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 Shopping : Best of the City
Visitors need only stroll the streets of Paris to see that shopping is practically a national pastime. Not only are the sidewalks lined with boutiques and stores, but city residents are stylishly dressed and accessorized. And with designer shows featured throughout the year, it’s no surprise that new items are introduced regularly. If high-end goods are your weakness, Emporio Armani, Louis Vuitton, and Hermès stock beautiful, impeccably crafted items that subtly advertise your good taste and sufficient means. Should you need to maximize shopping time, head for boulevard Haussmann and make your way through the city’s prestigious department stores. Galeries Lafayette is a classic, boasting stunning architecture to boot. And Forum des Halles, which occupies the site of Paris’s age-old markets, offers lots of distinct venues in a fascinating, underground complex. A bit farther out from the city center, Les Quatres Temps in La Defense sits beside the Grande Arche and closely fits the mold of typical American shopping centers. These various settings, of course, are in addition to the fantastic, independent establishments you’ll stumble across while exploring the city’s back streets, grand boulevards, and charming neighborhoods.
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1-7, rue Lescot, Paris 75001 • 01 44 76 96 56
Distance: ~129 m
Description: 1er ARRONDISSEMENT. Formerly the site of Paris's large, venerable food market – which was moved out of the city proper in 1969 – this shopping center filled the gaping retail void. However, its shops and boutiques were built underground, leaving the surface to be developed as a public park. The busy mall, adjacent to a Metro and RER train station, pulls in lots of shoppers and is an especially good source of clothing. Although the complex can be a bit utilitarian, it serves a useful role in city life. METRO: Châtelet-Les Halles
99, rue de Rivoli, Paris 75001 • 01 43 16 47 10
Distance: ~0.550 km
Description: 1er ARRONDISSEMENT. Convenient to the city center and to many of Paris's top attractions, this underground mall gets lots of traffic. Weekend hours also ensure that it remains busy. Whether you're looking for music, gifts, perfumes, or clothing, you'll find a number of well-known stores that deliver quality merchandise and ease of purchase. Plus, if you tire of centuries-old art and history, this complex offers a reminder of 21st-century commerce. METRO: Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre
52-64, rue de Rivoli, Paris 75004 • 01 42 74 90 00
Distance: ~0.674 km
Description: 4ème ARRONDISSEMENT. Its initials stand for "Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville," and this department store delivers a bazaar's worth of retail merchandise. Housewares, home improvement items, and hardware are especially prominent, but if they're not your cup of tea, don't despair. The store also stocks men's and women's clothing, toys, and even useful and beautiful domestic goods. METRO: Hôtel de Ville
40, bd Haussmann, Paris 75009 • 01 42 82 34 56
Distance: ~1.734 km
Description: 9ème ARRONDISSEMENT. Crowned by a turn-of-the-century, stained-glass dome, this incredible department store is a shopper's paradise. The cosmetics department is huge, and perfumes are legion. Fashion, too, maintains a strong profile, and both men and women find enormous selections of designer wear accompanied by more mainstream options. Other attractions include a great toy department, a hair salon, terrific jewelry, and housewares. METRO: Chaussée-d'Antin, Opéra, Havre-Caumartin
24, rue de Sèvres, Paris 75007 • 01 44 39 80 00
Distance: ~1.958 km
Description: 7ème ARRONDISSEMENT. Arguably Paris's most well-known department store, this temple to commerce was created by Aristide and Marguerite Boucicaut in the late 19th century. More than 100 years later, it's a destination for fashion and style and one of the city's most prominent retail establishments. Designer apparel for men and women, cosmetics, and housewares comprise the major departments. Adjacent to the store is an impressive food hall that carries gourmet groceries, wines and take-out fare. METRO: Sèvres-Babylone
64, bd Haussmann, Paris 75009 • 01 42 82 50 00
Distance: ~1.968 km
Description: 9ème ARRONDISSEMENT. Distinguished by an amazing stained-glass cupola, Le Printemps is a veritable station for fashion. The wide-ranging department store has everything from women's, men's, and children's fashions to an in-store restaurant with full-menu options. There's also a level for housewares and furniture, along with huge departments for cosmetics, lingerie, and shoes, not to mention a post office and hair salon. METRO: Havre-Caumartin, RER Auber.
av. de la Porte de Clignancourt, Paris 75018 • 08 92 70 57 65
Distance: ~4.351 km
Description: 18ème ARRONDISSEMENT. This world-renowned flea market, held in Saint-Ouen on the northern edge of Paris, doesn't promise steals on great merchandise as it once did, but it's a great place to browse and uncover terrific souvenirs. Thousands of stalls (comprising twelve distinct markets) line the streets, offering everything from vintage clothing to old dishes, cast-off objects, and antique furniture. Give yourself time to browse, use your French, and beware of pickpockets. Otherwise, revel in the great local color. METRO: Porte de Clignancourt, Garibaldi
9, quai du Châtelier, Paris 93450 • 01 42 43 70 20
Distance: ~4.674 km
Description: ILE SAINT-DENIS. If you can't pass up an outlet sale, know that even Paris offers discount venues. Located on the Seine, Quai des Marques is more than a half-hour ride by car from the outskirts of the city, but it offers fantastic deals on clothing. A variety of mostly-French brands is available, and many items are past season, but you're certain to discover a wealth of great looks. Among the lines you'll see are Charles Jourdan, nina Ricci, Kenzo, and Ted Lapidus.
15 Parvis de la Défense, Paris 92092 • 01 47 73 54 44
Distance: ~8.629 km
Description: LA DEFENSE. This expansive mall offers fabulous shopping in western Paris. Lots of retail establishments carry practically anything you could want, especially clothing, and plenty of restaurants ensure that you can find sustenance while you're in a spending mood. It's not in the city center, but Les Quatres Temps lets you discover the shining, modern La Défense district, and it's got a lot of mega-stores to boot. METRO: Esplanade de la Défense