Meticulous craftsmanship. Exquisite materials. Prestigious brand heritage and attention to detail. When it comes to shopping for a travel souvenir, we understand you’re looking for something special to remember your journey by.

That’s why we’ve pulled together a list of our favourite shopping destinations in a selection of the world’s most glamorous cities – you needn’t look anywhere else. From browsing big-name luxury brands on the Champs-Élysées in Paris to shopping for men’s tailoring on London’s lesser-known Jermyn Street, these are just a handful of the exclusive boutiques and decadent shopping experiences that await you on your travels.

Bond Street, London, UK

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Acclaimed for its elegant stores, designer fashion brands, art galleries, fine jewelry and antique shops, Bond Street is one of the world’s most renowned shopping streets. It is also the most expensive and sought after strips of real estate in Europe.

This luxury shopper’s paradise has been at the heart of London’s high fashion since the 18th century and is where you find iconic flagship stores of Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, and Versace, showcasing the latest haute couture and ready-to-wear collections. As well as exquisite jewelry stores such as Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and Bulgari.

More than just a high-end retail experience, you can enjoy an auction at Sotheby’s or an exhibition at The Royal Academy of Arts. And with Claridge’s or The Ritz just steps away, treat yourself to a luxurious British afternoon tea.

While in the capital, gentlemen should also take a look at Jermyn Street. Dating back to 1664, Jermyn Street holds a worldwide reputation for high quality British artistry and craftsmanship. One of the more unique shopping streets you will find, it is home to the highest concentration of gentlemen’s clothiers in the city. The street hosts London’s finest men’s tailors, shirt makers and suppliers of leather goods.

Visit London on: British Royale

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Via Condotti, Rome, Italy

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Synonymous with luxury shopping Rome’s Via Condotti is a destination in itself.  Where fashion, art, and history converge, the street is adorned with prestigious fashion houses and renowned Italian brands. Here you will find Valentino, Fendi, Bulgari, Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo, and discover a rich tapestry of high fashion, exquisite leather goods and designer accessories.

One of the world’s most famous shopping streets, a day spent on Via Condotti is a day immersed in the grandeur of Italian fashion and craftsmanship. Opulent flagship stores and boutique showrooms bustle with attentive and knowledgeable staff providing a personalized service. Take a break from shopping at charming sidewalk cafes, savoring an espresso or gelato and drink in the street’s picturesque architecture and historical charm.

Often going under the radar Via del Babuino is also a charming shopping location. Running from Piazza del Popolo to the Spanish Steps, the street is dotted with high-fashion boutiques among which are Chanel, Cavalli, Tiffany, Sandro Ferrone and RedValentino brands.

Revel in Rome on: Ultimate Italy

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Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon’s chicest street, Avenida da Liberdade, was conceived by the city’s urban planners who wanted it to mimic Paris’s iconic boulevards and shopping streets. Built in the 19th century, a thoroughfare was created in the center of the Portuguese capital featuring wide, leafy lanes. The cobblestoned promenades are paved with stunning Portuguese-style patterns, smoothed by the many pedestrians over the decades.

Because of its history, Avenida da Liberdade became the natural destination for opulent visitors. The most expensive street to buy or rent property on, it is adorned with grand theaters, townhouse-style homes of dignitaries and celebrities, and luxury hotels.

Unsurprisingly Liberdade is also the most sought-after address for big-name fashion labels. Cartier, Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton, Hermès and Gucci can all be found, offering a luxury shopping experience to rival Paris or Milan.

Treat yourself to a gourmet dining experience at one of the elegant restaurants, indulge in a delightful pastry at a traditional café or a stay at one of the luxurious hotels that adorn the Boulevard.

Chiado is also considered to be the best shopping district in Lisbon, in which fine boutiques and street markets coexist to offer a blend of classic and contemporary fashion. It is a great place to buy gold and jewelry as you often get a better deal here than anywhere else in Portugal.

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Avenida Alvear, Bueons Aires, Argentina

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One of the world’s most stylish and flamboyant cities, Buenos Aires just oozes sophistication and style. To fill your shopping desires head to Anevidar Alvear, one of the city’s most aristocratic avenues. Dating back to 1885 it is the home of architectural marvels like the iconic Teatro Colon, a grand opera house that has hosted world-class performances for over a century.

An impressive lineup of prestigious fashion houses and designer labels including Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Prada can be found. Additionally, exclusive jewelry boutiques such as Tiffany & Co. and Cartier offer dazzling collections for those seeking timeless elegance.

