With the approach of the New Year holidays, we are launching a series of reviews on the most popular tourist destinations.
With the upcoming New Year holidays, we devote the first review to the most interesting shopping malls of Helsinki and other popular cities in the country.With the approach of the New Year holidays, we are launching a series of reviews on the most popular tourist destinations. Our goal is to tell about the best shopping centers for New Year shopping. The first review in the outgoing year we dedicate to the most interesting shopping malls and outlets in Finland.
Let's start from shopping centers in Helsinki.
Itis
Itis one of the largest and most popular shopping and entertainment centers in Helsinki. It brings together about 120 stores of international brands, 40 restaurant concepts and boasts the newly opened first and only 9-hall cinema in the country with IMAX. Among the brands represented are a large number of Finnish and Scandinavian brands (Stockmann, H&M, Lindex), as well as giants like Zara and Intersport. In addition, 5-7 interesting stores of world brands in the pop-up store format are constantly open in Itis.
Kamppi
Kamppi Shopping Center is conveniently located 500 meters from Helsinki Railway Station on the same square as the famous Chapel of Silence. Of course, this is one of the top locations for shopping in the capital of Finland. The company local stores here are European and American middle + brands, including Gant, CK Jeans, Guess, as well as interesting multi-brand concepts. There are more than 50 cafes and restaurants in the mall, ranging from Burger King, Subway and Starbucks to the concepts of Japanese, Scandinavian and Mexican cuisine.Stockmann
Of course, when it comes to shopping in Finland, you can not ignore the main network of local department stores Stockmann. The flagship store is located here, within walking distance of the station and at the intersection of the main shopping streets of the city. The area of the eight-storey department store is about 50,000 square meters: four floors of clothes, shoes and accessories (including premium brands), as well as household goods, electronics, perfumes and cosmetics, as well as an excellent grocery store.
Sokos
The second largest chain of stores in the classic department store format in Finland. The flagship store is conveniently located in the city center. The tenant mix is made up of world brands of middle and middle plus (Guess, DKNY, Vagabond, Ecco), as well as numerous local brands that are not represented in Russia. Prices are on average lower than at Stockman, and an additional bonus is the whole floor of regular sales. On the ground floor there is a grocery supermarket.Redi
A good alternative to boring marketplaces in the city center is the modern Redi shopping mall in Kalasatama, which opened in 2018. By the way, the entrance to the shopping center is carried out directly from the metro station Kalasatama. In accordance with the latest trends in the market and in contrast to the old Helsinki shopping centers, Redi focuses on entertainment. The center includes a 5D cinema, a climbing wall, an FÖÖNI aerial pipe, and the Cinamon cinema. Another important feature is that the company’s popular fast-food operators are truly high-quality restaurant concepts. Among the tenants of the shopping center, the first in the country supermarket of products with expiring shelf life has been opened, with constant discounts of 30-50%.
Kotka
Pasaati is a shopping mall, conveniently located in the very center of Kotka. The complex experienced a big renovation in 2013 and today represents a good shopping gallery and a dozen of democratic restaurant concepts. Most of the tenants are local or Scandinavian brands, including H & M, Jack & Jones, Lindex, Vero Moda and Luhta, as well as KappAhl, Kultajousi, Marimekko and others, little-known in Russia.Lappeenranta
In the second largest shopping center in Finland, Lappeenranta opened four department stores and 6 shopping centers, the main of which is Galleria. Mall combines several dozen of the most sought-after brands, including H & M, Lindex, Triumph, KappAhl and Seppala. In the second most popular shopping center IsoKristiina you can find Jack & Jones, Finlayson, Luhta, Reima and Vero Moda, as well as several interesting multi-brands with Western brands.
Turku
The main marketplace of Finland’s fifth largest city is Hansa. Located next to the Market Square, the complex unites about 150 shops and 20 cafes and restaurants. The anchor of Hansa is the multi-level department store Stockmann, which includes Zara, Seppala, Lindex and other, mostly Scandinavian brands, as well as Intersport, home goods stores and children's toys.Tampere
Ideapark is the third largest shopping and entertainment center in Finland. The total area of the complex is more than 100,000 square meters, the number of tenants is more than 150, including 45 clothing stores and the largest toy store of the American network Toys "R" Us. Ideapark has 5 sports supermarkets, as well as the largest fishing store with indoor pools in Finland. Another trump card is the country's largest indoor amusement park.
Lahti
Trio - the largest shopping center Lahti. Located in the city center, conveniently combined with the network hotel Culumus and combines a grocery supermarket and about 90 stores of Finnish and European brands - clothing, shoes, cosmetics, children's and sports goods. Interesting stores include Polarn O. Pyret, Laukku Forum, Bik Bok Oy, Dressman and Kookenkä.This is all that we wanted to tell about the key shopping centers in Finland as of the end of 2018. And next year the market will change again. Thanks to several interesting projects that will be put into operation very soon.
New construction
Zsar Outlet Village
A lot has changed on the Finnish outlet market over the past year. Now, shopping with a capital letter does not begin in Kotka or Helsinki, but immediately after the Russian border. In late November, the long-awaited opening of the professional outlet Zsar Outlet Village took place. The shopping center is located 500 meters from the Vaalimaa (Torfyanovka) checkpoint. Tens of world brands (Armani, Hugo Boss, Liu Jo, Guess, Adidas, Cavalli, Braccialini, etc.) with discounts of 30-70% + tax free are represented on an area of about 20,000 square meters. By the way, from St. Petersburg to the outlet can be reached by buses Lux Express, which depart 4 times a day from the embankment of the bypass channel.Kotka Old Port
In the city of Kotka, 70 km from the Russian border, the project of the multifunctional complex Kotka Old Port is being implemented. Which will include a modern outlet that will specialize in premium and designer brands. The opening of the first phase of the center with an area of 47,500 square meters is planned for the second half of 2019. The project of large-scale reconstruction of Kotka Old Port will also include two hotels, residential complexes, a marina and an open food market.
Ratina
In 2019, in the center of Tampere, the opening of the new Ratina shopping center will take place with a total area of 53,000 sq.m. About 150 stores will be located in Ratina, including brands not represented on the market. It is known that New Yorker, Boomerang, Gant, KappAhl, H & M, Lindex, Luhta Brand Store, Top-Sport, Finlayson, Vallila Interior, Clas Ohlson and others are among the tenants. Cafe, coffee houses and restaurants will occupy about 6000 sq. M. The concept also assumes opening of large electronics and sporting goods stores.
Mall of Tripla
Shopping and entertainment center Mall of Tripla, preparing for opening in the suburbs of Helsinki in the autumn of 2019, will take on its territory a unique concept. As part of the mall in Pasila, a block in the north of the Finnish capital, a private beach will appear with a constant temperature of +26 degrees all year round, with the opportunity for surfing and beach volleyball. On an area of about 40,000 square meters will be located stores of Finnish and international brands, and on the underground level will open the conceptual family entertainment center HopLop with an area of 3000 square meters.Related shopping malls and stores:
12 DECEMBER 2018, Finland
Hugo Boss unveils Boss House Bali virtual experience
Foot Locker presents new store concept 
Pharrell unveils Louis Vuitton's first digital collectible, valued at over $8,000
Footwear brand Kizik launches its first pop-up store in NYC 
Ingka Centres opens first meeting place in northwest China
Uniqlo opens a new flagship in central London
Meet Saluhall, the first plant-forward food hall in San Francisco 
Coach files trademark complaint against Old Navy 
Ingka opens unique culinary development in downtown San Francisco 
Amazon removes Just Walk Out tech from all of its stores in the US 
McDonald's to acquire franchised stores in Israel