Shopping · Paris · France
Shopping in Paris
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Moonik, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Paris shopping ranges from couture houses and grand department stores to flea markets and concept stores. Most shops close on Sundays except in tourist zones such as the Marais and the Champs-Élysées. Best souvenirs: Macarons and chocolate, French skincare from pharmacies and Vintage prints and books.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Macarons and chocolate
Where to shop
Boulevard Haussmann
Galeries Lafayette and Printemps department stores, with free rooftop terraces and spectacular Christmas windows.
Le Marais
Independent designers, vintage shops and concept stores, open on Sundays.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Luxury and French fashion labels, bookshops and Le Bon Marché, the oldest department store in Paris.
Avenue Montaigne and Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
The flagship stores of the great fashion houses.
Markets
Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen
One of the world's largest antiques and flea markets, open Saturday to Monday just north of the city.
Marché des Enfants Rouges
The oldest covered market in Paris, in the Marais, best for lunch from its food stalls.
Bouquinistes
Green riverside boxes along the Seine selling old books, prints and posters.
What to buy
Macarons and chocolate
Boxed macarons and fine chocolate travel well for a few days.
French skincare from pharmacies
Pharmacies sell French skincare brands at prices well below export markets.
Vintage prints and books
The bouquinistes on the Seine sell old maps, posters and engravings.
Cheese, vacuum-packed
Fromageries can vacuum-pack hard cheeses for travel; check your home country's import rules.
Kitchenware
Professional cookware shops near Les Halles sell copper pans and baking moulds.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Neighbourhood · Le Marais
Le Marais and Place des Vosges
Paris's oldest planned square, Place des Vosges, is the start of a walk through the Marais's aristocratic mansions, Jewish quarter around Rue des Rosiers and dense streets of boutiques.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Shopping
- Food
- Architecture
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Baguette tradition, Croque-monsieur, Macarons and Hot chocolate. Ask for 'une tradition' rather than 'une baguette' at any boulangerie; it costs a little more and is worth it. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Le Marais | $$$ | Medieval lanes, galleries, falafel and boutiques in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements |
| Saint-Germain-des-Prés | $$$$ | Literary cafés, art galleries and elegant Left Bank streets in the 6th |
| Latin Quarter | $$ | Student energy, the Sorbonne and cheap eats in the 5th |
| Montmartre | $$ | Hilltop village, artists' square and the white dome of Sacré-Cœur in the 18th |
| Opéra and Grands Boulevards | $$$ | Department stores, Palais Garnier and the main transport hub in the 9th |
| Eiffel Tower and 7th arrondissement | $$$$ | Grand avenues, Rue Cler market street and tower views |
| Canal Saint-Martin | $$ | Iron footbridges, natural-wine bars and a young local crowd in the 10th |
| Bastille and Oberkampf | $$ | Bars, live music and the Marché d'Aligre in the 11th and 12th |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in EUR. Service is included in French restaurant prices by law. Locals round up or leave a euro or two for good service, and up to about 5–10% in finer restaurants is generous but optional.
- Always say 'Bonjour' (or 'Bonsoir' after dark) when entering a shop or café, and 'Merci, au revoir' when you leave.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–February and November; the busiest months are June–July.
- January: Winter sales — citywide shop discounts (usually from early January)
- February: Salon International de l'Agriculture — farm and food fair (usually late February)
- April: Foire du Trône funfair (spring)
- August: Rock en Seine festival (late August)
- October: Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre — grape harvest festival (usually mid-October)
- November: Christmas lights switched on along the Champs-Élysées (usually late November)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, shopping and nightlife
Le Marais
Medieval lanes, galleries, falafel and boutiques in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Paris?
Macarons and chocolate, French skincare from pharmacies, Vintage prints and books and Cheese, vacuum-packed.
+Where is the best shopping in Paris?
Boulevard Haussmann: Galeries Lafayette and Printemps department stores, with free rooftop terraces and spectacular Christmas windows.
+What are the best markets in Paris?
Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, Marché des Enfants Rouges and Bouquinistes.