Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
• Stores are generally closed on Sunday, except at the Carrousel du Louvre (under-
ground shopping mall at the Louvre), and some shops near Sèvres-Babylone, along
the Champs-Elysées, and in the Marais.
• Some small stores don't open until 14:00 on Mondays.
• Don't feel obliged to buy. If a shopkeeper offers assistance, just say,
“Je regarde,
merci.”
Here are a few of your options for picking up gifts, souvenirs, and something special for
yourself.
Souvenir Shops
Avoid souvenir carts in front of famous monuments. You can find cheaper gifts around
the Pompidou Center, on the streets of Montmartre, and in some department stores. The
riverfront stalls near Notre-Dame sell a variety of used books, old posters and postcards,
magazines, refrigerator magnets, and other tourist paraphernalia in the most romantic set-
ting. You'll find better deals at the souvenir shops that line Rue d'Arcole between Notre-
Dame and Hôtel de Ville and on Rue de Rivoli, alongside the Louvre.
Department Stores
(Les Grands Magasins)
Like cafés, department stores were invented here (surprisingly, not in America). Parisian
department stores begin with their showy perfume sections, almost always central on the
ground floor, and worth a visit to see how much space is devoted to pricey, smelly water.
Helpful information desks are usually located at the main entrances near the perfume sec-
tion (with floor plans in English). Stores generally have affordable restaurants (some with
view terraces) and a good selection of fairly priced souvenirs and toys. Shop at these great
Parisian department stores: Galeries Lafayette (Mo: Chaussée d'Antin-La Fayette, Havre-
Caumartin, or Opéra), Printemps (next door to Galeries Lafayette), and Bon Marché (Mo:
Sèvres-Babylone). Opening hours are customarily Monday through Saturday from 10:00
to 19:00. Some are open later on Thursdays, and all are jammed on Saturdays and closed
on Sundays (except in December).
Boutique Strolls
Give yourself a vacation from your sightseeing-focused vacation by sifting through win-
dow displays, pausing at corner cafés, and feeling the rhythm of neighborhood life. (Or
have you been playing hooky and doing this already?) Though smaller shops are more in-
timate, sales clerks are more formal—so mind your manners. Four very different areas to
