Shopping in Paris: Concept Stores, Department Stores & Vintage (A Complete Guide)

As the city wakes up, the scent of butter drifts from corner bakeries and you stroll past the first boutiques opening their doors with a hot coffee in hand — that’s when it hits you. Paris shopping isn’t about mindlessly filling paper bags or racing through enormous anonymous malls on the outskirts of town. It’s a cultural discipline in its own right, a careful curation of personal taste, and occasionally a full-blown treasure hunt. You sit on a bench, watching local women in perfectly rumpled linen shirts and worn canvas totes rushing to work, and suddenly you’re desperate to absorb that effortless style.

At first, you might be dazzled by the omnipresent luxury and glittering shop windows, but the true heart of the city beats elsewhere. It hides in forgotten covered passages, in former factories reimagined as avant-garde spaces, and in lanes where centuries-old cheese shops naturally coexist alongside modern ateliers of independent designers. As a vegetarian with a passion for sustainability, I find it an absolute paradise — local and ethical fashion truly take centre stage here.

In this article, you’ll find a complete guide to shopping in Paris. We’ll show you the best concept stores, break down the grand department stores like Galeries Lafayette, explore Parisian vintage, and cover practical tips on how the seasonal sales work, where to find the best local shopping districts, and how to claim your tax-free refund.

TL;DR

• The big winter and summer sales (Soldes) have strictly government-regulated dates. In 2026, they run from 8 January to 4 February and from 25 June to 22 July.
• If you want a free city view, head to the rooftop terrace of department store Galeries Lafayette or Printemps. You can see all of Paris from up there, Eiffel Tower included.
• Paris’s most famous concept store, Merci, is in the 3rd arrondissement. It’s housed in a former wallpaper factory and you’ll spot it by the iconic red vintage car in the courtyard.
• With a pushchair and small children, the best areas for shopping are the northern Marais (3rd arrondissement) and Saint-Germain (6th arrondissement), where the pavements are wider and the atmosphere calmer.
• For thrift lovers and sustainability fans, Kilo Shop is a must — you pay for vintage clothing by its total weight at the checkout.
• The best edible souvenirs (cheese, mustard, wine) can be found under one roof at La Grande Épicerie de Paris, next to department store Le Bon Marché.
• The golden rule: every time you enter any smaller shop, you must greet the staff with a clear “Bonjour.” Without it, you’ll be completely ignored.
• Visitors from outside the EU (including the UK post-Brexit) can use the Detaxe system to claim back 12% VAT on purchases over €100 on a single receipt.
• Don’t bother shopping on the Champs-Élysées. It’s expensive, overcrowded, and full of global chains you can find absolutely anywhere in the world.

When to visit Paris for shopping and the sales calendar

The timing of your trip can mean the difference between an empty wallet and absolutely brilliant bargains at a fraction of the price. Parisian retail follows very strict rules set directly by the French government. You won’t find random mid-season sales throughout the year — everything is concentrated into two massive sale windows.

The legendary Soldes: Winter and summer sales 2026

The French sales (Soldes) are a national institution. They last exactly four weeks each and discounts deepen in successive waves (démarques). The first week typically starts with 20–30% off, but by the final week prices can drop by as much as 70%. In 2026, the winter sales begin on Wednesday 8 January and end on 4 February. The summer wave kicks off on Wednesday 25 June and runs until 22 July.

💡 Insider tip: If you’ve got your eye on a specific designer piece in your size, go on the very first morning. But if you’re just treasure-hunting for the lowest possible price, hold off until the third wave of markdowns (troisième démarque), which usually begins around the middle of the third week.

What to avoid: Fashion Week and August holidays

Unless you actually work in the fashion industry, steer clear of Paris Fashion Week (typically late February into March, then late September). Accommodation prices skyrocket, central restaurants are hopelessly packed, and you’ll struggle to get past the crowds of buyers and influencers in many boutiques.

