Do you love to shop? Keen to combine a trip overseas with sightseeing and an all-round amazing experience?
There are so many cities in Europe, but which are best for shopping?
I have put together a list of my favourite places I love to shop, some are obvious choices with world renowned reputations whilst others are cheaper hidden gems where you can get some bargains.
1. Milan
No Europe shopping guide could not feature Milan. If you have a bit of cash to spend and like your designer clothing then Milan is the place to be. You’ll find all the big names including Prada, Gucci and Valentino.
Be sure to visit the architecturally impressive Galleria Vittorio Emanuele ii shopping centre (as featured above). Of course, there’s no reason why you can’t just wander into Prada wearing your backpack and pretend you can afford everything!
2. Hamburg
Hamburg is a cool city and its shopping matches that. You’ll find many of the high street stores we all know and love as well as individual boutique shops and vintage stores. If you head to St Pauli you’ll also find a great flea market where you can pick up unique vintage and second-hand pieces at good prices.
3. Krakow
If you love a bargain then head to Krakow. Once you’ve soaked up all the history and architecture, it’s time for a bit of shopping! But if you’re on a budget then you’ll find that Krakow is great for second-hand and thrift stores.
They’re not the most well-organised of places and you’re likely to find piles just strewn on the tables. It takes some dedication to sift through everything but if you find a gem it will be worth it! Many of these stores price their clothes by weight which means you can end up paying very little for a bag full of clothes.
4. Ljubljana
When searching for the best places to shop in Europe, I almost guarantee no list included the capital of Slovenia. But if you like quirky shops you really should consider Ljubljana but in fact, there’s a lot more to choose from.
Take some time to wander through the streets and you’ll find vintage and boutique shops selling everything from clothing to decorative homeware to handmade chocolates! This really is one of the most underrated European cities.
5. London
It would be impossible for me to talk about shopping without mentioning London. It’s home to Oxford Street and the Westfield shopping centres in Shepherds Bush and Stratford which have all the big name brands.
For street markets, London is unrivalled. Be sure to spend a day in Camden Town which has hundreds of local stalls. London is also awash with vintage shops – you’ll find one on every corner. You’ll find that the people of London have a very distinctive style so shopping here is a must!
If you enjoyed this article view more tips on my Europe travel guide.
