City shopping
From Oxford Street and Liberty to Portobello Road and Borough Market: Picolo’s guide to the best shopping in London, area by area, with the hotels that make it easy to drop off the bags.
VisitBritain/Andrew PickettWhere is the best shopping in London, Paris, Milan or New York? Here are Picolo’s city guides for shopping breaks, with the best areas, tax free tips and hotels right in the middle of it all.
Shopping
New York is the shopping city everyone dreams about at least once. Here is Picolo’s guide to shopping in New York, from Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue to SoHo, the Meatpacking District and vintage in Williamsburg, with hotels that make it easy to get around.
Shopping
Paris is the city where even window shopping feels cultural. Here is our guide to the best shopping areas, from Galeries Lafayette to the flea market at Saint-Ouen, and the hotels right in the middle of them.
Shopping
Milan is Italy’s fashion capital and the city where the windows change first. Here is our guide to shopping in Milan, from Via Montenapoleone and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II to Brera and the Navigli antiques market, with hotels in the fashion district.
Nordic design
Copenhagen is the design capital of the north, and you notice it in the shops. Here is our guide to shopping in Copenhagen, from Strøget and Illums Bolighus to Jægersborggade and Værnedamsvej, with hotels in the middle of it all.
Shopping
Stockholm is one of the best shopping cities in the north, with Swedish brands, design stores and vintage on Södermalm. Here is our guide area by area, with hotels right in the middle of it all.
Shopping
The Baltic cities are some of the best value shopping breaks in Europe. Here is our guide to shopping in Gdańsk, Riga and Tallinn, with amber shops, markets and design districts, and hotels in the old towns.
Shopping
Amsterdam is a city for lovers of small shops, vintage and design along the canals. Here is our guide to shopping in Amsterdam, from the Nine Streets and the Jordaan to PC Hooftstraat and the Albert Cuyp market, with canal-side hotels.
Sun and shopping
Dubai is the city where malls have ski slopes and aquariums, and spices are sold from open sacks by the Creek. Here is our guide to shopping in Dubai, from The Dubai Mall to the Gold Souk in Deira, with the hotels closest to the action.
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Shopping
Barcelona is one of southern Europe’s best cities for shopping, with modernist façades, small design studios and colourful markets. Here is our guide area by area, with hotels right in the middle of it all.
Shopping
In Rome you shop between fountains and baroque churches. Here is our guide to shopping in Rome, from the luxury streets around the Spanish Steps to vintage in Monti and the Porta Portese Sunday market, with hotels in the middle of it all.
Shopping
"If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is." This is Hallvar's top five jewellery tips.
Expert advice
Gemmologist Hallvar shares his best tips for buying jewellery abroad.
A great shopping trip is less about how much you buy and more about where you go. Most big cities have one area for the high street chains, one for luxury and one where the local designers and vintage shops are found. Stay in the right area and you can walk back to the hotel with your bags and head out again for dinner.
Our city guides are organised by neighbourhood, with practical tips on opening hours, sales and tax free shopping, and hotels we would book for a shopping weekend.
Best shopping in London: Oxford Street, Covent Garden, Mayfair and the East End markets.
Best shopping in Paris: the Haussmann department stores, the Marais and the Saint-Ouen flea market.
Shopping in Milan: the Quadrilatero della Moda, the Galleria and Brera.
Shopping in Rome: Via dei Condotti, Monti and Porta Portese.
Best shopping in Barcelona: Passeig de Gràcia, El Born and the markets.
Shopping in Amsterdam: the Nine Streets, the Jordaan and Albert Cuyp.
Shopping in Copenhagen: Strøget, Danish design and Jægersborggade.
Shopping in Stockholm: Biblioteksgatan, Östermalm and SoFo.
Shopping in Gdańsk, Riga and Tallinn: amber, market halls and design.
Best shopping in New York: Fifth Avenue, SoHo and Williamsburg.
Shopping in Dubai: the malls, the Gold Souk and the souks by the Creek.
Luxury and fashion houses. Bond Street in London, Avenue Montaigne in Paris and Via Montenapoleone in Milan are where the big fashion houses keep their flagships. If you want everything in one place, Milan is the most compact fashion city.
Design and interiors. Copenhagen and Stockholm are the design capitals of the north, with everything from classic furniture to ceramics and textiles. Remember that large items can be shipped home.
Vintage and small shops. The best vintage areas are Brick Lane in London, the Marais in Paris, Monti in Rome, the Nine Streets in Amsterdam and SoFo in Stockholm.
Markets and flea markets. Portobello Road, Saint-Ouen in Paris, Porta Portese in Rome, Els Encants in Barcelona and the souks of Dubai are all worth an early start.
Good value. Gdańsk, Riga and Tallinn are short flights away, with lower prices than in western Europe and old towns you will want to explore anyway.
Christmas shopping
December is high season for shopping breaks, with Christmas lights and decorated windows in the big cities.
If you live outside the EU, including in the UK, you can reclaim VAT when you spend over a minimum amount in the same shop in an EU country. Ask for a tax free form at the till and have it validated before you leave. The UK and the US do not currently offer this to tourists.
Check your customs allowances for the journey home. If you plan to buy something valuable such as jewellery, read our expert’s tips on buying jewellery and diamonds abroad first.
January: the big winter sales in most European cities.
End of June and July: the summer sales.
End of November: Black Friday, biggest in the US but increasingly common in Europe.
London, Paris and Milan are Europe’s biggest shopping cities, with everything from department stores to luxury labels. For design and interiors, Copenhagen and Stockholm are great choices, and for vintage and small shops, Amsterdam and Barcelona are favourites.
Yes. Since Brexit, UK residents live outside the EU and can reclaim VAT when they spend over a minimum amount in the same shop in an EU country. The form must be validated before you leave.
The UK has allowances for goods, alcohol and tobacco that you can bring in without paying duty. Check the current UK government guidance before you travel.
Stay right in the shopping district, so you can walk between the shops and your hotel. In our city guides we have chosen hotels in the best areas of each city.
January and July are the sales months in Europe, while November and December bring Christmas lights and Black Friday. Spring and autumn often mean cheaper hotels.