To complete the experience, a tantalizing selection of upscale restaurants and cafes adorn the avenue. Indulge in gourmet cuisine or enjoy a delightful afternoon tea at the classic Alvear Palace Hotel.

A lesser known but must-visit destination for upscale shopping in Buenos Aires is Galerías Pacífico, an exquisite shopping mall that exudes both historical significance and contemporary glamour. This magnificent Beaux Arts style building, originally constructed in the late 19th century as a railway station providing access to the Pacific Ocean, has a captivating past. The basement of Galerías Pacífico was later revealed to have served as a grim torture chamber during the military junta of the 1970s. Today, Galerías Pacífico is home to an exciting range of upscale boutiques. Inside, you’ll discover an array of world-renowned brands, including Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger and Lacoste, among others.

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Ginza, Tokyo, Japan

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Though not so much a street as a district, Ginza in Tokyo is a luxury shoppers paradise. The ritziest and biggest upscale shopping district in Tokyo is home to the city’s exclusive boutiques and glamorous department stores, such as the classic Mitsukoshi and avant-garde Dover Street Market. Dior, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Burberry, Printemps, Chaumet and Hermes all have boutiques here.

The district is also dotted with art galleries, traditional tea houses and Michelin-starred restaurants, offering a fusion of artistic expression and gastronomic delights.

Also in Tokyo, Omotesando Hills is a sleek, chic shopping, dining, art and café space that opened in 2005, designed by the famous modern Japanese architect Takao Ando. While this leafy boulevard includes some of the most popular shopping malls in the city, it’s also one of the more unusual shopping streets in that it is home to some of the most amazing examples of human-scale modern architecture that you’ll find anywhere in the world. The Prada and Dior buildings are both are outstanding when lit up at night.

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Champs-Élysées – Paris, France

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The mile-long Champs-Élysées in Paris, gliding glamorously down from the Arc de Triomphe, is probably one of the world’s most iconic shopping streets. In a city where stye and chic are ingrained in every moment, this legendary boulevard epitomizes the elegance, beauty, and grandeur of France.

The Arc de Triomphe, majestically standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées, commemorates Napoleon’s military victories and offers breathtaking views of the city. Further down the avenue, the Grand Palais and Petit Palais showcase magnificent Beaux-Arts architecture and host world-class art exhibitions.

High-end fashion boutiques, flagship stores and prestigious brands line the avenue, enticing fashion enthusiasts from around the globe. From Louis Vuitton and Chanel to Dior and Guerlain, the Champs-Élysées is a paradise for those seeking the epitome of style and refinement.

We also love Rue saint Honoré. Here you’ll find all the major fashion houses like Dior, Givenchy and Hermès, and lots of well-known brands mixed in with more niche designers. A favorite of magazine editors and style bloggers since it is just steps from the Jardin des Tuileries, where many fashion week runway shows take place, this is one of the shopping streets you should definitely have on your radar.

A sea of pink, so dense you cannot see the sky. Japanese cherry blossom is a mesmerizing sight. The significance of cherry trees goes back centuries in Japanese culture. Known as ‘sakura’ the pink flowers symbolize how short and precious life is.

Travel with us on our Majestic Japan tour and have the privileged opportunity to meet with a specialized Cherry Blossom Doctor. In the beautiful setting of Hirosaki Castle in Amouri, you will learn how they take meticulous care to nurture the cherry blossom trees. This ensures that each and every one is healthy and thriving during the blossom season each April.

Discover this on: Majestic Japan

The symbolism of Japanese cherry blossom

As well as their beauty, the cherry blossoms hold great symbolism for the Japanese. Said to be like the clouds, as they bloom all together and sit at the top of the trees. Then, like clouds, they suddenly disappear. This has come to symbolize ‘ephemerality or transient nature of life.’ Reflecting a longstanding of Buddhist concept in Japanese culture known as ‘mono no aware,’ or roughly, ‘the pathos of things,’ which recognizes both the beauty and mortality inherent in life.

For travel inspiration: Japan destination guide

Japan’s cherry blossom obsession

If you travel to Japan in the springtime, you will be swept up in the changes to the atmosphere and landscapes. Promises of new life and new beginnings mix with soft scents as plants and flowers burst into life. Japanese cherry blossoms take pride of place, a source of conversation as people become entranced by the trees. It is not uncommon to see people taking their time to photograph the blooms from every angle.

