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TLDR? There are tons of great malls around the city, but El Tesoro is the best mall in Medellin.
There’s nothing like some good, old-fashioned retail therapy for making you feel better. And, with the plethora of malls scattered around Medellin, you’ll definitely find some shopping opportunities.
Whether you’ve had a hard day on the digital nomad grind or are just ready to refresh your wardrobe, the shopping around Medellin can’t be beat.
Don’t believe me? Check out these malls and you’ll quickly see what I mean.
If you’re staying in the popular Poblado neighborhood then El Tesoro is definitely the mall to visit.
In fact, this mall is a bit more like a park than it is a shopping center!
El Tesoro is home to more than 400 shops as well as a mini rollercoaster and a couple of other amusement park rides. The rides are really for kids, but I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t tried them myself!
The shops you’ll find in El Tesoro cover pretty much anything you could need, including:
You’ll also find a food court that’s full of great eats. And, if you need to get some coworking done? There’s actually a space called Nómadas right there in the mall where you can connect to wi-fi and drink some coffee.
Another perk of this mall is that it has tons of American stores. I felt transported straight back to my hometown’s mall when I walked in and found all my favorite brands, such as:
The mall is situated a little way out of town, up in the hills of El Poblado rather than in the bustling Parque Lleras area. Still, don’t let that put you off. It’s a great day to get in some much-needed retail therapy!
Website: https://eltesoro.com.co/
Address: Carrera 25A # 1A-45, El Poblado, Medellín
Santafe is a close runner up to El Poblado. It’s a huge shopping mall that boasts nearly 100 more shops than El Tesoro does!
Like most malls in Medellin, it’s an open-air mall. However, the roof actually can be pulled back or rolled over to adjust for the weather. That makes it the perfect place to hang out on one of Medellin’s rainier days!
The mall features Cine Colombia, which is arguably the best movie theater chain in Medellin. Plus, there are tons of stores such as:
Where this mall really shines is in its food court. There are more than 60 different restaurants in the food court where you can sit down to some great grub.
Like El Tesoro, you’ll find a number of American shops in this mall, including:
Many tourists and digital nomads in Medellin really enjoy Santafe. That’s because it’s centrally located and is pretty handy to the metro. If you’re planning to get around Medellin by public transport, this is a good mall to check out.
Website: http://www.santafemedellin.com/
Address: Carrera 43A # 7 Sur-170, El Poblado
Oviedo is an older, smaller mall in the El Poblado area. The mall has just over 300 shops. That’s a little less than Santafe and El Tesoro, but don’t let that put you off!
Just like Santafe, this mall is home to a Cine Colombia location. It’s pretty convenient if you’re wanting to catch a movie from time to time.
They offer movies in Spanish, but also show English movies with Spanish subtitles. That’s great if you’re wanting to watch a new flick and learn Spanish at the same time!
In terms of shops, there are plenty of stores for you to check out. You’ll find:
This is definitely a place I like to sneak off to if I’m in the mood for some guilty pleasure. They’ve got 40 different fast food restaurants, one of which is McDonald’s. That’ll transport you straight back home.
Speaking of being transported home, the only American shop here is Adidas. But, it’s worth checking out if you like sports gear!
Oviedo is pretty close to the Aguacatala metro station, just like the Santafe mall is. In fact, you can actually walk from this mall to Santafe if you’re wanting to keep checking out new shops!
In terms of American brands, things are a bit limited at this mall. You’ll mostly find restaurants like Subway and McDonald’s as opposed to shoe and clothing shops.
Website: https://www.oviedo.com.co/
Address: Carrera 43A # 6Sur-15, El Poblado, Medellín
I discovered the Monterrey Mall almost completely by accident.
It all goes back to a few weeks ago when I spilled a cup of coffee on my then-brand-new laptop.
As a digital nomad, suffice to say I was devasted.
Enter Monterrey Mall, a giant mall selling technology products! The Monterrey mall features more than 300 stores all offering gadgets and gizmos such as:
There really aren’t any American stores in this mall so to speak. However, the stores that are around are still great!
If you need to wind down after picking up some new tech, you can head over to the mall’s movie theater or work out your frustration at the gym.
There’s also a bowling alley, which is a pretty fun place to hang out on an afternoon.
Still, the absolute best thing about this mall is its location. It’s located just 15-minutes from Parque Lleras.
And the best part? The walk is downhill.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ccmonterrey/
Address: Carrera 48 # 10-45, El Poblado, Medellín
Okay, I’ve talked about quite a few Poblado malls. But what about those in the Laureles part of town?
Fear not! There are malls for you too.
One such mall is Viva Laureles. Even though this is on the smaller side, it’s still got 90 different stores for you to check out. In fact, that can actually be a bit of a relief for those who find the screeds of shops in El Tesoro a bit much to take in.
A few shops for my fellow Americans to check out include:
The mall has a smaller food court with just 15 different fast-food restaurants. In terms of stores, you’ll find mostly clothing shops.
It’s not the most convenient mall in the city since it’s not close to any metros. Still, it can be a fun place to hang out if you’re bored in Laureles at any point.
Website: https://www.ccviva.co/laureles
Address: Carrera 81 # 37-100, Laureles
It’s not just Viva Laureles that you’ll find in the Laureles sector of town. You can also check out Unicentro.
Unicentro has a big Exito in it, which is really why I love it. Even if it’s a bit pricier than some other malls, Exito is by far my favorite shopping center (think Walmart vibes).
Aside from the big shopping center, you’ll also find a movie theater and a kids’ play place. Or, for those who want to get some exercise, you can head over to Smart Fit gym.
In terms of the shopping, there are plenty of stores for you to check out. A few of the shops you can find in the mall include:
There aren’t really many American shops in this mall. But, don’t let that stop you from visiting. The shops here are mostly Colomian, so you could take something home as a souvenir!
The little ones can have fun playing in the play place in the mall, while you’ll have plenty of stores to shop til you drop.
Oh, and don’t let me forget. Unicentro is just a ten-minute walk from the Fatima metro station, so it’s easy to reach by public transport.
Website: https://www.unicentromedellin.com.co/
Address: Carrera 66B # 34A-76, Laureles, Medellín
Even though Envigado is a bit farther away from the Poblado thoroughfare, it’s a fantastic mall. In fact, this is one of the newer malls in the whole city.
What’s cool about Viva Engivado is that it’s one of the biggest malls in South America. Yes, you read that correctly!
You can get to the mall by taking the metro. Just like Santafe and Oviedo, this mall is a 15-minute walk from the Aguacatala station.
Still, I wouldn’t recommend getting off there. If you get off at the Envigado metro station, you’ll only have to walk for about five minutes to reach the mall. That’s much more worthwhile!
The mall features tons of restaurants as well as every kind of shop you can imagine, including:
If it’s American shops you’re after specifically you’ll find Aeropostal, Adidas, and American Eagle (great for grabbing jeans) to name a few.
Apart from the stores and restaurants, you’ll also find a movie theater. This theater happens to be home to an IMAX screen so you can get a surround-sound experience!
Plus, let’s not forget the kids’ outdoor area. There you’ll find a Ferris wheel and small rides that the little ones can play on.
Website: https://www.ccviva.co/envigado
Address: Carrera 48 # 32B Sur-139, Envigado
There are some truly epic malls scattered around Medellin. Whether you shop til you drop at Viva Envigado or you grab some American grub at El Tesoro, you’re bound to find a place you love.
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