A plethora of boutiques and souvenir shops, entire shopping districts and streets — all this is certainly an attraction in the fashion capital of the world.
17,000 boutiques, shopping streets and districts, malls and outlets, markets and flea markets — and, most importantly, the title of the world’s fashion capital — all this makes shopping tours in Paris the dream of fashion lovers from all over the world. So, where should shopaholics head when they arrive in Paris?
According to traveler reviews, the 1st arrondissement (Louvre) and the 8th (Champs-Élysées) lead the ranking of the best shopping areas. Here you’ll find the Sephora store (over 12,000 cosmetic and perfume items priced from 5 to 500 EUR), the luxurious Guerlain boutique worthy of competing with Versailles (not visiting it while in Paris would be a crime!), several Chanel stores (including the one where Mademoiselle Coco herself worked), and the cult American cosmetics brand MAC.
On Rue Saint-Honoré, you’ll find boutiques by John Galliano, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Escada, Brioni, Roberto Cavalli, Balenciaga, and Gucci. This is also home to the famous fashion and art store Colette (prices range from 200 to 2000 EUR).
Be sure to take your kids to the Disney toy store (average purchase — around 20 EUR), where you can also buy tickets to Disneyland Paris. Music lovers and tech enthusiasts will enjoy FNAC, while those looking for a new handbag should head to Lancel (starting from 400 EUR) or Louis Vuitton.
Also popular is the affordable Abercrombie & Fitch store (great jeans here cost between 20–50 EUR). Directly beneath the Louvre is the underground shopping mall Le Carrousel du Louvre, with 50 shops including Swarovski, Lalique, L'Occitane, and France’s first Apple Store.
Among the city’s major shopping centers, Forum des Halles stands out. This enormous five-story complex (four levels underground) houses 250 mid-range boutiques, including Mango, Zara, Kookaï, H&M, Bershka, Sephora, Yves Rocher, and more.
The 2nd arrondissement (Bourse) is known for the Sentier district, where wholesalers of fabrics, leather, and fur are concentrated. It also features the Palais Royal galleries and one of Paris’s oldest shopping streets, Rue Saint-Denis. The 3rd (Temple) and 4th (Hôtel de Ville) arrondissements are famous for Rue de Rivoli (with numerous local and international boutiques and souvenir shops), Rue St-Antoine (home to “fast fashion” stores like Gap and Marks & Spencer), and the Marais district (with boutiques like Sandro, Les Petites, Ba&Sh, L’Eclaireur, Marc Jacobs, Odetta, and Vanessa Bruno).
In the 7th arrondissement, you’ll find not only the Eiffel Tower but also some of Paris’s most iconic department stores. For example, Bon Marché — a five-story department store opened in 1852, considered the forerunner of modern malls. Or Les Quatre Temps, one of Europe’s largest shopping centers, featuring over 200 boutiques, a large Auchan hypermarket, and entertainment venues.
The 9th arrondissement is home to Paris’s largest shopping centers and outlets. The most famous is the legendary Galeries Lafayette, worth visiting for its architecture alone. The gallery consists of three buildings: Lafayette Coupole (women’s fashion), Lafayette Homme (men’s fashion), and Lafayette Maison (home décor and furniture). The range of brands extends from luxury to affordable, and fashion shows are held every Friday.
Also located in this district is one of Paris’s oldest department stores, the multi-story Printemps. Two floors are dedicated to cosmetics, several more to clothing and footwear, and seven entire floors to designer boutiques. You’ll find everything here: Alexander McQueen, Miu Miu, Chanel, Gucci, DSquared, Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabbana, Isabel Marant, Marni, Stella McCartney, Saint Laurent, Vanessa Bruno, Marc Jacobs, and many others.
Most Paris stores are open on weekdays and Saturdays from around 7–9 a.m. to 7–8 p.m. According to travelers, weekends are best spent shopping in outlets. The most famous is La Vallée Village.
Discounts on top fashion brands (Burberry, Christian Lacroix, Cacharel, Celine, Giorgio Armani, Cerruti, Givenchy, and others) usually range from 35–50%, and during sales periods — up to 75–90%. The only downside is that the outlet is located outside Paris, about 45–50 minutes away by car.
