Best Places for Shopping in Paris

Best Places for Shopping in Paris

Shopping in Europe is wonderful because it very rarely takes place inside of a formal mall setting. Malls are present in Paris, but a lot of the best shopping is actually found scattered throughout the city streets in the different arrondissements.

Where to go very much depends on what you intend to buy, and I’ve learnt the hard way that there is little room for window shopping in the French capital. Ready to shop?

Galerie Vivienne in Paris

Paris’ passages are one of the highlights of the city infrastructure. They’re either open alley ways or covered ones, containing strips of retail and hospitality venues within. They sizes of the passages also vary deepening on the location.

The Galerie Vivienne is one of the city’s most famous covered passages. It’s situated in the 2nd arrondissement; a neighborhood known for great shopping.

A shopping mall has been built inside of the Vivienne passage, and it features 176m long space filled with retail facilities.

Galerie Vivienne in Paris – by Galerie Vivienne – Wikimedia Commons

It’s more of a confectionary and souvenir shopping adventure, not really somewhere you come to buy clothing or shoes. There are wonderful trinkets to be found and also some great spots to eat in.

The Galerie Vivienne was dubbed a historical monument back in 1974; you’ll be shopping within a piece of history.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday — 8:30am to 8:30pm

ADDRESS: 5 Rue de la Banque, 75002 Paris, France

Metro STATION: Bourse

Rue du Commerce in Paris

Tucked away in the 15th arrondissement, the Rue du Commerce is just a short walk from the Eiffel Tower. It’s one of my favorite, somewhat hidden, shopping strips in the city, exhibiting a charm and allure that’s difficult to find elsewhere.

The Rue du Commerce is a cluster of local boutiques, small name brands and practical shopping facilities. It’s where locals to the neighborhood come when they need the best deals on everyday goods like casual clothing, skin care products and home decor.

Rue du Commerce in Paris – by Guilhem Vellut – Wikimedia Commons

Brands like Sephora and The Body Shop hold real estate on this road, and it’s frequented by families from around the neighborhood. You’ll see a lot of dogs in prams while walking this strip — welcome to Paris.

To access the Rue du Commerce start at Boulevard de Grenelle and make your way toward Rue des Entrepreneurs. The ‘Commerce’ metro line would be the best place to get off if you’re traveling from outside of the 15th.

Triangle d’Or in Paris

Very different to the Rue du Commerce, the Triangle d’Or is more on par with what people fantasize Paris’ shopping scenes to be like.

This is a retail triangle, one that is comprised of Avenue Montaigne, Avenue George V and Rue Francois 1er, all in the 8th arrondissement. One can get here via a short walk by crossing the Seine from the Eiffel Tower.

Luxury fashion finds its home here at the Triangle d’Or. It’s Paris’ Haute Couture brands all within walking distance from one another. Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Valentino, Gucci, Prada… shall I keep going?

Triangle d’Or – by Panoramio upload bot – Wikimedia Commons

The stores are a mix of clothing, shoes and cosmetics. Obviously, people come to the Triangle d’Or to spend money, but those with more shallow pockets need not miss out on the experience. Amongst the stores there are also more affordable bands like Zara and Sephora.

Bear in mind that the Triangle d’Or is not a formal shopping mall, so each store within the cluster will operate at their own designated store hours. Most of the Triangle d’Or is closed on Sundays.

Bercy Village in Paris

Bercy Village is down in the 12th arrondissement, right in the southeastern corner of the city.

Bercy used to be the location of the largest wine market in the world. 42 storehouses sat on this market strip housing all of the produce that was to be sold to the public; it’s now those same storehouses that hold the retail stores that make up the Bercy shopping strip.

The Cour Saint-Emilion is where you want to spend most of your time while shopping in Bercy village. The cobblestone street is lined with boutiques and restaurants, all with something unique to offer the curious shopper.

Bercy Village in Paris – by Guilhem Vellut – Wikimedia Commons

This is very much a family friendly shopping experience; expect to find everything from clothing to cosmetics, homeware to groceries.

If you’re venturing this far south just to shop, I recommend making a day of it. Bercy Village’s restaurants offer great hospitality, and there are even a few bars that carry on late into the evenings.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday — 10am to 2am

ADDRESS: 28 Rue François Truffaut, 75012 Paris, France

Metro STATION: Bercy

Les Boutiques Du Palais in Paris

From the Arc de Triomphe, one can quite easily make their way into the deeper parts of the 17th arrondissement.

Here lives an important venue on the Parisian event’s map: the Palais des Congrès. This is a convention center that features exhibitions and gatherings year round. The space is so expansive that the center was able to incorporate a shopping mall within it, known as les Boutiques du Palais.

by Burgess Milner – Unsplash

This is a small cluster of clothing shops all with a distant upmarket feel to them. They range from mid to high in terms of pricing, and between them you’ll find some charming eateries in which to spend some time.

Brands you’ll find in the Boutiques du Palais include Bexley and Lacoste. There is a fresh produce market as well as multiple confectionary stores. The mall also has a number of stores selling traditional Muslim attire including beautiful abayas for women.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday — 10:30am to 7:30pm

ADDRESS: 2 Place de la Porte Maillot, 75917 Paris, France

Metro STATION: Neuilly – Porte Maillot