Top shopping city breaks

A shopping city break is great fun and perfect for groups of friends or those with a few spare days on their hands. Shopping city breaks can range from shopping in some of the world’s biggest malls to weaving your way through winding streets to discover hidden gems and one-off boutiques or markets. However you chose to go, there’s no denying that there are lots of lively cities out there to explore on a shopping city break. Here are some top tips to help you choose the perfect shopping city break for you.

 

Europe is home to some of the world’s most famous shopping destinations and is easy to access for those travelling from the UK, making it a convenient and exciting choice for a shopping city break. Classic European shopping destinations include Paris, Madrid, Milan, Lisbon and Monaco, all brimming with style and perfect for shop-til-you-drop city breaks. Other options for shopping city breaks in Europe combining culture and class include Berlin, Zurich and Brussels.

 

Shopping breaks in the UK are a good choice for shorter weekend breaks, and there are lots of great cities to choose from offering good shopping, comfortable accommodation and excellent bars and restaurants. Some of the UK’s biggest cities also offer the most in terms of shopping, with cosmopolitan hubs such as Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham all hosting major shopping centres. For a more quirky shopping city break, try weaving your way through the Lanes of Brighton or head for the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street and Covent Garden in London for an iconic shopping experience. 

 

A shopping city break is a great option for holidays throughout the year. Summer city breaks are perfect for getting out in the sun and exploring outdoor markets as well as enjoying regular stops in pavement cafes and outdoor evening entertainment. Shopping city breaks in winter on the other hand are ideal for staying indoors when the weather is colder. Shopping city breaks leading up to Christmas are an excellent way of doing your Christmas shopping with sparkling Christmas markets springing up each year in cities around the world. 

 

If you’re looking for something really special and are keen to discover a new destination or culture at the same time, why not try heading to a less well-trodden city for your shopping city break. The meandering souks of Marrakesh or Fez will keep you busy for days wandering amidst the colourful array of Moroccan treats on offer and you can enjoy the buzz of bartering to secure some great bargains too. Alternatively, Baltic cities such as Riga or Tallinn may be just what you’re looking for on an unusual shopping city break.

 

A cheap shopping city break may sound like a contradiction in terms but there are some good ways to save your pennies if you’re planning one, giving you all the more to spend on those unmissable items. Most cities with great shops will also have an efficient public transport system to whisk you from one boutique to the next so you don’t have to worry about paying for taxis or private transport throughout your trip. Another great way to save on a shopping city break is by window shopping your way through all the designer stores and leaving your credit card at home; less conventional maybe but great fun all the same.

 

Whether you’re heading off on a shopping city break extravaganza or just wanting to enjoy a fun weekend with friends make sure you don’t forget to take a good guidebook with all the most important information on hidden boutiques and one-off shops across the city. A camera to capture the best bits and plenty of extra space in your suitcase for the return journey won’t go amiss either.