Won’t you agree if I said every trip taken, be it for work or pleasure is incomplete without an armful of shopping bags? We love our shopping, even when people term us as OCS (obsessive compulsive shoppers, that is) or blatantly call us spendthrifts, for that matter.
The sights and sounds of a city are trapped within the contours of the mind, however, the goodies brought from there bring back memories of a good trip. What activity other than shopping can give you heartburn and an adrenaline rush at the same time? The answer is obvious; for shopping freaks like me there’s nothing more satisfying than a good bout of shopping. To say the least, shopping is a great stress buster, mood lifter, and a superb pastime if nothing else. Besides, all that walking is really good for health, so you get your dose of exercise as well. Food for thought, the best way to keep your girl happy is to take her out shopping.
I can go on and on about the benefits of shopping, but we are not here for that. Let’s get serious about our shopping folks, and find out the best streets in the world to indulge in the only pastime that liberates. And if you love your GUCCI, LOUIS VUITTON, PRADA, etc.; this Buzzle article aims to acquaint you with the ABC’s of shopping havens spewed across the world.
Abdi Ipekçi Street
Where: Şişli, Istanbul
A shopping oasis in Istanbul, here you will find luxurious retail stores offering both Turkish and international designer labels on either side of the street. Rest those tired legs at exclusive cafés, hotels, and restaurants that dot the street. Abdi Ipekçi Street has a reputation of being the most expensive streets in Turkey.
Avenue Louise
Where: Brussels, Belgium
Lined with designer boutiques, art-deco mansions and manicured parks, Brussels’ Avenue Louise is one of the chic shopping districts. It is famous for Belgian specialties like lace, glassware, and sugar biscuits that make the locals go ga-ga; not to forget beer. And who would like to miss out on the world-famous Belgian chocolates?
Avenue Montaigne
Where: Paris, France
Fashion and Paris go hand-in-hand, and it is no surprise that the Avenue Montaigne in Paris specializes in high fashion. Lined with luxurious boutiques and top-end jewelry stores, this is Paris’ fanciest avenue. With the likes of Louis Vuitton and Bulgari, sophistication is the key word to be remembered here while splurging.
Avinguda Diagonal
Where: Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona’s three-mile Avinguda Diagonal is the place to head to if you’re looking for international fashion. The street itself will present you with a pleasant mix of Gothic and modern architecture. Do remember to check out the fine cafés famous for tapas.
Bağdat Caddesi
Where: Istanbul, Turkey
Ever been to a large open-air shopping mall? That’s what this street in Istanbul is known as. It offers world famous brands in elegant shops, restaurants that satiate every hungry taste bud, and pubs for the thirsty shopper. Bağdat Caddesi also has luxury car dealers, department stores, and shopping malls.
Bahnhofstrasse
Where: Zurich, Switzerland
If you intend to spend like royalty, then Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse is the place to be. It is considered to be the most expensive and exclusive shopping avenue in Europe, and stretches almost a mile. Pick up your Swiss watch, jewelry, and accessories from this avenue. Lest you forget, the Confiserie Sprüngli, the famous chocolate shop, is located on the Paradeplatz square.
Bond Street
Where: London, England
The name’s Bond! Expensive, elegant, and posh Bond Street in London is home to designer clothes, colognes, art, and antiques. If you’re not intending to shop here, you are most welcome to window shop. Let your eyes have a visual treat of elegant homes of distinguished people that stand as a backdrop for the expensive shops that the street holds.
Calle Serrano
Where: Madrid, Spain
Calle Serrano has it all, expensive boutiques, international fashion stores, shoes, jewelry, and women’s purses. You also have stores selling gourmet chocolates, exclusive perfumes, and accessories. There are also smaller shops selling accessories for both sexes. The street is one of the busiest shopping street in Madrid.
Champs-Élysées
Where: Paris, France
One of the most chic, fashionable and eclectic streets in Paris, Les Champs-Élysées is home to mainstream fashion brands. The ‘Capital of the Consumer’, as it is called, promises a unique fashion experience to its patrons. With its string of restaurants, cinemas, and malls, this is definitely one happening place to be.
Fifth Avenue
Where: New York City, USA
Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue is one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world. Famous for its high-end designer boutiques and large department stores – including the famous Tiffany & Co. – the street remains a huge favorite among its patrons from across the globe. With spectacular window displays and decked up stores, shopping couldn’t be any better here.
