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Best shopping destinations in Asia

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Tokyo
Japan's capital of temples, towers and food
9.7
Equal parts quirky and refined, this huge city has shops for every taste. Ginza has old department stores and luxury brands while Akihabara sells electronics, anime goods and retro games. Takeshita Street in Harajuku has youth fashion and crepe stands while Kappabashi Street sells kitchen knives and plastic food models.
Highlights:
  • 🖼️ Visit the teamLab digital art museum
  • 🌆 Enjoy panoramic city views from observation decks
  • 🍣 Savour sushi at a local eatery
Bangkok
The city of contrasts and chaos
8.6
November to February is the cool and dry season, when long days of mall and market hopping are most comfortable. Siam Paragon and CentralWorld are huge air conditioned malls while MBK Center has cheap phones, clothes and souvenirs. Night markets such as Talad Rot Fai sell vintage goods and street food.
Highlights:
  • 🌇 Watch the sunset over Wat Arun by the Chao Phraya River
  • 🚤 Take a boat ride through Bangkok’s bustling floating markets
  • 🏯 Visit the glittering Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha Temple
Dubai
Glamour, Adventure and Desert Charm
9.2
Few cities have as many giant malls and shopping is a big part of almost every visit. Dubai Mall has an aquarium and an ice rink beside more than 1,200 shops. The Gold Souk in Deira sells jewellery by weight and the Dubai Shopping Festival runs each winter.
Highlights:
  • 🏜️ Take a desert safari and ride camels over golden dunes
  • ⛷️ Shop and ski inside the Dubai Mall and Ski Dubai
  • 🏙️ Ascend the Burj Khalifa and watch the city from above
Singapore
Tropical city-state of hawker food and gardens
9.5
Located at the southern tip of Malaysia, this island nation has been a free port since 1819. Malls such as Marina Bay Sands and Jewel Changi hold hundreds of shops and indoor attractions. Little India's Mustafa Centre is open all day and night and Haji Lane has small indie boutiques.
Highlights:
  • 🏮 Wander through Chinatown’s temples and traditional shophouses
  • 🌳 Visit Gardens by the Bay and its iconic Supertree Grove
  • 🌆 Admire the futuristic skyline from Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
Hong Kong
Where East Meets West
9.3
Ruled as a free port since 1841, this city has long sold goods with no sales tax. Causeway Bay has big Japanese department stores and Pacific Place in Admiralty holds luxury brands. Stanley Market on the south side sells art, clothes and souvenirs beside a seafront promenade.
Highlights:
  • 🥢 Shop and eat street food in Mong Kok’s bustling markets
  • ⛴️ Sail across Victoria Harbour on the iconic Star Ferry
  • 🌇 Ride the Peak Tram and admire skyline views from Victoria Peak
Istanbul
Where East meets West in stunning contrast
8.7
Layered with Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history, this city has always been a place of trade. The Spice Bazaar sells Turkish delight, dried fruit and spices in bright piles near the Galata Bridge. Istiklal Avenue is a long walking street of shops while Arasta Bazaar sells carpets and ceramics.
Highlights:
  • 👑 Explore the opulent Topkapi Palace and its imperial treasures
  • 🚤 Cruise along the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia
  • 🕌 Admire the grand Hagia Sophia’s domes and mosaics
Shanghai
A dazzling mix of modernity and tradition
9.0
Often compared to New York for its size and style, this port city has shopping streets for every budget. Nanjing Road East is a pedestrian street of big stores that leads to the Bund. Tianzifang and the former French Concession have small boutiques, art studios and cafes in old lanes.
Highlights:
  • 🌸 Wander through Yu Garden and explore its traditional pavilions
  • 🏙️ Take the world’s fastest elevator to Shanghai Tower’s observation deck
  • 🌃 Admire Shanghai’s skyline from The Bund promenade at night
Seoul
Where Tradition Meets High-Tech Marvels
8.6
Late night shopping is a local habit, with big markets that open in the evening and stay busy until dawn. Dongdaemun has wholesale fashion malls and a design plaza with curved silver walls by Zaha Hadid. Insadong has traditional crafts, teahouses and paper shops while Hongdae sells indie fashion near the university.
Highlights:
  • 🌇 Admire Seoul’s skyline from N Seoul Tower at sunset
  • 🛍️ Shop and eat street food in bustling Myeongdong
  • 🏯 Explore Gyeongbokgung Palace and watch the royal guard ceremony
Kuala Lumpur
A fusion of cultures and skyscrapers
8.1
Hot afternoons and sudden rain showers push shoppers indoors, so the city has built huge air conditioned malls. Suria KLCC sits under the Petronas Towers and Pavilion is a luxury mall on Bukit Bintang. Central Market sells batik, pewter and handmade crafts in an old art deco building.
Highlights:
  • 🪷 Visit the Batu Caves and climb the colorful staircase to the temple
  • 🛍️ Shop and dine in the bustling Bukit Bintang district
  • 🏙️ Stand beneath the towering Petronas Twin Towers and take in the view
Kowloon
Vibrant streets, markets and skyline views
9.1
Open from afternoon until late at night, this side of the harbour is busiest after sunset. The Temple Street Night Market sells clothes, gadgets and snacks while Ladies Market on Tung Choi Street has cheap fashion. Sham Shui Po has fabric, beads and electronics stalls while Fa Yuen Street has sneaker shops.
