You first must stroll through GRAFTON STREET, the most famous pedestrian street in Dublin. Its upmarket shops may lure you in, but so will Brown Thomas, the city's smartest department store. It's a Dublin institution, home to collections of Irish designers and products, but also to the stores of international labels such as Prada and Chanel. Across the street is BT2, its younger and trendier store, selling the favorite labels of teens, which is why Paris Hilton chose to launch her "Heiress" perfume here.

At the very top of the same street is Stephens Green, a modern shopping center spanning three floors, with the top two circling around the bottom floor.

On the streets radiating from Grafton are the smaller specialist shops if you're looking for books, handicrafts, or gifts.

More gift options are found in GEORGE'S STREET ARCADE, a charming Victorian building for you to browse through old books, bohemian jewelry, and vintage clothes.

Another street you should place in your shopping list is FRANCIS STREET, lined with antique shops. You'll find more of them in its surroundings, which together make Dublin one of Europe's best for antiques shopping. Be warned that what you'll find is not exactly cheap.

For more old styles, but of clothing, go to Flip, a boutique in Temple Bar. There is vintage clothing from Europe and the United States, but also its own urban wear line.

For other cool designs (if you're in town on a Saturday) move on to the COW'S LANE MARKET, a designer market found at the western edge of Temple Bar. You'll have all the alternative and innovative youth fashion there, including many handmade originals. Browse the funky clothing and accessories both outdoors on Cows Lane and indoors in the Viking Centre.

If you enjoy that, you may also like Designyard, a craft gallery in Temple Bar showcasing works by dozens of Irish art designers, including sculptures, paintings, and ceramics.