Kohlmarkt Street

The Kohlmarkt

The Vienna audio-guided tour brings you to the corner of Graben and Kohlmarkt, where the surrounding architecture is almost dizzying. The Kohlmarkt, one of the oldest and most elegant streets in the city, extends the walk towards Michaelerplatz and the Hofburg.

An old and refined street

The Kohlmarkt goes back to the Roman era of Vindobona, when it was a coal street, as its name indicates. Having become over the centuries one of the smartest arteries of Vienna, it links Michaelerplatz to the Graben and concentrates luxury shops and historic facades. At the corner of the two streets, fine caryatids support the pillars of two majestic buildings.

What there is to see

From the Kohlmarkt, the view opens onto Michaelerplatz, where the entrance of the famous Spanish Riding School of Vienna appears, adjoining the Hofburg. This splendid crossroads sums up on its own the importance and past wealth of the city. The refined shop windows and imperial architecture make it an essential passage.

Practical information

The Kohlmarkt is freely walkable on foot, in the historic centre, between the Graben and Michaelerplatz. A pedestrian shopping street, it is accessible at any time; the shops follow their own hours. It is a natural transition towards the nearby Hofburg.

Where does the Kohlmarkt lead ?

It links the Graben to Michaelerplatz, in front of the Hofburg and the entrance of the Spanish Riding School.

Where does the name Kohlmarkt come from ?

The name means coal market and goes back to the Roman era of Vindobona, making it one of the oldest streets in Vienna.