Top shopping destinations: 7 Best Shopping Destinations Worldwide | Travel Inspiration

7 Best Shopping Destinations Worldwide | Travel Inspiration

You love shopping. And you understand that a shopping holiday is not just about finding good deals – though that’s important too. No, shopping is an art form of its own, where an eye for distinctive style separates the serious connoisseurs from the window shoppers.

If you’re serious about shopping, this list is for you. We’ve picked the best shopping destinations in the world – now it’s up to you to explore them and get some use out of your credit card.

1. New York City, USA

New York City is hands-down the best all-round shopping destination in the world. You can find every major fashion and retail outlet in NYC, along with thousands of boutique, vintage and hard-to-find shops that simply do not exist anywhere else. There are malls like Time Warner Centre, boutiques in SoHo, high-end brands on Fifth Avenue, pop-up shops in Bryant Park and Union Square, and flea markets in Brooklyn. You just need to get over there and start shopping!

2.

Paris, France

Paris is the world’s fashion capital, for a good reason. With a focus on designer labels, the city is home to high-end fashion labels such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Yves Saint Laurent. Paris’ Golden Triangle, which encompasses the Champs-Elysees in the 8th Arrondissement, offers the best of Paris shopping and is where the beautiful Christmas Market runs in January. If you’re looking to save a Euro or two, head to Paris in January or August for the biennial sales and you’re sure to nab a bargain.

3. Milan, Italy

Italians are serious about style and their shopping capital, Milan, is one of the most fashionable cities in the world. Home to luxury fashion houses like Prada, Valentino, Armani, Versace, Dolce & Gabana and much more, the main shopping area is known as the Fashion Quadrangle. But Milan isn’t only about the price tags. The city also boasts wonderful Christmas markets, bazaars and excellent sales during January-February and July-September.

4. London, United Kingdom

Let’s be honest. London is one of the best cities in the world and, accordingly, has some of the best shopping. From Oxford Street, with famous department stores such as John Lewis and bargain fashion like Topshop; to elegant Regent Street’s mid-priced fashion outlets; to Bond Street and Mayfair, with big names like Burberry and Tiffany & Co.; to Carnaby Street’s independent brands; to Camden’s set of alternative fashion shops; and Notting Hill’s vintage and antique offerings, London is a shopper’s paradise.

5. Hong Kong, China

Bargain hunters and high-end fashion lovers, Hong Kong is your city. Millions of people around Asia and the world flock to this tiny island every year to pick up a great deal or find something unique. Fantastic markets such as Jade Market, Temple Street Night Market and the Ladies Market are renowned, Kowloon’s Nathan Road is a major retail strip with everything from massive department stores to local goods, and Times Square is a must-see. Many people also travel to Hong Kong to have clothes specially made, and there are many quality tailors throughout the city.

6. Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is the other top shopping city in Asia. Over the years, Bangkok has become home to innumerable shopping complexes and rambling markets, and the vibrant south-east Asian city has everything you might want. The largest and most well-known department store, MBK, boasts more than 2,000 stores with a huge variety of products and price points. Chinatown is also a must, with super cheap goods and a much more traditional feel. The sixth-largest mall in the world, aptly named Central World, is a must for international-branded clothes and sportswear and Chatuchuck Market is one of the biggest markets in the world, with more than 15,000 booths divided into 27 sections. And, like Hong Kong, there are many quality tailors available for the savvy shopper who knows what they want.

7. Los Angeles, USA

And lastly, there’s Los Angeles. Head to The Grove for a shopping treat, as you explore the city’s outdoor shopping complex. Designed to look like a small town, it’s a friendly place to find some amazing fashion and specialty stores. Rodeo Drive, of course, is one of the most famous streets in the world and, while you’re not celebrity spotting, you might also fancy a spot of high-end fashion shopping. Armani, Coco Chanel, Christian Dior and others grace this elegant street. If you’re looking for a more relaxed market atmosphere, the Farmers’ Market is an incredible place to give your taste buds a treat, or if you need to sate your celebrity curiosity a little further, try the fashion strip on Melrose Avenue.

12 best shopping cities in the world

(CNN) — From a shopper’s perspective, frequent traveling can be crippling. It can get worse in the holiday season where Christmas dominates many people’s calendars. Why buy something in one city when a trip to a better shopping city is coming up?

