Top 10 Cities For Shopping
POSTED BY Mavy | March 10, 2016
Label: Top 10s
If you are thinking of planning an epic shopping trip, choosing where in the world to go is a big challenge. The best shopping destination for you will depend on exactly what sort of shopping you are looking for, whether it’s high-street brands, high end boutiques, designer outlets or markets full of hidden gems.
There are some truly spectacular shopping destinations around the world, which will keep even the most hard core shoppers busy for days. You might also want to pick a city that has plenty to see and do, as well as excellent shopping potential. Check out our top 10 shopping cities and discover what each of them has to offer.
London
London is of course, often considered the fashion capital of the world. If you are looking for a variety of shopping options, you will find shopping options to suit every kind of taste and lifestyle in London.
There’s the high street and designer brands that line Oxford Street, Westfield shopping centre, the quirky bits and bobs at Camden or Portobello market and hundreds of luxurious products under one roof at Harrods, the world’s most famous department store. London’s priciest stores can be found on Bond Street.
If you aren’t too exhausted from shopping, make sure you see some of London’s infamous sites such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and the Tower of London.
London is an extremely busy, modern, multicultural and fast paced city. Each part of London has something different to offer. There’s an endless selection of different types of restaurants, bars and eateries and plenty of museums and iconic sights to keep culture vultures busy.
Of course we couldn’t mention the best places to shop in the world without including glitzy New York. A lot of people head to New York purely for the shopping, but that’s not all it has to offer. New York is also known as one of the world's fashion capitals, with New York Fashion week taking centre stage in February and September.
New York shopping offers limitless shopping opportunities, and has a collection of some of the biggest and best department stores in the world, such as Macy’s and Bloomingdale's. You will find boutique shops on Fifth Avenue, open air markets such as Green Flea Market, extravagant shops in Madison Avenue, which is home to some of the most expensive shops you can find. Then there’s Chinatown, which offers souvenirs and hundreds of designer knockoffs.
Whilst shopping in New York, make sure you save some time to explore the city. New York is a magical city with plenty of museums, restaurants, bars and spectacular sights to see. Uncover the colourful neighbourhoods, investigate the arts scene and soak up New York’s infectious energy.
Sydney is a must visit destination for dedicated shoppers, and one of the best places to shop in Australia. Being Australia’s most visited city, it naturally attracts tourists looking for some retail therapy.
Sydney is a sophisticated, exciting and captivating city, with amazing sights to see such as the rather impressive Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Sydney will satisfy foodies, those looking for a good night out and people with an interest in the arts.
In terms of shopping, here you will find many major fashion brands such as Burberry, Chanel, Armani Exchange, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Prada. Shop for vintage items at one of the outdoor markets. Pitt Street Mall has numerous retail centres and Westfield Sydney has four floors filled with all your favourite high street and fashion brands. Central in Broadway is one of the city’s newest shopping malls, it has free Wi-Fi and longer trading hours than some other shopping centres.
As soon as you set foot in Dubai airport you will discover this is a shopper’s paradise. Dubai has numerous glitzy shopping malls filled with designer stores and expensive brands.
Dubai Shopping Mall is like its own city, with everything you might need under one roof. It also has an indoor waterfall, aquarium and an Olympic sized ski rink. You will find plenty of electronic shops on Al Fahidi Street and get your hands on some great souvenirs and gifts from Karama Shopping Centre.
Even the most seasoned shoppers won’t be let down by the shopping in Dubai. For speciality products and gift shops head to Gold Souk, which has vendors selling all sorts of traditional goods, as well as plenty of jewellery. For an updated version of souk shopping, make your way to Souk Madinat Jumeirah.
Dubai is an extremely modern city, with a futuristic, luxury feel. The city offers gorgeous beaches, quality restaurants and breath-taking architecture. Here you will not fail to stay entertained, as there are many attractions to enjoy. Or if you fancy a break from shopping, you could just unwind at a luxury hotel on the beach.