August is another tricky month. The French observe what’s known as the fermeture annuelle (annual holiday). Parisians flee the sweltering city en masse for the coast. The big department stores stay open, but many of the most interesting small independent boutiques, concept stores and beloved bakeries will have their shutters down and a sign saying “See you in September.”

Weekend shopping and Sunday rules

Paris long upheld strict Sunday closures and everything used to shut down. Thanks to special tourist zones, that’s no longer absolute — but you still need to plan. While large department stores like Galeries Lafayette and boutiques in Le Marais open on Sundays, smaller shops in residential neighbourhoods (such as the 11th or 15th arrondissements) remain firmly closed. Monday mornings can also be quiet, as many smaller shops don’t open until after lunch to allow for cleaning and restocking.

💡 Insider tip: The best day for relaxed shopping is Tuesday or Thursday morning. You’ll avoid the weekend influx of tourists and shop assistants will have far more time (and patience) to give you personal attention.

Where to stay in Paris for a shopping and family weekend

Choosing the right neighbourhood will make or break your entire city experience — and your budget. Paris is divided into twenty arrondissements that spiral clockwise from the historic centre near the Louvre. Finding affordable accommodation in the centre is nearly impossible, but if you know where to look, you can find a great compromise between price, safety and accessibility.

If you’re travelling with a pushchair and small children, give a wide berth to the northern part of the 10th arrondissement around Gare du Nord and Pigalle in the 18th arrondissement at night. We once got lost there with a friend at 2am, and with a two-year-old in tow, that’s definitely not something you want to repeat. 😅 

After a long search, we settled on Hôbou, an authentic French boutique hotel in Boulogne-Billancourt (you can book it here). It looks unassuming at first glance, but within a few hours you’ll have fallen completely in love with it.

Department stores (Grands Magasins): Temples of luxury and everyday life

The French essentially invented the department store concept. These aren’t just places to spend money — they’re genuine architectural masterpieces and showcases of Parisian art de vivre. For families, they also serve as a safe haven: you’ll find plenty of space, working air conditioning, reliable lifts, and much-needed facilities including clean toilets.

Le Bon Marché and La Grande Épicerie (7th arrondissement)

This is an absolute Left Bank (Rive Gauche) classic. Le Bon Marché, near the Sèvres-Babylone metro station, is considered the oldest department store in the world. It was founded in 1852 by Aristide Boucicaut and today falls under the LVMH empire. It radiates quiet, understated luxury and you won’t encounter the frenzied tourist crowds you’d find on the Right Bank. The space breathes, is filled with contemporary art, and the vast central atrium regularly hosts breathtaking art installations. Right next door at 38 Rue de Sèvres sits La Grande Épicerie de Paris — quite possibly the most luxurious food hall you’ll ever see. The cheese section hits you from a mile away and the shelves overflow with premium olive oils.

• Address: 24 Rue de Sèvres, 7th arr. (metro Sèvres-Babylone, lines 10 & 12)
• Open: Mon–Sat 10:00–19:45, Sun 11:00–19:45
• Prices: Free entry; a premium chocolate box at the Épicerie starts from around €25.
• 💡 Insider tip: On the ground floor of La Grande Épicerie they make fantastic fresh baguettes and have a brilliant counter of ready-made vegetarian dishes. Grab your lunch to go and eat it in the nearby Square Boucicaut park.

Galeries Lafayette Haussmann (9th arrondissement)

An architectural feast for the eyes that’s worth visiting even if you don’t plan to spend a single euro. The Art Nouveau glass dome dating from 1894, designed by Ferdinand Chanut, is the very embodiment of Parisian Belle Époque grandeur. The store mixes absolute high-end luxury on the ground floor with more accessible mainstream brands on the upper levels. Directly opposite the main building lies the huge Lafayette Gourmet food hall, home to branches of Paris’s finest pâtisseries. A word of warning though: the newer Galeries Lafayette branch on the Champs-Élysées has a completely different, very futuristic concept — no traditional checkouts and, to me, it lacks the soul of the original building.

