This guide to the 10 best shopping malls in Moscow is for visitors who want to shop, eat or shelter from the weather under one roof. It has 10 entries, ordered by how well they suit a visitor, and mixes central landmarks near Red Square with large malls further out, including one outside the city limits.
Moscow has dozens of malls, and the largest ones combine shops with food courts, cinemas and attractions. The brand mix changes over time, and hours and stores differ from mall to mall, so each entry gives the stable facts and points to the official site for the rest.
At a Glance
| # | Place | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GUM | Best historic mall | Red Square, near Okhotny Ryad and Ploshchad Revolyutsii; free to enter, goods paid, check the official site. |
| 2 | Okhotny Ryad | Best underground mall | Manezhnaya Square, near Okhotny Ryad and Teatralnaya; free to enter, goods paid, check the official site. |
| 3 | Tsvetnoy Central Market | Best with a food market | Tsvetnoy Boulevard 15, near Tsvetnoy Bulvar; free to enter, goods paid, check the official site. |
| 4 | Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow | Best for toys | Lubyanka area, near Lubyanka Metro; free to enter, goods paid, check the official site. |
| 5 | Afimall City | Best in Moscow City | Presnenskaya Embankment 2, near Vystavochnaya and Delovoy Tsentr; free to enter, goods paid, check the official site. |
| 6 | Evropeisky | Best next to a railway station | Kievskaya Square, near Kievskaya; free to enter, goods paid, check the official site. |
| 7 | Aviapark | Best for size | Northern Moscow, near CSKA and Khodynskoye Pole; free to enter, goods paid, check the official site. |
| 8 | Metropolis | Best north-western mall | Leningradskoye Highway, north-west Moscow; free to enter, goods paid, check the official site. |
| 9 | Atrium | Best near the Garden Ring | Zemlyanoy Val, near Kurskaya and Chkalovskaya; free to enter, goods paid, check the official site. |
How We Chose
The entries were chosen from official information and reliable sources found online, not from personal visits, and each is described as an operating mall or department store in or near Moscow.
- Location: a mix of central malls and large ones on the edge of the city, mostly near a Metro station.
- Character: a historic landmark, an underground mall, a business-district mall and large family malls.
- Extras: food courts, entertainment or architecture, not only shops.
- Practicality: stores, brands and hours change, so check the official site before going.
1. GUM – Best historic mall
The department store on Red Square, across from the Kremlin, is an architectural landmark with a grand facade, a glass roof and elegant galleries, which suits sightseeing as well as shopping, according to travel sources. It has affordable shops and gift shops among the luxury ones, and well-known ice cream stands on the ground floor. See the Red Square itinerary on this site.
Good to know: Red Square, near Okhotny Ryad and Ploshchad Revolyutsii; free to enter, goods paid, check the official site.
Tip: Visit in the evening when the galleries are lit, especially in the festive season.
2. Okhotny Ryad – Best underground mall
An underground mall beneath Manezhnaya Square, steps from Red Square, opened in 1997, according to a general source, with more than 100 stores on three floors, a supermarket and a food court, according to a travel site. It is a convenient stop between the Kremlin and Tverskaya Street.
Good to know: Manezhnaya Square, near Okhotny Ryad and Teatralnaya; free to enter, goods paid, check the official site.
Tip: Use the food court on the top level for a quick lunch.
3. Tsvetnoy Central Market – Best with a food market
A mall next to the Nikulin Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard that opened in 2010, according to a general source, with fashion stores on several floors and a food market on one of the upper levels, according to a travel site. It combines shopping and eating under one roof. See the circus article on this site.
Good to know: Tsvetnoy Boulevard 15, near Tsvetnoy Bulvar; free to enter, goods paid, check the official site.
Tip: Combine it with a circus show in the evening.
4. Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscow – Best for toys
The Detsky Mir department store has been a toy and children's goods store in the center since 1957, with entertainment, a food court on its upper floors and a viewing point at the top, according to a travel guide. See the separate article on this site. Check the departments and the hours on the official site.
Good to know: Lubyanka area, near Lubyanka Metro; free to enter, goods paid, check the official site.
Tip: Combine the shopping with the roof deck in good weather.
5. Afimall City – Best in Moscow City
A mall in the Moscow International Business Center at Presnenskaya Embankment 2, opened in 2001 and described as modern, with several hundred stores, according to travel sources. It suits a stop on a Moscow City visit. See the Moscow City itinerary on this site.
Good to know: Presnenskaya Embankment 2, near Vystavochnaya and Delovoy Tsentr; free to enter, goods paid, check the official site.
Tip: Combine it with the observation deck in the skyscrapers nearby.
6. Evropeisky – Best next to a railway station
A large mall on Kievskaya Square next to Kievsky Railway Terminal, opened in 2006, with several hundred stores and an attractive interior, according to travel sources. It sits by the river and a pier, which makes it easy to reach from the center. See the Kievsky terminal and pier articles on this site.
Good to know: Kievskaya Square, near Kievskaya; free to enter, goods paid, check the official site.
Tip: Use it for a meal before or after a train or a river cruise.
7. Aviapark – Best for size
One of the largest malls in the Moscow region, with about 230,000 square meters of leasable space, according to a mall directory, on the former Khodynskoye Pole airfield in the north of the city. It has hundreds of shops, an aquarium and entertainment. See the Khodynskoye Pole Park article on this site.
Good to know: Northern Moscow, near CSKA and Khodynskoye Pole; free to enter, goods paid, check the official site.
Tip: Plan a half day, since the mall is very large.
8. Metropolis – Best north-western mall
A large mall near Voykovskaya and Baltiyskaya Metro stations in the north-west of the city, opened in 2008, with hundreds of stores, according to travel sources. It suits a long shopping and dining stop away from the center. Check the exact address and the nearest Metro station on the official site.
Good to know: Leningradskoye Highway, north-west Moscow; free to enter, goods paid, check the official site.
Tip: Check the nearest Metro station before you go.
9. Atrium – Best near the Garden Ring
A mall on Zemlyanoy Val opened in 2002, with about 150 stores, according to a general source, which is easy to reach from Kursky Railway Terminal and the Garden Ring. It is smaller than the big malls and easier to handle. See the Kursky terminal article on this site.
Good to know: Zemlyanoy Val, near Kurskaya and Chkalovskaya; free to enter, goods paid, check the official site.
Tip: Use it as a short shopping stop on the way to the station.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- The brand mix has changed in recent years, so check the stores you want on the mall's official site before going.
- Go on a weekday morning, since weekends and holidays are crowded.
- Combine a central mall with a sight nearby, such as GUM with Red Square.
- Look for food courts on the upper floors for a quick and cheap meal.
- Check which payment methods individual shops accept and arrange an alternative if your usual card cannot be used.
- Check mall closing times, since many stay open until late evening but vary.
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FAQ
What is the best mall near Red Square?
GUM and Okhotny Ryad are both within a few minutes' walk.
What is the largest mall in Moscow?
Aviapark is described as the largest centre in the Moscow region by leasable area.
Is GUM only for luxury shopping?
No, it also has more affordable shops, gift shops and ice cream stands.
Are the malls open every day?
Most are open daily, with hours that vary; check each official site.
Can I pay with a foreign card?
Do not rely on a card issued abroad. Check your card provider's information and confirm available payment options before shopping.
Are international brands available?
The brand mix has changed in recent years, so check each mall's store list.
Which mall is best with children?
The Central Children's Store and Aviapark, which have entertainment.
Is tax-free shopping available?
Check the current rules on the official sites, since they change and may depend on nationality.
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Last updated: October 10, 2026.
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