Paris is known as a true consumption metropolis. There is a shoreless range of fashionable garments, ambrosial parfumes, delicious delicacies, sparkling champagnes, and many other fancy goods.
Usually shopping in Paris is not suitable for moneysaving bargain hunters. Most of the shops are very expensive.
The business hours Monday to Friday are from 10:00am until 7:00pm or 7:30pm. Big shopping malls have their “long Thursday”. This means it’s possible to shop until 9:00pm or 10:00pm.
Shopping on Sundays is possible in some shops in the district of Marais, downstairs in Louvre, and some places on the Champs Elysees. Many little groceries seems to have their business hours around the clock. There is no law for the closing time in France.
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The impressive shopping mall of Lafeyette in Sentier from the inside.
Antiques can be found in Depot de Vente de Paris. This is a huge storehouse with 3.000 square metres with old furnitures and paintings. Depot de Vente de Paris is known for its bargain goods, and can be found in Rue d’Alesia 117 (Metro 4: Alesia).
Another place for buying antiques is Village Saint Paul. Several connected backyards offer a wide range of furnitures, paintings, jeweleries, porcelain and many other interesting things. The place can be found close to “Place des Vosges” between Rue Saint Paul and Rue Charlemagne. Metro 1: Saint Paul.
Someone who is searching for antique books is able to find his desire in Les Bouquinistes, directly next to the Seine river and close to the bridge Pont Neuf.
FNAC is the biggest book store in Paris, and can be found in Avenue des Champs Elysees 74 (Metro 1 and 9: Franklin D. Roosevelt). Not very far from FNAC is the Virgin Megastore. Known as the biggest music store in the French capital. Avenue des Champs Elysees 52. Metro 1 and 9: Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Someone who is searching for chocolates should visit Debauve & Gallais in Rue Saint Louis en Ile 31 (Metro 7: Pont Marie). This kind of chocolate shop exists more than 200 years. The offered chocolates are very expensive, but known as sweet and exclusive delicacies.
Hediard is the most traditional grocery in Paris. The delicacies shop exists since 1854, and offers many different treats. From goose liver with truffles to lobster pâté. Hediard has a lot of special things which are not available in supermarkets.
Paris is also the location of Europes biggest wine store. Lavinia offers 6.500 wines from 43 different countries on three floors, and can be found in Boulevard de la Madeleine 3-5. Metro 8, 12, and 14: Madeleine.
Clignancourt is the worlds biggest flea market, and located in Avenue Vernaison 130 (Metro 4: Porte de Clignancourt). More than 3.000 merchants offer a wealth of different goods. The whole flea market has a walkable lane of 15 kilometres. Metro 4: Porte de Clignancourt.
The first shopping mall of Paris was Le Bon Marche in Rue de Sevres 24 (Metro 10 and 12: Sevres Babylone). The design of the mall was done by the same person who designed the Eiffel tower. Some people claim that Le Bon Marche has the best range of shoes in the city. Galeries Lafayette offers an unique shopping experience under a gigantic dome of glass since 1908.
A huge range of cometics can be found in Printemps. The temple of cosmetics is located in Boulevard Haussmann 64 (Metro 3 and 9: Havre Caumartin).
A big collection of galleries with contemporary art can be found close to the art academy “Beaux Arts”, on the Rue Mazarine and Rue des Beaux Arts. There are also interesting art objects in Rue Vieille du Temple, especially around the Picasso museum, and the Rue Quincampoix.
The most important fashion shops of Paris like Armani, Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Hermes, Lacroix, Max Mara, and Versace, are located in Avenue Montaigne and Rue du Faubourg Saint Honore.
Bargain hunters could succeed, if they are searching for offerings which are labeled as “Degriffe”. This is brand-name clothing from the last season with a strong reduced price. Usually the labels are removed from such kind of clothes. Many of those shops which offer Degriffe clothes can be found in Rue d’Alesia (Metro 4: Alesia). A discount of more than 40 percent is definitely possible.