses a branch of Global Blue, which handles purchases and tax refunds (if you don’t want to deal with the tax refund at the airport, you can do it at this branch).
Opening Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
How to get to Steffl?
The department store is about a 4-minute walk from St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Walk along Kärntner Strasse until you see the large illuminated sign that says Steffl.
Address of the Shopping Complex: Kärntner Strasse 19, 1010 Wien
Medium-Sized Urban Malls
If you don’t feel like traveling far to the large shopping complexes and prefer to stay close to your hotel, or if you’re on your way from Vienna by train or bus, you can enjoy several pleasant medium-sized malls. These places don’t compare at all to the huge malls mentioned earlier, but you can still enjoy a variety of brand stores, great sales, and discounts.
Wien Mitte The Mall – Vienna Central Mall
If you’ve just arrived from Vienna Airport, or if you’re already on your way back to the airport, you’ll probably pass through Wien Mitte station. From this station, the regional train S7 departs, which goes to the airport. If you have a little free time, you can happily spend it at the station’s mall. The mall is quite new and beautifully designed, and includes a variety of stores such as H&M, New Yorker, Swarovski, Desigual, and more. There are also a variety of restaurants and cafes. Its location is definitely central! Right in the heart of Vienna’s 3rd district. If you want to know what else you can see in the 3rd district, read more information in our extended article.
Opening Hours:
- Monday – Wednesday: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Thursday – Friday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Sunday and Holidays: Closed
Wien Mitte The Mall Official Website
How to get there?
By subway lines U4 (green line) and U3 (orange line). Get off at Landstrasse station.
Address: Landstraßer Hauptstraße 1B, 1030 Wien
Lugner City GmbH
An urban mall in Vienna’s 15th district. The complex features international and local brand stores, as well as restaurants and cafes. If your hotel or apartment is in this area, it’s nice to go to this mall (especially if it’s raining and cold). If you are a true shopping enthusiast, it’s worth dedicating your time to the other malls in Vienna.
Opening Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Sunday and Holidays: Closed
Lugner City GmbH Official Website
How to get there?
By subway line U6 (brown line). Get off at Burggasse-Stadthalle station. Bus line 48A also stops near the mall.
Address: Gablenzgasse 11, 15 Wien
Stadion Center – Stadium Mall
Right outside the U2 subway station (the purple line) you’ll find a small and pleasant mall. The mall is located right next to Vienna’s stadium, hence its name. Behind the mall is a bus terminal from which lines depart to nearby countries like the Czech Republic, Serbia, etc. The mall has several brand stores, food retail chains, gift and toy shops, bags, shoes, and more. If you are not taking a bus that departs from the bus station behind the mall, don’t make a special trip; there are much better shopping centers.
Opening Hours:
- Monday – Wednesday: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Thursday – Friday: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Sunday and Holidays: Closed
Stadion Center Official Website
How to get there?
By subway line U2 (purple line). Get off at Stadion station. The mall is right outside the station.
Address: Olympiaplatz 2, 1020 Wien
Columbus Center – Mall similar to Stadion Center
Near Vienna’s central train station is a mall called Columbus Center. You’ll find brands like Mango, Palmers, KIK, S.Oliver. The mall is a nice place to visit only if you are already in the area and looking for a place to sit for coffee or search for bargains or discounts.
Opening Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Sunday and Holidays: Closed
Columbus Center Official Website
How to get there?
By subway line U1 (red line). Get off at Keplerplatz station. The mall is right next to the station. You can also take tram line O and get off at Columbusplatz station, or take bus line 14A and get off at Keplerplatz station.
Address: Columbusplatz 7-8, 1100 Wien
Q19 – The Mall of the 19th District
This is the shopping center of Vienna’s northern district – the 19th district. It features several clothing stores, lingerie, and footwear. You’ll find stores like H&M, Benetton, Calzedonia, Jones, etc. This mall can be a good combination with a trip to Kahlenberg Mountain and Grinzing.
Opening Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Sunday and Holidays: Closed
How to get there?
Take the U4 subway line (green line) to the last station, Heiligenstadt. From there, you can take bus line 38A to Kreilplatz. Tram line D also reaches the mall area; get off at Grinzinger Straße.
Address: Grinzinger Strasse 112, 1190 Wien
BahnhofCity Wien Hauptbahnhof – Central Train Station Mall
Inside Vienna’s central train station, there’s a mall with a variety of shops, restaurants, and cafes. It’s a nice place to spend time while waiting for a train or a bus, for example, to Bratislava. Well-known stores in this mall include New Yorker, Desigual, Calzedonia, and more.
Opening Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Sunday and Holidays: Closed
BahnhofCity Wien Hauptbahnhof Official Website
How to get there?
The mall is located inside Vienna’s central train station. You can reach it by subway. The red line (U1) stops at the central train station. Get off at Südtirolerplatz-Hauptbahnhof station.
Address: Am Hauptbahnhof 1, 1100 Wien
How to get a Tax Refund?
Since Israel is not part of the European Union, there’s an excellent benefit for shopping in Vienna. A large number of stores in the city allow tax-free shopping. This benefit essentially means you can save up to 20% of the purchase cost (only if you buy over €75).
To get your tax back at the airport, you need to perform a few simple steps before flying back home. All steps are detailed below.
1. Filling out the Tax Refund Form
Stores participating in the tax refund benefit will have a clear sign at the entrance or at the checkout area. If you bought from such a store, you’ll need to ask the salesperson for a “Tax Refund Cheque” form. You’ll need to fill out this form and keep it together with your purchase receipt. You’ll need to fill out such a form for every purchase you make.
Image Placeholder: [Tax Refund Form Example]
2. Presenting Your Purchases
Before your flight back home, you’ll need to present the purchases for which you wish to claim a refund. Therefore, do not yet check your suitcases into the airplane’s cargo hold. Go directly to the customs desk at the airport and present your tax refund forms, receipts, and the items you purchased. After the forms are checked, the officer will stamp them, and then you can send your suitcase to the airplane’s cargo hold.
If the items you purchased are in the luggage you are taking with you onto the plane, you will need to present your purchased items after passport control. Near boarding gates D, G, F, there are customs counters where you can get your tax refund forms stamped.
3. Receiving Payment
You can get your money back after your forms have been stamped. The money can be received at any bank branch, currency exchange, or at the Tax-Free Cash Refund Office located in Terminal 2.
Please note:
- If the customs counter is unstaffed, you can use the self-service kiosks.
- If you are flying at a time when the bank is closed, you can leave your receipts and tax refund forms in the mailbox next to the bank counter. The money will be transferred to your account after the forms have been checked by the bank. We have prepared a comprehensive article on Tax Refunds in Vienna with additional tips and information on stamping the refund form using your mobile phone or at a self-service kiosk.
If you don’t feel completely ready for your trip to Vienna yet, you can browse our comprehensive article on all the City Districts of Vienna and their attractions. This detailed article will help you plan your trip in a simple and focused way.