Shops and stores fill with pink products in celebration, and the Starbucks Sakura tree-themed drinks are in everyone’s clutches. Cherry blossom festivals are held in many parks and castle grounds across Japan. And the Japanese cherry blossom flower is seen on everything from wall paper to clothing.

Read more: A journey of a lifetime: unearthing Majestic Japan, with Luxury Gold

The cherry blossom doctors

Tree doctors, or arborists, are the specialists that keep the Japanese cherry trees healthy all year round. They’re able to diagnose the condition of a tree just by looking at the color of its leaves and branches or listening to the sound of the trunk. Throughout the year they take care of these precious trees, both to guarantee the most magnificent blossoms, and the ensure they can survive for further decades.

In Hirosaki, where Luxury Gold guests will meet a cherry blossom doctor, these guardians are known as the known as the sakuramori. Sakuramori literally means “people who look after sakura” in Japanese.

Most of Hirosaki Park’s cherry blossoms are the variety called ‘Somei Yoshino’ which live around 60 years. But Hirosaki also has trees that are over 100 years old and still blossom profusely. The oldest cherry blossom tree in Japan is over 2,000 years old. Called ‘Jindai Zakura’, it grows within the grounds of the Jissoji Temple in Yamanashi, with a root circumference of 13.5m.

Read more: Sakura: The story of an obsession

Preserving the green spaces in Japan

Whilst the volume of green areas in Japan’s cities has generally increased over the last two decades, in many places it is becoming more difficult for trees to grow healthy and strong. This is because of new diseases and pests. Urban forests are important to clean air, reduce flood risks and even lower stress, which is why the Japanese cherry blossom doctors are vital for keeping Japan’s cities green.

The tree doctors are highly skilled in trimming any branches that appear sick or are preventing other branches from growing. They also keep an eye out for mushrooms as these rot the branch from the inside, meaning the branch is more likely to fall.

Hirosaki Style Management

Hirosaki style management was first introduced in the 1960’s. The way sakuramoris take care of sakura trees originated from the highly successful pruning methods used by Hirosaki’s apple farmers. Local farmers grew apples on the lower part of the trees to facilitate harvest, and this technique has proved useful for managing sakura today.

Sakuramoris first thin the branches to allow new branches to grow. After pruning and fertilization, sakura flowers can then blossom from the lower part of the tree. This is why, compared to the average Somei Yoshino, each bud in Hirosaki Park can develop one to two more flowers. When cherry blossom season arrives, after a winter of loving care the flowers are simply spectacular.

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Hirosaki Castle and park

The most stunning setting, Hirosaki city is an old castle town in Aomori, Japan. Beautiful any time of year, its vast park is home to Hirosaki Castle. Widely considered as one of Japan’s most beautiful castles, Hirosaki Castle is the symbol of the park. It is one of the few Japanese castles that has been preserved in its original structure.

Constructed in the Hirayama style, the main tower was built on top of a hill for easier defense and surrounded by defensive walls, moats, and yagura towers. The park surrounding the castle is filled with cherry trees, and when spring arrives in late April the cherry blossom festival always draws huge crowds. The park has about 50 varieties of Sakura tree, with over 2600 trees overall.

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To have the opportunity to meet a Japanese cherry blossom doctor for yourself, and to explore the best of this enchanting country, take a look at our Majestic Japan luxury guided tour. Discover and elegant, enchanting and ever-changing Japan, with exceptional hotels and exquisite dining bookending each unforgettable day.

As leaves transform into a vibrant tapestry of reds and golds in the fall, and a crispness fills the air, Eastern Canada unveils its hidden charm. Tourist crowds disperse, allowing visitors to explore the region’s charming towns, historic sites and national parks at a leisurely pace. If you’re looking for the ultimate fall vacation – stunning landscapes, vibrant cities, breathtaking scenic drives and exceptional cuisine awaits.

For travel inspiration: Canada destination guide

Resplendent colors of the Niagara Range

Crimson, copper, mahogany and burgundy. During the fall, one of the most remarkable spectacles in Eastern Canada is the vibrant display of color enveloping the landscape. In particular, the Niagara Range with its towering cliffs, thundering waterfalls and charming towns becomes a haven for luxury travelers seeking a visual feast.