To pinpoint which cities around the world deliver the most gratifying, enjoyable shopping experiences, we consulted global experts, such as fashion merchandising firm Donegar Creative Services and Marie Bergfelt, senior spokesperson for Global Blue, which publishes the Globe Shopper City Index.

Then we judged cities in four areas, using a 1-to-10 scoring scale for each category:

1. Getting around: Quality of public transportation, affordability and availability of cabs, transport time

2. Value: Bargain opportunities, such as sale seasons and average prices.

3. Variety: Number of available brands, range of shopping categories, quantity of upscale shops, department stores, boutique and vintage retailers and market stalls.

4. Experience: City beauty, quality of window displays and shop décor, friendliness and competence of clerks and service staff, dining and accommodation options.

Then we charged into the breach.

12. Seoul

Getting around: 4 Value: 7 Variety: 4 Experience: 6 Total: 21

Fact: South Korea has a serious addiction to shopping. The most serious in the world, in fact.

South Korea recorded more credit card transactions per person than any other country in 2011, and all merchants are required by law to accept credit cards no matter how low the price. Yes, that means the phrase “cash only, please” is technically illegal.

This translates to a capital city bursting with shops of a dizzying array of types and sizes, from LED-fish-scale-studded luxury department stores to towering all-nighter shopping malls to trendy street carts, which all reflect the ever-changing hottest item of the moment.

While foreign luxury goods tend to get a hefty mark-up (except at the airport, which boasts the first Louis Vuitton airport duty free store, as well as cheap prices for most foreign brands), local boutiques tend to be cheap and chic.

The city also has a good mix of the old and new, according to the Globe Shopper Index, which recommends the Seoul Folk Flea Market, Namdaemun Market and Gyeongdong Market for a shopping spree of more traditional goods.

Whip out the plastic at:

Seoul’s trendiest late-night shopping mall: Doota, 18-12 Euljiro 6-ga, Jung-gu; +82 2 3398 3333; Tuesday-Saturday 10:30 a.m.- 5 a. m., Monday 7 p.m.-5 a.m., Sunday 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m.

Lotte Department Store flagship,1 Sogong-dong, Jung-gu; +82 2 771 2500; 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

Garosugil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu (shop-lined trendy street), accessible via subway from Sinsa Station (Subway Line 3)

10 Corso Como, B1F Trinity Building, 79 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu; +82 70 7098 0010

Hot South Korean fashion brands

11. Milan

Getting around: 5 Value: 5 Variety: 4 Experience: 8 Total: 22

Home to many of fashion’s biggest names such as Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Versace, it’s little wonder this beautiful city is full of glamorous locals and shops that cater to them.

One of the most beautiful (if expensive) shopping experiences can be found at Quadrilatero della Moda or Quadrilatero d’Oro (‘rectangle of gold’), which many fashion insiders consider is the world’s most important fashion district.

The interwoven pedestrian streets are lined with jewelers, boutiques and lifestyle showrooms that make for great window shopping.

While the boutiques cater to the alligator-bag-and-black-card-toting crowd, luckily for bargain shoppers, yesterday’s styles are tossed aside so fast, outlets and sales racks are always full.

Il Salvagente (“the lifesaver”), Milan’s best known and longest established outlet, has three floors of goods discounted up to 60%, all organized by size and color.

No one back home needs to know it was bought at an outlet mall — Milan fashions are always months ahead of the trends elsewhere.

Whip out the plastic at:

Quadrilatero d’Oro, between via Montenapoleone, via Borgospesso, via Della Spiga and via Sant’ Andrea, Milan

Il Salvagente, Via Fratelli Bronzetti 16, 20129 Milan; +39 02 7611 0328; Monday 3 p.m.-7 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

15 hautest stays: designer-branded hotels

10.

Madrid

Getting around: 6 Value: 6 Variety: 4 Experience: 7 Total: 23

Madrid mostly gets our credit cards warm simply for being Madrid, though it’s worth noting that the city ranks third for best prices on general luxury items in the Globe Shopper Index.

But we can’t wow our friends with statistics (not our shopping friends, anyway), so what about the goods?

When searching for items unique to Madrid, we fell in love with Capas Seseña.

