Innsbruck
If the steep ski slopes near Innsbruck, Austria, have depleted your energy reserves, recharge batteries in the Tyrolean city's stylish shops. Many stores in this winter playground cater to the super-wealthy and there's no shortage of designer boutiques, but amid these are some surprises.
One is Klammer (20 Maria Theresien Strasse, tel: 43 512 589 397), which is hard to miss thanks to the striking golden metal sun hanging outside its door. There's more sparkle inside this jewellery shop, including a trio of amber and opal stones that make a delicate pair of earrings (Euro61/HK$700) and a silver almond-shaped set (Euro69.90) to dress up your ears.
Comma (5 Anichstrasse, tel: 43 512 588 862) has attire more suited to the catwalk than the slopes. Its stretchy high-waisted cotton jeans (Euro89.95) are ideal when teamed with a white blouse (Euro59.95), which has a fanned high collar for a look that's almost medieval. There's more fashion at Jones (18 Maria Theresien Strasse, tel: 43 512 560 842), which, like many of Innsbruck's chicer options, is found in the Rathaus Galerien arcade (above). Here, you can pick up looks worthy of New York and Milan.
Another shop suited to the region's wintry weather is Hager Pelze (16 Erlerstrasse, tel: 43 512 588 967), which displays numerous pelts with the kind of confidence you're unlikely to see elsewhere in Europe. Even if fur is not your style, it's fascinating to see such luxury on show.
For post-skiing evenings by the fire, Tyrolia Buch (15 Maria Theresien Strasse, tel: 43 512 22 330) can provide plenty of reading material and will keep children happy with a pirate jigsaw puzzle for Euro14.70 and a globe version for Euro29.99.
If, among all this shopping, you fall under the spell of the 16th-century Golden Roof (top), the gilded tiles of Innsbruck's most famous landmark, it's not far to Zimt und Zucker (9 Herzog Friedrich Strasse, tel: 43 512 573 378), which sells edible replicas made of the finest Austrian chocolate.
