Vaucluse
If you do nothing else in Carpentras, make sure you find time to visit the fabulous Friday market, when several hundred stalls fill rue d’Inguimbert, ave…
Must-see shopping in Europe
Ljubljana
This fantastic delicatessen with more than 300 products from farms (mostly) in the Karst stocks pršut (air-dried ham, not unlike prosciutto) in all its…
Trieste
This jewel-box pastry shop and cafe was one of Joyce's favourites. Its nutty, spicy, boozy Triestine speciality cakes – putizza, presnitz and pinza – are…
Belfast
At Ulster University, this dynamic artshop sells pieces by students, alumni and other local designer makers, including graphics and prints, sculptures,…
Kraków
This small, exclusive art gallery features modern Polish artists from the 1940s to the 1970s. Look for the Polish drip paintings, reminiscent of Jackson…
Venice
Nelson Kishi's studio contains wonderful prints and original works, mainly in ink on paper, many of them depicting Venetian scenes. Kishi's delicate and…
Warsaw
In an area well endowed with antique and vintage stores, Look Inside stands out for its cool selection and attractive displays. It also has contemporary…
Verona
Don’t be fooled by the name – this is no ordinary dusty antique shop. Rather, it is a treasure trove of vintage posters, maps, prints, engravings and…
Granada
By day, La Oliva sells fine Spanish wines, high-end olive oils and other gourmet treats. By night, the tables come out and multilingual owner Francisco…
The Veneto
Taking over the town's main piazza and surrounding streets, Asolo's monthly antiques market is one of the region's finest, peddling anything and…
The West End
Forbidden Planet is a trove of comics, sci-fi, horror and fantasy literature, as well as action figures and toys, spread over two floors. It's an absolute…
Fira
This gallery is filled with the sinuous, surreal woodwork of Albanian-born sculptor Eduart Gjopalaj: delicate, lattice-like platters, serene faces…
Trondheim
Modern designer homewares dominate this funky Norwegian chain – it's all about Scandinavian cool without an outrageous price tag. A couple of doors up,…
Baixa & Rossio
With stores in Porto and Madrid as well, this high-design T-shirt shop is one of Europe's best. It features a select, monthly changing array of clever and…
Belfast
This shop and exhibition space displays the work of more than 40 local designers and artists. High-quality pieces include ceramics, artwork, cushions,…
Calabria
Even among Italian delicatessens, this long-established salumeria is something special. It’s a temple to all things fungoid (get your Sila porcini here),…
Kaliningrad
Easily the biggest and best of several amber shops along the riverfront promenade in Fish Village. Counters full of amber stones, necklaces, bracelets and…
Jiřího z Poděbrad Farmers Market
Prague
Food vendors and farmers descend on to the grassy square above the Jiřího z Poděbrad metro station four times a week to sell their fresh fruits and…
Volterra
One of only four female alabaster carvers in Volterra, Gloria Giannelli creates elegant hand-carved pieces that are rich in fretwork detail – the vases,…
Budapest
Off the northern end of Váci utca, this atelier-shop has attractive folk art with a modern look and remains a favourite place to shop for gifts. Lovely…
Akureyri
We covet everything in this unique shop, from the woollen blankets to the hipster-chic lopapeysur (traditional Icelandic sweaters) and the old Iceland…
Warsaw
One of the best and certainly the most colourful collections of Polish folk-art souvenirs in the Old Town. Across two floors you'll find good examples of…
Vilnius
Artist and designer Saulius Vaitiekūnas has been making striking, unusual jewellery from Baltic stone for many years and there's a great deal of symbolism…
Hamburg
This gorgeous little boutique selling handmade gold and other jewellery is a lovely counterpoint to the luxury international brands that dominate Neustadt…
Central Rīga
Renowned local designer Elīna Dobele specialises in exquisite handmade shoes for men and women. They're true artisanal products, as artful as the nearby…
Valencia
For any of your hat needs, head to this venerable concern near the Estación del Norte, run by the Albero family since 1820. Many are made by the family,…
Kraków
Eye-catching retro design shop, featuring mainly reproductions of furnishings, lighting, ceramics and wall art from the 1960s and '70s. There's also some…
Ljubljana
As much a wine shop as a wine bar, this is always our first port of call when buying a bottle. Although Movia is its own label, the knowledgeable staff…
Zadar
This gorgeous little shop, tucked away on a quiet old-city street, sells high-quality Croatian wines, olive oils, honeys, truffles and liqueurs, all from…
Kraków
Poland has always excelled in the underrated art of making film posters and this amazing shop has the city’s largest and best choice of posters, created…
Laugavegur & Skólavörðustígur
Kron sells its own outlandishly wonderful handmade shoes with all the flair you'd expect of an Icelandic label. Colours are bright; textures are cool; and…
Antibes
A wonderful – and as its name hints, very Provençal – local market selling fruit, vegetables, meat, cheese and local products like tapenade (olive spread)…
Budapest
A considerable collection of antique swords and pistols, as well as porcelain, paintings and other items from China, Japan and other parts of Asia…
Belfast
With three floors filled with pieces by local artists and designers, Souk is the perfect place to pick up Belfast-themed items including pottery, printed…
Kilkenny City
Top-end Irish crafts and artworks from artisans county-wide are sold at this design centre. Look for John Hanly wool blankets, Cushendale woollen goods,…
Honfleur
Natacha's terrifically vibrant, bright designs are a delight. It's a small shop, but it packs in a lot of colour and life. Pick up a ceramic from €120;…
Corfu Town
Gloriously aromatic spice and condiment shop, run by an ever-so-enthusiastic Greek-Canadian-Lebanese woman with a palpable love for devising her own…
Thrace & Marmara
This excellent store near the main square in Merkez sells locally produced items including artisan-made soap, olive oil, jams, honey and dibek coffee. The…
Baixa & Rossio
Specialising in the best of the best and in business for more than a century, Manteigaria Silva does a brisk trade in staunchly curated Portuguese ham,…
Piran
Slovenia's best-known chocolate is produced by this chocolaterie, based in the hamlet of Olimje in the east of the country. This boutique outlet is a…