Established in 1901, the shop sells traditional wool and cotton velvet capes for men and women. The clientele includes Pierce Brosnan and Hillary Clinton. Picasso was reportedly buried in his cape from the store.

Casa de Diego stocks souvenir-worthy fans, mantillas, ornamental combs and even castanets. But what we really wanted to take home was one of its work-of-art statement umbrellas with engraved silver handle (€325/US$415).

Whip out the plastic at:

Capas Seseña, Calle de la Cruz, 23, 28012 Madrid, Community of Madrid; +34 915 316 840; Monday-Friday 9 a. m.-2 p.m., 5-8:15 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m.

Casa de Diego, Puerta del Sol, 12. 28013 Madrid; +34 91 522 66 43; Monday-Saturday 9:45 a.m.-8 p.m.

9. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Getting around: 6 Value: 6 Variety: 8 Experience: 4 Total: 24

A miniature kingdom unto itself, the Dubai Mall is the world’s largest mall in total area, with theme parks, a waterfall, “dancing” fountains, Olympic-sized ice rink, aquarium, indoor souk and malls within the mall, such as the Galeries Lafayette from France and the first Bloomingdale’s outside the United States.

If that isn’t enough cash registers, there’s also the Mall of the Emirates, with the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East.

The Dubai Mall also hosts the annual Dubai Shopping Festival in January and February. We assume it’s called a festival because they have fireworks, but it’s really about package deals and discounts — up to 70% on electronics, clothing and popular items.

Whip out the plastic at:

Dubai Mall, Doha Street, Dubai; +971 4 362 7500; Monday-Wednesday and Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Thursday-Friday 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m.

Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha 3, Dubai; +971 4 377 2000; Sunday-Wednesday 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.-midnight

Best of Dubai

8. Vienna

Getting around: 6 Value: 8 Variety: 3 Experience: 8 Total: 25

With some of the earliest closing hours out of all the cities on the Globe Shopper Index, Vienna is tricky for shopping.

Total buzz kill, right? But it also has some of the best values in Europe, coming in second on the Index for total cost of luxury items.

At the centuries-old Naschmarkt, shoppers can eat their way along 1.5 kilometers of 120 food vendors flogging local eats from kaiserschmarrn (dessert pancakes) and crepe-like palatschinke to exotic cheeses and seafood.

During Christmas season, they can browse through glass baubles and handcrafted ornaments while sipping on glühwein at Vienna’s venerable and gloriously lit Christmas markets, the Platonic ideal of a fairy tale Christmas.

That’s good for an extra “Experience” point and an eighth-place finish.

Whip out the plastic at:

Naschmarkt, 1060 Vienna; +43 1 5463405430; Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Saturday 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

The Viennese Christmas Market by City Hall runs November 17 to December 24. Rathausplatz, 1010 Vienna; Sunday-Thursday 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday 10 a.m.-10 p.m., December 24 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Vienna: Insider Travel Guide

7. Buenos Aires

Getting around: 6 Value: 8 Variety: 6 Experience: 7 Total: 27

Sexy Argentine dance moves + sexy Argentine climate = sexy Argentine shopping.

Yes, the formula sort of sometimes works like that, especially when you’re stalking high-quality leather at affordable prices.

Established in Buenos Aires in 1952, Mocasines Guido sells leather shoes for men; today there are three locations in Buenos Aires.

Calle Murillo is a street with leather shops that also offer tailoring services. Murillo 666 is perhaps the best known, but about 50 more surround it, a handy surfeit of shops come haggle time.

Whip out the plastic at:

Moscasines Guido, Rodríguez Peña 1290, Buenos Aires; +54 11 4813 4095; open Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Murillo 666, Murilla 66, Villa Crespo, Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Province; +54 11 4856 4501; open Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

6. Hong Kong

Getting around: 10 Value: 5 Variety: 6 Experience: 7 Total: 28

Hong Kong’s shop clerks are borderline stalkers — in a good way.

If you don’t know where you’re going, they’ll follow you around till you find it. If you don’t know what you want, they’ll tell you.

But the obsessive help can come in handy, especially if it leads to a world-class bargain.

According to Global Shopper City Index research, 87 percent of Hong Kong tourists shop, and “76 percent of shopping tourists expressed above-average satisfaction on value for money in 2011.” Small wonder that Hong Kong also claims the title of best Asian shopping city in the Index.

