Not only is Utrecht a great scenic and historical city, it is also ideal for Utrecht Shopping of all kinds. Perhaps the best way to experience the range of shops and boutiques is to go to the waterways of the city and pay for a Gondolier to give you an hour-long tour. Not only will he or she be able to advise you on where to shop, but the gondola itself can take you to the many shops along the canal banks.

Downtown Utrecht

The "old centre" is so named because, although it is no longer the centre of the city geographically, it is still where people do most of their shopping. Traffic of any kind is banned inside the centre except for bicycles, but there is a taxi stand only a short walk away if you have a lot of bags. Although there is a wide range of stores, they are really more geared toward young people, as most of them are fashion and clothing shops. Familiar stores such as GAP can be found here, but there are also shops which reflect more local fashions for young people. You are also most likely to find high-tech products here such as iPods and computers, as Utrecht has its own iStore.

Markets

If you have a small budget, you might want to see if you can pick up some souvenirs in one of Utrecht’s markets. There are two markets in Utrecht, one for flowers and one for more general goods. The general market takes place on Saturdays from 9 to 5, and the flower market is on Saturdays only. This a good place to pick up souvenirs or postcards and stamps to tell your loved ones how much you love the city. Although the Dutch don't generally like to haggle, you may be able to talk some salespeople down on the price of second-hand goods.

Stores and Malls

If the markets give you an appetite for second-hand goods, you might also enjoy shopping in the antique stores next to Utrecht’s Central Station. However, if you have more modern needs, you would probably be better going to Hoog Catharijne, which is actually Holland’s largest shopping mall. You should expect to find all the major Dutch stores here, including HEMA and Bijenkorf, as well as American-themed restaurants such as Frankie and Benny's. Americans will be relieved to know that although this shopping mall doesn’t have a McDonalds, another indoor shopping centre named LaVie does.