• Address: 40 Boulevard Haussmann, 9th arr. (metro Chaussée d’Antin – La Fayette, lines 7 & 9)
• Open: Mon–Sat 10:00–20:30, Sun 11:00–20:00
• Prices: Free entry; a coffee in the in-house café around €5.
• 💡 Insider tip: Take the escalators all the way up to the top floor and step out onto the rooftop terrace. It’s completely free and offers a fantastic 360° view of the city including the Opéra Garnier and the Eiffel Tower. We sometimes spend time up here with our little one Jonáš, because it’s safe and there’s plenty of room to run around.

Printemps Haussmann (9th arrondissement)

Printemps is the immediate neighbour and eternal rival of Galeries Lafayette. You’ll recognise it instantly by its stunning Byzantine dome and golden façade details. The complex is split into three vast buildings: Printemps de la Femme (womenswear), Printemps de la Beauté (beauty), and Printemps de l’Homme (menswear). It feels a touch more luxurious and perhaps a shade calmer than Lafayette, since it doesn’t attract quite as many organised tour groups.

• Address: 64 Boulevard Haussmann, 9th arr. (metro Havre-Caumartin, lines 3 & 9)
• Open: Mon–Sat 10:00–20:00, Sun 11:00–20:00
• Prices: Free entry; designer perfumes from around €150.
• 💡 Insider tip: Printemps has its own rooftop trump card. It’s called 7e Ciel (Seventh Heaven) and you’ll find it on the 7th floor of the Printemps de la Femme building. There’s a small café up there, and in my opinion the view is even a notch better than the one next door.

BHV Marais (4th arrondissement)

Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville — BHV for short — sits directly opposite Paris’s City Hall on the edge of Le Marais. While Lafayette and Printemps focus heavily on fashion, BHV is where Parisians themselves go when they need something practical. It’s a fascinating mix of clothing, design and a massive basement DIY section where you can find practically every screw ever made. The atmosphere is far more local, and you could easily spend hours in the kitchenware department browsing professional French cookware.

• Address: 52 Rue de Rivoli, 4th arr. (metro Hôtel de Ville, lines 1 & 11)
• Open: Mon–Sat 10:00–20:00, Sun 11:00–19:00
• Prices: Generally a bit more affordable than the stores in the 9th arrondissement.
• 💡 Insider tip: If you survive the shopping, treat yourself to a drink. On the BHV rooftop you’ll find Le Perchoir Marais bar. It usually opens in the late afternoon and offers a gorgeous view of the City Hall and the Seine.

Concept stores: Where fashion meets art and coffee

Paris is the spiritual home of the concept store. After the legendary boutique Colette closed its doors in 2017, the city didn’t miss a beat. A new wave of successors emerged, taking the idea of “everything beautiful under one roof” to the next level — often with a strong focus on ecology and local production.

Merci (3rd arrondissement)

This is an absolute must-visit. Merci occupies a historic 19th-century building that once served as a wallpaper factory. The entrance alone is iconic — you pass through a covered driveway into a cobblestoned courtyard where a small vintage car always sits, classically a legendary red Fiat 500. Inside, you’ll find a perfectly curated mix of independent fashion, designer furniture, linen textiles and homeware. A significant share of the profits also goes to charitable causes in developing countries. In 2025, they opened a smaller Merci #2 branch in the 1st arrondissement, but the original Marais location remains unbeatable.

• Address: 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 3rd arr. (metro Saint-Sébastien – Froissart, line 8)
• Open: Mon–Sat 10:30–19:30, Sun 11:00–19:00
• Prices: A linen shirt around €120, a mug about €15.
• 💡 Insider tip: Part of the space houses The Used Book Café. Its walls are lined with thousands of old books and they make an excellent oat flat white. Outside of the weekend rush, you can manoeuvre a pushchair through here fairly easily.

Centre Commercial (10th arrondissement)

A stone’s throw from the picturesque Canal Saint-Martin, you’ll find this manifesto of sustainable fashion. The shop was founded by the team behind the cult French trainer brand Veja. It exclusively stocks brands that meet strict environmental and social responsibility criteria. You can pick up fashion, books, vintage furniture and even refurbished bicycles. It’s a very airy, bright space where nobody pressures you into buying anything.

