Shopping is an exciting part of discovering a new city, but often it can be exhaustive. These 10 extreme shopping spots offer a variety of out of the ordinary experiences from indoor skiing to underwater zoos, art performances and stunning architecture.
The Dubai Mall, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai Aquarium has more than 33,000 living animals including over 400 sharks and rays combined
Named the world’s largest shopping mall, The Dubai Mall opened its doors in 2008 and attracts more than 50 million visitors each year. But visitors aren’t just going for the 1,200 different shops, they’re also here for the world-renowned aquarium and underwater zoo, for a walk through the shark tunnel, or the Olympic-sized ice rink for a cool break from Dubai’s desert heat.
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PATH, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
PATH is downtown Toronto’s underground walkway linking 30 kilometres of shopping, services and entertainment
Looking to break into Toronto’s underground scene? Centrally-located in downtown Toronto, PATH is literally the ultimate underground shopping experience.
What started out in 1900 as a pedestrian pathway has transformed into a tunnel network a little less than 19 miles (30 km) long with more than 1,200 retailers, linking Dundas Street in the North to Queens Quay in the South. If you’re not in the mood for shopping and just want a warm way to go back and forth Toronto’s popular destinations, just join the other 200,000 people that use PATH every day to transit the city.
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Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota, United States
Nickelodeon Universe® features unique attractions and entertainment
Known for being the largest mall in the States, with more than 500 stores and services, there’s almost no chance of this behemoth shopping centre not having something for everyone, which is why it attracts more than 40 million visitors each year. And you’ll have no problem coaxing the kids into coming with you to the Nickelodeon Universe indoor theme park or the Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium.
Mall of America also hosts around 400 events with celebrity appearances, musical performances, book signings and movie premieres. So watch out — you might be able to catch a live performance by your favourite musician on your next visit!
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Ala Moana Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Catch the daily Hula show at Centerstage in Ala Moana Center. © Ray_LAC
Who wants to spend all their time shopping indoors in a tropical paradise? Luckily, Ala Moana in Honolulu is the world’s largest outdoor shopping centre, so visitors can get the best of both worlds. Get a fresh pineapple juice, stroll around and soak up the sun.
If you get tired of browsing through the 300+ stores and restaurants, you can catch the daily Hula show at Ala Moana Centerstage, one of the most popular public amphitheaters in Hawaii. The Centerstage hosts over 800 performances a year including a variety of local talents and the oldest municipal band in the US, The Royal Hawaiian Band.
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Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan, Italy
The central octagonal space in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
One of the world’s oldest shopping malls, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II opened in Milan in 1877. Because of its age, the galleria is also home to some unique architecture, with colourful glass ceilings and a bright glass dome connecting the two wings. It’s also home to some of Milan’s oldest restaurants and connects two famous landmarks, The Duomo and Teatro Alla Scala.
The Galleria is an architectural landmark in its own right and you’ll no doubt be in awe of the glass dome that tops the central octagonal space and the arching glass and cast iron roof that covers the entire street. This is an excellent sight for both the shopper and the architecture enthusiast.
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Madrid Xanadu, Madrid, Spain
SnowZone in Madrid’s Xanadu shopping centre. © Snowticias.com
Small-thrill theme parks and badly-lit restaurants have quickly become an all-too-familiar and uninspiring offering in shopping malls. So, what do you do about it? You invite your happy shoppers to an indoor ski park. Madrid’s Xanadu shopping centre offers year-round snow fun at SnowZone, an artificial ski slope complete with two ski runs and a chair lift.
Besides hosting more than 200 other shops and restaurants, Xanadu also boasts a cinema, a bowling alley, a karting track and a mini golf course.
There’s something for everyone and you’re guaranteed to have a fun and memorable day!
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West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Take a break from shopping for some aquatic fun in West Edmonton Mall’s World Waterpark. © IQRemix
North America’s largest shopping mall, West Edmonton Mall not only boasts more than 800 stores and restaurants, but is known for being a centre for recreational attractions, including an indoor amusement park, a water park, an 18-hole mini golf course, an indoor sea lion habitat, an NHL-sized ice rink, an indoor shooting range and the brand new Tsunami, a simulated surfing attraction that allows you to surf an endless wave in a controlled environment.
Walk down the mall’s themed wings, including Chinatown, Bourbon Street and Europa Boulevard for inspired shopping and dining.
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GPO, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
The old Grand Post Office is one of Australia’s most prominent buildings
Perhaps one of the most architecturally renowned shopping centres, Melbourne’s GPO was once the Grand Post Office, dating back to the Victorian architecture of the mid-1850s. The building’s unique architectural element is the clock tower that reigns over the busy intersection between Elizabeth and Bourke Street.
Located in the financial district, this small arcade has become a top spot for boutique shopping in Melbourne. Even if you’re not planning any shopping, this is a great opportunity to admire the beautiful multilayered architecture of one of Australia’s most prominent buildings.
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Strøget, Copenhagen, Denmark
City shopping in downtown Copenhagen. © Copenhagen Media Center/Ty Stange
A mix of old, new, budget-friendly and high-end, Strøget claims to be one of Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping streets. Stretching more than half a mile in the downtown area, Strøget is Copenhagen’s most active area, attracting up to 80,000 visitors a day during the summer.
But shopping won’t be the only thing on the agenda when you stroll through Strøget; take in the beautiful architecture, some buildings are as old as the early 1600s, enjoy the street music and do some people watching from a street cafe.
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Avenue des Champs-Elysées, Paris, France
Paris’ most famous shopping street, Avenue des Champs-Elysees
More than just a shopping district, the Champs Elysées is one of Paris’ most historically significant streets, stretching from Place de la Concorde and Place Charles de Gaulle to the Arc de Triomphe. Because of its popularity among visitors, this retail hot spot is also one of the most expensive streets to shop along, covered in high-end international brand stores.
Feel free to window shop and take in the sights from one of the many cafés whilst sipping a café noir and nibbling on a perfectly baked croissant.
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