Shopping
Paris is a shopper's paradise. Jet-setters will feel at home
with the famous names of the haute couture boutiques found on Rue
du Faubourg Saint-Honoré such as Dior, Chanel, Givenchy, and
Jean-Paul Gaultier. Trend-setting fashions can be found in Rue
Etienne Marcel shops. Sadly, the Champs-Elysées is not what
it used to be, with banks, fast-food chains and malls strategically
placed to trap tourists. However, some good stores remain - perfume
from Guerlain Parfumerie is a classic Paris souvenir.
Galeries Lafayette is a famous French department store. The
flagship store is located on Boulevard Haussmann and has been a
Paris icon since its creation in 1894. Beneath the decorative Art
Nouveau dome lies 65,000 square metres of floor space hosting more
than 3,500 brands from around the world. The energy, architecture,
layout, restaurants and views over the city have turned Galeries
Lafayette into a prime tourist attraction for shoppers and browsers
alike.
Les Halles is a subterranean shopping mall with more than 180
stores where bargain hunters will be able to find cheap knockoffs
and other trendy clothes. Mainstream department stores offer some
great finds, such as La Samaritaine, which prides itself as being
the one where
on trouve tout (one finds everything). Just
outside the city, La Vallée Village offers designer goods at
steep discounts.
Bargains closer to town can be sniffed out in abundance at the
three main flea markets situated around the old gates of the city.
They are, however, teeming with pickpockets and shoppers should be
on their guard. Les Bouquinistes, which consists of rows of
bookstalls perched against the walls of the Seine River, is a great
place for bookworms to browse and barter.
Those determined to buy a plastic Eiffel Tower or other kitschy
souvenir, will find tourist tat plentiful along rue de Rivoli.
Those looking for something a bit different to take home should
visit the La Plaque Emaillées in Filles-du-Calvaire for a
taste of turn-of-the-century Parisian Art Nouveau.
Parisians buy most of their food from specialty stores such as
bakeries and butcheries, which stock pastries, cheeses or
pâtés to die for. The open-air markets are a fantastic
place to find flowers, produce and clothing. These are frequented
by most of the locals. Paris also offers a wealth of
window-shopping opportunities, making it the ultimate destination
for the discerning consumer.
Most shops open between 9 and 10am, and close at 7 or 8pm.
France levies a sales tax of between 5.5 percent and 33 percent,
depending on the merchandise. There is a VAT refund scheme for
non-EU visitors, but conditions apply.