The world’s most expensive shopping street
Cartier. Tiffany & Co. Versace. Armani. Gucci. If you love shopping, you’ll love Fifth Avenue, New York with a passion. But be careful. As the most expensive shopping street in the world, it might be sensible to leave your credit cards at home.
The history of Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue first appeared on New York’s maps in 1811. It started off as a country road to Yorkville, but soon became a ‘grand boulevard’ and the ‘social spine’ of New York. In 1907, leading merchants and residents who were concerned about encroaching factories, formed the Fifth Avenue Association to guard against the ‘wrong’ kind of development.
A road of different characters
Fifth Avenue is 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) long. While the über-posh stores and boutiques are mainly found between 49th and 59th Street, there are a variety of other faces to this famous street. Where the Avenue borders Central Park there are lavish homes belonging to the super-rich. Between 82nd and 104th Street there are 9 museums which give this segment the nickname 'Museum Mile'.
Whichever area you fancy seeing, hop on and hop off one of our New York Bus Tours and you’ll enjoy a fun and informative view of one of the world’s most famous streets.
Other interesting facts about Fifth Avenue
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral, on Fifth Avenue, is the largest Roman Catholic Church in United States
- Fifth Avenue, New York is the scene of many famous parades
- 685 Fifth Avenue was sold for $595 million in 2014