Ginza Line
Where: Tokyo, Japan
Luxury goods, luxury clothing, and the best beauty brands line one of Japan’s most expensive real estate areas. Well-known for its upscale department stores, luxury retailers, and over the top window displays, Ginza Line is not just a street but an entire district made for shopaholics.
Laugavegur
Where: Reykjavik, Iceland
This compact road in Iceland’s capital houses a plethora of boutiques, cafés, and bookstores. The colds biting through you, eh? Head to Farmers Market, where you can pick up Iceland’s famous knitwear. Talk of enjoying weekends to the fullest, Laugavegur is home to a number of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants.
Magnificent Mile
Where: Chicago, USA
One of the most prestigious residential and commercial avenues, the Magnificent Mile houses various high-end to mid-range shops. Restaurants, museums, hotels, and retail stores line the street. You can tell the place is loved as it is swamped on weekends.
Mariahilfer Straße
Where: Vienna, Austria
Mahü, as Mariahilfer Straße is fondly called, boasts of a great number of shops and streets. Austria’s longest shopping mile is famous for major departmental stores where you will find everything under the sun. When there, do check out the tiny shops hidden behind these huge stores, and you are sure to return with some thing nice. Refresh yourself at the cafés, where you can indulge on the famous Viennese Gemütlichkeit.
Orchard Road
Where: Singapore, Republic of Singapore
One of the major tourist attractions in Singapore, this street has 22 shopping malls and 6 departmental stores lined up to entertain you. Each summer Orchard Road comes alive with its Great Singapore Sale that attracts people from the world over. It is flanked by upmarket restaurants, cafés, and nightclubs. It also houses gourmet supermarkets and bakeries to satiate the hungry tired shoppers.
PC Hooftstraat
Where: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
High-end clothing brands, jewelry, and luxury labels line PC Hooftstraat in Amsterdam. You will find exclusive shoe shops and trendy fashion stores in this locale. The dazzling display of sparkling stones are sure to make your soul want to step into Coster Diamonds, even if the sole purpose is only to tour the place.
Portobello Market
Where: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
High-end clothing brands, jewelry, and luxury labels line PC Hooftstraat in Amsterdam. You will find exclusive shoe shops and trendy fashion stores in this locale. The dazzling display of sparkling stones are sure to make your soul want to step into Coster Diamonds, even if the sole purpose is only to tour the place.
Quadrilatero Della Moda
Where: Milan, Italy
Fashionistas are aware that Milan’s Quadrilatero della moda houses the four most expensive and exclusive shopping streets. It is at this shopping capital that famous international designers display their creations. The glam boutiques lining the streets of Via Monte Napoleone, Via Manzoni, Via della Spiga, and Corso Venezia, and the Italians parading in the latest fashion, are indeed a treat for the eye.
Rodeo Drive
Where: Beverly Hills, USA
Known to be the alphabet soup of designer stores, Rodeo Drive offers top-shelf fashion to its patrons. Popular worldwide, the street is the epitome of luxury fashion. It houses 100 world-renowned boutiques and hotels.
Rua Oscar Freire
Where: São Paulo, Brazil
Rua Oscar Freire is a tree-lined street that offers world-class luxurious shopping, and top-notch international fashion brands. Considered to be second-best after New Yorks’ 5th Avenue, this street in São Paulo is well-known in South America. The street offers sophisticated food shops, stores, and boutiques.
Rue Du Faubourg St. Honoré
Where: Paris, France
Dedicated fashion houses, antique shops, and galleries line the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris. When you want to refresh yourself, a stopover at Mariage Frères Étoile, France’s oldest teahouse, is sure to work wonders for you.
Stroget
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
Talk of dedicated roads for shopping and Stroget comes to mind. Completely closed to traffic, this street is what we would like to call a pedestrian’s heaven. Lined with luxurious shops, souvenir shops, and fast food outlets, this street offers something to everyone who decides to shop here.
The Queen Victoria Building Georce street
Where: Sydney, Australia
Housing more than 200 shops, the Queen Victoria Building occupies an entire city block in Sydney. One of the busiest streets in the city, it has shops of contemporary fashion, art, antiques, jewelry, accessories, and shoes spread across six levels.
Apart from these world famous shopping streets you can explore Dubai’s Souks and malls. We all know of the Dubai Shopping Festival, don’t we? Besides, if shopping can bring happiness why not be ready to splurge. On that note I quote Bo Derek who says, “Whoever said money can’t buy happiness simply didn’t know where to go shopping.” Our list ends here, however, we know there are many more hot spots for shopaholics, so do let us know of your personal favorites.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/the-best-shopping-streets-in-the-world.html