Read: The ultimate Hong Kong shopping guide: Causeway Bay

For a bespoke shopping experience that involves local color, we hit up individual boutiques.

Fang Fong Projects in Central stocks womenswear from local label Fang Fong, which is like a Shanghai Tang that you’d actually wear often — modern clothes with tasteful Asian touches.

Frequented by celebrities, KniQ stocks one-of-a-kind items like artfully ripped stockings (HK$320/US$41), and a selection of jumpsuits for men that costs upward of HK$2,000 ($250).

Whip out the plastic at:

KniQ, Shop 4B, Vienna Mansion, 55 Paterson St, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong; +852 2881 7903; Monday-Saturday 2-10 p. m., Sunday 2-9 p.m.

Fang Fong Projects, 67A Peel St., Central, Hong Kong; +852 3105 5557; open daily 2-8 p.m.

The hippest district in town: The likes of WDSG, Kapok, Club Monaco Men’s Store, Monocle are found in in Star Street Precinct in Wanchai (Star Street, Moon Street, Sun Street) and St. Francis Yard.

5. Paris

Getting around: 6 Value: 6 Variety: 8 Experience: 9 Total: 29

The best shops in Paris don’t sell clothes. They sell lifestyles.

Whimsical concept shop Merci stocks a selection of designer goods that fall under the category of utterly useless but absolutely desirable, such as art deco Bakelite switches. It’s housed in an airy and vaguely bucolic space that includes a secondhand bookshop, florist and café. In addition to the Annick Goutal scent line, Merci stocks apparel by Stella McCartney and Yves St Laurent, often with deep discounts.

Colette offers reduced prices on designer goods. Then again, if you’re like us, whatever you save on a Fendi dress might be spent on stylin’ necessities like a bottle of Bling h3O, which comes in a frosted glass bottle decorated with Swarovski crystals. It’s available for about US$50 at the downstairs “water bar,” which has more than 70 brands of bottled water.

And, of course, there’s the holy trinity of Parisian department stores:

Le Bon Marché dates to the 1850s. It’s famed for a monster section of gourmet food (5,000 choices strong).

Printemps has the world’s largest beauty department. This year the store is partnering with Christian Dior for an exclusive line.

Extravagant Galeries Lafayette is housed in a seven-story art nouveau structure with an entire floor dedicated to lingerie. Every Friday at 3 p.m. there’s a free fashion show with English commentary. Reservations required, either by emailing [email protected] or calling +33 1 42 82 36 40.

Whip out the plastic at:

Le Bon Marché, 24, rue de Sèvres, Seventh Arrondissement, Paris; +33 1 44 39 80 00; Monday-Wednesday, Saturday 10 a. m.-8 p.m., Thursday-Friday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Printemps, 64, boulevard Haussmann, Ninth Arrondissement, Paris; +33 1 4282 5000; Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. except for Thursday open 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

Galeries Lafayette, 40, boulevard Haussmann, Ninth Arrondissement, Paris; +33 1 4282 3456; Monday-Wednesday, Friday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Thursday 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

Merci, 111, boulevard Beaumarchais, Third Arrondissement, Paris; +33 1 42 77 00 33; Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Colette, 213, rue St.-Honoré, First Arrondissement, Paris; +33 1 55 35 33 90; Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Best of Paris shopping: The street market guide

4. Kuala Lumpur

Getting around: 6 Value: 10 Variety: 8 Experience: 6 Total: 30

Sometimes bigger really is better.

That’s the prevailing shopper’s ethic in Kuala Lumpur, anyway.

Three of the world’s 10 largest malls are in KL, including 1 Utama, the world’s fourth-largest mall with more than 650 shops, Asia’s largest indoor rock climbing facility, massive rooftop garden with 500 species of exotic plants and indoor rainforest with koi ponds and freshwater aquarium.

KL’s impressive score comes from its winning combination of high quality shopping, affordable prices and reliable sales, which can stretch for several months. This year’s Year-End-Sale, from November 10 to January 1, is just one doozy of an example.

Whip out the plastic at:

1 Utama, 1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama City Centre, Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan; +60 3 7710 8118; open daily 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Local designer Peter Hoe’s store in KL’s historical building: Peter Hoe Beyond, 145 Jaan Tun HS Lee, Kuala Lumpur, +60 3 2026 9788, open daily 10 a.m.- 7 p.m.

