Shopping
Best shopping in Paris: department stores, the Marais and the Saint-Ouen flea market
Paris is the city where even window shopping feels cultural. Here is our guide to the best shopping areas, from Galeries Lafayette to the flea market at Saint-Ouen, and the hotels right in the middle of them.
It is ten in the morning and the glass dome of Galeries Lafayette is catching the light like a kaleidoscope. Outside, Parisians walk past with baguettes under their arms, and in the windows along Boulevard Haussmann the mannequins are already wearing next season’s colours. Shopping in Paris is rarely just shopping. It is architecture, food and people watching at the same time.
The city is divided into arrondissements, and each area has its own style. Stay in the right place and you can walk between shops, cafés and your hotel without looking at a metro map. We have split this guide by the main shopping districts and picked hotels to suit each one.
The links to the hotels are partner links. If you book through them, Picolo may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
How to choose the right shopping area in Paris
Department stores and big names: Boulevard Haussmann with Galeries Lafayette and Printemps.
Luxury: Avenue Montaigne and Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.
Concept stores and young designers: Le Marais.
Left Bank elegance: Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Le Bon Marché.
Flea market and vintage: Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, just north of the city.
Avenue Montaigne and Faubourg Saint-Honoré: the luxury streets
Avenue Montaigne is where the fashion houses line up one after another, with doormen at the entrance and windows that are works of art in their own right. Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, on the other side of the Champs-Élysées, has many of the same labels and some of the city’s best known perfumers.
Hôtel Plaza Athénée
The red awnings of Avenue Montaigne
Plaza Athénée: right on Avenue Montaigne
The red awnings of the Plaza Athénée are almost a symbol of Avenue Montaigne. You are staying on the shopping street itself, with the Seine and the Champs-Élysées a few minutes away.
The ivy-covered courtyard is a lovely place to pause before the next round.
Book your shopping break: See rooms at Plaza Athénée
Le Meurice
Opposite the Tuileries Garden
Le Meurice: Rue de Rivoli and the Tuileries
Le Meurice stands on Rue de Rivoli, opposite the Tuileries Garden. From here you can walk to Rue Saint-Honoré, the jewellers on Place Vendôme and the Louvre in minutes.
A palace hotel for anyone who wants classic Paris right outside the door.
Book your shopping break: See rooms at Le Meurice
Boulevard Haussmann: Galeries Lafayette and Printemps
The two great department stores stand side by side on Boulevard Haussmann. Galeries Lafayette is famous for its glass dome and rooftop terrace with views over the city, while Printemps has just as much fashion and its own food hall. Come early on a weekday, as afternoons get busy.
Nearby are the covered passages, such as Passage des Panoramas and, a little further south, Galerie Vivienne. Here you will find old booksellers, stamp dealers and small bistros under 19th century glass roofs.
Hôtel des Grands Boulevards
Rooftop bar in the 2nd arrondissement
Hôtel des Grands Boulevards: rooftop bar and passages
This hotel sits on the Grands Boulevards, within walking distance of the department stores and the passages. The rooftop bar is one of the nicest places in the area to end the day.
The rooms are stylish and thoughtfully designed, and the prices are more moderate than at the palace hotels.
Book your shopping break: See rooms at Hôtel des Grands Boulevards
Le Marais: concept stores and Sunday opening
The Marais is the liveliest shopping district in Paris, with narrow streets, old mansions and a mix of young designers, perfumers and vintage shops. Rue des Francs-Bourgeois and Rue Vieille du Temple are good places to start. A big bonus: many shops in the Marais open on Sundays, when much of the city is closed.
Le Pavillon de la Reine
On Place des Vosges in the Marais
Pavillon de la Reine: hidden on Place des Vosges
Pavillon de la Reine is tucked behind a gateway on Place des Vosges, one of the most beautiful squares in Paris. You are in the middle of the Marais, surrounded by its shops, cafés and small galleries.