• Address: 2 Rue de Marseille, 10th arr. (metro Jacques Bonsergent, line 5)
• Open: Tue–Sat 11:00–19:30, Sun 14:00–19:00, Mon closed
• Prices: Sustainable Veja trainers around €140.
• 💡 Insider tip: One street over (on Rue Yves Toudic), they’ve opened Children’s Centre Commercial. It focuses entirely on kids and stocks beautiful, ethically produced children’s clothing and certified wooden toys.

Bonton (3rd arrondissement)

Speaking of children, we can’t skip Bonton. This family brand in the heart of Le Marais is an institution for stylish Parisian parents. It’s not just about the clothes — which have a lovely vintage feel and comfortable cuts — it’s about the whole experience. The shop bursts with colour, overflows with children’s room accessories and original toys. We love coming here with our little boy Jonáš, because it’s designed to delight parents and kids in equal measure.

• Address: 5 Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire, 3rd arr. (metro Saint-Sébastien – Froissart, line 8)
• Open: Mon–Sat 10:00–19:00, Sun closed
• Prices: A children’s jumper around €60.
• 💡 Insider tip: Inside the shop there’s often a small photo booth and even a children’s hairdresser. It’s a brilliant way to brighten up a little one’s day after hours of grown-up shopping.

Empreintes (3rd arrondissement)

Empreintes is a vast four-storey concept store dedicated entirely to French artisans. If you’re after something truly unique that wasn’t mass-produced in a factory on the other side of the world, this is your place. They sell hand-blown glass, artisan ceramics, wooden sculptures and original jewellery. Every piece comes with a tag showing the maker’s name and where in France it was created. The space is flooded with natural light and feels more like an art gallery.

• Address: 5 Rue de Picardie, 3rd arr. (metro Arts et Métiers, lines 3 & 11)
• Open: Tue–Sat 11:00–19:00, Sun & Mon closed
• Prices: An artisan ceramic plate from around €40.
• 💡 Insider tip: On the first floor there’s a small café serving excellent herbal tea. It’s the perfect quiet hideaway from the bustle of the surrounding Marais streets.

Best shopping areas in Paris where your credit card can breathe

Not everyone wants to spend their time under one roof. Sometimes the best approach is simply to stroll through the streets, peer into shop windows and discover little boutiques that no guidebook mentions. Modern-day Paris shopping is defined by these neighbourhoods, each with its own very distinct personality.

Le Marais (3rd and 4th arrondissements)

Le Marais pulses as the design heart of the city. It’s a tangle of narrow streets that were among the few to survive Haussmann’s grand 19th-century rebuilding of Paris. For families with a pushchair, the northern section (Haut Marais in the 3rd arrondissement) is ideal — slightly wider pavements and a generally calmer vibe than the heaving southern end near Rue de Rivoli. Focus on the axis of Rue de Turenne and Rue Vieille-du-Temple. In Le Marais you’ll regularly come across mid-range boutiques like Sandro, Maje and Claudie Pierlot, alongside unnamed little ateliers where designers sew right before your eyes.

• Getting there: Metro Saint-Paul (line 1) or Filles du Calvaire (line 8)
• Prices: Mid to upper range. A dress at Sandro costs around €250.
• 💡 Insider tip: While shopping in Le Marais, take a break on Rue des Rosiers. You’ll find L’As du Fallafel, which serves the best vegetarian falafel in the entire city. The queue is long but it moves incredibly fast.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th arrondissement)

While Le Marais is trendy and hip, Saint-Germain on the Left Bank embodies that traditional, intellectual Parisian elegance. The main shopping artery for luxury and premium fashion here is Rue de Grenelle and the area around the Saint-Sulpice church. You’ll find boutiques of iconic French brands like A.P.C. and shops selling exquisite leather accessories. The atmosphere remains hushed, the window displays understated, and the streets are lined with classic literary cafés.

