The Best Cities for Shopping: where best to shop around the world

Modern travel has long gone beyond museums and excursions. Today, a trip can be a real adventure, where the main point of the program is shopping. Someone is looking for designer boutiques, someone – atmospheric markets, and someone is ready to spend the whole day in huge malls. And all of them are more accessible than ever.

Dubai: shopping as an attraction

Dubai has become a true symbol of luxury shopping. Here you can find everything: the best textiles, gold by weight, luxurious real estate overseas. For those who came to the emirate for branded goods, all roads lead to the mall. In Dubai, shopping centers have reached a new level: huge areas (some accommodate more than 1000 retail stores), hundreds of brands, entertainment and, of course, the widest range of goods. The most popular malls are Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Festival City Mall.

Milan: the capital of fashion

In the center of the city is the famous Quadrilatero d’Oro, a real paradise for fashionistas, where Gucci, Prada, Versace and Armani boutiques are located.

For more democratic shopping, head to Corso Buenos Aires, and for bargain finds, head to outlet stores like Serravalle Designer Outlet, Europe’s largest.

The special charm of Milan shopping is that here you can not only buy a ready-made item, but also order tailoring to individual measurements in historical ateliers, where third-generation masters work.

Paris: from boutiques to antiques

It is impossible to imagine Paris without shopping. Here, fashion houses neighbor with cozy vintage shops. For classic shopping tourists go to Galeries Lafayette or Printemps, where the choice of clothes and accessories is amazing. For a special atmosphere – at the flea market Saint-Ouen, where you can find old jewelry and antique furniture. And Rue Saint-Honoré is where the world’s trends are born. Even souvenirs in Paris become part of the style: from French perfume to silk scarves.

Istanbul: oriental flavor

Istanbul is a city where you can buy everything at once. Its heart is the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest covered markets in the world with 4,000 stalls. Carpets, ceramics, jewelry and spices are sold here, and the bargaining process itself becomes a fascinating ritual. For modern shopping, check out Istinye Park or Kanyon Mall, where international brands are represented. Istanbul’s specialty is the combination of Eastern exoticism and Western fashion: in one city you can take home both a designer dress and a handmade Turkish carpet.

New York: the city that has everything

Shopping in New York is a separate kind of tourism. From the flagship stores on Fifth Avenue (Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co, Apple Store) to the iconic Macy’s, one of the largest department stores in the world. Fashion lovers head to SoHo, where designer boutiques neighbor concept stores. And those looking for a bargain should head to Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, where discounts on brands can reach 70%.