Highlights:
  • 🛕 Visit the vibrant Wong Tai Sin Temple for blessings
  • 🛍️ Shop and eat at the bustling Ladies Market
  • 🏞️ Explore the peaceful Kowloon Walled City Park
Jaipur
The Pink City of Royal Splendor
7.5
Known as the Pink City, this Rajasthan capital is a major centre for jewellery, textiles and handicrafts. Johari Bazaar sells gemstones and silver while Bapu Bazaar sells block printed fabric and leather shoes called mojaris. Sanganer and Bagru nearby print cloth by hand using carved wooden blocks.
Highlights:
  • 💍 Watch city life unfold at the bustling Johari Bazaar
  • 🐘 Explore the majestic Amber Fort and ride an elephant uphill
  • 🌅 Marvel at the Hawa Mahal’s pink lattice windows at sunrise
Myeong-dong
Seoul’s Bustling Shopping Hotspot
9.0
Shops have crowded this central Seoul district since the early 1900s and bargain hunters still fill it every day. Today the streets are lined with Korean skin care and make-up stores that hand out free samples. Street food carts sell spicy rice cakes, egg bread and grilled lobster after dark.
Highlights:
  • 🌃 Explore late-night neon alleys filled with buzzing energy
  • 🍢 Taste street food classics like tteokbokki and hotteok
  • 🛍️ Shop the latest K-beauty and fashion trends
Chiang Mai
Ancient temples and mountain escapes
8.1
Bargaining politely with a smile is part of everyday shopping in the markets of northern Thailand. The Sunday Walking Street fills the old city with handmade crafts, silver, wood carvings and street snacks. Bo Sang village makes painted paper umbrellas and nearby San Kamphaeng sells silk and pottery.
Highlights:
  • 🛕 Visit the sacred Doi Suthep temple atop the mountain
  • 🍲 Join a traditional Thai cooking class with locals
  • ⛩️ Explore the ancient temples of the Old City
Shinjuku
Skyscrapers, neon bars and a huge station
9.3
Built around a train station that handles millions of riders each day, this district is a hub for shopping. Department stores such as Isetan and Takashimaya stand beside giant electronics shops like Yodobashi Camera and Bic Camera. Underground passages keep shops open late and the big Kinokuniya store sells books and stationery.
Highlights:
  • 🦖 Snap a photo with the giant Godzilla head in Kabukicho
  • 🌳 Stroll the beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
  • 🌆 Visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation decks
Hainan
China’s Tropical Escape-Beaches & Beyond
7.6
On a tropical island in the South China Sea, this province has become a major duty free shopping zone. Huge duty free malls in Sanya and Haikou sell perfume, watches, bags and cosmetics. Between shopping, visitors rest on nearby white sand beaches where the sea stays warm almost all year.
Highlights:
  • 🌳 Explore Yanoda Tropical Rainforest Park trails
  • ⛩️ Visit the serene Nanshan Temple and gardens
  • 🏖️ Relax on the pristine Yalong Bay beach
Tabriz
Bazaar Wonders and Persian Heritage
6.4
Located on the old Silk Road, this northwestern Iranian city has traded goods for more than 1,000 years. The Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex is a World Heritage Site with brick domes and long covered halls. Halls sell carpets, gold, spices and sweets while buyers still bargain in the old style.
Highlights:
  • 📜 Stroll through Maqbarat-o-Shoara, the Mausoleum of Poets
  • 🕌 Visit the Blue Mosque with its stunning turquoise tiles
  • 🛍️ Explore the historic Tabriz Grand Bazaar, UNESCO site
Chatuchak Market
World's Largest Weekend Shopping Maze
Set beside a large park in northern Bangkok, this weekend market covers a huge site split into about 27 sections. Thousands of stalls sell clothes, plants, antiques, pets and handmade crafts at low prices. It is open at weekends and shoppers cool off with coconut ice cream between stalls.
Highlights:
  • 🛍️ Bargain for unique handmade souvenirs at local vendor booths
  • 🍜 Taste authentic Thai street food at the market's food stalls
  • 🏺 Hunt for rare vintage finds in the antique section
Grand Bazaar
Labyrinth of Timeless Treasures
With more than 60 covered streets and about 4,000 shops, this is one of the largest covered markets anywhere. Its oldest part dates from the 1450s and shops still sell gold, carpets, ceramics and leather. Sellers often offer tea while buyers bargain over the price, so a purchase can take an hour.
Highlights:
  • 🍵 Sip traditional Turkish tea in one of the historic cafés
  • 🌶️ Explore vibrant spice shops that fill the air with aromas
  • 🛍️ Haggle skillfully for beautiful Turkish carpets and lamps
Orchard Road
Singapore's Shopping and Cultural Hub
Lined with shade trees and glass malls, this wide boulevard feels like a polished outdoor shopping centre. Malls and department stores stand along its 2.2 kilometres and underground walkways link many of them. Big sales usually run in June and July during the Great Singapore Sale and lights fill the street at Christmas.
Highlights:
  • 🏘️ Stroll along Emerald Hill Road’s charming heritage houses
  • 🏷️ Explore vintage finds and bargains at Far East Plaza
  • 🛍️ Shop luxury brands and local designers at ION Orchard
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