The Best Shopping in Europe

Finding the best shopping areas when on holiday is a pastime for many people. Even better is going on a shopping holiday. This way you get to visit a different country, sample the culture and visit the sites, but you can also while away hours looking at what products are on offer and feeling freer than usual to purchase what appeals to you. You save up for a shopping holiday like this, so there is more scope for making treat purchases without feeling guilty. You may be looking for a few select designer goods, or intending a shopping spree in high street stores. Or, you may be intrigued to discover local independent sellers, or, indeed, market traders. Europe offers a wealth of cities renowned for their excellent shopping holiday opportunities. In order to get best enjoyment out of your shopping holiday, you should plan carefully which city best suits your tastes and your budget. To help you, Send My Bag has picked out some of the best shopping destinations that Europe has to offer.

London

London comes with a wealth of shopping opportunities, from upmarket department stores, to exclusive boutiques, to high-street chains, to farmers’ markets, as well as its fair share of souvenir shops. The best shopping in London can be found on Oxford Street and Regent Street, which are host to all the big retail chains you can think of – Primark, H&M, Next, etc. London also has several department stores, such as Liberty, Selfridges and Harrods, and shopping centres, including Westfield and the Stratford Centre. Many of London’s stores have attained iconic status – like Harrods, Hamley's toy store and Liberty – and are in themselves popular tourist destinations. For especially luxurious goods, visit the Knightsbridge area of London. Or, for a more eccentric purchase, visit Camden Market or Spitalfields Market.

Paris 

Paris is a glamourous shopping destination, with luxury shops lining Avenue Montaigne and Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. There are also expansive department stores such as Galeries Lafayette and independent boutiques in areas like Montmartre.

It's not just in high-end establishments that you find the best shopping in Paris; there are many flea markets (such as Les Puces de Montreuil) and farmers’ markets (such as Bastille and Saxe-Breteuil) to browse through in search of treasures. To nab yourself a bargain designer item, try designer discount stores such as Annexe des Créateurs, which sells last season’s unsold stock or re-sales. If you are a non-EU citizen you should ask for a 10% discount card in department stores.

Rome 

Some of the best shopping can be found in Rome, but it can be very expensive. The charm of shopping in Rome city centre is that it is largely restricted to individual shops, rather than large shopping malls. Check out the area around Piazza di Spagna for designer gear from Prada, Fendi, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Ferragamo and Versace, etc. However, there are also plenty of independent shops, including antique shops, bookshops and jewellery stores – particularly in the winding streets near the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona. Several street markets sell fresh wares, of which one of the most charming is to be found close to Corso Vittorio. If you want to try to grab a bargain, sales begin on the first Saturdays of January and July. Note that shops tend to close between 1 and 3.30 in the afternoon.

Barcelona 

Barcelona is a great  destination for a shopping holiday, with the city offering over 35,000 shops, including a 5 km-long row of retail spaces. This row runs from the Ramblas, through Plaça de Catalunya and up Avenue Diagonal. This area is largely pedestrianized, making it a true shopper’s paradise. Other popular shopping destinations in Barcelona include The Portal de l’Àngel for designer clothing, Plaça de Sant Josep Oriol for boutiques and handicrafts, and Bulevard dels Antiquaris for antiques. La Boqueria is a great destination for food lovers and those who enjoy sampling local produce. Non-EU residents can claim back VAT on goods over 90.16€. Go to the tourist information office to make your claim. Don’t forget that, like in Rome, some shops in Barcelona partake of a siesta in the afternoon.

Vienna 

Vienna is a great shopping holiday destination at Christmas due to the Christmas markets that run from mid-November to Christmas. These are excellent places to pick up traditional crafts. Rathausplatz is transformed by its Christmas market of around 150 stalls. The atmosphere is truly festive with the surrounding area heavily decorated and the scent of Glühwein (warmed, spiced wine) filling the air. There is also a Christmas village on Maria-Theresien-Platz – a smaller affair with around 70 stalls. Aside from the Christmas markets, Vienna has a wealth of shopping opportunities on offer. It has all the designer brands you could ask for, as well as many high-street names. One of the best shopping areas is in the new luxury shopping district called Goldenes Quartier and around Kohlmarkt. Flea and antique markets also abound in Vienna. The most well-known is Naschmarket, with around 400 sellers displaying their wares. Don’t forget to shop for Vienna’s speciality sweet treats, such as the Sacher and Lippizaner balls (made out of nougat, marzipan and chocolate). In Vienna, non-EU residents are also entitled to apply for a VAT refund.

So, you shopped ‘til you dropped and had a great time doing it, but how on earth will you get all those purchases home with you?  Send My Bag has the answer. Send My Bag will pick up your goodies from your hotel and deliver them straight to your door at home. Simply pick up a box or suitcase and fill it with your shopping, book in your collection, and leave your box/suitcase at hotel reception for pickup, along with the necessary documentation.

Send My Bag offers fantastic flat rates for a massive 30 kg right across Europe. This will allow you to sail through the airport without waiting at bag drop or luggage carousels. You can also take public transport without dragging heavy bags behind you. You will also avoid airline baggage fees, including excess baggage fees, which are becoming increasingly extortionate. You can shop to your heart’s content safe in the knowledge that shipping your purchases home will be the easy part.

What do you think is the best shopping in Europe? Let us know on our Facebook page.