Where to hit the sales in Europe (by train) Cologne: 9 activities

Check out 6 top shopping destinations you can reach by train to grab a bargain: here are our top tips for fashion bargains in Paris, London and Brussels or Amsterdam, Lille and Berlin, whether you like luxury, vintage or designer wear.

Shop 'til you drop in London

During the London sales, you can get up to 80% off and there are lots of places to grab a bargain: Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, Carnaby Street, Soho, Oxford Street, Covent Garden and King's Road for the big brands; Camden Market, Covent Garden, Brick Lane, Brixton and Columbia Road Flower Market for vintage shopping. Fancy some luxury? Head for Mayfair and Knightsbridge; not forgetting London's iconic stores: Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Liberty.

When?

  • Winter sales: from 26 December (Boxing Day)
  • Summer sales: end of June

How to get there

Get to the heart of the British capital with Eurostar departing from Brussels, Paris or Lille.

Fashion and elegance in Paris

A district for every style: window-shopping in the Golden Triangle (Avenue Montaigne, Avenue George V and the Champs-Élysées) for lovers of luxury; top labels and brands at Galeries Lafayette, as well as Rue de Rennes and Rue de Passy; bohemian atmosphere and vintage boutiques in the So-Pi (short for South of Pigalle) district and Montmartre. In Paris, the undisputed 'fashion capital', you'll find reductions ranging from 30% to 70% at the end of the sales. A true treasure trove for fashionistas... if you're not afraid of the crowds!

When?

  • Winter sales:in the month of January
  • Summer sales: June/July

How to get there

Head to Paris from all major countries throughout Europe with EurostarTGV INOUI and ICE trains.

Brussels - where the designers hang out

Brussels is a fashion destination full of style and innovation. Stroll along Avenue Louise and Boulevard de Waterloo, top spots for a glamorous shopping session. Also spend some time in the Dansaert district, where Belgian stylists, designers and milliners hang out. The Belgian capital also has plenty of shopping centres and streets for fast fashion: Dockx Bruxelles, Woluwé Shopping Center, Chaussée d’Ixelles or Rue Neuve.

When?

  • Winter sales: from 1 to 31 January
  • Summer sales: from 1 to 31 July

How to get there

Head to the heart of Europe by EurostarTGV INOUIICE and InterCity train.  

Shopping breaks in Lille

Lille is known as an unmissable destination for all things fashion, Grab a bargain in the many shops around Rue de Béthune and the Old Town... not forgetting the city's four shopping centres: Le Printemps, Euralille, Les Tanneurs and V2.

You can also find all of our top tips in our article Shopping in Lille.

When?

  • Winter sales:in the month of January
  • Summer sales: June - July - August
  • Braderie (street market): 1st weekend in September

How to get there

Get to Lille by train with TGV INOUI departing from Brussels, while InterCity trains will take you directly there from Kortrijk, Ghent, Tournai, Mons and dozens of other stations in Belgium.

PS: Good news for the under 26s: TGV INOUI will take you to Lille for only €12* from Brussels.

Relaxing shopping in Berlin

Want to shop away from the crowds? Head for Berlin! There's no official sales period, so the city doesn't get as busy as neighbouring capitals. Here are our top tips: Kurfürstendamm (also called Ku’damm), Tauentzienstrasse, the KaDeWe department store and Europa-Center and Neues Kranzler Eck shopping centres. In the East of Berlin, visit Friedrichstrasse and its luxury boutiques, including Galeries Lafayette. Just around the corner you can find Quartier 207, whose extravagant style makes it the finest place in the city to go shopping.

When?

While there are no fixed dates, the sales period lasts around 2 weeks, with most bargains and discounted items to be found at the end of January and July.

How to get there

The ICE and InterCity trains will take you to Berlin from Brussels (with a change), as well as from the neighbouring countries. Nightjet and European Sleeper take you to Berlin by night train

Hot fashion in Amsterdam

Amsterdam might not be as well known as Paris when it comes to fashion, but the capital is just as good as neighbouring capitals. Fashionistas will love Kalverstraat, Nieuwendijk and Leidsestraat, where they'll find the most famous brands, while the chic brands are on display in PC Hooftstraat. The 9 Straatjes district is overflowing with vintage boutiques, workshops of designers or creators of jewellery, etc., as is the Red-light District, where trendy young designers can now be found.

When?

  • Winter sales: January
  • Summer sales:July-August

How to get there

Head to Amsterdam with direct EurostarICE and InterCity trains.