Venere Travel Blog - It's our business where you sleep!

With its population of over 16 million people, the city of Cairo is one of Africa’s and the Middle East’s largest cities. It is located on the Nile River; and despite being rich in historical significance, it is now home to a very modern society. As one would imagine, the city of Cairo has plenty of attractions and things to do; from the Egyptian Museum, in the heart of the city, to the Giza Pyramids and the Saqqara Pyramid Complex. However, many tourists visit Cairo for shopping purposes.

Plush department stores in Paris draw large crowds of tourists like its famous landmarks- Notre Dame and Eiffel Tower. Many of these stores boast impressive architectural elements in Art Nouveau style. These modern consumerist temples offer a complete shopping experience. Do not worry about money, just window-shop, enjoy a snack if you like, spot the celebrities, take pictures, and watch the world go by.

Brussels, the capital of Belgium doesn’t belong to the world famous fashion cities. But as a capital of a country it is expected that all shopping addicts might find what they are looking for: boutiques, department stores, and also shopping malls with as many shops as possible under one roof. The main shopping district is located in the city center. Venere has found the best for you:

Prada, Ferragamo, Fendi, Pucci… these brands are as synonymous with Italy as gelato and gnocchi. Fashion is a high priority for Italians, second only to food. Luckily a trip to Florence can satisfy both your need for fashion and food. Once you get your food fixed covered head to the outlet malls.

Thirty minutes south of Florence on the A-1 in the beautiful hills of Tuscany you can find The Mall. The drive alone is worth the trip, the golden fields are peppered with century old stone castles: it’s truly postcard perfect. read full article

Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Versace, Prada and Valentino, just some of the upscale brands that can make any fashionista’s knees melt. And where can you find all these in just one place? Milan of course!

Known as the world capital for fashion and design, one could easily find fashion establishments and shops from the not-so-cheap to the most expensive, from the antique to the newly tailored-just-for-you type housed in most of Milan’s shopping malls. read full article

Whether you are looking to add to the collection of vinyl you have back home or pick up a few “dischi” or records by your favourite artist, Florence has a healthy assortment of shops selling new and used albums. One euro deals have almost had their day, but like most cities it still offers up an occasional good find if you know what you are looking for and where to go. Didn’t find that rare Kraftwork or reissued James Brown LP? Don’t despair! With many of Florence’s record shops nestled in some of the city’s most inspiring neighbourhoods I can at least guarantee you will have an amazing time looking.

Data Records93 – Located between Piazza Santa Croce and Piazza delle Signoria the shop couldn’t be more convenient for students or the weekend visitor. read full article

One of the joys of Marrakech is soaking up the atmosphere of the Souks, the markets and bazaars that spring up across the city where almost anything can be bought or bargained for. Always remember that haggling is expected and almost required and that if you are a foreigner you will end up paying higher prices than the locals, but try not to let obsessive bargain hunting get in the way of your enjoyment.

The main street market in Marrakeck is Souk located next to the Place Djemaa El-Fna. This is the largest, most diverse but also the most aggressive of Marrakech’s street markets. It is a great place to start your Moroccan shopping experience and get a feel for what’s on offer and at what prices. read full article

Angel, a district in London, is full of little secret places, but by far the most interesting part of the area is Camden Passage. A higgledy-piggledy haven of market stalls, independent shops and cute little bars. Things change quickly around here. One minute there’s a guy selling vintage shoes, the next he’s moved on a there’s lots of vintage crockery in his place. But there are a few permanent features that deserve a mention. Here’s a little rundown of my favourite places:

The Elk in the Woods is a stunning little wine bar. A little bit rustic (expect your food to be served on a wooden chopping board) but if you can get yourself a seat outside, you’ll be very lucky. Grab a bottle and watch the world go by.

Frae is a tasty frozen yogurt place. Everything is organic and under about 200 calories – even with the chocolate sprinkles. It almost tastes like ice cream.

Looking for something with more calories? Paul A Young is the place in the area to buy your chocolates. It’s often regarded as the best chocolate shop in London, so pop in and check it out. read full article

Milan is certainly a city that should not be overlooked when planning your itinerary for the Bel Paese. With good fashion, good food and a great nightlife, what more could you possibly want from a city? We’ve put a list together of some fun facts about Milan which will undoubtedly make your planning to the fashion capital a bit easier.

London’s reputation as a city of global prominence doesn’t usually include romance. However, in recent years visitors have been discovering a city that can offer as much atmosphere and charm as young couples are willing to find under its many layers. Here is a guide on how to get the most out of a romantic day in London.

Start with a relaxing brunch either in your hotel in London or one of the many riverside cafes. read full article

Riga, the capital of Latvia, has been experiencing something of a Renaissance lately with many of the older buildings throughout the city being renovated and/or restored. Lately, Riga is viewed as one of the most attractive cities in Europe. Shopping in Riga offers the international traveler a number of excellent venues to enjoy such as the central markets and the little stands scattered around the central part of the city.

However, if you want to explore shopping malls in Riga, the following ones are highly recommended: read full article

Situated in Poland’s southern region is the city of Krakow, the capital city of the Malopolskie province which means Lesser or Little Poland. If there is one thing that many international travelers enjoy when they vacation in Krakow it is the abundance of shopping venues that are available, especially where the shopping malls are concerned.

For many years, Old Town offered the only shopping venues as Krakow resisted the shopping mall invasion that eventually happened. read full article

Oslo is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the entire Scandinavian region primarily because of the cuisine, culture, history, and shopping. However, when it comes to shopping, you will quickly discover that there is a wealth of second hand shopping venues to explore whenever you visit the city. Here are some “Oslo second-hand shopping tips” that you should consider.

Switzerland is one of the best places in Europe to visit traditional Christmas markets. The city of Zurich alone has several good markets in November and December. Zurich city centre gets its Christmas lights in the end of November when the famous shopping street Bahnhofstrasse is decorated for the holidays. From the traditional Christmas Market in Zurich’s old city to the annual Christkindlimarkt, here are the best places to go Christmas shopping in Zurich.

Bahnhofstrasse Christmas Shopping

Zurich’s most famous and possibly most luxurious shopping street, Bahnhofstrasse, is decorated for the holiday season in the end of November. read full article

Christmas in London isn’t all about mayhem on Oxford Street and teenage shoppers with angry elbows. There’s some great places to go for your festivities. Here’s my run down of the best Christmas spots for 2010. If you’re lucky, you might even get some snow.

The markets

Markets at Christmas are so much fun. You can legitimately walk around drinking booze for a start (as long as it’s mulled or spiced, no one will judge you). The Christmas market along South Bank is my favourite, but Covent Garden and Greenwich Indoor Market are also lovely at this time of year. They exude Christmas spirit, and if you don’t see some carol singers, you’re unlucky indeed. Make sure you head to the Slow Food market as well. It starts on the 19th December at Southbank. read full article