Shopping in Paris

Shopping in Paris means famous designersand luxurious brands. But you’ll also find more affordable brands matching your budget in the huge department stores or many popular neighbourhoods. There are famous gastronomical establishments for gourmets too.

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 vast number of souvenir shops. 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 jet-setters 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 and shirts. Hermès and 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.

 

Les Grands Boulevards (Hausmann)

In the 1st and 2nd Arrondissements, this is undoubtedly 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 sold, as well as for their Art Nouveau architecture. 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 in the city centre, right between the Louvre and Notre Dame. The shopping mall Forum des Halles features lots of good shopping spots 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 visit.

Champs-Elysées

This tourist strip has lots of fast food chains, banks, airline 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 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

This is 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

Internet: www.treeslbm.com

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

Phone: +33 (0)1 42 82 34 56

Internet: www.galerieslafayette.com

Printemps Hausmann

Like its rival Lafayette, it’s distinguished by amazing architecture and has everything - women’s, men’s, and children’s fashions. It’s a modern and trendy store. The beauty department highlights over 200 brand names.

Address: 64, boulevard Haussmann

Underground: Havre-Caumartin, RER A Auber

Phone: +33 (0)1 42 82 57 87

Internet: www.printemps.com

Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville

BHV is a little less trendy, yet definitelyworth mentioning. It has a good range of house 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 42 74 90 00

Internet: www.bhv.fr

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 bargains from vintage clothing to antique furniture.

Address: Porte de Clignancourt

Underground: Line 4 Porte de Clignacourt

Internet: www.les-puces.com

Posted in: Paris,shopping