About this place
Kärntner Straße has been one of Vienna’s main arteries since medieval times, originally serving as the vital trade route leading south toward Carinthia and Italy. Today, it is a broad, glittering pedestrian zone, paved with polished stone and buzzing with life from morning until late at night. Flagship designer stores and traditional Austrian brands line a fascinating architectural patchwork of Baroque palaces and modern post-war glass facades. In 1974, the city made the bold, highly controversial decision to close the street to cars, returning it entirely to pedestrians. The result is a vibrant, mile-long outdoor salon connecting St. Stephen's Cathedral to the State Opera.
Key facts
- 1974 year — The street was entirely closed to cars and converted into a pedestrian zone
- 1257 year — First mentioned in historical documents as 'Strata Carinthianorum'
- 360000 cakes — Original Sachertortes are handmade at the Hotel Sacher (at the street's end) every year
📍 Himmelpfortgasse 2, 1010, Wien