Top 10 Coolest Malls in the World

Situated at the intersection of Elizabeth and Bourke Streets in the Southern Australian city of Melbourne, this mall has a much more storied history than most. Construction began on this building in 1859 and for much of the 20th Century, it functioned as the General Post Office for the province of Victoria. In 2004, restorations took place in order to bring the facade and interior back to their former glory, while repurposing the space to be a shopping mall. The historic nature of the building undoubtedly lends to the browsing experience.

Located in the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, the design of this mall hybrid was inspired by the architecture of Ancient Egypt. The structure is home to more than just shopping, with a hotel, private apartments, restaurants and even a nightclub all hosted within. There’s even a full souk inspired by 14th century markets of the Middle East. In fact, due the impressive scope of the development and the diversity found within, it’s often referred to as Wafi City.There are over 200 stores, ranging from high street options to high end.

This 29 story building in Orchard, Singapore is both a massive office tower and one of the most desirable shopping destinations in Asia. The main draw is Japanese department store Takashimaya, which causes the mall to be referred to by locals as simply “Taka”. This massive shop spans six levels, but one of the most popular features is the basement food court, where shoppers can taste delicacies from around the world. Another defining feature of Ngee Ann City is Books Kinokuniya, one of Southeast Asia’s largest bookstores. There you’ll find rare and used books as well as a massive collection of Japanese publications.

Known simply as SM MOA to many, this massive complex is located in Bay City in the Philippines. It opened in May of 2006 and actually comprises four separate but connected buildings. The Main Mall is home to most of the shopping and dining options while the Entertainment Mall hosts an IMAX theatre, a regular theatre, as well as an Olympic sized skating rink. There is also an outdoor music venue where many artists from a variety of genres have performed. Though it doesn’t offer accommodations, given the wide selection of neighboring hotels, you could easily spend a whole vacation there.

If you’ve seen the 2016 Disney movie “Moana”, you might know that the titular character’s name translates to “Sea”. This Hawaiian mall situated in Honolulu earns its name by sitting just across from the Pacific Ocean. The entire shopping center is open air, which works because of the typically lovely Polynesian weather. It’s actually the biggest open air mall in the world! You’ll find American mall stapes here like Bloomingdale's, Macy’s and Nordstrom but you’ll also be able to check out many local businesses as well as an unforgettable food court.

Mall of America has held the title of America’s largest mall since it first opened in 1992. Situated in the Minnesota suburbs outside of the Twin Cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, this gargantuan building has a floor area of 4,870,000 square feet. It’s probably most known for its indoor amusement park, Nickelodeon Universe (which used to be called Camp Snoopy). There are several roller coaster and other thrill rides as well as some picks for younger children. You’ll also find the Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium inside the mall along with mini golf, the Crayola Experience and FlyOver America. Not to mention, tons and tons of shopping.

In Russia, a GUM is a “Glávnyj Universáĺnyj Magazín,” which can be translated to “Main Universal Store.” These State Department Stores exist in many major Russian cities, but the most notable example is the one in the Kitai-Gorod area of Moscow in front of Red Square. Russia’s Catherine II commissioned the design of the building in the 19th century and since then it has been used for commercial purposes and office spaces throughout the years. Currently, it displays many wares by Western brands and is known for its luxury shops.

Want to pay a trip to Venice without venturing to Italy? Well, this trip won’t save you on airfare, but it’ll certainly be different! Located in Doha, Qatar, this mall is outfitted with indoor canals meant to mimic the Italian city complete with gondolas and a ceiling that makes you feel like you’re in the great outdoors. You can also enjoy the Gondolania Ice Rink - which is one of only two skating rinks in the entire country. International shopping is also a big draw here, with retailers from America, Germany and Italy sharing space in the building.

North America’s largest mall was created by the Ghermezian brothers, who also founded the Mall of America. You could spend days in this enormous place without running out of things to do. There’s the Galaxyland amusement park, a waterpark complete with wave pool, a mini golf course, an indoor lagoon, a shooting range, and much more. The building is separated into different themed areas like Bourbon Street, Europa Boulevard and Chinatown. You’ll find about every chain store you can imagine along with distinctly Canadian brands like Maison Simons.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Kanyon Shopping Mall

Istanbul, Turkey



Tokyo Midtown

Tokyo, Japan



New South China Mall

Dongguan, China

The nearby Mall of the Emirates may be home to a full indoor ski hill, but Dubai Mall still takes the title for most impressive shopping center in the city. In 2011, it was the most visited building in the world, and with good reason. In addition to some incredible shopping at the 1,200 vendors, this mall hosts the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo as well as the SEGA Republic indoor fun park and so much more. It’s located in the same complex as the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa. You can get a ticket to ride to itsobservation deck, which goes as high as the 148th floor.