Karntner Straße (Carinthian Street), Vienna

Some may regard Carinthian Street as Vienna’s answer to the question: “What if shopping felt like strolling through a history book with a platinum credit card?” As one leg of the city’s so-called “Golden U” (alongside the Graben and Kohlmarkt), this pedestrian paradise isn’t just about luxury bags and pastry breaks—it’s a street with serious pedigree.

Indeed, its roots are deep. We’re talking Roman-deep. First mentioned in 1257 as Strata Carinthianorum, it once served as a vital lifeline between Vienna’s city center and the Carinthian Gate, just around where the Vienna State Opera raises its curtain today. Back in the day, this was the road to the Mediterranean, linking traders to port cities like Venice and Trieste. So yes, shopping here has always had a bit of flair.

Named after the southern Austrian state of Carinthia, the street has worn many hats over the centuries. But it hit its architectural stride in the 19th century when Vienna said, “Let’s go big or go baroque.” The street was expanded, lined with palatial buildings, and decked out in full historicist regalia—dramatic façades and a flair for the ornate.

Then came World War II, and with it, devastation. Carinthian Street was badly damaged and later rebuilt with a sleek, modernist look—minimalist, functional, and, let’s be honest, a little less theatrical. But Vienna being Vienna, it didn’t stay plain for long...

In 1974, the city waved goodbye to cars and hello to café-lined promenades as Carinthian Street was reborn as a pedestrian zone, perfectly synced with the arrival of the U-Bahn below.

Today, it’s the city’s cultural catwalk. You’ve got the Vienna State Opera, Todesco Palace, Equitable Palace, the legendary Hotel Sacher (home of that devilishly good chocolate cake), and quieter gems like the Maltese Church and Esterházy Palace.

So whether you’re here for the architecture, the fashion, the music, or just a slice of Sacher Torte (that could bring a tear to your eye), Carinthian Street offers you Vienna in its full, glamorous stride. Just keep walking...