Shop till you Drop at Europe’s Best Malls

With Minnesota’s 390,000 square-metre Mall of America and the 570,000 square-metre West Edmonton Mall in Alberta Canada, not to mention such iconic malls as the Sherman Oaks Galleria, you would think that the world’s best malls would be found west of the Atlantic. But the Old Country still has some tricks up its sleeve, and whether you’re looking to find that one special bargain or you just want to shop till you drop, Europe boasts some awesome shopping venues. European malls not only provide you with the full spectrum of shopping and dining options, but many also boast some unusual attractions for the non-shopper. As we will see…

Madrid Xanadú, Arroyomolinos, Spain

A fine example of a mall offering more than shopping can be found 30 kilometres from the centre of Madrid in the countryside just outside of the town of Arroyomolinos. In addition to offering over 222 shops and restaurants and the 15-screen Cinesa Movie Theatre, Madrid Xanadú is also one of Spain’s most popular places to go skiing and snowboarding. How, you may ask? Simple. The mall plays host to Madrid SnowZone, a huge covered ski slope with artificial snow. The mall, which is anchored by Spain’s famous mega-store, El Corté Inglés, along with its Hipercor at El Corté Inglés, was built in 2002 with the SnowZone opening in 2006. Most Madrid hotels will be able to help you find easy transportation to the mall.

Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin, Ireland

Though its 80,000 square metres makes it smaller than the Mall of America, Dundrum Town Centre is Ireland’s biggest mall, featuring over 160 tenants. These include Tesco Ireland, Marks and Spencer, House of Fraser, Next, Karen Millen, Harvey Nichols, GAP, Timberland and Penney’s, as well as its own petrol station at the shopping centre. A full list of tenants is available on the shopping centre’s website. Dundrum Town Centre’s claim to fame indirectly derives from its origin as a Pye television factory. It may be the only mall that has its own TV and radio stations. Dundrum South FM 93.9 is a local community-based radio station for South Dublin, which predates the mall by nine years, and the TV station, Dundrum Television is operated by RTE. Students from local schools get involved in the action, gaining valuable media experience. Dundrum Town Centre may also be one of the only malls to be blessed upon opening by the local clergy. Fifteen minutes from the heart of the Irish capital, the mall can be easily reached from your Dublin hotel.

Il Vulcano Buono, Nola, Italy

Though Il Vulcano Buono offers a choice of 155 shops, along with some restaurants and bars, the shopping is not what makes this 2007 shopping mall unique. Can you guess looking at the photo? Set right near Mount Vesuvius, the unique design by architect Renzo Piano is meant to represent a volcano itself. Its gently grass-covered slope blends harmoniously with the surrounding environment as it pays homage to the area’s most prevalent natural feature. There’s also a multiplex theatre and a gallery here, and its 160-metre circular centre, which is modeled on the Naples Piazza del Plebiscito, is used for concerts and events. The open sky allows light to enter through the “rim” of the volcano, and there are also skylights fitted with solar double-pane glass. The entire establishment occupies an area of approximately 450,000 square metres. Your best accommodation bet is to stay in the charming town of Nola.

Gasometer City, Vienna, Austria

Another unique mall that is more than a mall is Gasometer City, a community that boasts a 3,000 person music hall, a movie theatre, a student dormitory, 800 apartments and a shopping mall. All within a series of four brick gas tanks dating from the 1890s. Used until 1984 to store gas and then natural gas, Gasometer City is one of the most creative re-use projects in the world. Completed in 2001, this is a city within a city, featuring offices as well as residences and shopping, providing residents with everything they need without every stepping outside. Many theses and dissertations in psychology, urban planning, journalism and architecture have been written about the place, and even if you’re not in the mood to shop, it’s still an interesting Vienna attraction and not far from most Vienna hotels.

Mall of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria

Though the Mall of Sofia located at the central intersection of Aleksandar Stamboliyski Boulevard and Opalchenska Street would not draw much attention if it was located in any western European or American city, it is an indication of just how far capitalism has come in formerly communist Eastern Europe. This modern glass and steel shopping centre opened its doors in 2006 and also boasts distinctive office space in its attached Sofia Tower. Four-stories tall and taking up 70,000 square metres, the mall and office complex offers up a lot of shopping. There are 130 stores, a supermarket, pharmacies, a beauty salon, an Internet café and DVD and video rentals. And to drive herald even further the arrival of the west, just look at some of the food options. McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut are all there, along with Cinema City, a 12-screen multiplex cinema featuring the first 3-D IMAX theatre in Southeastern Europe. Set prominently in the city centre, the mall can be easily reached from most Sofia hotels.