The Best Shopping Malls in Moscow

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Russia’s main department store, the Moscow GUM is an ultimate architectural stunner, housing a variety of high-end boutiques. Built between 1890 and 1893 and known as the Upper Trading Rows until 1920, the legendary store is now home to over 200 boutiques selling a variety of brands: from luxury Dior to affordable Zara. Even if luxury shopping is not on your to-do list, the Moscow GUM is still worth a visit – the glass-roofed arcade faces Red Square, offers a variety of tasty Soviet-style eateries and makes a fantastic view in the dark.

Beautifully located in the historic centre of Moscow, the TSUM Department Store is mere steps from the city’s important tourist attractions, including Red Square. Built in 1908, the Gothic style store sells over 1000 famous brands, including Alexander McQueen, Lanvin and Carolina Herrera. Much like its cousin GUM, the TSUM Department Store is known for its luxury boutiques, stunning architecture and great eateries.

Okhotny Ryad Shopping centre is yet another shopping mall in the proximity of Red Square, which unlike GUM and TSUM offers a more down-to-earth price tag. One of the largest shopping centres in Moscow, this underground arcade is home to over 160 brands of apparel, footwear, jewelry, makeup and perfumes. Okhotny Ryad is also known for its great food court, where most tourists come to stop by, once they’ve done a tour of the Kremlin.

A pure hipster heaven, the Tsvetnoy Central Market, or simply Tsvetnoy is seven floors of shopping, eating and fun. From the high street ground floor to the deluxe boutiques on the fifth, Tsvetnoy sells brands for every taste and budget, including Walk of Shame, American Apparel, All Saints, and Vivienne Westwood. Awarded by multiple design accolades, the beautiful shopping mall is also home to many great pop-up shops, Moscow’s biggest Rive Gauche store and the best indoor farmer’s market in the city.

Somewhat farther from the city centre, AFIMALL City is a dramatically less crowded and very impressive shopping mall right in the heart of Moscow City Business District. Praised for its innovative design, the store comprises five levels of retail space with over 400 shops, 50 restaurants and cafés and an IMAX cinema. Built for adults and children alike, AFIMALL City is a must if you plan on visiting Moscow City Business District.

Metropolis is where you should go for high-street retail if you don’t feel like traveling too far from the city centre. Home to boutiques like Zara, Marks & Spencer, H&M, New Yorker, GAP and River Island, Metropolis also houses a huge supermarket, bowling alley, swimming pool and a cinema.

Of all the malls on the list, Aviapark takes the most time to get to, but Europe’s biggest mall is definitely worth the free shuttle bus ride. With over 500 stores, 80 eateries and a 17-screen cinema, all spread across the equivalent of 36 football pitches, Aviapark is officially the most popular shopping mall in Moscow. However, the major draw of the glass-roofed shopping centre is the 24-meter-tall pillar aquarium, filled with tropical fish.