Love shopping? Love travel? You’re in the right place. Check out these phenomenal shopping destinations across the globe, grab the plastic and off you go!
Christmas shopping getting you down? Fed up of fighting hoards of crazed shoppers in your local mall?
Shopping whilst traveling, now that’s another story. It’s so much more… well.. fun!
And there are some truly phenomenal stores in the world that you need to know about!
Check out this list of the 7 Most Incredible Department Stores in the World, grab a flight and you’re there!
1. Galeries Lafayette. Paris
Established in 1893, Galeries Lafayette is a 10-story architectural delight. With its majestic glass dome and art nouveau staircases, it takes department store shopping to a whole new level!
Step into this building, look up to the ceiling and it won’t be the clothes you’ll be thinking about.
Magnifique!
2. Harrods, London
The Harrods motto: All Things for All People, Everywhere gives you a little clue about the shopping experience you’re likely to encounter here.
The store’s seasonal Christmas department and Food Hall are world renowned.
Egyptian multi-millionaire, Mohamed Al-Fayed bought the store in 1985 for £615m.
This is one diamond-studded department store!
3. The Dubai Mall, Dubai
Ok, so not strictly a department store but I couldn’t leave it out.
The largest mall in retail history, the Dubai Mall is a 20 Billion Dollar project housing 1,200 shops.
You’ll also find the world’s largest Gold Souk, a mini-Galeries Lafayette, SEGA theme park, 22-screen Cineplex, a replica of London’s Regent Street, an Olympic ice rink and an aquarium.
Phew, super-sized shopping not for the faint hearted!
4. Macy’s, New York
A NYC staple, no trip to the big apple would be complete without a visit to the formidable force on 34th.
With 810 branches throughout the US, the New York flagship store is a shopaholic’s dream come true.
Macy’s isn’t just a shop, it’s an institution. In addition to fulfilling all our retail desires, Macy’s also organizes the annual Thanksgiving Parade and sponsors the capital’s 4th of July fireworks.
Here’s to the American Dream!
5. Shinsegae, Busan, South Korea
Another one for the records books, Shinsegae is officially the largest department store in the whole world.
In addition to floor upon floor of designer brands, visitors will also find a spa, roof garden and 60-tee golf range.
Worth a trip to South Korea? I think so!
6. The Gum, Moscow
The largest and most prestigious shopping destination in Russia, the Gum stands proudly in Red Square itself.
Built with the same glass roof and steel framework as the European train stations from the 1890’s, a trip to the Gum is also a trip back in time.
7. 10 Corso Como, Milan
Founded by Carla Sozzani, former Editor of Italian Vogue, Corso Como is, perhaps, the most stylish department store in the world.
Housing an art gallery, bookstore, restaurant and boutique hotel, 10 Corso Como has been labeled a “Concept Store – a mini lifestyle emporium”!
Copy-cat stores have sprung up in London and Paris, you saw it here first!
Been to any of these magnificent department stores? Got more fantastic shopping suggestions? Let us know, we want to hear from you!
If you liked this you might also like: The 15 Most Magical Places in the World.
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
This is a terrific collection. My feet get tired just looking at them!
Wonderful choices! And Number one deserves its place. Fantastic.
what fun!! i also love japanese department stores- they are incredible. great list!
when it come to shopping I am the first on the line. London is great for this and I never missed out on Harrod’s sales but the food hall is way better at Selfridges. Being a fanatic of shopping I have to say Macy’s is too much ever for me, is too big and confused that after a bit I just want to run out the building.
Hi Katie,
What a list! Out of the 7 shopping malls, I’ve only been to Harrods. Perhaps Mid-valley or 1-Utama shopping mall in Malaysia could squeeze into the top 10 most incredible departmental store, if you add 3 extra’s…
I bet the Dubai mall is having amazing sales now…
Great time to go!!
OK, this blog needs a byline, like: Tripbase, the place you visit when you need to get your travel groove on. Very cool post.