A tourist or business trip to Italy is rarely complete without visiting shops and shopping centers. In this sense, Milan or Rome have always been the capitals of world fashion, and therefore shopping in the homeland of many famous designers of clothes, shoes and accessories promises to be interesting and exciting. For those who are not accustomed to overpaying, Italian outlets known throughout Europe are open, where goods of famous brands are sold with significant discounts regardless of the season.
Useful little things
- Sales times in Italian outlets, when discounts increase to very pleasant values, are in January-February and July-August. During these months, it is quite possible to "grab" a valuable branded item for 30% of its real value.
- When you see your favorite item, try to compare prices for it in several Italian outlets. The more publicized the mall, the more expensive perfume, shoes or clothing can be. Sometimes the difference is up to 50% in neighboring outlets.
- The best days to visit such shopping centers are the beginning of the week. On weekends, local shopaholics are added to the crowds of thirsty tourists.
- The renewal of the assortment in Italian outlets usually takes place on Friday, and therefore Thursday is the most inappropriate day for shopping.
- Do not forget about the possibility of VAT refund when crossing the opposite border. As a rule, outlets in Italy provide a tax free service, you just need to check with the seller and ask to print a special form for presentation at customs.
How to get there?
The most famous and profitable shopping outlets in Italy are located outside the major cities and you can get to them:
- Renting a car is not cheap and beneficial only for a company of several people. Taking into account the price of gasoline, tolls for the motorway and the actual rent of the car, the average cost of a trip to any shopping center will be about 100 euros.
- On a tourist bus from the city. Typically, these vehicles leave from the center and the fare will be at least half the price of a car. The disadvantage of this option is limited shopping time.
- The train is not as expensive as the rented car, but usually the station is located quite far from the trading floor, and therefore you will have to take a taxi. It is not very convenient to come back if there are a lot of purchases.
Mushroom places
The most favorite Italian outlets by Russian travelers are The Mall, half an hour's drive from Florence, Castel Romano, 25 km from the capital, and Fidenza Village, which is about an hour's journey from Milan. Their opening hours are from 10 or 10.30 to 19 or 20 hours, depending on the season and day of the week.
