Shopping in Paris – The Best Way to enjoy Paris
What is the best way to go shopping in Paris? Where to do that ? Paris is considered to be the capital of fashion. Its Fashion Week, that usually happens in October, is the trendiest one in the world. Here are the tips to enjoy Paris…
All the craziest and the most innovative and creative trends were born in Paris. That is reason enough to go shopping in Paris. So necessarily, you are expected to shop as Parisians if you want to get ahead of what’s hot in the fashion industry.
In the streets, malls, small boutiques… If you’re coming to Paris and feel like getting inspired by Parisian fashion, you need to know where the locals go to fill their wardrobe! Read on to find out where to shop !
Shop for basics in Paris streets
You will find many Parisians shopping on huge avenues such as rue de Rennes which is close to the Luxembourg garden. The closest metro stations are Montparnasse, Saint Placide, Saint Sulpice or St Germain-des-Près metro stations on line 4. You have as well Rennes metro station on the green line number 12. That’s a lot of metro stations to go shopping, and it’s not over !
You also have the boulevard Haussmann where the closest metro stations are Havre Caumartin on line 3 and 9, or Chaussin d’Antin – La Fayette on line 9.
Then, you can also go to rue de Rivoli, which starts at Place de la Concorde (line 1, 8 and 12) and ends at Saint Paul (line 1). This street is one of the longest shopping streets of Paris. There are mostly international chains including H&M or Zara, that you can certainly find at home. But it is my favorite spot because it is about three kilometers long. And it goes by plenty of landmarks and it will lead you to your next recommended trendy place: le Marais!
Parisians favorite district : Le Marais
What is really specific of Parisian fashion is the neighborhood called Le Marais (Saint Paul station on line 1). In the Marais, you will only find small narrow streets that have been left behind from the Middle Ages – it’s like an old town. Le Marais is a trendy place where people shop by day and hang out by night. There, the range of prices varies a lot. You can find creator shops, art shops, or luxurious stores run by owners.
But if you can not afford this type of stores, you could try finding the cheapest clothes in Paris in friperies which are second-hand clothes shops. It’s so much fun, it feels like a treasure hunting. From pin-up dresses to 70’s shirts, you have to search for the right item!
There is one vintage store called Kiloshop. In this store, the final price depends on the weight of the clothes. Parisians love unearthing bargains: vintage bags, jackets, coats, shirts, and old dresses that one can shorten! In Le Marais, you will find plenty of second-hand clothes stores. This is the main reason why I particularly love shopping in Le Marais !
Shopping on a budget ? Check out Paris on a Budget to get more information and to learn the good way to spend less when visiting Paris.
Find everything in Les Grands Magasins, the Department Stores
Shopping in Paris is also associated with department stores – huge malls. Because, indeed, Paris is one of the first cities in the world where they came to existence. You can find everything you want in department stores – but you need to know that each one has its own special features.
Le Printemps has the most beautiful shop fronts and Les Galeries Lafayette has a gorgeous dome made of glasswork that you can admire from the center of the ground-floor.
Both located along Boulevard Haussmann, I must admit that those two are always overcrowded and quite touristy. It’s like being in the centre of Paris.
Are you looking for true Parisians while shopping ?
The department store you are looking for is Le Bon Marché at the metro station Sèvre-Babylone on metro line 10 and 12.
In Le Bon Marché, you will find the typical luxe à la française, the “French luxe”. It is a very enjoyable place to shop, even though I must confess that it is pretty expensive.
The most luxurious avenues of Paris
I am sorry to be the one to give you the bad news, but the Champs Elysées is no longer one of those luxurious avenues where you can go shopping.
How to explain this change?
Although there are still great brands such as Louis Vuitton or Lancel as well as some luxurious parisian hotels, the atmosphere has changed a lot !
McDonald’s, Burger King, Promod and other big chains are now the most visible stores of this historical avenue.
But no worries : if you a looking for the real luxe à la française…
… and lot of money to spend on shopping – you NEED to go to rue de la Paix. You can reach this street by Opéra metro station on metro lines 3, 7 and 8.
There, the rent is so expensive that none of the stores are profitable. Moreover, that is the only place in Paris where making the price public is not mandatory.
Still some money left ?
You can also go to rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré – which starts at the Louvre and goes to the west.
Avenue de Montaigne (located between Franklin Roosevelt metro station on line 1 and 9 and Alma Marceau on line 9) is also the prefered street of footballers wives & girlfriends.
Don’t forget boulevard Saint Germain, an iconic boulevard where you will certainly meet French Celebrities.
A new chic address in Paris : Beaugrenelle
The most contemporary department store in Paris has opened in 2013. Located in the fancy 15th district – not far from La Seine and La Tour Eiffel, you will find more than 100 shops and restaurant.
“Le Centre Beaugrenelle” as Parisians love to say will be your new spot if you are looking for brands such as Guerlain, Zadig et Voltaire, Eleven Paris and even Ladurée.
Small budget? No worries, you will also find Uniqlo, Zara and Hollister among others.
A green and sustainable building
The roof of the Beaugrenelle Shopping Centre is the home of six beehives. Between 50 and 100k of honey is produced every year !
So now that you know all the good places to go shopping in Paris, you’re closer to dressing and feeling like a real Parisian!
Still, I have on important Parisian advice for you…
If possible, avoid shopping on Saturdays. It is always overcrowded and you could be disappointed by your experience in the streets of Paris.
So, what to do in Paris during the weekend ?
On Saturdays, maybe a good way to spend your day in Paris would be to a join a Walking Tour of Le Marais. These tours are free (tip-only) and they take place every day at 2.30pm in the heart of Paris. If you are interested, you can join us for a 90 minute visit of this incredible neighborhood and learn fascinating stories !
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article and that is has been useful to you! You are now ready to explore my hometown. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need further information about anything! See you soon in Paris!
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