Left cold at the prospect of a soulless sojourn into the world of e-commerce? Instead combine retail opportunity with a pre-Christmas break to any of these top ten shopping cities...
Amsterdam: Kalverstraat and Leidsestraat, together with the department stores and shopping plazas near Dam Square, more than cover global High Street brands. However, the narrow 17th century alleys of De Negen Straatjes in the canal district hide an eclectic wealth of Christmas shopping including gadget sellers, art galleries, jewellers, fashion boutiques, restaurants and cafes.
Copenhagen: Strøget is the city's main retail thoroughfare - the world's longest pedestrianised shopping street, home to Illum and Magasin department stores. Elsewhere, shops are clustered in distinct areas; Kongens Nytorv for Bang and Olufsen's flagship store, Læderstræde is good for jewellery, Jægersborggade attracts second-hand shops and Kronprinsensgade cutting-edge fashion.
Dublin: The city's year-round party spirit is further enhanced by Christmas. Grafton Street and Henry Street are lined with global brands, and Moore Street has its reliably voluble street vendors, whilst this year Temple Bar hosts a Fairtrade Christmas Market. For a concentrated shopping frenzy head to the city's south and the 120 shops and 30 restaurants of award-winning Dundrum Town Centre.
Edinburgh: George Street leads the way with familiar fashion brands; Hollister, Jack Wills, Karen Millen, and DKNY are all represented - for Harvey Nichols and Louis Vuitton visit Multrees Walk. Beneath the castle, Victoria Street, the Grassmarket and Cowgate are the places for antiques, vintage shops and unusual handicrafts. And if you want to stay under one roof, St James Shopping Centre at the end of Princes Street has over 600 brands.
Istanbul: Though Christmas is not celebrated the city's Grand Bazaar is worth a look, not for its tourist-hungry tat vendors but for its architecture and atmospheric cafes. Real retail lies across the Golden Horn in the maze of quirky independent shops around the Galata Tower, along the immense shopping canyon of trendy boutiques and fashion stores that is Ä°stikll Caddesi, and around Taksim Square.
London: West End shopping has drawn out-of-town visitors for generations. However, the city's Christmas shopping highlights are lost amongst the people jams of Oxford Street. Head instead to the Kings Road for trendy boutiques and designer emporiums, to Camden Passage for quirky alternative stores, or Notting Hill and nearby Portobello for vintage clothing antiques and indy book shops.
Marrakech: Few visit Morocco just for a shopping trip and as a Muslim country Christmas isn't a big deal either. However, Marrakech is fascinating. Explore the medina for ceramics, clothing, leather goods, art and metalwork, inspired by Berber, Arab and sometimes French styles. Don't get phased by pushy sales tactics, find what you really want and bargain hard.
New York: Manhattan is always exciting and at Christmas it's doubly so. Enjoy the opulent window dressing of upmarket Fifth Avenue stores - Apple and Saks are both represented. And for the ultimate department store experience Bloomingdales on Third Avenue ticks all the boxes. However, for something unique, though not cheap, take a stroll around the holiday markets at Columbus Circle or Union Square.
Stockholm: Compact and easy to navigate Sweden's capital excels in quality rather than quantity. Drottninggatan is the city's busiest street and it's here that large department stores such as PUB and Åhléns sell everything from kitchenware to clothing. Elsewhere in the city centre, NK is another landmark store and though prices are higher there's an engaging emphasis on Swedish designers and goods.
Valletta: In Europe's smallest capital the Christmas lights along Republic Street illuminate a mix of Maltese independents, whilst the nearby Embassy Shopping Centre encompasses familiar international clothing brands. A weekday market is held on Merchant Street, good for souvenirs and knickknacks, and at Valetta Gate the Sunday flea market still turns up surprise bargains.
This article has been produced in association with www.talkholiday.com
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