Do you want to take advantage of your trip to do a little shopping? So discover in this post the best outlets for shopping in Europe!
When I think of outlets, I think of open-air shopping malls, with stores with incredible promotions for me to make thousands of purchases. It's that time to fill your suitcase on your trip, to return home with incredible things.
Well, this concept really applies to outlets in the United States. But, outlets in Europe are a little different. Yes, they are often open, and yes, they have incredible promotions.
However, the truth is that the best outlets for shopping in Europe focus on luxury brands. There are few outlets for Nike and Adidas, for example, but several for Gucci and Prada. Therefore, the discounts are incredible, but they don't make very expensive products affordable, right?
If this type of luxury shopping interests you, however, you will end up in the outlets on the old continent. Here in this post, I’ve selected some of the best:
Best outlets for shopping in Europe
Here on the blog there is already a post about the best countries to shop in Europe. The outlets on this list are all in cities in these countries, as they are undoubtedly the best for those who want to include some shopping in their travel itinerary.
Bicester Village in London
Located an hour from London, Bicester Village offers a shopping experience like no other in Oxfordshire. With more than 150 fashion and lifestyle boutiques, you will find renowned brand stores such as Gucci, Prada, Jimmy Choo and Alexander McQueen, all offering discounts of up to 40% on the original in-store price.
In addition to shopping options, Bicester Village also has several restaurants and cafes for when you need a break from shopping. There's Italian food, sushi, and even a Ladurée and a Pret-a-Manger. The outlet also has a spacious parking if you decide to go by car and Free WiFi.
Anyone who is close to London and wants to do some brand shopping should definitely pay a visit. Here are some other stores that can be found there:
- Acne Studios
- Burberry
- Bottega Veneta
- Christian Loubotin
- chloe
- Dior
- Furla
- Fendi
- Gucci
- Jimmy Choo
- Yes Malone London
- Maje
- Off-White
- Sandro
- UGG
- Versace
You can check out the rest of the stores on the official website.
La Vallée Village in Paris
In La Vallée Village, near Paris, you will discover an impressive selection of over 120 luxury boutiques. There you will find iconic brands such as Gucci, Prada and Saint Laurent with tempting discounts.
In addition to renowned international brands, you also have the chance to explore French designer stores, with discounts of up to 60%. Furthermore, the pieces are always changing according to the season, so you can always find something new.
To complement your experience, La Vallée Village offers a variety of services, including parking, free Wi-Fi and dedicated assistance through a concierge service. The food selection at the outlet is not the most varied, the focus is on coffees and desserts, but there is a Pret-a-Manger and the occasional restaurant for lunch.
Some of the stores in this outlet:
- Armani
- Balmain
- Burberry
- Christian Loubotin
- chloe
- Calvin Klein
- Dolce & Gabbana
- Fendi
- Gucci
- Guess
- Kenzo
- Jimmy Choo
- Moncler
- Marc Jacobs
- Maje
- Prada
The complete list of more than 120 stores can be found on the official website.
The Mall in Firenze
In the heart of Tuscany you will discover The Mall Firenze, a luxury outlet that is a true paradise for fashion lovers. With brands like Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Valentino, you'll get incredible pieces at an incredible discount.
In addition to high fashion brands, The Mall Firenze is also a great outlet option for finding accessories and footwear. The surroundings are also charming in their own right, and you feel like you're on a movie set while shopping in Europe. Now that's a good life, right?
There is parking for visitors, but the restaurant options also leave a little to be desired – there is only one location, ToscaNino, and it is separated into two parts in the outlet: one that is just a restaurant for lunch, and the other that serves some breakfast options and a lunch buffet.
Stores you can find there:
- Alexander McQueen
- Bottega Veneta
- Burberry
- Celine
- Coach
- Dolce & Gabbana
- Fendi
- Gucci
- Loro Piana
- Maison Margiela
- Moschino
- Off-White
- Saint Laurent
- Versace
You can see the complete list here, but the selection is very limited, focusing on quality.
La Roca Village in Barcelona
In La Roca Village, near Barcelona, you will find another outlet from the Bicester group, this time La Roca Village. With more than 140 big-name stores like Prada, Gucci, and Armani, you can find discounts of up to 60% on some products.
It is an outlet with a wide variety of stores, including clothes, accessories, jewelry and even beauty products. Among those mentioned so far, it is the one with the most “accessible” stores, such as Longchamp, Desigual, Bimba y Lola, Puma and New Balance.
It is also the outlet with the best restaurant options, with several Spanish tapas menus, Asian food and even a Starbucks.
Available stores:
- Adidas
- Asics
- Bimba and Lola
- BOSS
- Calvin Klein
- Columbia
- ,
- Unequal
- Dyson
- Dolce & Gabbana
- Furla
- Guess
- Gucci
- Golden goose
- Kipling
- Levi's
- Longchamp
- Loewe
- Maje
- Max Mara
- New Balance
- Prada
- Polo Ralph Lauren
- UGG
- Vans
You can check the full list on the outlet's website.
How does tax refund work in Europe?
By shopping at outlets you will save a lot compared to the store price. But, did you know that your purchases can be even cheaper? Yes, this is possible through the system Tax free implementing for tourists in the European Union.
It works like this: products sold on the old continent already have taxes included in the sticker prices. To encourage tourist purchases, however, several European countries work with a system of tax refund, with which you can get between 10% and 15% of the amount paid for a product back.
to get your tax back, when shopping, ask for the document related to the program at the store cashier. When arriving at the airport leaving the EU, before boarding, validate the documents at the fee refund kiosk, and then go to the kiosk of the company that will make the refund, in the boarding area. It's super practical, and most of the time you receive the money right away.
Conclusion
The old country may not even be a cheap shopping paradise like the United States. However, if you like branded products, visiting the best shopping outlets in Europe can save you hundreds to thousands of Euros!
And you, have you visited any of these outlets? Bought what? Tell me in the comments!