Buy This in France (Skip Everything Else)

Lots of people arrive with a great itinerary and no plan for souvenirs, then fly home with a suitcase full of things they regret. In this video we show you what to buy in France, where to buy it, and which streets to walk past without stopping, covering food, kitchen gear, beauty, books, art and vintage, fashion and the neighborhoods where locals shop.

Where not to shop

The Champs-Élysées is almost entirely aimed at tourists, the discount perfume shops around the Opéra charge too much, and at airport duty-free, perfume can be 20 to 30% more expensive than in Paris (it is fine for liquor). Also skip the souvenir-lined street climbing up to Montmartre, the vendors at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, and the shops on Rue de la Huchette, where everything is the same and not made in France.

What we recommend

  • Pharmacies: skincare, sunscreen, shampoo and hand cream with better quality and prices. Any pharmacy carries the popular brands.
  • Food: chocolate from À la Mère de Famille (around 14 shops in Paris) or a high-end chocolatier, cookies in pretty tins from Monoprix, flavored salts, and treats from La Grande Épicerie. Check US customs and USDA rules before packing cheese, butter or sausage.
  • Kitchen: E. Dehillerin (Julia Child’s favorite), A. Simon for baking, plus a third cooking shop in the same area near Les Halles.
  • Books and prints: the bouquinistes along the Seine, Shakespeare and Company (expect a line), and the covered passages.
  • Museum shops: the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and Giverny have good choices at fair prices.
  • Antiques and vintage: the covered passages, the antique dealers behind the Musée d’Orsay, and the Saint-Ouen and Vanves flea markets.
  • Fashion: Monoprix for everyday basics, open-air markets, specialist glove and hat shops, and Place Vendôme for fine jewelry.

Neighborhoods to explore

For shopping, try the southern Marais (pedestrian on weekends), Saint-Germain for antiques and decor, the Latin Quarter, Rue de Rivoli from Bastille to Concorde, and the high-end shops around La Madeleine.

Two fan deals: get 10% off at Blue Lemon with the code “frenchies10”, and 10% off at the pharmacy with our pharmacy coupon. For the rest of your trip, see our Paris Guide Bundle.