From the pristine marble floors of sumptuous shopping malls to the ad hoc stalls of mile-long souks, retail venues across the globe ultimately provide the same service for all their patrons: shopping. But just where can you find the most fashionable, trendsetting stores? The largest indoor gold souk? The metropolis with the highest concentration of big brand names? Here are Travel Squire’s Top Five Cities to stop, drop, and shop in:
1) Paris, France
Strolling down Avenue des Champs Elysees, there’s no better way to feel like a Parisian fashionista. Renowned for its simple yet refined fashion, Paris offers an array of stylish boutiques and designer stores around almost every corner. While Avenue des Champs Elysees has an array of high-end retailers, luxury car showrooms, and the flagship Louis Vuitton store, Boulevard Haussmann has Parisian department stores that have an extensive array of goods as well.
2) Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai offers a variety of shopping venues, from the world’s largest gold souk in to one of the world’s largest malls. The Deira Gold Souk sells a dazzling array of gold jewelry as well as diamonds and other precious stones. Other souks in the city also sell authentic crafts and interesting cultural pieces, likes scarves and paintings. The most impressive and commercial shopping venue in Dubai has to be the Dubai Mall, which covers an area of 12.1 million square feet and has over 1,000 retail outlets.
3) London, England
Forbes Magazine lists London as the city with the highest percentage of top retailers, leading the pack with a whopping 59.26%. With that said, this metropolis is every shopper’s dream. From the illustrious Harrods department store to the Bond Street boutiques, London has a multitude of shops that appeal to all tastes and budgets. The Royal Exchange also contains a host of designer shops and gourmet restaurants, a perfect combination that satisfies appetites for both shopping and food.
4) Milan, Italy-
Designers like Giorgio Armani and Miuccia Prada call this renowned world fashion capitol home sweet home, and with all the shopping opportunities, we would like to as well! Milan’s fashion district, Quadrilatero della moda, is a great place to start any shopping experience here. If you are a label-lover, this is the city to really have your credit card handy at all times!
5) Tokyo, Japan
Don’t let the country’s small size fool you- this island is packed with shopping experiences! While the fast-paced capital has a lot of retail chains to offer, like Uniqlo, don’t miss out on the cultural artifacts that are for sale as well. For those who want the latest and most updated devices, head on over to the Ginza district, which is famous for its high-tech showrooms with the latest technology.
The great thing about these cities is that they offer both polarities of shopping: those more comfortable with commercial retailers can have their fair share of browsing, and those who seek out the bargain stalls and makeshift stands along the streets can also find that too. Whether you need a finely tailored suit or a jade teapot, we feel that these cities offer the most comprehensive retail escapades in the world!
www.dubai.com
www.visitlondon.com
www.visitamilano.it
www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp