Shopping and lake cruises in Zurich!

Zurich has many things to offer to the tourists visiting it. Some of the best attractions of this town include the streets with stylish window shops, chic cafes, elegant restaurants and lake cruises. 

Shopping in Zurich 

Tourists visiting Zurich shouldn’t miss the shops on the Bahnhofstrasse, the main commercial artery of the city. A veritable parade of luxury opens here for the passersby. One can find the latest collections of fashion designers, jewelries and expensive watches. The headquarters of the most prestigious Swiss banks rises on the same street, which is opened now only for pedestrian traffic. Even if one is traveling on a budget it costs nothing to take a look. The Niederdorf area, located in the old town shouldn’t be missed. It will impress the tourists with picturesque alleys and clothing and accessories shops. This area will be a stop not only for those who seek the fashion, but also for the tourists interested in nightlife bars and clubs. Andorra Bar is highly appreciated by jazz and beer lovers, and the nearby bar Corazon is famous for its finest wines. 

Tourists can enjoy a breathtaking view of the neighborhood in Tina Bar, and eat a cheap lunch at the Cantina restaurant on ground level of the same building. Shopping can be a fascinating experience in Rosenhof market. Opened from March to December, the market is located close to the historic town hall and two steps away from the river Limmat. The Rosenhof market is known for the many stalls with antiques, objects brought from distant countries or products of local artisans. Although it looks like fair, Rosenhof can be the best place to find gifts for friends with expensive tastes: clothes, jewelry, precious stones, pottery, and local culinary delights. 

Cruises and fun activities for kids 

If a city tour seems to be exhausting, one can find amusement in a cruise on Lake Zurich and the Limmat River. From early spring until late autumn, tourists enjoy boat rides on the river. Most of them have a glass roof, so the scenery is stunning. A boat tour on the lake or river takes about one and a half hour. Zurich Zoo can be a perfect place for a quiet stroll away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Founded in 1929, the Zoo Park is one of the favorite attractions of families with children. It hosts hundreds of species and a recreated rainforest in the outskirts. Kids can take part in workshops and may assist in the parade of penguins.

Source 

-->

Shopping in London

One of the word’s most exciting retail centers, London is also one of the most varied. The shopping scene spans multicultural street markets and deluxe department stores, cutting-edge fashion designers and traditional tailors, smart food shops and tiny delis.

Bond Street

Divided in two sections-Old Bond Street and New Bond Street. A street of fashionable shops and fine art dealers, with many respected names in fashion.

Fenwick’s department store, Chappell’s music shop, and the home of Sotheby’s the auctioneers.

Burlington Arcade

Running into Piccadilly and patrolled by uniformed beadles, it is very expensive but exquisite! Elegant specialist shops sell, silver, jewellery and knitwear.

Carnaby Street

Associated with the Pop Culture and fashion of the 60s this colorful street became a legend. Today it still retains a unique atmosphere.

Charing Cross Road

A road that never ceases to attract scholars and musicians. Many bookshops headed by the unique Foyles in two buildings, with over four million books on sale. Music shops are on this street and in side turnings like Denmark Street.

Jermyn Street

If you need shirts here is the place to have them made to measure. Expensive jewellery shops are here too with a perfumers and a specialist cheese monger.

Kensington High Street

A popular shopping street for young fashions, boutiques and high-class couture, landmarked by the 1938 modernity of Bakers department store-soon to become the flagship for US Whole Foods Market.

Kings Road, Chelsea

Boutiques, pubs, bistros, antique dealers, one department store on Sloane Square. On summer Saturdays the road becomes on long art gallery where anyone can display their paintings.

Knightsbridge

Unequalled for its fashion, food and art shops. This is where to find Harrods and what was Lady Diana’s favourite store, Harvey Nichols.

Oxford Street

London’s most famous shopping street with large department stores including Selfridges, Marks & Spencer, Debenhams etc. HMV has tow shops for CDs and records- the eastern one is the largest- see also Virgin store.

Regent Street

This gently curving street of noble architecture is where to find the immutable yet changing department store Liberty’s and the largest toy shop in Europe.