Miami is a glamorous city that attracts a lot of celebrities and those looking to take advantage of the party scene. The city is also within reaching distance of some of America’s best beaches. It’s an arty city, with plenty of cultural attractions and buzzing events held throughout the year.
Miami has plenty of shopping malls, bargain outlets, retail markets and designer boutiques to keep the seasoned shopper occupied. If you want to enjoy the warm weather, meander through one of the outdoor malls such as The Falls. The shops are scattered around Miami, and there isn’t a specific order, you will find all sorts of different shops in the same location. One of the city’s most packed spots to shop is the stores that line the streets of South Beach. Here you will find vintage clothing stores as well as lots of quirky shops. If you want all the usual shops including some of the bigger department stores, pay a visit to Aventura Mall. Dolphin Mall has over 200 stores and restaurants to take advantage of and Sawgrass Mills Mall has outlet stores that offer great prices.
Shopping in LA is a very glamorous affair. A magnet for creatives, movie stars and celebrities, LA is also a shopping haven. There’s everything you need, from enormous malls and shopping centres to high end luxury boutiques.
If it’s designer clothes you are after, you won’t be disappointed in LA. Head to the shops, restaurants and cinemas at The Grove, buy fresh local produce at the Original Farmers Market and go outlet shopping at the Citadel Outlets.
There’s about 15 blocks of boutique stores to browse in Santa Monica. Find designer brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Burberry and Gucci at the Beverly Centre. Whilst in LA, take the opportunity to sample the lifestyle and culture here, and of course you have to go and see the Hollywood sign.
For a totally different shopping experience, book a trip to Delhi, where you will find all sorts of delights. Shop for everything from vintage jewellery to interior decor and designer clothes.
This is a destination that is particularly well-known for its market culture, so you won’t be short of dense markets to explore and go bargain hunting. This is the type of city where you can buy anything that comes to mind, as the variety of shops offer everything you might need.
There’s so much shopping to be done that you may even run out of time, so your trip to Delhi must be planned carefully. If you jump on the hop on hop off bus, it will take you to the city’s main markets.
Find a market separated into areas selling specific good at the Chandni Chowk. The flea markets in Paharganj are a backpackers dream, filled with many fascinating products and souvenirs, although it does get extremely busy. Find speciality gift shops with hippy clothing and artefacts in Janpath Market
Another alternative shopping destination, a far cry from the kind of retail therapy you will find in places like LA and Miami. Bangkok is a city filled with many surprises, and some very odd and unique objects and souvenirs for sale. Be prepared to brave the crowds, and have your wits about you.
Bangkok is both mesmerising and overwhelming, especially when it comes to shopping. There are plenty of malls to make your way through such as Siam Paragon, MKG Centre and Central World Plaza. Visit some of Bangkok's markets and be prepared to haggle, you can get your hands on some real bargains if you can argue a good price.
Cape Town should also be on your shopping destination to do list. Whether it’s African art and crafts or designer clothes you are after, you will find what you need in Cape Town. The Watershed has over 150 stalls and is located in the Waterfront. The V&A Waterfront is a large shopping centre with over 450 retail stores, here you can buy clothing, jewellery, electronic goods, leather and textiles.
Jewellery, leather goods and textiles and particularly well priced in Cape Town. If you are after national and international labels, visit the Cape Quarter which has many exclusive stores. Other main shopping centres include Cavendish Square and Canal Walk. Set aside some time to see the city and visit tourist spots such as Table Mountain and Robben Island.
Hong Kong is a city filled with towering skyscrapers, it’s an interesting mix of east meets west. In terms of shopping, Hong Kong offers great variety, whether you want to haggle for bargains at a market or wander through a modern shopping centre, this city has it all.
Many international brands have a main store in Hong Kong, so you won’t miss out on any of your favourite labels. Find high-street stores in malls such as the Landmark, Times Square and Pacific Place. Hong Kong is also paradise for bargain hunters, you can spend hours on end trawling through the markets for unique gifts and souvenirs.