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Jardin des Tuileries
Paris, France
Water, especially with (small) boats, green, places to sit, people to watch and open space are always popular in an urban environment.
Grand Canal
Venice, Italy
This curving liquid spine is the literal and figurative backbone of the city, connecting tourist destinations to “town centers” for locals.
Charles Bridge and Mala Strana
Prague, Czech Republic
People, activity, water, opportunities to wander and outstanding views of Prague’s town center.
Djemaa el Fna square and souks
Marrakesh, Morocco
Morocco’s largest souk spills into this grand square, Marrakesh’s town center, that comes alive with food and entertainment and the sun’s shadows lengthen and the cool of the evening gives relief to the heat of the day.
French Quarter
New Orleans, USA
New Orleans food and jazz, the highest concentration of colorful people to watch, cafes, retail and entertainment for all.
Temple Night Market
Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Retail design at its roots – people, people, people.
Ortaköy Square
Istanbul, Turkey
A small waterfront square with outstanding views of the Bosphorus with cafés, restaurants, art galleries and artisan shops.
Piazza del Campo
Sienna, Italy
An artistic triumph of Reniassiance architecture, and one of the first squares in Europe to chase the cars out.
Piazza Navona
Rome, Italy
The best of the Eternal City – fountains, piazza and great streets.
Tivoli Gardens
Copenhagen, Denmark
Before there were theme parks – long before there were theme parks – there were the Tivoli Gardens. A mixture of nature and amusement, Tivoli has been a favorite pastime during the long days of Copenhagen’s remarkable Summer since 1843.
Old Town
Salzburg, Austria
The birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is steeped with history and romance, and its outstanding streets and squares filled with people, retail shops and restaurants.
Bryant Park
New York City
Bryant Park is a peaceful place in the midst of Manhattan’s towers and crowds. Just blocks from Times Square, this “Town Center” park is a favorite with locals seeking sun, sleep or society.
Grand Bazaar
Istanbul, Turkey
Since 1461, Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar has served as the city’s retail hub. 250,000 to 400,000 people a day wander the Bazaar’s streets, domed bedestens and dine in its shaded outdoor courts.
Souk al-Hamidiyeh
Damascus, Syria
Built 2000 years ago by the Romans, this ancient retail district has thrived ever since, and is worth study by anyone interested in creating a thriving retail place.
Piazza della Repubblica
Cortona, Italy
The Piazzas at the heart of this stunning Tuscan city are multi purpose, and are frequently and quickly repurposed – a late night outdoor theater becomes an early morning farmers’ market.
State Street
Santa Barbara, California
State Street, where the pedestrian comes first, the auto a distant second, is always active, always filled with people. It is a thriving outdoor retail and entertainment center where the primary form of entertainment is watching all the people.
Cesky Krumlov
Czech Republic
This stunning Southern Bohemian city, along with the castle perched above it, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and dates to the 13th century. This small but gorgeous town, bifurcated by its “S” shaped river, is an easy and rewarding walk.
Old Town Square
Prague, Czech Republic
Prague’s town square, with its animated clock, variety of architectural styles, retail shops, cafes and restuarants, as well as its proximity to a plethora of outstanding streets and districts is only rivaled in Northern Europe by the much larger Paris.
