If you're in this city and wondering what you can get as souvenirs for yourself, friends and family, we've got you covered. Here is a list of the most iconic Viennese products to bring back home:
1. Manner Schnitten
These tasty wafers are ubiquitous to Austria, loved by children and adults alike. Its logo features the iconic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and it's pink packaging is easily distinguished amidst the supermarket shelves. These make a perfect and inexpensive gift for the kids or for the office and are simply delicious. While the Original Neapolitan Wafers are Manner's classic and best-selling flavour, other delicious flavours such as lemon are also available.
Where to find them: Manner Schnitten Main Store (Stephansplatz 7, 1010 Wien, Austria), supermarkets and food stores across Vienna
2. Staud’s Wien
Austrians are fond of their jams and preserves, unsurprising given how delicious they are! These make the perfect gift for loved ones back home, or for yourself to have with your afternoon tea. Pick up a jar of wachauer marille (apricot jam) from Staud’s, a household name in Vienna. An assortment of other jams are available for you to sample at their main store near Brunnenmarkt as well.
Where to find them: Staud’s Wien (Schellhammergasse 15, 1160 Wien, Austria)
3. Snow Globes
Perhaps not the most exciting souvenir on this list, but you’ll see them in a new light knowing that they were invented in Austria! A staple at Christmas markets, you’ll find many stalls selling snow globes, albeit different from the mass-produced ones you get in tacky souvenir shops at other places. Here, the snow globes are still finely-crafted, featuring traditional motifs such as St.Stephen’s Cathedral, Rathausplatz and the Giant Ferris Wheel, with the first factory manufacturing them still operating. What better way to remind yourself of your time in Vienna than bringing back a piece of its history?
Where to find them: Original Vienna Snowglobe Factory (Schumanngasse 87, 1170 Wien, Austria), Christmas markets
4. Sacher Torte
While you might be thinking that it would be a bit ridiculous to lug a cake all the way back home, the Sacher Hotel has it all thought out. The cake is sealed in plastic and comes neatly packaged, ready to take on the world. If you haven't had an opportunity to taste this delicious treat while in Vienna, then why not take it home with you and share it with your loved ones?
Where to find it: Café Sacher (Philharmoniker Str. 4, 1010 Wien, Austria)
5. Kürbiskernöl (Pumpkin Seed Oil)
Pumpkin seed oil is made in Styria, south of Vienna. It has intense nutty taste, and features extensively in Austrian cuisine, and is used to drizzle over salads, or tossed in with spätzle, a pasta made with fresh eggs. It is even used to elevate the flavour profile of desserts.
Where to find it: Supermarkets, markets and food stores across Vienna
6. Austrian Schnapps
Schnapps to Austria is what Vodka is to Russia, and especially for those who love a good drink, look no further than a bottle of Austrian schnapps. A distilled spirit made by fermenting freshly picked fruit, it is easy to drink, and has the profile of a light-flavoured vodka. A good bottle of this Austrian brandy at any supermarket is available for less than €20,00. If you’re looking for more sophisticated and unique variations, look out for them at farmer’s markets, where they are a mainstay, and made by local producers.
Where to find it: Supermarkets, markets and food stores across Vienna
7. Swaroski
No stranger to the fashion and jewelry scene, this Austrian manufacturer is the world’s leading manufacturer of precision-cut crystals. Their flagship store on Kärntner Strasse, Swarovski Crystal Worlds, is a must-visit for any purveyor of crystals or jewelry. Here, across its three floors, you’ll find any and every sort of item possible embellished with an array of crystals.
Where to find it: Swarovski Kristallwelten Store (Kärntner Straße 24, 1010 Wien, Austria)
8. Lobmeyr Glassware
For those looking for a truly special souvenir, how about a piece of a Lobmeyr glassware? These timeless pieces are still done the traditional way: mouth-blown and hand-cut. J. & L. Lobmeyr is a family-run business, operating since 1823, and even has its own brand museum! Their pieces are housed in various museums, and have even supplied the royal household with their quality glassware. Although definitely not the cheapest on this list, it is the perfect gift if you want something long-lasting to remember Vienna by.
Where to get it: J. & L. Lobmeyr (Kärntner Straße 26, 1010 Wien, Austria)
