Shopping Holidays - Ten of the Best Shopping Destinations

Love shopping, but don’t know where’s best to go? Check out our top ten shopping holidays across the world for inspiration for your next buying frenzy. Our list is sure to satisfy any spend-aholic’s needs, whether you’re looking for designer deals or budget bargains, with the whole world at your fingertips it can be difficult to choose! We’ve done the hard work for you and narrowed the choice down to ten popular locations- now all you have to do is shop!

New York, United States
Shop till you drop. Number one rule: wear comfy shoes. Bloomingdale's, Barneys and Macy's are a must for adults and for kids, while FAO Schwarz is the toy temple. Madison Avenue and 50th Street have ritzy shops, SoHo is now rather posh, with NoLIta to the east home to up-and-coming designers.
Try the museum shops at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim and the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA).

Find out more about New York and the USA in our United States Holiday Guide

Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai is shoppers' heaven. Shops have all the major labels, so goods are usually what you see at home - but cheaper, thanks to Dubai's duty-free status. There are big, ritzy shopping malls galore, or explore the fascinating souks and small streets.
Gold prices are among the world's lowest - check out the Gold Souk on and around Sikkat al-Khail St in Deira for windows of baubles, bangles and beads. Items are priced by weight.

Interested in Dubai? Find out more information in our Dubai Holiday Guide

Germany
Germany, Belgium and Austria all run special Christmas markets in November and December. Colourful stalls sell fascinating foods, tree decorations and crafts. There are also roasted chestnuts, mulled Glühwein, and some brass-band tunes.
The markets are least busy in the morning, but the twinkling lights in the evening are magical. These are ideal long-weekend breaks and are on offer from a variety of tour operators.

Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong has three main shopping districts: Causeway Bay (lots of Japanese department stores), Mong Kok (lots of locals) and Tsim Sha Tsui (luxury goods).
For antiques try Hollywood Road in Sheung Wan, but watch out for fakes. Clothing is big business - but cheap items may not last. You can get good value in silk and unique Chinese design. If you want jade, go to Sotheby's, Christie's or the market in Yau Ma Tei.

Bloomington, Minnesota, United States
The Mall of America is the biggest indoor shopping centre in the USA. Built on the site of the former Met Stadium, it houses more than 520 stores, including Bloomingdale's and Macy's.
For the kids there's Camp Snoopy - America's largest indoor family theme park. The Mall is less than two miles from Twin Cities airport. Can't do it all in a day? There are around 7,000 hotel rooms close by.

Toronto, Canada
With an 11-kilometre network of underground walkways connecting more than 1,000 shops, restaurants and cinemas, Canada's biggest city is an all-weather shopaholic's paradise.
Shopping districts include Bloor-Yorkville, The Eaton Centre, Harbourfront Centre and Kensington Market . The world's biggest bookshop is in Edward Street or try the St Lawrence Market and the Harbourfront Antique Market at Queens Quay West.

Milan, Italy
Designer labels, darling? Look no further. For the really upmarket stuff, go to Via della Spiga, Via Monte Napoleone and Via Borgospesso in the district known as the Golden Quad.
But there are bargains at the many markets held around the canals - try Viale Papiniano and the flea market at Viale Gabriele D'Annunzio on Saturdays. For young and trendy clothes that won't break the bank try Corso Buenos Aires and Corso Garibaldi.

Find out more about Milan in our Milan Holiday Guide

London, England
Oxford Street and Regent Street are London's premier shopping streets. Knightsbridge has Harrods and Harvey Nichols, while Covent Garden has trendy shops and stalls. Bookworms should visit Charing Cross Road. For jewellery visit New Bond Street.
London's markets, include Spitalfields (crafts), Portobello Road (antiques and bric-a-brac) and Camden (allsorts). The Bluewater shopping centre - Europe's largest - is just outside London.

Glasgow, Scotland
Major designer names have joined Glasgow's high street chains to offer shoppers a huge choice. It's easy to get around as much of the shopping area is pedestrianised.
Indoor shopping centres include the Princes Square, the Buchanan Galleries, the Italian Centre and the St Enoch Centre. The main shopping streets are Sauchiehall, Argyll and Buchanan. For bargains, check out the famous Barrows Market.

Delhi, India
Shopping specialties in India include attar, an essential oil of flowers and herbs, and zardozi, embroidery made with gold and silver thread, which you can buy in the Kinari Bazaar.
Copper and brass are cheap and decorative and khadi, a homespun cloth, is a good buy. Buy perfumes, oils, soaps and incense on Main Bazaar in Paharganj or quality tea in the Khari Baoli. In New Delhi, you'll find lots along Baba Kharak Singh Marg.

For somewhere more exotic use our holiday finder form.
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