• Getting there: Metro Saint-Germain-des-Prés (line 4) or Mabillon (line 10)
• Prices: Premium range. An A.P.C. leather bag starts at around €350.
• 💡 Insider tip: For families with kids, this neighbourhood is absolutely brilliant. You’re just a short walk from the Jardin du Luxembourg, home to some of Paris’s best playgrounds and the famous toy boats you can hire on the central fountain.

Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Place Vendôme (1st and 8th arrondissements)

This is the territory of absolute luxury. If your budget stretches to a Hermès handbag, Chanel shoes or a Cartier ring, your feet will lead you here. On Rue Cambon you’ll find the original Chanel boutique (number 31), where Coco Chanel had her famous mirror-lined staircase salon. Place Vendôme is the global epicentre of the world’s most exclusive jewellers. Even if you’re not buying, the window shopping alone is an experience — displays are arranged like works of art.

• Getting there: Metro Concorde (lines 1, 8, 12) or Tuileries (line 1)
• Prices: High-end luxury. Items regularly exceed €2,000.
• 💡 Insider tip: On Avenue Montaigne in the 8th arrondissement (another luxury stronghold), boutiques like Dior or Givenchy often won’t let random passers-by in without a prior appointment. It operates more like a catalogue for VIP clients.

Canal Saint-Martin (10th arrondissement)

If Saint-Honoré feels too stuffy, head to the water. The area around Canal Saint-Martin has become a stronghold of Parisian hipsters and young creatives in recent years. You’ll find loads of small independent boutiques, vinyl record shops and concept stores stocking sustainable fashion. The atmosphere is wonderfully relaxed — people sit with their coffee on the canal banks and nobody will give you a second glance if you turn up in joggers.

• Getting there: Metro Jacques Bonsergent (line 5) or République (lines 3, 5, 8, 9, 11)
• Prices: Very affordable. A designer T-shirt goes for around €40.
• 💡 Insider tip: Try to find the Antoine et Lili boutique on the Quai de Valmy embankment. You’ll spot it by its dazzlingly pink and yellow façade. They stock brilliant, colourful, ethnically inspired clothing that you won’t easily find elsewhere in Paris.

Vintage and thrift shops: Treasure hunting with soul

Parisian women know perfectly well that the best wardrobe isn’t built by buying expensive labels head to toe, but by mixing premium pieces with thrift-shop finds. Sustainability isn’t just an empty trend here — it’s a way to stand out. With a bit of patience, you can unearth incredible pieces from the ’80s and ’90s.

Kilo Shop (multiple locations, best in the 4th arrondissement)

The Kilo Shop concept is simple and dangerously addictive. You pick out clothes, take them to the checkout, weigh them, and pay by weight. The price per kilogram varies depending on the colour of the plastic tag attached to each item (silk dresses or leather jackets have a different rate from heavy denim, for example). It’s a classic rummage-fest where you’ll need to sift through dozens of hangers before you strike gold.

• Address: 69-71 Rue de la Verrerie, 4th arr. (metro Hôtel de Ville, lines 1 & 11)
• Open: Mon–Sat 11:00–19:30, Sun 14:00–19:30
• Prices: A silk scarf works out to roughly €5, a vintage hat around €20.
• 💡 Insider tip: Don’t take a pushchair inside — the aisles are incredibly narrow and packed with people. If one of you takes the kids for a walk, the other can easily bag some brilliant vintage Levi’s in twenty minutes.

Free’P’Star (4th arrondissement)

A cult chain of small vintage shops with several branches in the heart of Le Marais and the Latin Quarter. Sharp elbows and infinite patience are required. The spaces are tiny, clothes hang literally from floor to ceiling, and there’s that unmistakable scent of old things in the air. You’ll often come across special bins where every single item costs just one euro.

• Address: e.g. 61 Rue de la Verrerie, 4th arr.
• Open: Daily 11:00–20:00
• Prices: From €1 to roughly €30 for everyday pieces.
• 💡 Insider tip: Go on a Tuesday morning if you can. At weekends it gets so packed you can barely reach the racks, and the whole experience becomes more stressful than fun.