Tottenham Court Road

Apart from the great furnishing shop Heal’s, this is the home of bargain Hi Fi; TV; Radio; Computers and almost anything electronic. Check around before you buy and you should get a good bargain!

MARKETS

Columbia Road Market- Liverpool Street tube, then 26, 48 bus.

On Sunday mornings, this unassuming East End Street is transformed into a green swathe of fabulous plant life, and the air is fragrant with blooms. But it’s not just about flora: alongside the flower market is a growing number of shops selling everything from pottery and Mexican glassware to cupcakes

Portobello Road Market- Ladbroke Grove tube.

Best known for antiques and collections, this is actually several markets rolled into one. Antiques start at the Notting Hill end; further up are food stalls; and under the Westway and along the walkway to Ladbroke Grove are emerging designer and vintage clothes.

Πηγή

 

Shopping in Paris

Shopping in Paris means famous designersand luxurious brands. But you’ll also find more affordable brands matching your budget in the huge department stores or many popular neighbourhoods. There are famous gastronomical establishments for gourmets too.

As a suggestion, you could start at Le Carrousel Du Louvre, a diverse underground shopping precinct adjoining the famous museum. Whether you’re looking for music, gifts, perfumes or clothing, you’ll find a number of well-known stores that deliver quality merchandise and ease of purchase. Nearby Rue de Rivoli is notable for the vast number of souvenir shops. At 248, W.H. Smith is the largest English Language bookshop in Paris with many of the newest releases. Right off Rivoli is the beautiful Place Vendôme, where the jet-setters and millionaires buy their jewellery. You are entering ”the” area for renowned Haute Couture and luxury goods. From there you can enjoy a walk down to Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Avenue Montaigne where the superb boutiques display their sophisticated or baroque windows. Women will particularly like Colette at 213 Rue St-Honoré, one of the most interesting shopping experiences anywhere, an eclectic collection of fresh-off-the-runway design, fashion, gadgets and music. Men can try Charvet on Place Vendôme, the oldest and best known boutique in Paris selling top quality ties and shirts. Hermès and Lanvin on Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Jil Sander on Avenue Montaigne are also among the best for one-stop shopping for men on the go.

 

Les Grands Boulevards (Hausmann)

In the 1st and 2nd Arrondissements, this is undoubtedly the most popular shopping area, home to prestigious department stores such as Printemps and Galeries Lafayette. They are remarkable for the wide range of items sold, as well as for their Art Nouveau architecture. You’ll find a world of ready-to-wear, with appealing boutiques and affordable brands. You can start with a nice walk from the beautiful Opéra Palais Garnier down to the stores on Boulevard Hausmann.

Les Halles and Marais

Les Halles is similar to London’s Covent Garden, located in the city centre, right between the Louvre and Notre Dame. The shopping mall Forum des Halles features lots of good shopping spots in a fascinating and crowded underground complex. It’s a good source for affordable clothing. Not far away, the Jewish neighbourhood Le Marais, with many handicraft and antique shops, is an interesting visit.

Champs-Elysées

This tourist strip has lots of fast food chains, banks, airline offices, cinemas and malls such as the futuristic Drugstore Publicis near Arc de Triomphe or Gallerie Marchande des Champs-Elysées near Georges V station. The Guerlain Parfumerie, with its turn-of-the century elegance and curved staircase, as well as the neo-classical Virgin Megastore, a huge retail haven for recorded music and books, are worth a stop.

Along the Seine River

One of the most charming shopping activities in Paris consists of walking along the rows of bookstalls perched against the parapet of the Seine River. Here, if you have time and good bargaining skills, you may find some ancient and valuable tomes or collections of old stamps.

Le Bon Marché

This is the oldest and most prominent retail establishment, the top destination for fashion and style. Designer apparel for men and women, cosmetics and house wares comprise the major departments, with an impressive food hall!

Address: 22 rue de Sèvres

Underground: Line 10/12 Sèvres-Babylone

Phone: +33 (0)1 44 39 80 00

Internet: www.treeslbm.com

Galeries Lafayette

The most spectacular department store with its unique stained-glass dome. You will find the most prestigious designer and cosmetics labels and the largest European space entirely devoted to men’s fashion. Also home to huge toy, jewellery, house ware and delicatessen departments.

Address: 40 bd Haussmann

Underground: Chaussée-d’Antin

Phone: +33 (0)1 42 82 34 56

Internet: www.galerieslafayette.com

Printemps Hausmann

Like its rival Lafayette, it’s distinguished by amazing architecture and has everything - women’s, men’s, and children’s fashions. It’s a modern and trendy store. The beauty department highlights over 200 brand names.

Address: 64, boulevard Haussmann

Underground: Havre-Caumartin, RER A Auber

Phone: +33 (0)1 42 82 57 87

Internet: www.printemps.com

Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville

BHV is a little less trendy, yet definitelyworth mentioning. It has a good range of house as well as useful and beautiful domestic goods. Also a decent selection of clothing and accessories.

Address: 52-54 rue de Rivoli

Underground: Line 1/11 Hôtel de Ville

Phone: +33 (0)1 42 74 90 00

Internet: www.bhv.fr

Marché aux Puces de Clignancourt

This world renowned flea market on the northern part of Paris attracts over 70 000 Parisians every weekend to find terrific bargains from vintage clothing to antique furniture.

Address: Porte de Clignancourt

Underground: Line 4 Porte de Clignacourt

Internet: www.les-puces.com

Travel to Madrid

Visit Madrid through the eyes of a city native.The visitor can enjoy discovering the many Madrid attractions during a mini break, Spain vacation, flying visit, holiday or romantic break in Spain?

Its all possible! If you are planning your Madrid trip be sure to browse both our great travel tips and compare hotels pricesin Madrid to save you money, time and effort whilst here.

DO and SEE

Art Galleries & Museums

Madrid is considered one of the top European destinations concerning art museums. Best known is the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising three museums. The most famous one is the Prado Museum, the most popular Golden Triangle of Art member known for such highlights as Diego Velázquez's Las Meninas and Francisco de Goya's La maja vestida and La maja desnuda. The other two museums are the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, established from a mixed private collection, and the Reina Sofia Museum, where Pablo Picasso's Guernica hangs, returning to Spain from New York after more than two decades.

Museo del Prado

The Museo del Prado is a museum and art gallery that features one of the world's finest collections of European art, from the 12th century to the early 19th century, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection. The collection currently comprises around 7,600 paintings, 1,000 sculptures, 4,800 prints and 8,200 drawings, in addition to a large number of works of art and historic documents. El Prado is one of the most visited museums in the world, and it is considered to be among the greatest museums of art. It has the best collection of artworks by Goya, Velazquez, El Greco, Rubens, Titian, Hieronymus Bosch, José de Ribera and Patinir; and works by Rogier van der Weyden,Raphael, Caravaggio, Van Dyck, Albrecht Dürer, Claude Lorrain, Murillo and Zurbarán, among others.

The Reina Sofia Museum

It is the Spain's national museum of 20th century art. The museum is mainly dedicated to Spanish art. Highlights of the museum include excellent collections of Spain's greatest 20th century masters, Pablo Picasso,Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Juan Gris and Julio Gonzalez. Certainly the most famous masterpiece in the museum is Picasso's painting Guernica. The Reina Sofía also hosts a free-access library specializing in art, with a collection of over 100,000 books, over 3,500 sound recordings and almost 1,000 videos.

Museum Thyssen-Bornemisza

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is an art museum that fills the historical gaps in its counterparts' collections: in the Prado's case this includes Italian primitives and works from the English, Dutch and German schools, while in the case of the Reina Sofia the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection, once the second largest private collection in the world after the British Royal Collection,[38] includes Impressionists, Expressionists, and European and American paintings from the second half of the 20th century, with over 1,600 paintings.

Shopping

Shop Madrid at your leisure knowing that with this handy guide you will not miss a thing! Shopping in Madrid explained for all. From Stamps to Souvenirs, it is all here!

Behind the famous Siesta shopping comes a close second in the list of priorities for Madrilenos (after all you have to look the part when you go out to eat at least three times a week!) Top fashion labels as well as independent designers means there are a number of Madrid stores where that "unique" item can be had.

For those looking for cheap and cheerful souvenirs there are many options in either Europes largest Sunday market or one of the many tourist stores in the city centre.

El Rastro

Every Sunday morning the streets of Barrio La Latina are taken over by thousands of people as the whole area is transformed into Europes biggest outdoor market. El rastro is where small businesses, maket stalls and anyone with a table or suitcase come to sell just about anything!

Clothes, souvenirs, electrical goods, football jerseys, paintings and even medieval chastity belts are among the offerings. Its almost as if the accumulated wealth of the country is up for sale every week!

Shop Madrid recommends a visit even if you have no intention of purchasing anything!

Madrids Markets

Spanish towns and villages love their markets and in Madrid the only difference is the sheer variety of markets on offer. From the Madrid stamp market held in the historic setting underneath the arches of Plaza Mayor, to the fresh seafood on offer at one of the local fish markets there is something for everyone! Shop Madrid in those places that the guide books do not list and grab yourself a bargain!

Restaurant quide

Madrid restaurant guide brings together the combined dining experience of over forty different Madrileños and their opinions on the best restaurants in Madrid. With diverse palates amongst the contributers you can expect to find something to suit every taste and wallet!

Before going any further its worth considering two very important points regarding dining out in Madrid:

• It’s cheap and

• It’s a national obsession

Finding a cheap restaurant in Madrid is not difficult and furthermore the quality of ingedients is always to a very high standard... after all Spain was the "garden of the Roman empire" and nowadays the pick of Spanish produce winds up on the tables of Madrids restaurants.

To make things easy and to ensure the visitor is not overwhelmed with choice the Madrid restaurant guide has broken down into seven distinct "flavours" the options available for the discerning dinner:

• Traditional Spanish restaurants

• Seafood restaurants

• Oriental restaurants

• Vegeterian restaurants

• Speciality restaurants

• Theme restaurants

• Cheap eats

One thing is for sure, in Madrid’s restaurants you´ll never go hungry!

Travel to Madrid

Grab yourself a great bargain ticket to Madrid or simply consult what airlines fly where from Madrid. Of course there is also a feature on Madrid airport and travelling to and from it!

Airport

Madrid’s airport, Barajas, is a little over ten kilometers northeast of the city. The cheapest way to get to Madrid is by metro: line 8 goes to Nuevos Ministerios. Journey time: 30 minutes. The taxi ride costs about €20 (more at nights and on Sundays) and takes 30-60 minutes.

Getting Around

Welcome to the walkers city. Getting around Madrid is a lot simpler than similar sized cities with traditional extra wide boardwalks. Furthermore the excellent clean and on-time public transport makes sightseeing from one of the many city buses a real possibility!

Madrid Metro

The ever expanding Madrid Metro/Subway/Underground system (depending on your particular origin), is a cheap and flexible way to move quickly between the many different city attractions. Open 365 days a year from 0600 to 0200 you can effectively have an evening meal and drinks before returning on the Metro.

Madrid Bus

Madrid has an excellent network of bus routes serving it and its regions. Intercity and International links are maintained with modern coaches departing from the same stations. With the same cheap pricing system as the metro this provides a great way to see the city when its not too hot (Mid June to Early Sept).

Safe 24hr Buses mean that even the nightowls amongst you are catered for! Buses are of course subject to the Madrid traffic conditions.

Madrid Cercanias - Regional trains

Cheap, clean and serving those destinations up to 100kms away as well as criss crossing the city of Madrid itself the Madrid Cercanias is a tourists saviour!

Madrid Taxi

Does anyone ever have anything good to say about taxi drivers? One of lifes necessary evils I guess. Thankfully in Madrid the taxis are registered to the city and must display fares as well as surcharges. Generally very easy to use and certainly available at every hour of the day.

Madrid Car Hire

Whilst moving around Madrid is both simple and cheap with Public transport there is a possible need for a hire car if you are considering some of the excursions away from the city. With rates starting at less than 10€ a day if you are more then two people a rental car can save you money as well as allowing you to govern the stops along the route!

Source