5 Shopping New York

Why it made the list: The definitive New York shopping neighborhood, cast-iron buildings, cobblestone streets, and flagship stores of just about every brand you know, plus the boutiques and pop-ups in between. It's busy and it's not cheap, but it's the one to do if you only do one.

Why it made the list: The famous one, the stretch of Fifth Avenue in the 50s where the grand department stores and luxury houses line up: Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, and the flagships that put on the best window displays in the world, especially at the holidays.

Why it made the list: The anti-Fifth-Avenue: independent boutiques, excellent vintage, design shops and makers, spread along Bedford Avenue and the streets around it. It's where you find the things you won't see at home, and the whole neighborhood is a good hang between stores.

Why it made the list: SoHo's smaller, calmer, more curated neighbor, a few blocks of independent designer boutiques and jewelry along Elizabeth, Mott and Mulberry, with almost none of the crowds. The best neighborhood in the city for unhurried, high-quality browsing.

Why it made the list: The scrappiest and most interesting of the five, vintage shops, young independent designers, record stores and galleries along Orchard, Ludlow and Rivington. It's where new labels start and where the best secondhand finds hide, in a neighborhood that still feels like downtown.