Thanx God I’m a V.I.P. (10th arrondissement)

If rummaging through chaotic bins fills you with dread and you prefer careful curation, this is the place. Near Canal Saint-Martin, this shop specialises in luxury and designer vintage. Everything is meticulously laundered, pressed and obsessively arranged by colour — creating a rainbow effect. You’ll find flawless pieces by Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel and Hermès. Prices climb considerably higher than in regular thrift shops, but you’re paying for impeccable curation and guaranteed authenticity.

• Address: 12 Rue de Lancry, 10th arr. (metro Jacques Bonsergent, line 5)
• Open: Tue–Sat 14:00–20:00, Sun & Mon closed
• Prices: A designer jacket from the ’90s around €300.
• 💡 Insider tip: The owner is a former Parisian DJ, so the music playing in the shop is always absolutely spot-on and the atmosphere is wonderfully laid-back. The stock also turns over very fast, so every visit is a surprise.

Les Puces de Saint-Ouen (18th arrondissement / outskirts)

The biggest flea market in the world sprawls across a staggering 16 hectares and is made up of several individual markets (such as Marché Vernaison and Marché Paul Bert). It sits on the city’s northern edge near the Porte de Clignancourt metro station. You can buy absolutely everything here, from 18th-century antique furniture through vintage posters to second-hand fashion. It’s a vast labyrinth of alleyways where you can easily lose yourself for hours.

• Address: Avenue de la Porte de Clignancourt, 18th arr.
• Open: Weekends and Mondays only (Sat 9:00–18:00, Sun 10:00–18:00, Mon 11:00–17:00)
• Prices: From a few euros for old postcards to thousands for antique furniture.
• 💡 Insider tip: The walk from the metro to the actual market takes you past a rather hectic gauntlet of stalls selling counterfeits and cheap goods. Don’t be put off — walk purposefully with the crowd and keep your bags close. Once inside the historic market halls, the atmosphere is calm and perfectly safe.

Les Antiquaires du Village Saint-Paul (4th arrondissement)

If you don’t fancy travelling to the city’s edge for the massive flea market, here’s a more elegant alternative right in the centre. Village Saint-Paul is a complex of interconnected historic courtyards in the southern part of Le Marais, just steps from the river. Tucked away inside are numerous small antique shops, vintage crockery dealers and art galleries. It’s a wonderfully peaceful spot, sheltered from the street noise.

• Address: Rue Saint-Paul, 4th arr. (metro Saint-Paul, line 1)
• Open: Most shops Thu–Mon 11:00–19:00, Tue & Wed usually closed
• Prices: Higher antique-level prices.
• 💡 Insider tip: The courtyards are completely car-free and mostly tourist-free too. Grab a takeaway coffee and you can spend a wonderfully quiet hour here with a pushchair, poking around old treasures.

Bookshops: Paper nostalgia and literary silence

Paris is a city of literature. Bookshops here don’t function as ordinary stores — they’re full-blown cultural institutions where people meet, debate and linger. English-language bookshops in particular have a rich historical tradition linked to the wave of American expatriates in the 1920s.

Shakespeare and Company (5th arrondissement)

The most famous English-language bookshop in Paris — arguably in the entire world. It sits on the Left Bank directly opposite Notre-Dame cathedral. Founded by George Whitman, it exudes an utterly magical atmosphere. Crooked wooden shelves groan under the weight of books, you thread your way up narrow staircases, past old pianos and cats sleeping on piles of poetry. From the upper floor, there’s a lovely view of the river and the newly restored cathedral.

• Address: 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 5th arr. (metro Saint-Michel, line 4)
• Open: Mon–Sat 10:00–20:00, Sun 12:00–19:00
• Prices: Standard book prices; a paperback around €12.
• 💡 Insider tip: There’s usually a huge queue to get in and they won’t let you through with a pushchair — the aisles are barely wide enough for one person. But standing in line and getting the shop’s iconic stamp pressed into your newly purchased book at the till is simply a rite of passage.