Quirky Brown Cow, Lot 23-1, Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur; +603 2201 0212, Monday-Sunday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Insider Travel Guide: Get to know Kuala Lumpur

3. London

Getting around: 6 Value: 6 Variety: 10 Experience: 9 Total: 31

London prices can destroy your will to live. And that’s just the cab fare to get to the shopping areas. But get over the sticker shock and you’ll probably agree with its Globe Shopper Index ranking as top European shopping city and its Donegar Group nod as the world’s top fashion shopping destination.

The Globe Shopper City Index notes that London outstrips all the other European cities in both the quantity of shops and availability of international and local brands.

London shopping at its best is bold, eclectic and international. Case in point: department store Liberty.

Liberty may have a Tudor-style exterior and fireplaces, but its stock is contemporary and cool, encompassing in-house designer stationary, clever kitchen accessories to upstage your neighbors and clothes from a select pool of local and international designers.

Of course, you might end up with a £245 (US$390) Mathieu Challières Mini Volière Bird Cage Table Lamp, but that’s the black magic of a wonderful shop — it inspires you to buy things you never knew existed.

Whip out the plastic at:

Liberty, Great Marlborough Street, London, +44 20 7734 1234; open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday noon-6 p.m.

London’s most fashion forward market: Dover Street Market, 17-17 Dover St., London W1S 4LT; +44 20 7518 0680; open Monday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday noon-5 p.m.

2. Tokyo

Tokyo’s historic Ameya Yokocho market is crammed full with more than 500 shops selling everything from food to sneakers. Video by Black Buddha.

Getting around: 8 Value: 8 Variety: 9 Experience: 9 Total: 34

The ultimate Tokyo shopping experience is the department store. Walk into one and you’ll be met like a royal.

Global chain Isetan has its mammoth flagship store in Shinjuku, eight separate buildings stretched along two blocks. Isetan has English, Chinese and Korean-speaking staff and a personalized interpretation service, as well as shopping consultants who will advise you on everything from shoes to fish, all available through reservation (+81 3 3225 2514).

A foodie heaven, the basement has dainty Japanese bento boxes as well as French pastries and macaroons. When shopping for clothes you can take a break from the international luxury brands on stock to try on some kimonos.

Tokyo’s shopping is also surprisingly affordable, according to the Globe Shopper City Index, with Asia’s fourth-cheapest shopping, and the cheapest average price for a Canon EOS 600D body.

Read: Best Tokyo shopping streets

All this too tame? No worries, Tokyo still gets its freak on. Shops like the seven-story M’s: Pop Life Sex Department Store sell creative toys such as you’ve never seen and we prefer not to describe in front of our impressionable interns.

Whip out the plastic at:

Comme des Garçons, 5-2-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo; +81 3 3406 3951; open daily 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

M’s: Pop Life Sex Department Store, 1-15-13 Soukanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo,; +81 3 3252 6166; open daily 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Isetan Shijuku flagship, 3-14-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; +81 3 3352 1111; open daily 10 a. m.-8 p.m.

1. New York

Getting around: 8 Value: 7 Variety: 10 Experience: 10 Total: 35

In what other city do you see a toddlers running around in perfectly matching Tory Burch ballet flats and tiny purses or be able to go on curated vintage shopping sprees?

“This town has so much diversity in style and interpretations of chic,” says New York-based fashion editor and stylist Stella Lee.

For something you can’t simply Google up, Lee recommends vintage showroom Rare Vintage for “anyone who is visiting and in search of a shopping gem unique to NYC.”

“You can find pieces from every possible era spanning the entire last century of fashion history, and from a wide range of design houses including the likes of Galanos, Dior, Givenchy, Ungaro, Pierre Cardin, Ossie Clark, and more,” says Lee.

If you have the stamina to get up at ungodly hours for the city’s sample sale stampedes, New York Magazine has a comprehensive guide.

Whip out the plastic at:

Rare Vintage, 24 West 57th St., New York; +1 212 581 7273; open Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

From vintage collectibles to local art and crafts: Brooklyn Flea (Fort Greene Flea), 176 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn, open Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., (moves to 1 Hanson Place at Ashland Pl., Fort Greene from November 24 to April)

The best shopping destinations in Europe: tips and tricks for tourists

Shopping abroad attracts many tourists. The main tasks are saving money, buying branded and quality items that are not available in Russia. Going shopping in Europe, tourists have the opportunity to stroll through the streets of ancient cities, spend an exciting and interesting weekend, combining it with visiting shopping centers and cozy markets.

