The World’s Most Spectacular Shopping Malls 

Sure, the luxury stores and fourteen-screen movie theater area is wonderful, but how about an indoor ski slope? You probably weren’t planning a ski vacation to the United Arab Emirates, but Mall of the Emirates has made sure visitors can have a shopping mall experience unlike any other, and which ends by whizzing down a man-made indoor slope on downhill skis.

A sort of city within a city—this “mall” is built around a man-made canal system, and all the buildings house luxury shops, entertainment centers, and art displays. There’s also a whole floor dedicated to different ramen noodle booths.

Theme park? Check. Wedding chapel? Check. Flight simulators? Yep. Aquarium? You got it. All of these unique attractions, combined with stellar top-of-the-line shopping opportunities, explains why this is the most visited shopping mall in the world, with over 40 million people passing through each year.

It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that one of our favorite luxury shopping malls calls Beverly Hills its home. The structure boasts eight floors, and underwent a $500-million renovation in 2016, freshening up the skylight and window elements, and providing visitors with a brand-new, very fancy food hall that features top-tier restaurants.

This luxury mall is perhaps one of the coolest (literally) on the list because it may be a little hard to find. You have to go underground to access this mall, which features top-tier luxury brands and traditional Russian architecture. Because of this, you’ll find many locals doing their shopping in the Okhotny Ryad.

Can we even talk about shopping without talking about Harrods? A true mall classic, this breathtaking architectural masterpiece sits perched at the center of London and draws visitors from around the globe just to say they’ve been. Pro tip: if you’re planning to visit London just for the shopping, don’t miss Harrods at Christmas time.

If you’re interested in combining a love for water and shopping (over 800 stores worth of shopping!), West Edmonton is the mall for you. Not only is it the largest shopping mall in North America, but it houses the world’s largest indoor water park, complete with the world’s biggest wave pool. And if you’re looking for a little taste of global culture, you can visit the different theme areas like Bourbon Street, Chinatown, and “Europa Boulevard.”

While it may not be as expansive as some of the other malls in this roundup, the Galleria Vittorio is not only the picture of high class, luxury, and sophistication — it’s the oldest shopping mall in the world, completed in 1877, and a true testament to Italy’s esteemed fashion culture. Just as breathtaking as the beautiful clothing inside is the state-of-the-art Italian architecture that houses the luxury shops.

Located in the heart of bustling Doha, the Villagio Mall provides a particularly spectacular shopping experience, thanks to the domed ceilings that look like the sky — you can actually experience three different times of day (mid-day, night-time, and sunset), thanks to the lighting that mimics what we experience outdoors. Plus, you can take a gondola cruise down the canal that runs through the center of the shopping mall when you need a break from browsing.

Part of the awe of this beautiful, Venetian-inspired shopping center on the Vegas Strip (side from the fact that its 500,000 square feet) is, of course, the intricate canal system — it really does look just like Venice. Why walk from store to store when you can ride in a gondola?

It comes as no surprise that one of the most breathtaking and opulent shopping experiences out there exists in the city of lights. Think: royal palace meets bedazzled department store because it is, in fact, a department store chain. The flagship, located in the 9th, is a glimmery castle of luxury goods, and even if you’re not looking to spend, it’s worth a visit just to be a part of the glamor!

The largest shopping center in South America, the Costanera Center combines six floors of luxury shops with two high-end hotels, and four of the tallest skyscrapers in the southern hemisphere, one of which is the tallest in both Latin and South America.

Featuring a mega cinema, a concert hall with a pipe organ, and an aquarium that has the longest underwater tunnel in the entire country, the Lotte World Mall is the picture of the style and sophistication that defines South Korean fashion culture. The shopping mall is also attached to the Lotte World Tower, South Korea’s tallest building at 123 stories high.

With over 54 million visitors passing through each year, the Dubai Mall is one of the largest, most elaborate shopping malls in the entire world. Here, visitors can expect plenty of luxury stores, in addition to an aquarium, a theme park, a 22-screen cinema, and an interactive children’s entertainment center.