7 Best Shopping in Vienna, Austria

The Dorotheum was the first imperial auction house, established in 1707 by Emperor Josef I as a pawnshop. Occupying the former site of the Dorothy Convent (hence the name), it has built up a grand reputation over the years. If you're looking for something truly special—an 18th-century oil portrait or a real fur, a Rococo mirror or a fine silk fan, a china figurine or sterling-silver spoon, an old map of the Austrian Empire or even a stuffed parrot—the best place to try and find it is Dorotheum, Vienna's fabled auction house. Have you ever wanted to see how the Austrian aristocracy once lived, how their sumptuous homes were once furnished? Well, don't bother with a museum—you can inspect their antique furnishings, displayed as if in use, for free, and without the eagle eyes of sales personnel following your every move.

The neo-Baroque building was completed in 1901 and deserves a walk-through (you can enter from Spiegelgasse and exit on Dorotheergasse) just to have a look, even if you only admire the gorgeous stuccoed walls and palatial interiors, or peek into the glass-roofed patio stocked with early-20th-century glass, furniture, and art. With more than 600 auctions a year, this has become one of the busiest auction houses in Europe. There are auctions held frequently throughout the week, though not Saturday, and it's closed entirely Sunday. And if you don't fancy bidding for something, there are sale areas on the ground and second floors where loads of stuff can simply be bought off the floor.

Are you looking for a vintage postcard, a hand-carved walking stick, a classic record, or even an old photograph of the Opera House from before the war? Head to Alt-Österreich—its name translates as "Old Austria"—and you'll find that this treasure trove has just about everything dealing with that time-burnished subject.

This gallery specializes in Viennese Jugendstil with furniture and accessories, but also has an impressive selection of paintings by Austrian artists and small collections of watches and silverware. There's a second location at Dorotheergasse 12, a 10-minute walk away.

Just around the corner from the Opera House, this is one of the more traditional art galleries in the city. Austrian paintings, Viennese bronzes, Thonet furniture, and beautiful Biedermeier pieces crowd the small space.

This is your best bet for some of the finer collectibles in the city. Peter Kulcsar's special focus is on silverware, watercolors, and objets d'art.

Check out this auction house for fabulous paintings and antiques. There are only about six auctions a year, and viewings are just one week prior to sale, so keep an eye on its website for news.

Specializing in European furniture, lamps, and objets d'art from the 1940s to today, this superb gallery has a particularly eye-catching collection of sandy-colored African berber rugs and sleek Pierre Jeanneret mid-20th-century modern tables and chairs. Exhibitions held regularly.