Red Wheelbarrow (6th arrondissement)

If you’d rather avoid the crowds at Shakespeare and Company, try this cosy English-language bookshop directly opposite the Jardin du Luxembourg. It’s a quiet, wonderfully friendly place with a superb selection of contemporary fiction, poetry and beautiful children’s books. The owners are always happy to offer recommendations and will let you browse at your leisure.

• Address: 9 Rue de Médicis, 6th arr. (RER B stop Luxembourg)
• Open: Mon–Sat 10:00–19:00, Sun 13:00–18:00
• Prices: Standard retail prices.
• 💡 Insider tip: This is our favourite stop after visiting the puppet theatre in the park. We buy Jonáš a new picture book and head off to read it on a bench under the trees.

Librairie 7L (6th arrondissement)

A bookshop founded in 1999 by legendary fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld (the name references the address, 7 Rue de Lille). It specialises exclusively in photography, architecture, design and fashion. The minimalist, elegant space lined with enormous shelves is the polar opposite of chaotic Shakespeare and Company. It’s a serene sanctuary for lovers of visual arts.

• Address: 7 Rue de Lille, 7th arr. (metro Rue du Bac, line 12)
• Open: Tue–Sat 10:30–19:00, Sun & Mon closed
• Prices: Large art publications from €50 upwards.
• 💡 Insider tip: The shop also operates as a publisher. You’ll find fashion books here that are completely sold out everywhere else in Europe.

Librairie Galignani (1st arrondissement)

This bookshop on Rue de Rivoli proudly holds the title of the oldest English-language bookshop on the European continent — it’s been here since 1856. Beautiful wood-panelled interiors, high ceilings and an impeccable selection of English and French titles with a strong emphasis on history and the arts. Even Parisians themselves frequently shop here, because the range is genuinely premium.

• Address: 224 Rue de Rivoli, 1st arr. (metro Tuileries, line 1)
• Open: Mon–Sat 10:00–19:00, Sun closed
• Prices: Standard book prices.
• 💡 Insider tip: The bookshop sits beneath the famous arcades right next to the Angelina tearoom. Combining a book purchase with a cup of their legendary hot chocolate next door is the perfect plan for a rainy Parisian afternoon.

Food souvenirs and perfume: The best things to bring home

Fridge magnets are fine, but the best memories of Paris can either be eaten or spritzed on your wrist. French gastronomy and perfumery are globally renowned, and bringing a piece of that perfection home is practically obligatory.

Macarons, tea and mustard

The number one sweet souvenir is, of course, the macaron. The two biggest names are Pierre Hermé and Ladurée. Ladurée has gorgeous historic gift boxes and more classic flavours, while Pierre Hermé experiments — his combination of rose, lychee and raspberry (Ispahan) is the stuff of legend. Another brilliant gift is tea. In the 4th arrondissement you’ll find the historic Mariage Frères shop dating from 1854. The interior looks like an old apothecary, hundreds of black canisters line the walls, and staff in white coats will let you smell any blend you fancy.

• Where to look: Mariage Frères (30 Rue du Bourg Tibourg, 4th arr.)
• Prices: A box of tea around €20, a single macaron roughly €2.50.
• 💡 Insider tip: If you want something savoury, pop into the Maille shop on Place de la Madeleine (8th arr.). They stock mustards in flavours you never dreamed of — including beer mustard and truffle mustard — and they’ll tap it fresh straight from a pump into a ceramic pot for you.

Niche perfumes and beauty

Paris is the capital of fragrance. Forget the standard duty-free shops at the airport and discover the world of niche perfumery. On Boulevard Saint-Germain in the 6th arrondissement you’ll find the original Diptyque boutique dating from 1961, famous for its candles and unisex fragrances. A little further along sits Officine Universelle Buly 1803, a shop that looks like a 19th-century laboratory. They sell water-based perfumes, and a calligrapher at the checkout will beautifully hand-letter your name on the box.

