TOP 10 MOST POPULAR STREETS IN THE WORLD

Paris is by no mistake a jewel among European capitals and its Champs Elysées is one of the best world known promenades. The street begins at the Place de la Concorde and stretches to the Place Charles de Gaulle with Arc de Triomphe as its most famous feature. In 1616, when Marie de Medicis decided to build a long three lined path going from the Tuileries, she originally intended to create a quiet environment and that is why she used the Greek word Elusia – a place where heroes can relax. Today however the street gets very busy especially with New Year´s celebrations or national military parades.

Barcelona is the capital of vibrant Catalonia region in the north east of Spain. The city is best known for Gaudi’s architecture and one of the best football teams in the world. Visitors are also fascinated by the famous street called La Rambla. This boulevard connects the Plaça de Catalunya and the Monument a Colom, a huge monument celebrating Spanish discoverer Christopher Columbus. There is always so much to see there – all sorts of small shops, beautiful flower stalls and amusing artistic street performers. According to the visitors, it is a place of unforgettable atmosphere – a beating heart of stunning Catalonia.

Fifth Avenue in New York is one of the most popular shopping streets in the world.  Sounding a little morbid “shop till you drop” is the motto of this avenue. There is an abundance of shopping possibilities and everyone is able to find what they want there. Bergdorf-Goodman, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, and Versace are the top choices for women and for men – you can reach out for Bergdorf Men, Brooks Brothers as well as the famous Apple Store. The street stretches from Washington Square to the 143^rd Street. Only one bit of advice before you go – always be prepared to spend a small fortune there.

Appian Way in Rome is the finest piece of historical architecture. It was built in 312 BC and the purpose was to join the city of Rome with the city of Brindisi on Italy’s southeast coast. The most striking features are the gravestones and tombs along the road – a typical Roman way of burying their dead. The most impressive is the tomb of Cecilia Medulla; the wife of one of Julius Caesar’s generals. Everybody visiting Rome should definitely not miss this “step to the past” and those of you who like history and well preserved architecture – the Appian Way is undoubtedly the best choice for you!

Magnificent Mile might seem to be an American version of Champs Elysées. It is a wide boulevard full of exclusively expensive shops, various museums, friendly-looking and inviting pubs and five-star hotels. People can buy typical American trademarks such as Disney, Apple, Nike and many more there. The wide sidewalks are always crowded and the whole street is buzzing with life all the time. Do you like it “crowdy”? Visit Magnificent Mile. It is an American way.  

Gran Vía is the most famous shopping street in the capital of Spain, Madrid. The construction started in the middle of the 19th century when the urban planners decided to connect the Calle de Alcalá with the Plaza de España. The works started in 1904 and it took 25 years to finish it. There are huge buildings along Gran Vía Street and many visitors come to see and admire their beauty. But be aware that the street gets very busy and the car traffic in Madrid can be a little bit crazy sometimes. The street tends to be risky at rush hour, especially because there are not enough pedestrian zones. People say it is only a matter of time and patience before you get used to it and fall in love with Spain and the same can be said about Madrid and Gran Vía itself.

There are few streets in the world where you can watch history being written. Wall Street in New York is one of them. The name symbolizes a real wall which the Dutch erected to mark the northern part of the colony after purchasing the land from the natives in the 17^th century. Wall Street has been recognized as the world capital of finance since about a hundred years ago when various financial institutions and the New York Stock Exchange started their businesses there. The infamous Great Depression also began in Wall Street - with the Stock Market Crash in 1929 and the recent economic downturn of 2008-2009 has not started anywhere else but there. The history is being written there again – don’t miss it out. 

Lombard Street in San Francisco stretches between Embarcadero and the Presidio Park giving its way to one of world’s icons – Golden Gate Bridge. There is a famous section on the street near the top of Russian Hill where the hill is so steep that it would be very dangerous for all the vehicles to pass. In 1920’s this part of Lombard Street was rebuilt into a switchback with eight sharp turns. It is only allowed to go downhill and the driver needs to posses good maneuvering skills. Why not to try driving the street yourself?

Zeil is one of the busiest shopping areas in Germany and it offers huge department stores and luxury boutiques for all the shopaholics. In 1992 the Zeilgalerie, the largest shopping centre in Zeil, was openned. It has a unique spiral shaped interior so you can walk up its 10 stories without using stairs or escalators. If you are keen on shopping in a German style then you should definitely consider Zeil because you can’t go wrong here.

Váci Utca is the most famous street in Budapest and it is known, for a change, mostly for its shopping possibilities. It is the place where Hungarians has been spending their money for centuries. The Street starts from Vörösmarty Square and leads to the Great Market Hall (Nagycsamok) near Fővám Tér. The atmosphere is cozy and friendly at any time of the year. Apart from smiling people’s faces you can also enjoy magnificent architecture from the end of the 19^th and the beginning of the 20^th century. Budapest is easily reachable from many European countries and is always worth visiting.

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