2011年9月25日星期日

Top 15 World’s Swankiest Shopping Streets


Love to shop ’til you drop? If you’re bored of shopping in the same old shopping mall then head to one of these most exclusive shopping streets around the world to splash your cash!

Shopper's paradise - Fifth Avenue, New York City, New York

Fifth Avenue, New York City, USA

If you’re a fashion-focused NYC tourist, shopping at the New York stores on Fifth Avenue is a definite must during your stay in the Big Apple. NY shopping is an entirely different experience than shopping in another city, especially along this historical road. Located in the center of Manhattan, the best Fifth Avenue shopping takes place between 39th and 60th Street at NYC flagship stores. Whether you are searching for the latest fashions, NY souvenirs, or useful housewares, New York outlets on Fifth Ave cater to every taste and budget.
The heart of Manhattan retail spans Fifth Avenue from the upper 40s to 57th Street and across. Tiffany & Co., which has long reigned supreme, sits a stone’s throw from NIKETOWN and the huge Louis Vuitton flagship at the corner of 57th Street and Fifth Avenue. In addition, a good number of mainstream retailers, such as Banana Republic, have flagships along Fifth, shifting the breadth of higher-end shopping to Madison Avenue north of 59th Street. You will find a number of big-name, big-ticket designers radiating from the crossroads, including Versace, Chanel, Dior, and Cartier. You’ll also find big-name jewelers here, as well as grand old department stores such as Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendel, and Saks Fifth Avenue—all Fifth Avenue mainstays that must at least be browsed, even if your budget won’t allow for more than longing glances.
In December, the stores mount elaborate displays—doormen dressed as toy soldiers at FAO Schwarz, a 27-foot (8-meter) sparkling snowflake floating over the street outside Tiffany, winter wonderland scenes in Macy’s windows—that attract holiday shoppers and sightseers. Strolling the crowded sidewalks of Fifth Avenue at this time of year is a special treat.
Avenue des Champs-Élysées - Paris

Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Paris, France

Ave des Champs-Élysées (pronounced chahnz-eleezay, with an “n” sound instead of “m” and no “p”) links place de la Concorde with the Arc de Triomphe. The avenue has symbolised the style and joie de vivre of Paris since the mid-19th century and today despite unrelenting traffic and the intrusion of chain stores and fast-food restaurants, the avenue still sparkles. There’s always something happening here: the stores are open late—and many are open on Sunday (a rarity in Paris), the nightclubs remain top destinations, and the cafés offer prime people-watching—though you’ll pay for the privilege: after all, this is Europe’s most expensive stretch of real estate. Along the 2-km (1¼-mi) stretch, you can find the marquee names in French luxury, including Cartier, the perfumier Guerlain, and Louis Vuitton. Newer arrivals, like the cavernous Sephora are fun to check out because, in the bigger-is-better spirit of the Champs, there are often events and giveaways. Car manufacturers try to out-bling each other with space-age showrooms. Old stalwarts are still going strong, if a bit faded, like the Lido cabaret and Fouquet’s, whose celebrity clientele extends from James Joyce to President Nicolas Sarkozy, who celebrated his election night victory at this restaurant in May 2007. The avenue is also the setting for the last leg of the Tour de France bicycle race (the third or fourth Sunday in July), and ceremonies on Bastille Day (July 14) and Armistice Day (November 11). The Champs-Élysées, which translates as “Elysian Fields” (the resting place of the blessed in Greek mythology), began life as a cow pasture and in 1666 was transformed into a park by the royal landscape architect André Le Nôtre. Traces of its green origins are visible near Concorde, where elegant 19th-century park pavilions house the historic restaurants Ledoyen, Laurent, and Le Pavillon Élysées Lenôtre.
Avenue Montaigne: Paris' Most Fashionable Street

Avenue Montaigne, Paris, France

Avenue Montaigne, located in the “golden triangle” between the Champs Elysées and the Seine River, is the fanciest avenue in Paris. The fashionable and the well-monied shop in the myriad luxury boutiques—Bulgari and Louis Vuitton among them—and haute-couture houses—Emmanuel Ungaro, Guy Laroche, Christian Dior, Nina Ricci, and Chanel—that lie within the avenue’s elegant buildings.
Bahnhofstrasse, Zürich, Switzerland

Bahnhofstrasse, Zürich, Switzerland

The Bahnhofstrasse, Zürich’s resplendent, tree-lined exclusive shopping avenue, stretches a mile (1.4 kilometers) connecting Zürich Main Station to Lake Zürich on the left bank of the River Limmat. You’ll find some of Switzerland’s top shopping along its length, from top clothing designers to high-end options for shoes, furs, accessories, china, and jewelry. And, of course, Swiss watches. The two biggest Swiss banks, the UBS and the Credit Suisse Group, have their headquarters here.The world famous chocolate shop and cafe, Sprungli is located on Banhoffstrasse. From Bahnhofstrasse, Rennweg and Augustinergasse lead to the picturesque old town.
Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, California

Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, California

Rodeo Drive manages to pack in enough audacious glitz to qualify as one of the world’s most glamorous and expensive shopping stretches. Just off Rodeo lies Two Rodeo, a strip of boutiques modeled after European boutiques, with cobblestones, fountains, and bistros. Perhaps its least known amenity is the free two-hour valet parking.
Bond Street is home to the most elegant and expensive shops in London

Bond Street, London, England

Bond Street is home to the most elegant and expensive shops in London. You will find designer clothing, perfume, art and antiques, jewelers, and more Royal Warrant holders (suppliers to the royal family) here than anywhere else in London. Old Bond Street, the short section at the southern end of Bond Street that joins Picadilly, has been distinguished by the most posh since the 1850s. Asprey and Agnew, Sotheby’s, and Phillips, to name a few, all appear against a backdrop of elegant houses turned shops that were once home to a host of distinguished politicians, artists, and writers.
Quadrilatero d'Oro, Milan, Italy