• Where to look: Diptyque (34 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 5th arr.)
• Prices: A Diptyque candle around €60, perfume from €140.
• 💡 Insider tip: If you’re interested in the history of fragrance, visit the Fragonard Musée du Parfum in the 9th arrondissement near the opera. Entry and the guided tour are completely free, and at the end you can buy perfumes in the factory shop at very reasonable prices.

Outlets outside the centre and the tax-free (Detaxe) system

If you’re planning a serious designer shopping spree, it may be worth heading just outside the city limits or taking advantage of the VAT refund system.

La Vallée Village

Paris’s best-known open-air outlet village lies roughly 40 minutes away by RER A train in the direction of Disneyland Paris. Small cottage-style buildings house over a hundred luxury brand boutiques (Gucci, Prada, Celine, plus more affordable options like Maje and Sandro) with year-round discounts of around 30–50%.

• Getting there: RER A to Val d’Europe station, or the dedicated Shopping Express bus from central Paris.
• Open: Daily 10:00–20:00
• 💡 Insider tip: Weekends here are absolutely chaotic, with long queues forming just to get into popular boutiques. Go on a weekday morning instead — otherwise you’ll spend more time waiting than actually shopping.

Tax refund (Detaxe) using PABLO kiosks

If you live outside the European Union — and since Brexit, this applies to UK residents — you’re entitled to a refund of the French VAT (12%) on your purchases. You need to spend over €100 in a single shop on the same day. Ask the shop for a detaxe form. At the airport (CDG or Orly), before checking in your luggage, find the blue electronic PABLO kiosks, scan the barcode on your form, and the money will be refunded to your card within a few days.

• 💡 Insider tip: Always get the refund process validated at a PABLO kiosk BEFORE you hand your suitcase over at check-in. Customs may randomly ask you to physically show the purchased goods.

Practical info: Budget, faux pas and safety

Shopping in Paris comes with its own set of unwritten rules. Break them and you’ll get a frosty glare at best, or be shown the door at worst. It’s also wise to keep an eye on your belongings, as very skilled pickpockets operate in the busiest shopping zones.

The golden Bonjour rule and other faux pas

There is one single rule you absolutely must remember. Whenever — truly, whenever — you cross the threshold of any smaller shop, boutique or bakery, you must look at the staff and clearly say “Bonjour” (Good day). In France, a shop is considered the personal space of the seller, and entering without a greeting is seen as an arrogant intrusion into someone’s living room. Without that greeting, nobody will give you the time of day. On your way out, don’t forget to add “Merci, au revoir” (Thank you, goodbye).

Also be aware of card payments. Plenty of small shops, bakeries and market stalls still have a minimum spend for card transactions, often around €5 or €10. Always carry some loose change for that morning baguette or coffee. In expensive luxury boutiques, avoid touching merchandise without permission, and in concept stores don’t move displayed items around on the tables.

Budget: How much does it all cost

Paris offers shopping for every budget. Here’s a rough guide for 2026:

• Budget shopping (vintage & souvenirs): Kilo Shop clothing roughly €15–20, a box of tea €20, macarons €15. Daily budget: €50–80.
• Mid-range (concept stores & local boutiques): A linen shirt at Merci €120, sustainable trainers €140, a designer perfume €150. Daily budget: €200–400.
• Luxury (Saint-Honoré): There are no limits here — handbags and coats from premium French fashion houses start at €2,000 and go up from there.

Safety and getting around with a pushchair

The Paris metro is a nightmare of stairs for parents with pushchairs. The only fully step-free line with lifts at every station is the automated Line 14. For getting between shopping neighbourhoods, we much prefer surface buses (such as routes 69 or 96, which criss-cross the centre) — they have designated pushchair spaces and you can enjoy the view from the window.

Keep a very sharp eye out for pickpockets while you’re shopping, especially around the large department stores on Boulevard Haussmann and at the Saint-Ouen flea market. Ignore anyone on the street trying to get you to sign a petition for deaf rights (it’s always a scam to distract you), and never let street sellers tie “friendship bracelets” onto your wrist.

Frequently asked questions