World’s 5 Best Shopping Cities

Article by Jon Simpson

Shopoholics rejoice! If you’re bored of shopping in the same old city then try one of these top shopping zones around the world!

Hong KongHong Kong is one of Asia’s finest shopping zones so it’s little wonder that so many people jump on flights to Hong Kong to splash their cash. Glitzy high-rise shopping malls selling the latest fashions sit just a few blocks from back street markets where locals browse stalls selling live crabs, fish and chickens. Shopping is almost a way of life in Hong Kong, and this is reflected by the masses who surge through the funky market stalls, trendy boutiques, and themed shopping districts such as the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden, a market area where Hong Hong’s bird fanciers gather to sell their handcrafted cages.

SingaporeThe tiny city state of Singapore is located on the tip of the Malay Peninsula. A neat, tidy and orderly city, it is also a shopping paradise! Start your day with a trip to the famous retail zone along Orchard Road where you’ll get your fix of the big fashion houses like Louis Vuitton, Chanel and French Connection. If you’ve shopped so much you’re about to drop, dump your new purchases and head to the Singapore Botanics for a relaxing stroll amongst the gardens. Visitors arriving on flights to Singapore are in for a real treat; Changi is regularly voted one of the best airports in the world and offers a butterfly garden, swimming pool and extensive shopping and dining facilities.

DelhiMore and more people are jumping on flights to India and discovering that Delhi is a great place to shop. There is a superb selection of markets such as the classy Khan Market or the chaotic Mains Bazaar of Paharganj, where shoppers can buy all manner of goods from clothes to cosmetics, stones to silks. Remember, as with most of Asia, prices are negotiable so ensure you bargain hard to get the best price!

LondonThe UK’s capital is legendary for its shopping opportunities so it’s little wonder that shopaholics from all over the world jump on flights to London with their credit cards fully loaded, ready to spend, spend, spend! Oxford Street is the heart of London shopping and offers more than 300 outlets including designer boutiques and landmark stores. If you’re looking for mid-priced fashion, then head to Regent Street and Jermyn Street, which are also home to some of London’s oldest and most famous shops including Liberty and Hamleys.

New YorkThe Big Apple offers so much shopping it might be hard to work out where to start. If you’re looking for the latest fashions, cosmetics and housewares, then it’s got to be big department stores such as Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdales or Saks Fifth Avenue. If it’s bargains you’re after, try Century 21, a heavily discounted department store, or Gabay’s Outlet which offers overstock from some of the big name stores at big discount rates.