The 8 Best Shopping Cities in the World
From luxury brands to boutiques, malls to vintage markets — 8 cities worth traveling to for shopping alone.
Some cities are worth traveling to for shopping alone. Luxury labels, unusual vintage, handmade design — these 8 cities take retail to another level.
Milan — Quadrilatero della Moda
World fashion capital. The 'rectangle' between Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga hosts the flagships of Prada, Gucci, Versace, Armani.
Paris — Le Marais and Champs-Élysées
Big brands on the Champs-Élysées, boutiques in Le Marais, concept stores in Saint-Germain. Galeries Lafayette and Le Bon Marché are the classic department stores.
Tokyo — Ginza and Shibuya
Ginza is luxury, Shibuya is youth, Harajuku is subculture. Don Quijote stores stock everything — and stay open 24/7.
New York — SoHo and Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue for luxury, SoHo for designers, Williamsburg for vintage. Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue are the iconic department stores.
London — Oxford Street and Bond Street
Oxford Street for chains, Bond Street for luxury, Selfridges is legendary. Camden for vintage, Notting Hill for antiques.
Dubai — World's Largest Mall
Dubai Mall (1,300 stores) and Mall of Emirates (with an indoor ski slope) are luxury shopping cathedrals. The Gold Souk is the traditional side.
Istanbul — Nişantaşı and the Grand Bazaar
Nişantaşı for modern luxury (Akmerkez, Vakko), the Grand Bazaar for 550 years of tradition — 4,000 shops with carpets, jewelry, antiques. Bağdat Avenue is ideal for a shopping walk.
Hong Kong — Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay
Apartment-sized malls (Harbour City, IFC Mall). Tax-free luxury is a real advantage. Mongkok markets for street shopping.