Contents

• 1 What are the advantages of shopping in Europe
• 2 Milan
  • 2.1 What do you need to know about shopping in Milan
• 3 Rome
  • 3. 1 What do you need to know about shopping in Rome
• 4 Shop-Tour in Barcelona
  • 4.1 Opening hours and sales season
  • 4.2 What to buy in Barcelona?
  • 4.3 Shopping districts

What are the advantages of shopping in Europe? We can highlight the main advantages:

1. Making the most of it. In Russian stores, the cost of clothing and other related products varies depending on the exchange rate of the euro, the dollar. Marketers are doing their job well, so they assure tourists that the cost of goods has remained at the same level. But this is a good advertising ploy that helps to attract potential customers. No store will operate without profit. In Europe, you can buy things of famous brands and brands at affordable prices. Additionally, tourists are offered to return the money back with the help of taxi-free.
2. Wide and varied assortment. Yes, in Moscow and a number of large cities, customers are offered to buy clothes and shoes, regardless of class. It can be a mass market or an expensive luxury. But the assortment in Europe in most cases is different. Some manufacturers make brands that are designed for certain countries and are simply not represented on the domestic market.
3. Local talented designers work in Europe. Tourists can visit local shops that offer inexpensive or expensive brands of interesting clothes. Upon arrival in Russia, you do not have to worry about your style. There is a minimal chance of seeing a similar product.
4. Authenticity and high quality guarantee. Unscrupulous buyers may offer non-original items. In Europe, legislation strictly regulates the activities of retail outlets. Thanks to the rules, the sale of fakes is tracked. It is not recommended to buy things from merchants who work on the street and offer seemingly original products at affordable prices. To buy an original item, you only need to visit stores.

It is important to remember about outlets. In Moscow, you can find old collections that are sold at inflated prices. In Europe, the assortment is regularly changed, and previous models at a reduced price are displayed in outlets. Tourists can visit outlets in major cities such as Milan, London or Vienna. When designers or manufacturers release a new collection, unsold items are removed to the outlet.

Milan

Milan is a city of museums and monuments. Here, tourists can indulge in good shopping. Must-see places:

1. Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele. Tourists will definitely love this place. People often come here who closely follow fashion, love stylish, branded items. Here you can buy items from world famous collections.
2. Shopping center “The Rinascente”. Tourists who are looking for shops with affordable brands at competitive prices should come here.
3. Corso Buenos Aires. This is a whole street that attracts with a wide variety of shops with low prices. It sells shoes, clothes, jewelry. There are also perfume departments. During shopping, tourists will be able to visit cafes, restaurants, cinema halls.
4. Via Totino. The street starts next to the Duomo Cathedral. It sells sports goods, clothing for everyday wear. There are also boutiques of famous designers.
5. Lipstick vintage. This is a shop for people who appreciate vintage things. On the ground floor there is a fashion museum where you can see unique collections of clothes and accessories for them. They were created by famous fashion designers who lived in the last century. On the second floor there are departments with costumes that were made at the end of the 19century.

What you need to know about shopping in Milan

Shops and outlets in Milan open from 9:30 to 19:30. Some vendors have a lunch or siesta break from 13:00 to 15:30. Boutiques that are located on the territory of the “fashionable quarter”, large and large-scale shopping centers do not close. Bookstores are open until late in the evening.

Shopping should not be postponed to Sunday, because this day is reserved for a day off. The sellers communicate well in English, and some of them speak Russian. Many stores accept credit cards. The list of available systems is indicated in the checkout area. If tourists decide to pay for the purchase in another currency, then you should be prepared for an unfavorable exchange rate. If you pay in cash, then often tourists are given a good discount.

Value added tax refundable after shopping in Milan. Here it is called IVA. To do this, you need to issue a return check. A single tax of 12% applies throughout Italy. If you buy fur, expensive items or jewelry, then its size can reach up to 35%. It is important to take into account the main requirement – the purchase must be made for 155 euros, no less.

