Gulliver Shopping Mall, located in the heart of Kyiv near the Palats Sportu metro station, is a prominent multi-functional complex that combines a business center with a 10-story shopping and entertainment hub. Opened in 2013, it houses nearly 150 stores, a cinema, a bowling alley, a fitness center, and a variety of dining options. The mall is also known for its massive LED screen, touted as the largest in Europe. While Gulliver has its strengths, such as its central location and diverse offerings, several aspects warrant critical examination, particularly the issue of limited space and the functionality of its much-hyped media facade.
Space Constraints: A Cramped Experience One of the most noticeable drawbacks of Gulliver is the lack of spaciousness, which impacts the overall shopping and leisure experience. The mall’s layout feels congested, especially during peak hours. Narrow walkways and densely packed stores make navigation challenging, particularly for families with strollers or individuals with mobility needs. The escalators and hallways are often crowded, creating bottlenecks that detract from the premium shopping experience the mall aims to provide. For a complex of its size—spanning 157,400 square meters—one would expect a more open and airy design, but the interior feels surprisingly claustrophobic in high-traffic areas.
The Massive LED Screen: Impressive but Underutilized Gulliver’s exterior is dominated by its 4,000-square-meter LED screen, installed in 2021 and marketed as the largest in Europe. This media facade, covering multiple sections of the building, is a striking feature, boasting high resolution, vivid colors, and the potential for immersive advertising or entertainment content. The screen’s specifications are impressive: it supports dynamic MP4 videos at 25 fps with a bitrate of 10–20 Mb/s, and plans were announced to enhance its impact with audio integration. With an estimated 350,000 daily viewer contacts, it’s positioned as a “Kyiv Times Square” for advertisers.
However, the screen’s execution falls short of its potential. Critics, including local shoppers, note that the content displayed is often repetitive.
Other Critical Points** Beyond space and the screen, several other issues merit attention. The parking facilities, while convenient for a central location, are notoriously difficult to navigate due to a steep and poorly designed entry/exit ramp. To maintain objectivity, it’s worth noting Gulliver’s strengths. Its central location, accessible via the Palats Sportu and Lva Tolstoho metro stations, is a major advantage, making it a convenient destination for both locals and tourists. The presence of a Silpo supermarket, a visa center, and a children’s entertainment area (Papashon.Kids) adds practical value. The mall’s business center and fitness club cater to professionals and health-conscious visitors, enhancing its multi-functional appeal. For some, the variety of stores, even if leaning toward mass-market, is a draw, with brands like Bershka, Jack Wolfskin, and JYSK offering affordable options. Gulliver Shopping Mall is a complex with significant potential, bolstered by its prime location and ambitious features like the largest LED screen in Europe. However, its cramped interior, underutilized media facade, and declining store quality hinder its ability to deliver a consistently premium experience. The lack of space is a pervasive issue, affecting everything from navigation to dining, and the screen, while visually striking, fails to live up to its hype due to uninspired content and missing audio integration. For Kyiv residents and visitors, Gulliver remains a convenient but flawed destination—one that could benefit from thoughtful redesign and more innovative use of its...
Read moreI visited the Gulliver every day as it was next to the hotel I was staying in after my Airbnb turned out to be a dump. The Gulliver has nice shops but have very expensive items; more expensive than the UK in some cases. I found that the people around Gulliver spoke good English including the staff in the shops. There is a supermarket in the basement of the Gulliver where NONE of the staff speak English and have some very rude people on the tills serving customers. So any non russian speakers going to the supermarket in the basement be warned you will be met by some very rude staff who will...
Read moreGulliver is a shopping mall located in the center of the city. It's quiet easy to locate, very close to the palats sportu subway station. While exiting the subway, take the left. It is the tall building with "❤ kyiv". It comprises of a shopping market, designer brands, eatery and other stores from the first to the fifth floor. From the sixth to the eight floor has restaurants with great views. On the 10th is a fitness club and the view is also magnificent. You require a card to get in. So don't go there if you are not registered or intending to. Overall it's a good place to...
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