Christmas is just around the corner and millions are gathering in the high streets and shopping centres, searching for the perfect gifts for family and friends. For an extra special Christmas shopping experience and to make sure there are still enough pennies left in your purse, the hotel price comparison website trivago has put together a list of ten hotels in Europe’s biggest Christmas Shopping cities – with room rates available for under €50 per person. Whether it’s the Grand Bazaar market in Istanbul, the Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris, the Golden U shopping mile in Vienna or the upmarket city quarters of Salamanca in Madrid – the retail offers in these cities are huge and there are bargain hotel rates to be had.
Here are the Top hotel deals for Europe’s major Christmas shopping cities — all of which are offered at a great value, are centrally located and come highly recommended with excellent traveller reviews:
London is the Mecca for shopping enthusiasts during the busy Christmas season. Along the largest retail streets in London, Oxford Street and Regent Street, the savvy spenders get their money’s worth. Large department stores, such as the Liberty on Regent Street and Harrods on Brompton Road, offer a unique shopping experience and a vast selection of gifts over several floors. Throughout the Christmas season, the world metropolis of London glows with festive lighting. A particular highlight is the Christmas tree decorated with lights at Trafalgar Square. Travellers taking care of their Christmas shopping in London can return to the traditional English hotel The Fox & Goose with ease. At the in-house pub, guests can rejuvenate after an exciting day of shopping, by the hotel’s cosy fireplace with a glass of Ale.
In the run up to Christmas, Vienna presents itself in its greatest splendour, with music which fills the atmosphere and a sea of lights over the high streets. The Golden U, the most exclusive Viennese shopping mile, which runs from the Kohlmarkt through the Hofburg, and extends all the way to Kärtner Straße, offers high class gifts for luxury goods shoppers. Stylish shops, perfumeries and jewellers like Cartier, Chopard and Tiffany’s are also clustered here. Travellers who prefer giving hand-made gifts should instead head to the MuseumsQuartier or to the one of the many Christmas Markets, which can be found at Schönbrunn Palace or the Town Hall. After an apricot-ginger punch in one of six glowing ice pavilions, the Senator Hotel offers a relaxing atmosphere. Situated just minutes from the centre of the Danube city, this elegant three-star hotel is a clear balance of comfort and functionality, evident in its modern red, yellow and black design.
The Finnish capital of Helsinki is embodied by chic design and trendy high streets. In the city’s design-quarter, stylish stops, the Design Museum as well as countless cafés and restaurants run through 25 streets. Along the hip Esplanadi high street, shoppers will find the well-known Finnish designer fashion boutiques. The vast St. Thomas Christmas Market, “Tuomaan Markkinat”, spreads Christmas spirit with its crafty creations, local delicacies and “Glögi” – Finnish mulled wine with raisins and almonds — to around 120 stalls. Just one mile from the centre is the Best Western Premier Katajanokka hotel. Although it was still a prison just ten years ago, today, the four-star hotel exhibits architecture dating back to 1837 combined with a modern interior design, providing a truly one-of-a-kind hotel experience.
The famous Königsallee in the German metropolis of Düsseldorf is especially loved for its shopping trips during the run up to Christmas. Throughout Advent, thousands of lights decorate the grand Chestnut trees which line the shopping mile. Schadow-Arkaden shopping centre can be found along the neighbouring Schadowstraße, which houses countless shops and boutiques. For a more festive shopping experience, there are six traditional Christmas Markets taking place at various points around the centre. The modern Innside Dusseldorf Derendorf hotel is located in the middle of the Rhine city. From the four-star hotel, travellers are able to reach Königsallee and the Christmas Markets with ease. The hotel is characterised by its linear, modern, white, grey and beige design. Each of the 160 light-flooded rooms features an open bathroom landscape with rain-shower.
The world famous northern Italian Fashion metropolis Milan lives up to its name. In the city centre, exclusive designer shops such as Armarni, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino and Versace are lined-up around the Via Montenapoleone and the Via della Spiga. Along the Corso Buenos Aires, travellers stroll past numerous small boutiques and shops. In the historic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, bargain hunters will find countless fashion outlets which are perfect for Christmas gifts. The comfortable hotel Radisson Blu Milan boasts having a pool and cosy lounge bar, ready and waiting for its guests. It is a trendy establishment with a Mediterranean accent, situated only three miles from the city centre.