The fiery reds, burnt oranges and golden yellows of the changing foliage create a breathtaking backdrop for scenic hikes, leisurely drives and unforgettable photo opportunities. And witnessing the cascading waters of Niagara Falls framed by nature’s vibrant palette is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Discover this on: Indulgence in Eastern Canada

Seasonal culinary delights

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A highlight of fall travel is the abundance of seasonal produce and thriving farm-to-table culinary scene that makes Eastern Canada even more of a gastronomic paradise at this time of year. Indulge your taste buds with exquisite dishes prepared using locally sourced ingredients, including the region’s famous apples, pumpkins, and of course, maple syrup.

 Travel with Luxury Gold and indulge in a four-course dinner at the acclaimed Play Food & Wine in Ottawa. The menu emphasizes a shared dining experience, allowing guests to sample a variety of dishes inspired by global flavors. Its small plates of fresh food utilize local, sustainable and seasonal products sourced by farmers and foragers. Enjoy a fine vintage from their extensive wine list, bask in the warmth of the fireplace and sample a wide array of delicious dishes. A unique, modern and cozy culinary experience.

Offering quintessential First Nations gastronomy to visitors in the historic district of Quebec City, Sagamité restaurant treats you to meals that are both gourmet feast and cultural experience. Over Flaming Yatista prepared tableside, discover how important fire is to the First Nations. Tracing the path of Indigenous cuisine, warm up with a traditional soup, enjoy main dishes of seafood, game meat or pasta, and finish with a decadent dessert.

These two fine eateries are highlights of the exceptional dining that awaits you on Indulgence in Eastern Canada.

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Savor the grape harvest

Niagara is the best-known wine region in Canada, growing more than 30 grape varieties at over 60 wineries, and is responsible for the majority of Canada’s wine. One of the best places to go in October, in the fall the grape harvest is a bountiful and vibrant time to explore the regions vineyards and vintages, with many harvest festivals taking place.

We invite you to enjoy the crisp air and falling leaves while sipping some of the country’s finest vintages on a VIP tour and wine tasting at Château des Charmes. You’ll be welcomed with a limited production rosé sparkling wine, followed by a tour and tasting of wines from St. David’s Bench Vineyard, accompanied by hand-made local ice cream and local fruit.

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The thrill of the Salmon Run

Eastern Canada’s salmon run is a remarkable natural phenomenon that attracts fishing enthusiasts and nature lovers from around the world. This annual migration of salmon is a dazzling display of determination, as these majestic fish navigate their way back to their spawning grounds.

Primarily involving Atlantic salmon, these fish spend most of their adult lives in the ocean. However, once a year, they swim upstream against strong currents to return to their natal freshwater rivers and streams to spawn. As they migrate, they also go through physical transformations, developing vibrant colors and pronounced features.

Take time out at Eastern Canada’s numerous rivers to witness this marvel and gain a deeper appreciation for the delicate balance of nature. For visitors who prefer to observe the salmon run without fishing, there are often designated viewing areas, enabling you to witness the spectacle while minimizing disturbances to the fish.

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Treat yourself to exceptional hotels

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Fairmont Château Laurier, Ottawa. In the fall, Ottawa transforms into a stunning display of vibrant autumn colors and the Fairmont Château Laurier, situated in the heart of downtown, provides a perfect vantage point to admire fall foliage. A historic landmark hotel known for its grand architecture and luxurious amenities, the hotel’s strategic location allows guests to easily explore nearby parks and gardens, such as Major’s Hill Park and Rideau Canal, where you can immerse yourself in the beauty of the changing leaves.

Enjoy fine dining, exceptional service, and some of the suites and rooms at Fairmont Château Laurier are equipped with fireplaces, offering a cozy and inviting atmosphere for guests to enjoy.

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Quebec City. Perched atop the picturesque cliffs of Old Quebec, the iconic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is renowned for its breathtaking views and rich history. The hotel features luxurious rooms and suites, treating guests to a cozy ambiance while enjoying the charm of the city.

Opulent interiors provide a warm and atmosphere, while its grand halls and elegant rooms exude a sense of timeless beauty. Guests can savor the flavors of fall with seasonal culinary delights offered at the hotel’s restaurants. Additionally, the hotel’s central location allows easy access to the city’s fall festivals, events, and the beauty of the surrounding landscapes.

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One of the world’s most exquisite fall getaways, enjoy the ultimate luxury vacation with Indulgence in Eastern Canada.