If you need a Christmas present at short notice, you have to hurry: the shops are usually only open until 1 p.m. on December 24. But there are ways to get last-minute gifts even in the afternoon.
If you still want to organize Christmas presents on December 24, the clock is ticking: the shops are usually only open until 1 p.m. Only owner-operated businesses without employees are allowed to stay open until 2 p.m.
Longer opening hours for flower shops
But there are still a few exceptions: flower shops and sweet shops are allowed to open until 6 p.m. In theory, Christmas trees can still be sold until 8 p.m.
At the train stations there is a good chance that you will find a gift at the last minute. The book and stationery chain Thalia at Wien Mitte train station (W3) is open until 4 p.m. Thalia boss Andrea Heumann also offers games, among other things.
Press&Books remains open until 6 p.m. at many train stations
The Press&Books stores, which sell bestsellers, cuddly toys and Christmas stockings, have even longer opening hours: at Vienna’s main station and Westbahnhof, as well as at the Linz, Graz, Salzburg and Linz train stations, they are open until 6 p.m., and at the Train stations St. Pölten and Wels and Klagenfurt until 4 p.m. You can also buy flowers and chocolate at gas stations, some of which are open 24 hours a day.
Books as a Christmas hit
This year’s most popular Christmas gifts include books such as the memoir ‘It Was Always Funny’ by Hans Krankl and Herbert Prohaska. Stephan Bair, head of the Tyrolia bookstore chain: “We hope for a positive end to the year, because books are not only relatively cheap gifts, but also very valuable gifts. And especially if there is a tendency to be reluctant to consume, the book is always an excellent alternative.”
Game of the year as a blockbuster
When it comes to toys, the current game of the year “Sky Team”, a game for two people, is once again a bestseller. Classics such as Activity, DKT and Monopoly also sell very well.
According to the survey, 86.4 percent of Austrians want to celebrate Christmas this year, another 7.8 percent do not celebrate it, but still give something to their loved ones. The residents of Upper Austria and Salzburg are the most generous, with an average expenditure on gifts of 335 euros, followed by the residents of Tyrol and Vorarlberg with 307 euros. Viennese spend an average of 234 euros on Christmas presents.
According to research by the trade association and Reppublika Research, vouchers are being given away most often this year. Toys, chocolates, clothes and perfumes are also often under the Christmas tree. The top ten most popular gifts also include books and personalized gifts, such as photo gifts.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
