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The World’s 10 Best Cities For Shopping

Bring an extra set of luggage.

Whether you’re looking for souvenirs to take back home, hunting special deals at outlet malls, or picking up branded products at the duty-free, shopping is a travel experience that requires its own budget. For some, worldly cities with luxury brands and trendy boutiques are the destinations to visit—the purpose of touching down here revolves around fashion. 

Enthusiast shoppers and reluctant buyers both have great options when they are in cities with an exhaustive collection of brand stores, local markets, outlet malls, and designer boutiques. HeyDisocunt.Co.UK has analyzed the 25 top shopping destinations by allocating points out of 10 on the basis of number of shopping locations, number of shops within a mile, number of malls within a mile, number of boutiques within a mile, and number of top designers/retailers in the city. 

Bookmark this list of the world’s 10 best cities for shopping and detail out a step-by-step guide on how to maximize your time in the shops.

 

1 OF 10

Tokyo

WHERE: Japan

The Japanese capital is in a league of its own when it comes to streetwear. It is no surprise that Tokyo tops this list with a shopping score of 9 out of 10. It has the most shopping locations and the most number of boutiques and stores, so you can find anything from clothes to anime products to stationery to electronics. The city is peppered with shopping districts, department stores, malls with brand stores, and specialty areas for niche items.

Related: Where to Spot Tokyo’s Famous Fashion and Outrageous Style Subcultures

2 OF 10

London

WHERE: UK

Another usual suspect for shoppers with a score of 8 out of 10. London is a mecca of high-end boutiques, flagship stores, classic brands, bookstores, and art galleries. From elegant hats and fancy shoes to tailored suits and modern jewelry, the British city is mushrooming with the new and the old. 

Related: The 11 Best Street Markets to Visit in London

3 OF 10

Paris

WHERE: France

Paris, the fashion capital of the world, scores 7.42 on this study. Just walking along Champs Elysees and peeping into storefronts is a thrilling experience. The city thrives on sophisticated fashion and it can be very expensive to shop for haute couture, but you will find treasures at flea markets (remember the names Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen and Les Puces de Montreuil).

Related: How to Dress Like a Parisian

4 OF 10

Singapore

WHERE: Singapore

The second Asian city on the list is the little dot of Singapore. The famous Orchard Road shines with its luxury brands, the newly-renovated Funan has retail stores, dining venues, theatre, and even cycling tracks, and the 24-hour open Mustafa Centre has a stockpile of everything. Even Singapore’s Changi Airport is a shopping destination, so you can start the moment your plane touches down. 

Related: 10 Most Luxurious Experiences Singapore

5 OF 10

Hong Kong

WHERE: Special Administrative Region of China

People shop with a passion in Hong Kong, the fifth favorite destination with a score of 6.33. The vertical city has tons of flashy malls and busy street markets, and it’s a tax haven so the chances of finding good deals are high.

Related: 20 Ultimate Things to Do in Hong Kong

6 OF 10

Sydney

WHERE: Australia

From The Rocks to the Queen Victoria Building to the chic neighborhood of Surry Hills to the souvenir shops and weekend markets, Sydney is also a great contender if you’re looking for a shopping-forward holiday. It has made it to the list with a score of 6.17. Pro tip: buy jewelry with opals—Australia produces a lion share of the precious stone and it’s the national gemstone of the country.

Related: First Time Going to Sydney? 8 Things You Should Know

7 OF 10

New York

WHERE: USA

Is it surprising that New York, the city of the famous Fifth Avenue and the host of the head-turning fashion week, is number seven on this list? The Big Apple has big chain brands, independent stores, luxury designer boutiques, and everything in between you can possibly imagine. 

Related: What to Buy in New York City

8 OF 10

Madrid

WHERE: Italy

The 1916 Mercado de San Miguel is a favorite attraction in Madrid. There are more places for shoppers to explore—El Corte Inglés department store, shopping outlets at Las Rozas Village, and the vibrant Gran Via street. Don’t forget to stop at the largest Zara store in the world in the city’s financial district.

Related: 20 Ultimate Things to Do in Madrid

9 OF 10

Toronto

WHERE: Canada

Luxury boutiques, vintage stores, and art galleries give shoppers the best of glam and hip–that’s why Toronto made it to this list. It’s tied up with Madrid at the eighth position with 5.67 points.

Related: The Best Thing to Do in Every Toronto Neighborhood

10 OF 10

Boston

WHERE: USA

Another surprise from America with a comparatively lean number of shopping locations (173, the lowest in the top 10—Tokyo has 1,970). It still gets a score of 5.58 and manages to keep Milan off this list, which is a close 11. Go shopping at outlets of Assembly Row, visit the artistic Black Market Nubia, and window-shop at the Copley Place Boston—the city’s shopping experience is eclectic and unlike any other.

Related: 21 Ultimate Things to Do in Boston