Rome

Every year, Rome is visited by a huge number of tourists who arrive from different parts of the world. Here you can visit not only numerous attractions, sightseeing tours, but also make pleasant purchases.

Shopping areas:

1. Via del Corso. This is the main square of the Italian capital. Stores offer items at affordable prices.
2. Via Nazionale. This is a whole street that attracts with a huge number of shops and boutiques. Here you can find branded items from famous designers. For curvaceous tourists, there is a separate store called Elena Miro.
3. Piazza di Spanga. Shops with expensive things work on this square. Here are famous design houses that are recognized all over the world.

A visit to the Galleria Alberto Sordi shopping center in Rome is a must. It was built and opened more than 100 years ago, but even today it does not lose its popularity. Seasonal sales are held twice a year in January, February, as well as July and August. Sellers are cutting prices on collections that were popular last year.

What you need to know about shopping in Rome

Here, tourists can also get a value added tax refund if they buy things in those stores that have a concluded contract. At the entrance to the outlet, you need to pay attention to the corresponding logo. To return part of the money, the purchase amount must not be less than 155 euros. This includes goods of different names and types.

To issue Tax Free, you need to ask the seller to generate the necessary documents when paying for the purchase. A fattura document will be issued along with the check. The total amount of purchases and the amount of the tax refund will be indicated here. When buying expensive branded items, sellers may require a passport.

Shopping tour to Barcelona

If tourists want to come back with good purchases, update their wardrobe, then you need to buy a ticket to Barcelona. There is everything that is needed for buyers – boutiques with branded items, numerous shops, markets. It is not necessary to visit the outlets. In one of the stalls in Barcelona you can buy a guide that lists all the shops. For the convenience of tourists, they are ordered by subject, alphabetically.

Opening hours and sales season

Shops in Barcelona are open from 09:30 to 22:00 except Sundays. Some of them close for siesta from 13:30 to 16:30. This rule does not apply to large supermarkets, shopping centers.

Shops are closed not only on Sundays, but also on major holidays. This must be taken into account before planning a trip.

The sales season falls on the winter period. If tourists want to please themselves with shopping, then you need to plan a trip for January, February and March. From July to September, you can also see good discounts in many stores. As the sale draws to a close, boutique owners cut prices as much as possible.

What to buy in Barcelona?

In Barcelona you can buy things of different famous brands – Zara, Mango, Stradivarius. On the territory of Russia, these brands are also imported to large shopping centers. But in Spain, tourists are offered a wide and varied assortment.

Leather products deserve special attention – bags, accessories, shoes and clothes. In Spain, these products are of high quality. Inexpensive and proven local brand – Noname. He sells leather shoes from 40 euros.

Jewellery lovers should visit Carrera y Carrera. Here are products that are a real work of art. The jewelry house is great for tourists who have an unlimited budget.

During your trip, you can visit the UNO factory in Madrid, which sells cheap Spanish jewelry. Each product is made by hand. For production, a special alloy coated with silver or gold is used.

Shopping districts

Several main stores are located in the central part of the Catalan capital. To save time and visit more outlets, it is recommended to buy a ticket for the Barcelona Shopping Line bus route. Its route starts in the Old Port area and ends at Avinguda Diagonal.

It follows the main shopping outlets of the capital of Catalonia. Tourists can get off at any stop. One day is enough to visit all the shops.

1. Passage de Gracia. This is an elegant boulevard in central Barcelona. Here you can visit boutiques of famous brands. The stores feature local designer items that are of high quality.
2. Rambla de Catalunya. In this part there are shops where you can buy clothes, shoes from famous Spanish brands. There are outlets from Custo and Desigual.
3. Carrer de Pelai. This is a great option for people who don’t like moles. Here you can arrange a walk through the numerous shops, relax in a local cafe, drink a glass of wine on the outdoor terrace. The shopping street is located near Plaza Catalunya. Tourists are offered democratic brands, Spanish brands of shoes and clothes.

Video about one of the outlets in Barcelona – La Roca Village:

In Spain, you can get up to 16% of the total purchase value refunded. To do this, you need to make a purchase from 91 euros in those stores on the windows of which there is a Tax free designation. At the checkout, you need to ask the seller for the appropriate check. The refund of value added tax is carried out at the airport. For this, a separate window with the Global Refund sign works. Cash is not returned for food, optics, books, tobacco.