Countless designer labels, rustic markets and elegant department stores make-up the Dutch capital of Amsterdam, one of the top shopping destinations in Europe. Along P.C. Hooftstraat, the neighbouring Van Baerlestraat and the Beethovenstraat, stand many international designer shops and jewellers. Around 70 Antiquarian boutiques are gathered on Nieuwe Spiegelstraat, close to the Rijksmuseum. The largest and most elegant department store in the city, the De Bijenkorf (en: The Beehive), offers a versatile, high-quality product range: from household accessories to toys, cosmetics and electronics - everything is covered. The modern Mint Hotel lies in the heart of the city centre of the Dutch capital. The hotel’s Sky Lounge offers a spectacular view over Amsterdam’s old town. Stylish furnishings, extravagant colour tones and full length windows are typical of the hotel bedrooms.
Paris is not only the city of love, but also the city for those who love to shop —due to its countless arrays of fashion labels, boutiques and shops. In the magnificent “temple of consumerism”, the department store Galeries Lafayette offers everything from fashion and lingerie to toys and CDs, all under one enormous glass dome. Along the Rue Saint-Honoré and the Champs-Elysées, fashion-conscious shoppers can find all of the major designers and brands. After an exciting day of shopping, the Champlain Paris hotel invites you to the cosy hotel bar-salon for a relaxing drink. The bedrooms are fitted with dark-wood furnishings and decorated in earth-tones. In the restaurant and bar, warm red and orange tones dominate the scene. This three-star hotel is the ideal starting point for Christmas shopping and sightseeing in the French capital. World famous attractions, such as the Moulin Rouge, the Sacré-Coeur, the Garnier Opera and a plethora of department stores are located within close vicinity of the hotel.
In the Polish city of Krakow, shopping enthusiasts will get their money’s worth. During Advent, a large Christmas Market and thousands of lights decorate the famous market place of Rynek Glowny, known for its historic Cloth Hall. Along the Royal Road, leading to the Vistula River via Grodzka Street, travellers can stroll by the elegant shops, renowned jewellers, fashion boutiques and countless tourist attractions such as St. Mary’s Church and the Town Hall tower. The modern Krakow Plaza shopping mall is home to internationally known brands, such as Diesel, Benetton and Hugo Boss. For the stopovers in the city, the Sheraton Krakow hotel awaits. The five-star hotel is situated directly on the Vistula River, the longest river in Poland. Following your shopping trip, you will find guests relaxing by the pool or enjoying a romantic dinner in the restaurant overlooking the Vistula River landscape.
In Madrid, Spanish fashion has found its home. International designer boutiques serving high society are mostly found in the exclusive high streets of the Salamanca city quarter. In the historic centre, congregated around the Gran Via and the Calle Mayor, there are scores of traditional shops waiting to be discovered. Each year in the run up to Christmas, the city is decorated by world renowned architects and designers, with thousands of lights, nativity scenes, gigantic Christmas trees and extravagant Christmas decorations – and this year, ice sculptures. In the centre of Madrid, at the famous Gran Via, lies the H10 Villa De La Reina hotel. The royally furnished hotel houses 74 light-flooded rooms with warm woods and bright fabrics. Major attractions, such as the Plaza Mayor and an abundance of department stores are easily within reach of this historic hotel.
Istanbul has evolved into a trendy travel destination – which is not hard to believe, considering the great shopping the city has to offer. At the traditional Grand Bazaar, the biggest Bazaar in the world spread out over 200,000 sq. metres, the selection of gifts is enormous: spices, perfume, jewellery, watches, leather goods, silk, oriental antiques, clothing and much more are offered at very affordable prices. On the high street, Istiklal Caddesi, boutiques and cafés are lined up one after another, while the shopping centre istinyePark includes 300 upmarket shops and is currently all the rage in Istanbul. Located in the historic district of Sirkecan in the centre of the old town, the Orient Express hotel is ideal for a stopover in Istanbul. The four-star establishment is a nostalgic hotel which is comprised of 54 rooms. In the evening, guests can enjoy the fantastic view from the hotel’s terrace-restaurant which overlooks Istanbul, the Bosporus and the Topkapi Palace.
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