We Went Shopping in a French Pharmacy (Completely Shocked by the Prices)
There is a reason so many visitors post their French pharmacy haul on social media. In this video we take you shopping in a big Paris pharmacy to show you what people buy, why the prices and quality are so good, and whether you really need to line up at the pharmacies that went viral on TikTok.
French pharmacies are different
Look for the big green cross. A French pharmacy is all about health, skincare and wellness, not snacks and flip-flops. Many ingredients allowed in US products are banned in France. Prescription drugs and even Doliprane (the French equivalent of Tylenol) are behind the counter, and bringing a US prescription to fill here is technically not allowed. If you feel unwell, a pharmacist is a great first stop before an ER.
What we found (prices when we filmed)
- La Roche-Posay SPF 50+ sunscreen travel combo: €13.99
- Biafine for burns and Cicaplast for skin repair
- La Roche-Posay Serozinc face mist: €10.49
- Caudalie best sellers, including a clay mask at €21.99
- Nuxe hydrating gel cream (€32) and Nuxe dry oil (€24)
- Top-quality French shampoo for about €17
- Oscillococcinum, 60 doses for €10.99
- French-made toothpaste, three for about €10
Our basket came to €129.08, and we think a couple of those items alone would cost close to that in the US. Our tip: come with a list, because it is easy to get lost in a store this size.
Where to go
Every pharmacy carries the popular brands. Citypharma is big, but not big enough for the crowds it draws. We prefer the large pharmacy at Place Monge (metro line 7, Monge station, exit 1). There is a market right across the square on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, and the Pantheon and the Luxembourg Gardens are close by.
Bring our coupon for 10% off at Pharmacie Monge: show the QR code at the luxury section register, where they also handle your VAT refund. While you are in Paris, book a Devour food tour, and find hotels in our Paris hotel guide and everything else in our Paris Guide Bundle.