Quadrilatero d’Oro, Milan, Italy

Milan is a haute couture powerhouse, where fashions jump from catwalk to clothes rail in weeks. Milan is home to the flagship stores of a litany of designers: Armani, Krizia, Versace, Ermenegildo Zegna, Missoni, Moschino, Mila Schön, and Trussardi.
But unlike the sprawling fashion district in Paris, Milan’s boutiques fit into a square along four adjoining streets north of the Duomo known collectively as the “Quadrilatero della moda” (Quadrilatero d’Oro , Golden Quadrilateral): Via Montenapoleone, Della Spiga, Via Borgospesso, and Via Sant’Andrea, lined with Milan’s most expensive high-fashion emporia and posh cafés inside romantic landmark Victorian buildings. In addition to the internationally known fine fashion names, the area has inside favorites, such as La Rinascente, Milan’s most famous department store, 9 Peck, a renowned food store, and Provera, a favorite for its vintage wine selection. In the streets, there’s always a parade of well-heeled Italians casually modeling the latest fashions. From Piazza della Scala, follow Via Manzoni a few blocks north or take the Metro to Via Montenapoleone. The main artery of this shopping heartland is Via Montenapoleone, lined with the most chichi boutiques and most elegant fashion outlets, with parallel Via della Spiga running a close second.
The Zeil - The premier place to shop in Frankfurt

Zeil, Frankfurt, Germany

The premier place to shop in Frankfurt is the shopping street Zeil, especially the area between Konstablerwache and Hauptwache. Also called “The Fifth Avenue” of Germany, this shopping street offers everything from chic boutiques, to international department chains for the discerning shopper.
Don’t miss the Zeil Galerie, a 10 floor shopping center, which is famous for its spiral shaped interior and a viewing platform that offers the best views of Frankfurt. On the adjacent Goethestraße, you can drop some serious cash (or do some wishful window shopping) at world class jewelers (Cartier, Tiffany), international designers (Armani, Versace), or gourmet restaurants.
The western part of the Zeil is a pedestrian zone between two large plazas, Hauptwache in the west and Konstablerwache in the east. These two plazas serve as major intersections for underground trains, trams and buses. The eastern part of the Zeil, called “New Zeil”, connects Konstablerwache with the Friedberger Anlage.
The Ginza is Tokyo's most exclusive shopping area

The Ginza, Tokyo, Japan

The Ginza, comprising eight blocks, is Tokyo’s most exclusive shopping area. It boasts some of the most expensive real estate on Earth. Known luxury and exclusive retailers stand side by side with Tokyo’s landmark department stores, Mitsukoshi, Wako (whose clock is a landmark unto itself), and the 14-story Marion. The latter actually houses seven movie theaters and two department stores. Many store windows feature elaborate displays that showcase typical Japanese culture. At night colorful neon and fluorescent lights flood the Ginza with light, bringing the otherwise gray city to life.
Magnificent Mile, Chicago, Illinois

Magnificent Mile, Chicago, Illinois

Just a few blocks off Lake Michigan, North Michigan Avenue is home to such shopping greats as Gucci, Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor, Brooks Brothers, and Hermes, as well as Bigsby & Kruthers, a renowned local retailer. The crowds on the Magnificent Mile can be overwhelming on weekends.
Oxford Street, London, UK

Oxford Street, London, UK

Oxford Street is one and a half miles from end to end. Most shops open 10am until 6 or 7pm. Many also open on Sunday from 12 to 6pm with late nights on Thursday. Oxford Street is best known for Selfridges and the other big department stores which are all found in the section from Marble Arch to Oxford Circus, along with most of the big-name multinationals. It’s more of the same towards Tottenham Court Road, but generally on a smaller scale. Oxford Street is said to be the busiest shopping street in Europe.
Avinguda Diagonal, Barcelona, Spain

Avinguda Diagonal, Barcelona, Spain

World-famous fashion houses, jewelers, and art galleries line the sweeping Avinguda Diagonal, which forms part of Barcelona’s three-mile (five-kilometer) shopping line. Some of the finer shops are found on Passeig de Gracia, Via Augusta, Carrer de Tuset, and the exclusive Avinguda Pau Casals—small, elegant streets just off Avinguda Diagonal. You will stroll through a mix of Gothic and modern architecture. The avenue has a pick of fun and fine cafés to stop in for tapas.
P.C. Hooftstraat - Amsterdam's Rodeo Drive

P.C. Hooftstraat, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Being such a pedestrian-friendly city, Amsterdam offers some of the most pleasant shopping experiences in the world. Its best shops are found on this small street, not far from the city’s top museums. It’s also home to some of the most expensive apartments in the country, and the international luxury brands target those well-heeled locals.
Strøget in Copenhagen, Denmark - Europe's longest pedestrian shopping street

Strøget, Copenhagen, Denmark

This is one of the urban wonders of the world, Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping area. While there are many famous luxury shops, you’ll also find the popular chain stores everyone can afford. What further makes this one of the most enjoyable places to shop in the world is the fact that it’s closed to traffic and you can always take a break for a drink at a café outside.
Calle Serrano in Madrid - one of Spain's (and Europe's) most expensive streets

Calle Serrano, Madrid, Spain

This is arguably the least famous of the world’s great shopping streets. Found in Madrid’s wealthiest neighborhood, it is (together with Calle Preciados also in the capital), one of Spain’s (and Europe’s) most expensive streets. Naturally, most of the great international brands and designers are found here, attracting the poshest madrileños to see and be seen.

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