First district

The city Vienna is divided into districts, most have, apart from their numbering which is derived from the postal zip codes, also a name such as "Meidling", "Grinzing", "Ottakring" or "Penzing". The inner city however is simply called "the first" by the Viennese. The most important sights are concentrated in the first Viennese district. Surrounded by the splendid, imperial road, the Ring, St. Stephan’s cathedral, the Hofburg, the most important museums and opera houses are to be found in this district.

But the first district is also the noblest shopping address in Vienna. On the Kaerntnerstrasse, the Graben and the Kohlmarkt market, there are rows of international luxury fashion shops such as Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Akris, Boss, Channel, Escada or Swarovski.

Of course there are also traditional Viennese establishments, jewelers, such as Cartier and probably the noblest epicurean centre in the inner city, Meinl at the Graben.

Large parts of the first district are closed to private traffic, which makes the shopping experience even more pleasant. With the underground and by bus one reaches the centre from the Hotel Capri within a few minutes. The side lanes leading off from the magnificent streets are also worth seeing: In legendary coffee houses like the cafe Hawelka, small boutiques and richly stocked antique shops which reveal the true Vienna behind the tourist scene.