Shopping in Europe is the best option for tourists who do not want to overpay for branded items. Many designers do not ship their collections abroad, so quality clothes, shoes and accessories can be bought at local outlets. Before planning a trip, it is important to familiarize yourself with the information that relates to the opening of the sales season.

Europe’s best shopping destinations

Do you love traveling around Europe as much as you love shopping? Our influencers will show you the best shopping destinations in Europe – fashion sales in London and Paris, as well as the hottest places to shop in Amsterdam and Berlin. Read on and get inspired for your next travels!

• London
• Paris
• Amsterdam
• Berlin
  • Kurfürstendamm
  • Mall of Berlin
  • Designer Outlet Berlin

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London

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0160 Harrods with over 330 department stores spread over 7 floors. Diana Kubasova’s favorite time to visit London is the month before Christmas, when shop windows turn into real masterpieces!

An excellent choice is Oxford Street , where you can spend more than one day enjoying shopping. Here you will find more than 300 stores for every taste, including Primark and Topshop, beloved by young people.

For extravagant shopping therapy go to Bondstreet , home to all the world’s top designers. Even without a fat wallet and the desire to spend a tidy sum on shopping, you will enjoy a walk along this street, because here all the shop windows seem to compete with each other in luxury and originality.

After a long shopping trip, you should definitely drink a traditional English afternoon tea, which is offered by all decent hotels in London – The Dorchester, Clarige’s, The Goring, The Savoy and others. Keep in mind that there are usually many types of sweet and savory snacks offered for tea, so it’s best to get really hungry before this.

The text was prepared by Diana Kubasova

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Paris

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The largest shopping center in Paris is PRINTEMPS . This department store sells everything, in the truest sense of the word – from men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and shoes, to cosmetics, household items and absolutely any thing that you can only come in handy. Lots of different brands.

On the top floor there is a stunning restaurant with an outdoor terrace.

Rue Montmartre has a wide variety of shops.

If you love books, head to the famous Shakespeare&Company . This is a small but very popular bookstore where you can find many interesting books in French and English.

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Text prepared by Aiste Svarauskaitė

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Amsterdam

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Amsterdam is a city of diversity. Here you can find all the mass market stores with their best collections created for the European market. The shops are striking in their scope, for example, H&M and Zara occupy 4-5 floors in the very center of the city. There is the famous Primark and many other stores that you will not find in Latvia. Amsterdam also has many small boutiques with inexpensive, but interesting and colorful things.

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Also in Amsterdam you will find many shops and boutiques of local designers. Despite the fact that their brands are not so famous all over the world, they create very stylish and original things. Of course, there are many variations of styles here. Clothing in the style of minimalism is sold in stores with a minimalist interior – everything is thought out to the smallest detail!

A big plus here is that shopping can be combined with exploring the beautiful central streets of the city. You can not spend long hours walking around one shopping center, where you will not see anything but shops. All shops are located next to each other, which allows you to leisurely walk around the city, enter, try on, buy, drink coffee in local cozy cafes, take pictures, see the most beautiful buildings and continue shopping.

Amsterdam has a lot of vintage shops, but their prices are much higher than in the big shops. Sofia Kralova found one place where vintage Chanel and Louis Vuitton are sold almost at boutique prices!

Text prepared by Sofia Kralow

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Berlin

Here, all sophisticated fashionistas will always find the latest novelties of world designers, and those who just want to update their wardrobe will be able to buy high-quality and original items at very competitive prices.

Photo on visit Berlin

When to fly?
The biggest sales are twice a year:
– from mid-January to early February
– from mid-July to early August

Tip: CLOSED.
Even if your trip to Berlin is not scheduled during the sales period, you will still be able to freshen up your wardrobe at very competitive prices, because quality items here cost an order of magnitude less than in Latvia.

Top shopping spots to visit:

Kurfürstendamm

Berlin’s main shopping street. Here at you will find literally everything from popular clothing chains such as Zara, Mango and H&M to exclusive brands, outlet stores and popular sporting goods stores.

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Mall of Berlin

The largest shopping center in Berlin with about 300 different stores. is a place for both budget travelers and lovers of modern designer brands such as Armani, Karl Lagerfeld or Tommy Hilfiger.