Christmas shopping is always a good excuse for a getaway. You can even justify the cost of the trip by the savings you make! From London to New York, check out these 5 cities for great Christmas shopping!
London
With sterling so low against the euro there has never been a better time to hit Oxford Street! John Lewis (famous for it’s amazing Christmas adds) and Selfridges are worth going for their window displays alone! Also its nice to shop in places that you don’t have here in Ireland. Almost 2km in length, Oxford Street has all the top high street stores too. Covent Garden is a must for some quirky souvenirs and trendy boutiques and of course no visit to London would be complete without a trip to Harrods and Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge!
Getting there: Flights & 2 Nights in a 4* hotel from €186 – Click here.
Rome
One of the great things about shopping in Rome is the boutiques. Unlike some of Europe’s big shopping cities, Rome isn’t full of department stores. Prada, Fendi, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace – some of the best designer shops are Italian and they are all here, on the stunning Via Condotti. Thankfully, for most of us, Rome has lots of inexpensive shops too. The Via del Corso has most of the familiar high street stores, but don’t neglect the side streets! You will find lots of Italian shoe shops, jewellery and clothing at very reasonable prices and with different stock to what you will find at home. Many shops still close at lunchtime from 1-3 so it’s the perfect city to enjoy some nice Italian food over a leisurely lunch. Save the sight seeing for night time when Rome’s remarkable buildings are illuminated at Christmas time.
Getting there: Flights & 3 Nights in a 3* Hotel €155 – Click here
New York
Shopping in New York is great at any time of year but Christmas time is really special. The tree at Rockefeller centre with the ice skating rink , wandering through central park in winter time and ogling at the window displays in Macys and Bloomingdales – New York is Christmas personified! Plan to spend at least a half day in Macys, check out the bargains in Chinatown and visit the designer shops on Fifth Avenue. Early risers will enjoy Century 21 early ( opens from 7.30) and the 24 hour Apple store. If you have time, take the trip to the outlets at Woodbury Common or Jersey Gardens. For more details on the best places to shop in New York, check out my blog post.
Getting there: Flights & 3 Nights 3* Hotel €758 – Click here.
Barcelona
Barcelona may not be renowned as a major shopping city but actually there are over 35,000 shops in Barcelona city! The pedestrianised Las Ramblas is one of Europe’s most iconic streets. Witnessing the street artists perform, stopping for some tapas along the way, its all part of the Barcelona shopping experience. Spanish brands like Zara, Desigual, Custo have flagship stores around Passeig de Gracia and Diagonal Mar and prices are about 20% lower than in Ireland. If you are looking for some trendy boutiques, head for the Gothic quarter, and you will find some cool tapas bars here to stop for lunch too.
Getting there: Flights & 3 Nights in a 3* Hotel €151 – Click here
Berlin
A Christmas market break seems like the perfect way to see some of Europe’s top cities while enjoying the festivities. You could choose Budapest, Prague, Krakow or Vienna, but Berlin has a staggering 50 different markets to choose from. Enjoy some mulled wine and carol singers as you shop the market stalls for hand made trinkets. Of course Berlin now rivals Paris and Rome in the shopping stakes so make sure you check out Kurfurstendamm, one of Berlin’s longest boulevards which is lined with high street stores and designer shops.
Getting there: For the latest Christmas market deals including Berlin – Click here.
