Luxury shopping in Rome: Via Condotti, Roman brands and tax refund (2026)
Luxury shopping in Rome is concentrated around the Spanish Steps: Via dei Condotti is the flagship street, surrounded by Via Borgognona, Via Frattina and Via del Babuino. Houses born in Rome have their boutiques there: Bulgari (jewellery, founded in 1884), Fendi (leather goods and fur, 1925), Valentino (haute couture, 1960), Brioni (tailoring, 1945) and Laura Biagiotti (1972). Travellers from outside the European Union can reclaim VAT on their purchases, under the conditions described below. Information verified on 26 October 2026.  ## The streets, ranked by budget | Street or area | What you find | Budget | |---|---|---| | Via dei Condotti | The big luxury houses, Bulgari first | Very high | | Via Borgognona, Via Frattina | High-end fashion, designer boutiques | High | | Via del Babuino | Design, art, antiques | High | | Via del Corso | Big ready-to-wear chains | Medium | | Via Cola di Rienzo (Prati) | Mid-range fashion, near the Vatican | Medium | | Monti, Via Margutta | Independent designers, artisans, vintage | Varies | For the area and the addresses around the Spanish Steps, see Tridente; for artisans and vintage, vintage shops and artisans. ## What to buy in Rome - **Jewellery and leather goods from the Roman houses**: the most useful step is comparing models from the same brand, because range and prices vary by boutique. - **Gloves and leather**: workshops around the Spanish Steps and the centre sell gloves and leather bags. - **Made to measure**: a suit, shirt or shoes handmade by an artisan. - **Food souvenirs**: for affordable Roman products, see what to bring back from Rome. We give no price per item: prices vary by boutique and season; compare before buying. ## Tax refund: how to reclaim VAT Travellers whose residence is outside the European Union can request a refund of Italian VAT (22%) on purchases meant to be taken home. The principle: ask for the tax-free form in the shop (show your passport), have the items validated by customs at the airport before checking in your bags, then collect the refund through the tax-refund operator. The per-shop threshold and validity period are set by the Italian administration (around 70 € per shop according to our sources, to check before you buy). Keep the items new and unused in your hand luggage for the customs check. ## Opening hours and sales Big shops generally open from 10:00 to 19:30 or 20:00. For closing days and sale dates, see shop hours and sales. ## Shopping with an adviser To avoid wandering the shops alone, a shopping tour with an image consultant saves time: the small-group "Monti Sustainable Fashion Tour + Personal Shopper" lasts 2 hours, mixes vintage, second-hand and artisan workshops, and includes a style consultation. To stay nearby, see luxury hotels in Rome and hotels near the Spanish Steps.