Behind the hedges in the courtyard it is surprisingly quiet, even when the streets outside are buzzing.
Book your shopping break: See rooms at Pavillon de la Reine
Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Le Bon Marché
On the Left Bank the pace is calmer and the style more classic. Le Bon Marché is often called the world’s oldest department store and is known for its elegant interiors, and the food hall next door, La Grande Épicerie, is perfect for edible gifts. The streets around it, such as Rue du Bac and Rue de Grenelle, have shoes, interiors and small fashion boutiques.
Hotel Lutetia
Art nouveau on the Left Bank
Lutetia: opposite Le Bon Marché
The Lutetia stands on Boulevard Raspail, directly opposite Le Bon Marché. It is the art nouveau palace of the Left Bank, with Saint-Germain and the Luxembourg Gardens within walking distance.
Perfect if you want a calm, elegant base and to shop where Parisians shop.
Book your shopping break: See rooms at Lutetia
Hotel Montalembert
A small hotel near the Musée d’Orsay
Hotel Montalembert: small and elegant
Montalembert is a small hotel on a side street in the 7th arrondissement, close to the Musée d’Orsay and a few minutes from Rue du Bac.
A good alternative if you want to stay on the Left Bank without palace prices.
Book your shopping break: See rooms at Hotel Montalembert
The Paris flea market at Saint-Ouen
Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, just beyond the city limits to the north, is often described as one of the largest flea markets in the world. Hundreds of stalls are spread across several markets, selling everything from antique furniture and chandeliers to old posters and vintage clothes. It is open at weekends and on Mondays, and it pays to arrive before lunch.
Le Pigalle
Music and nightlife in SoPi
Le Pigalle: closest to the flea market
Le Pigalle is in SoPi, south of Montmartre, and is the closest of our hotels to Saint-Ouen. The area has record shops, wine bars and some of the city’s best nightlife.
A hotel for anyone who would rather dig through vintage than queue on Avenue Montaigne.
Book your shopping break: See rooms at Le Pigalle
Tax free shopping and sales in Paris
Visitors who live outside the EU, including UK residents, can reclaim VAT (détaxe) when they spend more than a minimum amount in the same shop on the same day. Ask for a tax free form at the till and validate it at the airport before you check in. Check the current minimum spend and your own customs allowances before you go.
France has fixed sales periods, les soldes, in January and from the end of June. The dates are set by the authorities and last a few weeks. Many shops outside the Marais are closed on Sundays.
When should you book your hotel?
During fashion weeks and big trade fairs: book early, as prices rise.
The January sales: a good time for both shopping and cheaper hotels after New Year.
Flexible rates: choose a cancellable room if you are booking far ahead.
Frequently asked questions about shopping in Paris
Where is the best shopping in Paris?
For department stores and big brands, Boulevard Haussmann with Galeries Lafayette and Printemps is best. Avenue Montaigne and Faubourg Saint-Honoré have the luxury labels, the Marais has young designers and concept stores, and Saint-Germain has Le Bon Marché and elegant Left Bank boutiques.
Can UK visitors shop tax free in Paris?
Yes. Since Brexit, UK residents live outside the EU and can reclaim VAT when they spend over a minimum amount in the same shop on the same day. Ask for the form in store and validate it at the airport before check-in. Check the current rules before you travel.
Which shops in Paris are open on Sundays?
The Marais is the best area for Sunday shopping, and many of its shops stay open. The department stores on Boulevard Haussmann also open on Sundays at certain times, but many other shops are closed.
When is the Saint-Ouen flea market open?
The Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen is open at weekends and on Mondays. Arrive before lunch for the best choice, and bring some cash as well as a card for the smallest stalls.
Where should I stay for shopping in Paris?
The Plaza Athénée is on Avenue Montaigne, the Lutetia is directly opposite Le Bon Marché, Pavillon de la Reine is in the middle of the Marais and Hôtel des Grands Boulevards is close to the department stores. Choose the area that matches what you want to buy.