Paris shopping guide
Paris is famous for its department stores, and they're definitely worth a visit. For serious shoppers, the 'must see' departments stores are
Printemps and
Galeries Lafayette, both in the 9th arrondissement on Boulevard Haussmann, and our favorite,
La Samaritaine, located in the 1st arrondissement between Les Halles and Pont Neuf. Make sure you have a coffee at La Samaritaine's rooftop cafe, it has a spectacular view of Paris, and will be instantly recognizable to anyone who has seen the 'Pont Neuf scene' in The Bourne Identity!
BHV is also worth a look for more practical shopping needs - it's kind of like the K-Mart of Paris, but obviously with a lot more flair - and is an excellent place to purchase authentic French made products without paying silly prices.
Printemps have several stores in Paris, with their largest and most spectacular being their flagship store on Boulevard Haussmann, close to Saint Lazare. Printemps have an excellent selection of men's and women's fashion, along with designer home furnishings and accessories.
Paris is home to some of the most well known fashion labels in the world, and if you're looking for something a little more exclusive than the Paris department stores can offer, then you'll need to get over to Avenue Montaigne or rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré - both of which are close to the Champs-Elysées. There you'll find most of the big fashion names such as Chanel, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, and Pierre Cardin.
The most famous Paris flea market is Les Puces de Saint-Ouen - commonly known simply as Les Puces (The Fleas). The market has over 2000 stalls, where you can buy just about anything including furniture, art, antiques, clothing and books. The best way to get there is by Metro, with the closest station being Garibaldi.
