Paris is a shopping mecca. Parisians are famous for their sense of fashion. One can find all types of stores from haute-couture to flea market and everything in between. No matter where you are, streets are usually filled with stores in which you can always find nice clothing, handbags, shoes, scarves and accessories.
Twice a year, during winter (Jan-Feb) and summer months (Jun-Jul) the stores have their famous sale which lasts about a month. Most stores are closed on Sundays.
There are three main department stores in Paris:
Galeries Lafayette
40, Blvd Haussmann
Paris 9
Metro: Chaussée d’Antin La Fayette.
Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am – 8pm with Thursdays closing at 9pm.
Printemps Haussmann
64, Blvd Haussman
Paris 9
Metro: Havre-Caumartin, Opéra
Monday to Saturday from 9:35 am – 8 pm (thursdays open till 10pm)
Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche
24, Rue de Sèvre
Paris 7
Metro: Sèvres-Babylone
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday open from 10 am – 8 pm and Thursday and Friday from 10 am – 9 pm.
La Samaritaine once a popular store has closed since 2005.
Haute Couture in Paris:
Chanel, Christian Dior, and Valentino are examples of stores on Ave. Montaigne whereas Nina Ricci, Yves St. Laurant, Hermés, and Versaci (for men) are some of the high end stores on Rue du Faubourg-St-Honoré. You can also find prestigious and expensive antique and art shops at Faubourg-St-Honoré.
Other famous antique shops are located in the Left Bank area of St. Germain between Rue de Bac, Rue de l’Université, Rue de Lille and Rue des Saints Pères.
Flea Markets in Paris:
Alternatively, you can check out the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen, the Parisian Flea Market at Rue des Roisers (Paris 18 – Metro: Port de Clignancourt or Garibaldi). At the flea markets you can find antiques, furniture, jewellery, books or second hand goods. Marche aux Puce de St. Ouen is open Saturdays from 9 am – 6 pm, Sundays from 10 am – 6 pm and Monday from 11 am – 5 pm.
Tati is a large budget shopping store in Paris with multiple locations. A couple to mention are: 132 Blvd St. Germain Paris 6 and 4 Rue Rochechouart in Paris 18.
Some of the few malls worth mentioning in Paris are Galeires des Champs, Point show, Elysees 26 and Rond Point which are all located at Champs-Elyseés. Forum des Halles, in Paris 1, is a large mall filled with all kinds of store including FNAC. Forum des Halles is open from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 8pm.
For discount outlet stores you can also head to Quai des Marque at Ile St. Denis (9, quai du Châtelier) near Paris where you can find last season’s designer fashions at a discounted price. Quai des Marque is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 7 pm and on Saturdays from 10 am to 8 pm, and closed on Sundays. To get there: Take metero line 13 until Mairie de Saint-Ouen stop,then take bus RATP no 166to Saint-Ouen and get off at Marcel Paul stop.
For handbags, don’t forget Lancel or Louis Vuitton. You can find both in either Champs-Elysées or St. Germain areas.
Annick Goutal offers unique old fashion made perfumes. They are pricey but very unique. For make up you can go to the department stores, Sephora at Champs-Elysées or Guerlain which has a store on Champs-Elysées as well.
For a casual sport look with great quality don’t miss Compagnie de Californie, with various locations all over Paris.
Finally for your groceries you can head to Monoprix, the main supermarket in Paris.
Some famous designers have opened their outlet stores where you can find great buys normally about fifty percent off.
Here are some notable ones:
Sonia Rykiel – 64 rue Alésia, Paris 14
Bonpoint (for kids) – 42 rue Université, Paris 7
Andre (affordable Parisian shoes) – 66 avenue de Flandre, Paris 19 & 31 avenue des Gobelins, Paris 13
Sagone Stock (shoes) – 63 boulevard Magenta, Paris 10th & 18 rue de Nemours, Paris 11
La Piscine (previous year designer discount), 19-21 rue de l’Ancienne Comédie, Paris 6th
Shopping Tips:
The price you see is the price you pay. Normally, taxes are included in the prices of clothing or other goods in France.
If you are over 15 years of age, non EU residents, visiting less than 6 months, and shop at least €175 in one store in the same day, you may qualify for 12% tax refund. Check with the stores for more information. You also need to get your invoice stamped at the airport BEFORE leaving France to get this benefit.
Happy shopping!