These Malls Are For More Than Just Shopping
The following list contains 11 of the biggest and best malls in the world. Not only do they have hundreds to thousands of retail stores and fancy restaurants, they also boast some insane attractions.
From Olympic-sized ice rinks and indoor theme parks to hotels and spas, these megastructures are one-stop vacation spots all on their own.
How We Rank
Our list of biggest malls in the world is based on the amount of “total retail floor area.” This is the number of square feet the property has for the display or sale of goods but does not include floor areas used for concealed storage, food preparation, a workshop or toilets.
How We Chose
While there are many massive malls in the world, our list consists of the megastructures that focus on retail and attractions, as opposed to conference centers and event space.
11 of the Largest Shopping Malls in the World
Now, let’s dive in. These 11 colossal shopping centers are ranked from smallest to biggest, with number 1 being the biggest mall in the world based on total retail floor area.
11. Central World
Located in Bangkok, Thailand, the Central World mall is the largest mall in Thailand. Aside from a retail experience, the mall doubles as a cultural hub for concerts, fashion shows, and festivals.
Central World: Size
With over 2 million square feet of total retail floor area, the mall is the third largest shopping complex in Asia. It has seven floors and just under 500 retail stores.
Asian Development Bank, Flickr
Central World: Attractions
Not only does this mall have hundreds of shops, it also features a 5-star hotel, a tower, two Hindu shrines, a 15-screen cinema, arcades, a fitness center, an ice rink, and Kinokuniya—the largest bookstore in Thailand.
10. The Mall of America
The Mall of America is the largest mall in the United States, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere.
The Mall of America: Size
The mall has a total retail floor area of about 2.9 square feet, and has 520 stores and services, which includes some impressive attractions.
The Mall of America: Attractions
The Mall of America features: the largest indoor theme park in the U.S., an indoor sea aquarium, an 18-hole mini-gold course, a Crayola exhibit, a flight simulation ride, a mirror maze, an indoor adventure course, an optical-illusion museum, a comedy house, escape rooms, axe throwing, arcades and more.
9. Istanbul Cevahir
Istanbul Cevahir is the largest shopping mall in Turkey, and in Europe. It’s known for its 27,000 square foot glass roof.
Istanbul Cevahir: Size
The mall has a total retail floor area of over 4.5 million square feet, and boasts 434 shops and 48 restaurants.
Istanbul Cevahir: Attractions
Aside from shops and dining, this massive mall also features: a 12-screen cinema, a show stage, a bowling alley, and an indoor roller coaster.
Christine + Hagen Graf, Flickr
8. SM Megamall Philippines
The SM Megamall is one of the biggest malls in the Philippines and consists of two main buildings—one filled with retail shops and the other filled with attractions. A bridgeway containing several dining venues connects the two.
SM Megamall: Size
With a total retail floor area of 5.1 million square feet, the Megamall is the third-largest mall in the country and has over 960 high-end retail stores.
SM Megamall: Attractions
The Megamall is filled with attractions, such as: 12 digital cinemas, a massive food court, an events hall, the Toy Kingdom, a bowling alley, an Olympic-sized ice rink, and a fashion hall.
7. The West Edmonton Mall
The West Edmonton Mall is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It held the record for biggest mall in the world from 1981-2004, and is currently the second-largest in North America.
The West Edmonton Mall: Size
The West Edmonton Mall offers a total retail floor area of 5.3 million square feet. It consists of more than 800 stores and services, which includes nine attractions, two hotels, and over 100 dining venues.
The West Edmonton Mall: Attractions
This mall has the biggest indoor theme park in the world, and the biggest indoor water park in the world.
It also has a massive ice palace, an underground aquarium with marine animal shows, a movie theater, an 18-hole mini-golf course, a bowling alley, a shooting range, an indoor skatepark, and a chapel.
6. Dubai Mall
The Dubai Mall is part of the complex of the world’s tallest building—Burf Khalifa—and is the second largest mall in the world by total land area (12 million sq ft).
It is also known for the famous Dubai Shopping Festival.
Dubai Mall: Size
This massive mall has a total retail floor area of 5.9 million square feet, and consists of more than 1,200 high-end luxury stores, and 120 restaurants and cafes.
Dubai Mall: Attractions
Aside from retail stores and dining, this colossal complex also features: an aquarium and underwater zoo with more than 300 marine animals, a 76,000 square foot indoor theme park that has 15 rides, the world’s biggest indoor virtual reality park, an Olympic-sized ice rink, a 22-screen cinema, a haunted house, and the world’s biggest candy store.
5. Golden Resources Mall
Located in Beijing, China, the Golden Resources Mall was the world’s biggest shopping mall from 2004-2005, being 1.5 times the size of the Mall of America.
It cost $3.8 billion to build.
Golden Resources Mall: Size
With a total retail floor area of over 6 million square feet, the mall boasts six floors with an array of luxury shopping options.
Golden Resources Mall: Attractions
The Golden Resources Mall is massive and consists of multiple luxury boutiques, department stores, a supermarket, numerous restaurants and bars, a skating rink, a gym, a spa, a movie theater, and a musical fountain.
N509FZ, N509FZ, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
4. Mall of Asia
The Mall of Asia is the largest shopping mall in the Philippines, and the sixth largest mall in the world, with four buildings interconnected by walkways and elevated pathways.
Mall of Asia: Size
The Mall of Asia is huge, with over 6.3 million square feet of total retail floor area. The four buildings include two primary ones: The Main Mall that has shopping and dining, The Entertainment Mall which is a two-story mostly open-air complex that hosts the Music Hall as well as shopping and dining establishments.
Mall of Asia: Attractions
Aside from hundreds of shops, the Mall of Asia also features an IMAX theater with one of the biggest screens in the world, a 20-seater tram that takes visitors around the mall, and an Olympic-sized ice rink.
3. New South China Mall
Located in Wanjiang District, Dongguan China, the New South China Mall is the biggest mall in the world, in terms of gross leasable area.
New South China Mall: Size
With a whopping total retail floor area of 7.1 million square feet, its no wonder there are over 2,300 stores inside.
But that’s not all this colossal shopping district has.
New South China Mall: Attractions
The New South China Mall also features an indoor-outdoor roller coaster. Each zone of the mall reflects international cities and has landmarks, like a replica of the Arc de Triomphe.
David290, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2. Berjaya Times Square
Berjaya Times Square is a colossal 48-storey complex located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It’s a twin-tower structure that features an array of impressive attractions.
Berjaya Times Square: Size
This shopping complex boasts 7.5 million square feet of total retail floor area, and has more than 1,000 retail shops and 65 food outlets.
Berjaya Times Square: Attractions
Aside from the 19-storey shopping mall, the complex also features: Cosmo’s World—Asia’s biggest indoor theme park, a five-star hotel, and an IMAX 2D and 3D movie theater.
1. Iran Mall
The Iran Mall is the largest shopping mall in the world. It’s a multi-purpose complex with seven floors, hotels, and a world trade center.
Iran Mall: Size
Iran Mall takes the cake with a total retail floor area of 21 million square feet, and over 700 stores and services.
Iran Mall: Attractions
The mall complex includes insanely impressive features, such as: an ice rink, a bowling alley, a swimming pool and spa, a running track, a fitness center, a sports clinic, a 12-screen cinema, close to 40 dining venues, an 18-storey hotel, a concert hall, a library, a car show hall, and indoor gardens.
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