Milan and its hinterland have twenty operating shopping malls, spread along the motorway corridors and metro lines. There is no single "best" mall: it depends on what you are looking for, where you are staying and who you are with. This guide ranks them by overall quality, starting with the five that offer the richest experience in terms of variety, dining, entertainment and services.
147 stores, 38 restaurants, UCI Cinemas and 10,000 free parking spaces: Il Centro Arese is the most complete mall in the Milan area. It sits on the former Alfa Romeo factory grounds, north-west of Milan. The Iper La grande i hypermarket occupies an entire wing, while the gallery spans two levels with a mix from Zara and H&M to R-Store Apple and Lego. Dining is equally broad: from Japanese at Bomaki to burgers at Bun Burgers and Johnny Rockets. The downside: no metro access (car only, or bus from Rho Fiera).
116 stores, 29 restaurants and a history dating back to the 1990s. The stand-out feature for families is Fiordakids, a dedicated play area, plus nursery and changing rooms. The Space Cinema has an EPIC screen with panoramic display and immersive audio. Decathlon and Leroy Merlin are both inside the complex, a rare combination. How to get there: bus 230 from metro M2 Abbiategrasso.
Milan's newest mall (opened 2023). 131 stores and 44 restaurants: the food court is the largest in the Milan area by number of outlets. Notorious Cinemas has 10 screens. Modern architecture with natural light and open spaces. The reference supermarket is Esselunga. How to get there: Cascina Merlata commuter rail stop, or metro M1 to Molino Dorino then bus 35.
62 stores and 26 restaurants in a unique architectural setting beneath the three towers designed by Zaha Hadid, Arata Isozaki and Daniel Libeskind. The easiest mall to reach by public transport: metro M5, Tre Torri stop, with direct access. More premium than suburban malls: Anteo art-house cinema, restaurants like Altrove Cucina & Bistrot, and shops like Boss and Calvin Klein. Best for an urban experience without leaving the city.
92 stores and 13 restaurants, with Corte del Gusto open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The real strength is the surrounding retail cluster: IKEA, Decathlon and Leroy Merlin are all within a few hundred metres, allowing you to combine fashion, home, sport and DIY shopping in one trip. No cinema. How to get there: by car (tangenziale est, Carugate exit) or shuttle from metro M2 Cascina Gobba.
141 outlet brands with 30-70% discounts, in an open-air format at Locate di Triulzi, south of Milan. The only outlet in the Milan area (Serravalle is in Piedmont and FoxTown is across the border in Switzerland). Brands include Calvin Klein, Nike, Guess, Levi's, Puma. Car only.
More an entertainment hub than a traditional mall: UCI Cinemas with 18 screens, PlayCity bowling and 31 restaurants versus only 17 stores. The right choice for an evening out, not for shopping.
80 stores and 18 restaurants in Assago, directly on metro M2 (Milanofiori Forum stop). Near the Mediolanum Forum concert venue. The only large mall in the southern suburbs reachable by metro without a transfer.
79 stores and 13 restaurants in Peschiera Borromeo, 4 km from Linate airport. Ipercoop hypermarket. The reference mall for the south-east quadrant.
57 stores and 16 restaurants in Bellinzago Lombardo, on the road to Bergamo. Cinema Arcadia (4K Laser multiplex), PlayCity bowling and KFC among the dining options.
Most complete offer: Il Centro Arese (147 stores, 38 restaurants, UCI Cinemas, 10,000 parking spaces)
Families: Fiordaliso (Fiordakids play area, nursery, The Space Cinema EPIC)
Best dining: Merlata Bloom (44 restaurants, Milan's largest food court)
By metro, no car needed: CityLife (M5 Tre Torri) or Milanofiori (M2 Milanofiori Forum)
Home + fashion combo: Carosello + IKEA + Decathlon + Leroy Merlin in Carugate
Outlet shopping: Scalo Milano Outlet (141 brands, 30-70% off)
Evening out: Bicocca Village (UCI 18 screens, 31 restaurants, bowling)
Last updated: July 2026
Founder of CentroCommerciale.it. I write practical guides for people who want to visit Italian shopping malls without wasting time.
Riceverai comunicazioni settimanali con le novità dai centri commerciali di Milano: aperture, eventi, guide nuove.