December in Europe is one of the most fun months of the year: holidays and carnivals, Christmas markets, vacations and, of course, winter sales. Europeans consider winter discounts to be the most profitable and prefer to buy shoes and outerwear during Christmas sales, when prices are reduced by 70-80%.
We will tell you about the largest shopping centers in Europe, which are suitable for those who do not have time for thoughtful shopping and who want to do everything in time. Each of these centers has several hundred stores. In all countries, most of them are popular European brands – from luxury Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Dior to affordable H&M, Mango, Gap, Uniqlo. Local brands of clothing, shoes and goods occupy from 20 to 60 stores.
1. Les Quatre Temps, Paris, France
This center is located in the La Défense business district in the west of Paris. Les Quatre Temps is the largest shopping center in France. On four floors there are 230 shops, 40 restaurants, cinemas, children’s rooms and free underground parking for 6,500 spaces. About 45 million people shop here each year, most of them visiting during the winter and summer sales. In addition to clothing, footwear, equipment and accessories stores, Les Quatre Temps is famous for its huge toy store and 20 children’s clothing stores of French brands.
Opening hours: shops open from 10 to 20 every day, cinemas from 9 to 23, supermarkets from 9 to 22.
How to get there: by car on the A14 and A86 roads or by metro, line RER A, stop La Défense.
Winter discounts in France: from January 10 to February 20, 2018.
2. Centro Comercial Puerto Venecia, Zaragoza, Spain
Puerto Venecia is a group of buildings built in 2012 around an artificial lake. Hundreds of boats and several river buses go from one bank to the other. Most of the stores are European mass market, Spanish clothing and shoe brands, and about 20 boutiques of Spanish designers. In addition to 220 shops, the center has a cinema, an amusement park, a climbing center, a swimming pool and a karting area. And on Valentine’s Day, a chapel is installed in the main building of Puerto Venecia, where you can get married for free.
Opening hours: 10 to 22 Monday to Saturday.
How to get there: by bus 31 and C4 from the city center or by car on roads Z40 or Z30.
Winter discounts in Spain: from January 7 to March 7, 2018.
3. Intu Trafford Centre, Manchester, UK
Intu Trafford has an ideal location and a great range of products. Every year it is visited by 35 million people. It is especially popular during winter sales – almost all 280 stores, from luxury boutiques to hardware stores and mass markets, sell goods at a 50-70% discount. And in the largest stores of English brands – Marks and Spencer, Selfridges and Debenhams, discounts reach 80%. There is a lot of entertainment in the center: mini-golf courses, a huge food court with 60 restaurants, cinemas. In December, the Trafford Center is festively decorated, there is an ice skating rink on the ground floor, and Christmas sweets and mulled wine are sold on the main alley.
Opening hours: on weekdays from 10 to 23, on Saturday from 10 to 22, on Sunday from 12 to 18.
How to get there: by car on the M60 highway or by buses X50 and 250.
Winter discounts in the UK: from December 26, 2017 to the end of January 2018.
4. Arkadia, Warsaw, Poland
Arcadia, with its 200 stores, is the largest shopping center in Poland. It is located near the city center and is easy and quick to get to. In addition to the European mass market giants, there is an excellent children’s clothing store Smyk and a multi-brand German store Peek & Cloppenburg, with low prices and excellent quality. On the ground floor there are dozens of hardware stores. On the second floor there is furniture, goods and clothing; most of the brands here are Polish. Entertainment options in Arcadia include a food court, restaurants, cinemas, a sports club, and a children’s room.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 to 22 hours, Sunday from 10 to 21 hours.
How to get there: by buses 205, 409, 500 and 510, trams 1, 16, 17, 22, 27 and by metro, the nearest station is Dworzec Gdanski.
Winter discounts in Poland: from January 2 to mid-February 2018.
5. CentrO, Oberhausen, Germany
This shopping center is located near the border with Belgium and the Netherlands. There are 220 shops on two floors, including many excellent hardware stores, several large department stores (the best of which is Galeria Kaufhof),
about twenty American brands and hundreds of European clothing, footwear and accessories stores. Lots of luxury and designer boutiques. In the very center there are cinemas, restaurants, bars, a parking lot with 14,000 spaces and even a huge Christmas market. And very close to CentrO are Oberhausen Castle, a water park, Sea Life Aquarium and Centro Park amusement park.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 to 22 hours.
How to get there: via highway 42, tram 112 or buses SB91, SB92, SB93, SB96, 185, 939, 953.
Winter discounts in Germany: There are no exact dates, they start after Catholic Christmas and last until the end of January.
6. Wijnegem, near Antwerp, in Belgium
This three-story shopping center near Antwerp is famous for its shoe stores: Italian and French boutiques, independent designers from Belgium and the Netherlands, dozens of sneaker stores and professional sports shoes. In addition, the center has many hardware stores, children’s clothing and household goods. Most of the stores are mid-price brands, there are a few mass market brands, as well as luxury brands. Entertainment options include restaurants, a swimming pool, and cinemas. In December, the center will hold master classes for children and adults next to the main Christmas tree.
Working time:from Monday to Saturday from 9 to 20.
How to get there: from Antwerp by tram 5 or 10 or by bus 410, 411 and 412.
Winter discounts in Belgium: from January 3 to January 31, 2018.
7. Zuidplein, Rotterdam, Netherlands
This shopping center is located next to the train station, in the city center. It is divided into three large departments: the first contains stores with clothes, shoes and jewelry, the second contains children’s stores and household goods, and the third contains furniture, carpets and appliances. Most of the brands are affordable brands from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Many stores start sales even before the start of winter discounts – in early December, discounts often reach 20-40%. In December, there are performances for children on the 1st floor, a carousel and a Christmas market.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 9 to 18.30, Sunday and Monday from 12 to 17.
How to get there: Shuttles run every hour from Rotterdam Central Station to the shopping center.
Winter discounts in the Netherlands: from mid-December to the end of February.
8. Colombo Centro Commercial, Lisbon, Portugal
The center of Colombo is the largest on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal has the lowest taxes in Western Europe, which is why prices in stores are quite low. And during sales, the price becomes even more attractive. Colombo has 340 shops, 60 cafes and restaurants, cinemas, a bowling alley and an amusement park with a roller coaster. Children’s favorite store is the Disney Store, where you can buy a princess or superhero outfit. In addition to European luxury and mass market stores, there are 60 stores of Portuguese brands of clothing, shoes and bags.
Opening hours: from 9 to 24 seven days a week.
How to get there: by buses 703, 729, 750, 764, 765, 767, 799 or by metro to Colégio Militar/Luz station.
Winter discounts in Portugal: from December 26, 2017 to the end of February 2018.
Preview photo: haussmann.galerieslafayette.com
