The French capital is the cradle of luxury and fashion, with elegant window displays and historical shopping arcades. But it is also one of the best places to visit flea markets where you can find incredible bargains. Here are the addresses you need to note down.
- The best shopping districts in Paris: the most emblematic areas
- Must-visit shopping centres and arcades in Paris even if you don’t want to shop
- Streets lined with luxury stores and haute couture: dreamlike shop windows
- Flea markets and vintage shops where you can pick up small treasures
The best shopping districts in Paris: the most emblematic areas
If you enjoy shopping, the first place you should visit is Boulevard Haussmann, which runs through the eighth and ninth arrondissements and is home to some of the most famous shopping destinations, such as Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. It also has many terraces from which you can enjoy incredible views of Paris.
The Le Marais neighbourhood, in the historical quarter of the city, is full of small shops featuring new designers, bohemian-style galleries and even tasteful bookstores that attract a wide variety of shoppers.
The most popular stores and major international brands such as Zara and H&M are located on Rue de Rivoli, the famous street near the Louvre, whose arcades offer a wide variety of fashion and accessory options.
Must-visit shopping centres and arcades in Paris even if you don’t want to shop
If we could choose just one place to go shopping, it would have to be Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. With its spectacular Art Nouveau glass dome, the department store is full of magical corners and otherworldly experiences. Take its terrace, which has views of greater Paris and is free to access. Or the incredible brands that compete to become the most elegant showcase in the store, or rather, in the entire world.
Printemps Haussmann is Lafayette’s rival department store, located right next door. Although it does not have the same reputation as Lafayette, it also houses haute couture boutiques, Paris’s leading fashion brands and a terrace with views of the Eiffel Tower. A visit here is usually a little more relaxed.
One of the most visited shopping centres in Paris, Les Halles and Westfield Forum des Halles, is underground. Housed in the former central market, today it is filled with international fashion and sports brands, technology stores and many restaurants, and is a great place to visit when it rains or the weather is bad. Other popular shopping centres are Beaugrenelle Paris, near the Eiffel Tower, housing fashion brands, restaurants and even a cinema; and La Samaritaine, next to the river Seine, which is perfect for fans of architecture and modern art.
Streets lined with luxury stores and haute couture: dreamlike shop windows
Luxury can be found on practically every corner in Paris, but if you want to play it safe, the upper section of the Champs-Élysées is full of the flagship stores of major brands such as Louis Vuitton, Guerlain and the famous Tiffany & Co. Nearby is Avenue Montaigne, with haute couture stores known throughout the world, as well as Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, just behind the famous Hotel Crillon.
Within the eighth arrondissement, one of the most elegant in the French capital, there is also Place Vendôme and Rue de la Paix, where large boutiques alternate with high-end jewellery shops such as Cartier, Chaumet, Dior Joaillerie, Piaget and Rolex. Very close by, you can also head to 31 Rue Cambon, where Coco Chanel had her store, studio and home. A unique place.
Flea markets and vintage shops where you can pick up small treasures
In Paris, anything is possible, such as finding luxury items at a market stall or in a second-hand shop. Naturally, however, you have to know where to go. The Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, in the north of the city, is the largest flea market in the world. Here you can find everything from vintage clothing to authentic antiques, art pieces and books. It is open on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays and we recommend going early to avoid the crowds.
Another famous market is the Marché aux Puces de Vanves, in the south. This one is open on Saturdays and Sundays mornings and is smaller than the one in Saint-Ouen. You can also find stalls selling clothes and collectibles such as postcards and books. If you’re looking for something more specific, you can also check out the city’s second-hand shops, which always offer something unique in Paris. One of the most famous is the Kilo Shop chain, which has several locations and sells clothes and accessories by weight. It tends to have a more casual and varied style.
If you’re looking for second-hand items from major fashion brands, the place to go is Thanx God I’m a V.I.P. on the Canal de Saint-Martin. Although the clothes are second-hand, they include items from Chanel, YSL and Kenzo and are presented like a boutique.
