FoxTown Factory Stores
Via Angelo Maspoli 18, Mendrisio, Switzerland, 6850
This luxury shopping mall, not far from the Swiss-Italian border, sells all sorts of designer names at cut prices. Drawing Swiss locals, Italian day trippers, and fashion-loving tourists, the center is home to more than 100 outlets, including Armani, Michael Kors, and Swarovski, and offers discounts of up to 70%.
The basics
Day tours typically depart nearby cities such as Lugano, Como, and even Milan. Some offer private shopping assistance while others include plenty of free time to browse. Fashion lovers could easily spend a full day here, with its 160 stores carrying around 250 unique brands, though some tours combine the mall with other attractions, such as the Borromean Islands, to help you make the most of your time.
Things to know before you go
- FoxTown is fully wheelchair accessible.
- Free WiFi is available across the mall.
- The mall is home to several on-site restaurants, a kid’s play area, and a casino.
How to get there
FoxTown is around an hour’s drive from Milan and 30 minutes from Lugano. There is plenty of free parking on site. The train from Milan takes an hour and from Lugano just 25 minutes. Mendrisio S. Martino Station is within a few minutes’ walk of the mall.
When to get there
The mall packs out as the day goes on, so try to arrive as close to opening time as possible. Like most European malls, the after-Christmas and summer sales, usually in July and August, offer the largest price drops, although Black Friday discounts are becoming more common.
The Bernina Express
There are several great day tour options from Italy to Switzerland, even for those who don’t like shopping. The UNESCO-listed Bernina Express is one of the country’s most iconic railways, whisking passengers from Tirano through the stunning Alpine landscape, all the way to St. Moritz. Several tours include transfer to Tirano from Milan.
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