Let’s go to Paris for shopping!

Paris is accepted as the capital of fashion. Actually Paris is the capital of many things. Love, art, shopping… A city which hosts the most famous fashion designers of the world and the foremost fashion schools of the world offers many options for shopping as well.

The most famous shopping street of Paris is Champs-Elysées which also inspired many composers. To go there one should get the metro line 1. You can arrive at the street if you get out in any of those stops: Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau, Franklin  Roosevelt, George V or Charles-de-Gaulle Etoile. 

Champs-Elysees

In the street you can find chain stores such as Zara, Promod, Mark&Spencer, Benetton and also the international fashion brands such as Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss. There are options for all the budgets. And the Disney Store for the children...

You should also discover the passages along the street which look like hidden if you do not look carefully. For instance Arcades des Champs-Elysées is one of them. And one tip: If you are hungry while walking on the street and do not want to spend much money, you can visit Marks&Spencer's (100 Avenue des Champs-Élysées) food department. There you can find sandwiches, fresh fruits, juices and many other things to eat.

From the Naf Naf shop in Champs-Elysees

Another popular shopping area is Boulevard Haussmann. The famous department stores Printemps and Galeries Lafayettes are there.

Lafayette

Around the department stores there are many passages and shops such as C&A, H&M and some non-brand shops which sell products from Far East. It is possible to find there also nice outfit.

Rue de Rivoli is another famous shopping street. If you are not tired of shopping you can walk along the whole street. There you will find many designer shops or accessories, antique and craft shops.

The Marais is very popular as well. There are many designer shops in the area. 

The ring from Marks&Spencer

If you like boutiques, Rue de Passy is a good choice for you. You can get out at the La Muette or Passy stations to arrive at the street.

On the streets around Sacre Coeur de Montmartre there are many boutiques available. 

Montmartre

For those who like designing and sewing themselves, Montmartre is the best place. There you can find many fabric shops. It is possible to buy 3 meters fabric for 5 euros for instance. Of course the prices change according to the fabric. But there are good bargains.

Some of the fabric from Montmartre

Do you like flea markets? Then you should visit Marché aux Puces St-Ouen de Clignancourt. The right metro station to arrive there is Porte de Clignancourt. There are upto 3000 open stalls shops in the complex. New or vintage or junk; you will find many different clothing or accessories there. It is open from Saturday to Monday between 9 am -7 pm.

From the flea market

Shopping in London

I like wandering around the world and learning new cultures. But these trips aren’t always just culture trips. I find it also as a good opportunity for shopping. Unfortunately in our day it is really difficult to find different things. “Thanks” to the globalism you see everywhere the same brands, the same products and even the same shop window designs. So I like finding out little boutiques, local shops or outlet departments which you can’t see everywhere around the world. And in that regard my favourite destination is London!

 

Let’s start learning about shopping world of London. The first stop is the Oxford Street. Of course you will see many familiar shops there. But it is the main shopping street and you shouldn’t leave London without walking along the street from beginning till the end. Because there are still so many places to be discovered. 

Let’s start with Topshop.  The address is Oxford Street 216. If you ask what I found there more different than other shops, I can say the bijouterie department. They have really different jewelry of many designers. And the prices are reasonable. You can spend the whole day there. It is huge. Bags, shoes, clothing… Just like a shopping centre. These are the earrings I bought there.

And Primark. It is a must in London to visit. In Oxford Street I have visited two Primark stores. The addresses are Oxford Street 499-517 and Oxford Street 14-28. It is one of the stores that you can spend the whole day. From man, woman and child clothing till bag, shoes and households there is an enormous range of products. And what is the best are the prices. With low prices you can buy high fashion clothing. Would you like to see some samples? Here they are…

TK Maxx is another big store for shopping. It is in 120 Charing Cross Rd. It is close to the Oxford Street. The difference between Primark and TK Maxx is that you can find in TK Maxx also many famous designer products with up to 60% sale. I have seen some products of the big labels such as Versace, D&G and Moschino too.

And now I will tell you about my favourite place for shopping. It is Notting Hill. Here are my little boutiques along the road. You can go there by travelling by metro till Nothing Hill Gate station. After getting out just walk down the Portobello Road. There are many nice shops around the street and you can find nice dresses which are in British style. 

However the Saturdays are the peek time. In the world famous antique market you can find many different products from bags and clothing till jewelry and of course antique goods.

I couldn't just look and go when I saw that necklace and the earrings in the market.

 And for those luxury lovers, Harrods is a good option. You can find it in Brompton Road 87-135. It is possible to write hundreds of pages about the shopping options in a big city like London. But I prefer to write just about the places I visited. Here is more information based on my visits. Some shopping streets and markets…

1. Old Spitalfields Market: It is an indoor market which is open for seven days. It includes, bars, tea shops, boutiques and design stores.
2. Camden Market: Open seven days till 18:00. On the stalls you will find designer products. Mainly jewelry and clothing.
3. Carnaby: Fashion, food and shopping events… You can find many independent boutiques there.
4. Selfridges & Co: One of the biggest department stores in Oxford Street 400.
5. Harvey Nichols: You can buy fashion and beauty products and also eat on the fifth floor. Knightsbridge 109-125, Westminster.
6. Regent Street: It is a street with more than 100 shops, restaurants and cafes. You can visit also the department store Liberty London in the street.
7. Bond Street hosts many big labels such as Tiffany, Prada, Hermes, Cartier, Burberry and Louis Vuitton.
8. Covent Garden is a souvenir paradise.