Paris Shopping
Paris is home to some of the most famous designers and luxurious brand names in the fashion industry like Louis Vitton or Dior. But you'll also find more affordable brands matching your budget in the huge department stores or many popular neighbourhoods. There are famous astronomical establishments for Gourmets too!
Right Bank - 1st & 8th Arrondissements
As a suggestion, you could start at Le Carrousel Du Louvre, a diverse underground shopping precinct adjoining the famous museum. Whether you're looking for music, gifts, perfumes, or clothing, you'll find a number of well-known stores that deliver quality merchandise and ease of purchase. Nearby Rue de Rivoli is notable for the very vast number of souvenir shops it contains. At 248, W.H. Smith is the largest English Language bookshop in Paris with many of the newest releases. Right off Rivoli is the beautiful Place Vendôme, where the jetsetters and millionaires buy their jewellery. You are entering "the" area for renowned Haute Couture and luxury goods. From there you can enjoy a walk down to Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Avenue Montaigne where the superb boutiques display their sophisticated or baroque windows. Women will particularly like Colette at 213 Rue St-Honoré, one of the most interesting shopping experiences anywhere, an eclectic collection of fresh-off-the-runway design, fashion, gadgets and music. Men can try Charvet on Place Vendôme, the oldest and best known boutique in Paris selling top quality ties or shirts. Hermès, Lanvin on Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Jil Sander on Avenue Montaigne are also among the best for one-stop shopping for men on the go. At 11 Rue Royale, Lalique has become a reference throughout the world, for the beauty and quality of its
Cristal designs collections, tableware to decorative glass objects. In the same area, gourmets will find the top of French delicatessen at Fauchon (Place de la Madeleine) or Granterroirs (Rue Miromesnil).
Les Grands Boulevards (Hausmann)
In the 1st and 2nd Arrondissements, this is unconditionally the most popular shopping area, home to prestigious department stores such as Printemps and Galeries Lafayette. They are remarkable for the wide range of items they sell, as well as for their 19th-century or Art Nouveau
architecture (see specific section on shops). You'll find a world of ready-to-wear, with appealing boutiques and affordable brands. You can start with a nice walk from the beautiful Opéra Palais Garnier down to the stores on Boulevard Hausmann.
Les Halles and Marais
Les Halles is similar to London's Covent Garden. Located right in the city centre, between the Louvre and the Notre Dame, it occupies the site of Paris' age-old markets. The shopping mall Forum des Halles features lots of distinct venues in a fascinating and crowded underground
complex. It's a good source for affordable clothing. Not far away, the Jewish neighbourhood Le Marais, with many handicraft and antique shops, is an interesting alternative. The boutique Frederic Delliaux l'Atelier (Rue du Roi de Sicile), sells mainly leather clothing, very well tailored as well as accessories and other clothing made by other designers.
Champs-Elysées
This tourist strip has lots of fast food chains, banks, airlines offices, cinemas and malls such as the futuristic Drugstore Publicis near Arc de Triomphe or Gallerie Marchande des Champs-Elysées near Georges V station. The Guerlain Parfumerie, with its turn-of-the century elegance and its curved staircase, as well as the neo-classical Virgin Megastore, a huge retail haven for recorded music and books, are worth a stop.
Along the Seine River
One of the most charming shopping activities in Paris consists of walking along the rows of bookstalls perched against the parapet of the Seine River. Here, if you have time and good bargaining skills, you may find some ancient and valuable tomes or collections of old stamps.
Le Bon Marché
The oldest and most prominent retail establishment, the top destination for fashion and style. Designer apparel for men and women, cosmetics, and house wares comprise the major departments, with an impressive food hall!
Address: 22 rue de Sèvres
Underground: Line 10/12 Sèvres-Babylone
Phone: +33 (0)1 44 39 80 00
Galeries Lafayette
The most spectacular department store with its unique stained-glass dome. You will find the most prestigious designer and cosmetics labels and the largest European space entirely devoted to men's fashion. Also home to huge toy, jewellery; house ware and delicatessen departments.
Address: 40 bd Haussmann
Underground: Chaussée-d'Antin, Havre-Caumartin, Opéra
Phone: +33 (0)1 42823456
Printemps Hausmann
Like its rival Lafayette, it's distinguished by amazing architecture and has everything from women's, men's, and children's fashions. It's a modern and trendy store. The new beauty department highlights over 200 brand names.
Address: 64, boulevard Haussmann
Underground: Havre-Caumartin, RER A Auber
Phone: +33 (0)1 42826317
Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville
Less trendy yet worth mentioning, BHV has a prominent range of house wares, home improvement items, as well as useful and beautiful domestic goods. Also a decent selection of clothing and accessories.
Address: 52-54 rue de Rivoli
Underground: Line 1/11 Hôtel de Ville
Phone: +33 (0)1 42749000
Marché aux Puces de Clignancourt
This world renowned flea market on the northern part of Paris attracts over 70 000 Parisians every weekend to find terrific souvenirs from vintage clothing to antique furniture.