Kärntner Strasse

Kärntner Straße, or Carinthian Street in English, is a well-known street in Vienna’s city center. Beginning at Karlsplatz, on the Vienna Ring Road, the street goes north, passing the Vienna State Opera on its way to Stephansplatz, in the heart of Vienna. Stephansplatz is where Graben and Kärnter Straße intersect. The Graben, Kohlmarkt, and Kärntner Straße form Vienna’s famed “Golden U” of retail avenues in the city center. These streets are pedestrian zones known for their luxury retailers.

During Vienna’s Roman colonization, the Kärntner Straße—originally named Strata Carinthianorum—was a prominent trade center. It connected the city core to the Carinthian Gate, providing a key link to port cities such as Venice and Trieste. Throughout history, the street has been known by a variety of names and spellings.

The avenue was expanded in the nineteenth century, resulting in the building of various historicist monuments, including palaces. The roadway was extended south to Karlsplatz after the old city walls were destroyed to make space for the Vienna Ring Road. This drew department stores and an arcaded shopping gallery. The Boulevard experienced economic growth, containing a lot of prominent businesses and hotels and becoming as a popular destination for upper-class Vienna residents.

The road was severely damaged during World War II, demanding several repairs and new constructions. During the 1974 Vienna U-Bahn construction, the street was converted into a pedestrian zone, and it is today a thriving business sector with high-end hotels, stores, and coffee shops.