Paris has been a shopping destination for centuries. Whether you’re in search of an unusual souvenir, 18th-century antiques, or you’re ready to purchase your first pair of Louboutins, here’s your ultimate Paris shopping guide.
LessIf you’re a couture connoisseur seeking a blend of luxury and elegance in your shopping endeavors, head to the 8th arrondissement’s Golden Triangle (Triangle d’Or). This three–sided locale consists of three of the top shopping streets in Paris: Avenue Montaigne, Avenue George V, and the iconic Champs–Élysées. It’s here that you’ll find the city’s highest concentration of flagship stores, including Dior, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton, all housed within classic 19th-century Haussmannian buildings.
Discerning shoppers flock to Paris’ Galeries Lafayette not only to see the latest collections by luxury French fashion houses like Chanel and Louis Vuitton, but also to delight in the building’s glass dome ceiling, rooftop terrace, and gourmet food options. Galeries Lafayette sets itself apart with its Friday fashion shows, where you can see the newest styles in action, and the free Galerie des Galeries, which showcases the fusion of art, fashion, and design.
With its Jewish history, vibrant LGBTQ+ scene, and famous museums, Le Marais sets itself apart from other Paris shopping districts. The charming cobblestoned locale is known for its gastronomy, perfumeries, and small-name fashion apparel. After checking out the main shopping street, Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, head to Rue des Archives and Rue du Temple for a selection of fashion apparel and concept stores. A walking tour of Le Marais is an excellent way to get an overview of the area's history.
Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré has been a popular Paris shopping destination for over 200 years. In the 18th century, this was where bibliophiles came to spend their precious francs on the latest publications. Today, it’s where fashionistas come to do their luxury shopping in Paris at haute-couture French fashion houses, including Christian Louboutin, Hermès, and Givenchy. Running from Opera Garnier to the Tuileries Garden, Rue Saint-Honoré boasts more than a mile of stores.
If you find more excitement in treasure hunts and bargaining than in retail shopping and semi-annual sales, head to Les Puces de Saint-Ouen. As the world's largest concentration of antique and second-hand dealers, this flea market (marché aux puces) offers everything from vintage clothes to rare records to unusual jewelry. Despite being open only Saturday through Monday, it draws in 5 million visitors annually and has 1,700 vendors across 15 specialized submarkets to explore.
Known for its artistic and intellectual atmosphere, Paris’ Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood is the perfect place for shoppers searching for rare books, paintings, and unusual antiques. This literary quarter is also famous for Le Bon Marché, the world’s first modern department store. If you’re a haute-couture bargain hunter, join a personal shopper to find the best brand names at the lowest price. Between buys, refresh yourself at Saint-Germain-des-Prés' most famous café, Les Deux Magots.
Galerie Vivienne is the place to go if you’re on the hunt for antiques and unusual gifts. If you appreciate customization, make a beeline for the Passage de Deux Pavillons, where you’ll find an array of artisans creating bespoke luxury items, including shoes and leather bags. While Galerie Véro-Dodat is best known for its two Louboutin showrooms, you’ll also find a renowned antiquarian bookseller, musical instrument store, and high-end accessories.
For over 1,000 years, Les Halles was a sprawling fresh food market in the city’s 1st arrondissement. Although the Forum des Halles shopping center replaced the market in 1971, the neighborhood remains widely praised as the perfect shopping destination for culinary professionals and amateur chefs alike. You’ll find several specialty shops, like E. Dehillerin, Paris’ ultimate supplier for everything you need to bring the art of Parisian pâtisserie home with you.
Set aside some of your shopping budget for the bouquinistes. Paris’ iconic booksellers form a sprawling open-air bookshop along the River Seine. Spanning the Right Bank from Pont Marie to Quai du Louvre and the Left Bank from Quai de la Tournelle to Quai Voltaire, 226 vendors and their 900 “book boxes” present 300,000 literary gems. These treasure troves of rare books earned them UNESCO recognition when the banks of the Seine were named a World Heritage Site in 1991.