Often said to be the shopping capital of Australia, Melbourne is truly a shopper's paradise, with an abundance of shops catering to all tastes and budgets. You will find everything from expensive designer brand clothing to novelty souvenirs and electronics.
The city has numerous areas and districts which cater to different items and budgets. Generally for high-end fashion the best areas to visit are Toorak Road and Block Arcade. Toorak Road is known for local and international designer labels and Block Arcade has a wide selection of outlets for just about every fashion brand name.
For bargain hunters the best area to go is Bridge Street in Richmond, which is just a short tram ride from the CBD. Bridge Street has countless fashion outlets offering great discounts on name brands. Throughout the city center you will also find outdoor markets that sell handmade and second-hand items.
By far the most famous street in Melbourne, Chapel Street provides over 1,000 shops as well as hundreds of restaurants, bars and café s. The shopping along Chapel Street is varied, with many brand name fashion outlets coupled with smaller boutiques offering great bargains. You will also find plenty of jewelry stores along Chapel Street.
This heritage listed shopping arcade was built in the late 1800s and is truly spectacular with an ornate interior sporting glass ceilings and 19th century Victorian era dé cor. The shops inside are generally quite expensive with exclusive name brands and one-off designer items. Block Arcade is worth checking out, even if you don't plan on buying anything.
Melbourne Central is a large sprawling shopping center located in the heart of the city which boasts hundreds of shops selling fashion items, consumer electronics and souvenirs. There is an array of brand name stores as well as discount outlets offering great bargains. The shopping center is connected to the city's extensive rail network with an underground train station.
Just a short tram ride from the CBD, Bridge Street in Richmond is a shopper's paradise with an extensive selection of fashion shops selling designer and name brands heavily discounted up to one-third of the original price. The area also has numerous café s and restaurants, making it perfect for a whole day of activity.
Toorak Road is situated in Toorak and South Yarra, which are two of the city's most affluent suburbs. The shops here are relatively expensive, with international and local designer brand fashion boutiques as well as exclusive jewelry stores. Shoppers will find many one-off fashion items and beautiful yet expensive handmade leather goods.
Melbourne is known for its shopping, with a large array of shops in the CBD. There are also an abundance of markets offering second-hand and handmade goods which attract large crowds. Melbourne has two major sales in the year; the end-of-year sale which starts on December 26 and the half-year sale during June.
