From high-end luxury shops that’ll bring out your inner Miranda Priestly to designer fashion outlets away from the hustle and bustle of the city, here’s an all-rounder guide to luxury shopping in Paris, the City of Lights!
Whether it’s your first time in Paris or the umpteenth, no Parisian experience is complete without some luxury shopping. Paris offers retail therapy with both quality and quantity abound, and there’s always a thrill in finding the best deals on your personal Tour de France. From quaint vintage shops nestled in classic neighbourhoods, or even the legendary LV flagship store (for all your Carrie Bradshaw dreams), there’s one unmissable thing for all shoppers: tax refund on all your purchases. The City of Lights might be expensive, but a tax refund on your shopping can make all the difference!
France charges a 20% VAT (Value Added Tax) on all expenses which only applies to EU-residing citizens. And while a tax refund is available for travellers all across the European Union, in France, travellers can get up to 12% refund on luxury goods with a minimum purchase of 100 Euros. So don’t forget to ask for your refund documents with your payment receipts!
Refunds can usually be collected at the airport (and are credited to your account or handed via cash). Some stores also offer instant refunds — however, the rate reduces from 12% to 10.8%, so choose accordingly!
Now that the maths is out of the way, let’s look at some best places in Paris for luxury shopping!
❗️To Note: There are several options as to how you’d like to be refunded — cash, cheque, credit card, or the card used for purchase. The YouTrip card can be used in the event a prepaid debit Mastercard can be used to facilitate your tax refund. However, different airports worldwide accept different cards and we are not able to advise with certainty that the YouTrip card can be used to process a tax refund at ALL airports. However, no worries! You can still choose from other refund options. For Global Blue Tax Refunds, you may refer to their FAQ for accepted refund methods.
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Triangle d’Or
Triangle d’Or or the Golden Triangle is made up of avenue Montaigne, avenue des Champs-Elysées, and avenue George V, where all luxury brands convene to create an haute couture paradise. With the Eiffel Tower on one side and the Champs Elysees on another, artists and designers have always been emboldened by this neighbourhood. In fact, Christian Dior started his first atelier here! With high-fashion brands and mid-range ones too, Triangle d’Or is one of the first places for a real taste of Parisian shopping.
1. Triangle D’or: Champs Elysees
Image credits: TripAdvisor
Running along the swanky 8th arrondissement, Champs Elysees is arguably one of the most famous shopping streets in the world. With the Arc de Triomphe as its fabulous backdrop, you’re able to find many mid to high-end brands situated between open-terrace cafes and restaurants on this bumbling street. Some luxury brands to keep an eye out for are Cartier and the iconic Louis Vuitton flagship store in which a scene from Sex and the City was shot! Not a bad place to unleash your inner Carrie Bradshaw, huh?
Address: Avenue des Champs Elysees, 75008 Paris France
YouTrip’s Guide to Luxury Shopping in Paris 2022: Find out more about Champs Elysees here.
2. Triangle D’or: Avenue Montaigne
Image credits: TripAdvisor
A prime location for high-end brands, Avenue Montaigne is embellished with iconic brands such as Saint Laurent, Ferragamo, Gucci, Prada, Bvlgari, Dior, Chanel, Valentino, and many more in pale, romantic mansions that sprawl across the streets. However, don’t be alarmed by the unsmiling door guards! Most of these haute-couture sanctuaries even require appointments to enter, so book in advance!
Address: Avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris, France
YouTrip’s Guide to Luxury Shopping in Paris 2022: Find out more about Avenue Montaigne here.
3. Triangle D’or: Avenue George V
Image credits: Hermes
Fancy a Birkin bag? Hoisting the grand store of Hermes, Avenue George V marks the western end of the Golden Triangle. Many prefer this gorgeous, wooden-facade store to beat the crowd on the flagship store on St. Honoré boulevard. Imagine it all dolled up with fairy lights for Christmas!
A Bvlgari store resides on George V avenue as well. Expect spacious and light interiors along with exceptional service to make your shopping experience all the more special. More brands to choose from on George V include Kenzo, Santonie Paris, Elie Saab, and Stefano Ricci France.
Address: Avenue George V, 75008 Paris, France
YouTrip’s Guide to Luxury Shopping in Paris 2022: Find out more about Avenue George V here.
4. Galeries Lafayette
Image credits: TripAdvisor
Paris, being one of the first cities to fully embrace the ‘department store’ rise after the wars, brings you Galeries Lafayette! Check out the one on Haussmann Boulevard: An elegant store, seated under a stained glass dome with an exceptional central foyer, Galeries Lafayette carries more than 200 brands both designer and accessible. There are also some items exclusive to Les Galeries, as the French say, so you might just find that perfect designer bag you’ve looking for!
Opening Hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 10 AM – 8:30 PM. Sundays, 11 AM – 8 PM.
Address: 40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris France
YouTrip’s Guide to Luxury Shopping in Paris 2022: Find out more about Galeries Lafayette here.
5. La Vallée Village
Image credits: Paris Tourist Office
Want to avoid the pricey high-fashion enclaves but want something just as tasteful? Head down to La Vallée Village, a discount designer fashion outlet on the outskirts, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. While you won’t find the most exclusive LV or Hermes, this market is saturated with over 100 shops with sought-after European and American designers. So if you’re looking for those Gucci loafers or Karl Lagerfeld dresses, you know where to go!
Open from 10 AM to 8 PM daily, the shops at La Vallée Village also have sweet deals and markdowns up to even 70%, and a plethora of sales so you can have your dream items at a good price!
Opening Hours: Daily, 10 AM – 8 PM
Address: 3 cours de la Garonne, 77700 Serris, Marne-la-Vallée France
YouTrip’s Guide to Luxury Shopping in Paris 2022: Find out more about La Vallée Village here.
6. Rue Saint Honoré
Image credits: TripAdvisor
Rue Saint Honoré houses brands from Dior, Givenchy, and Hermes to more niche designers, offering some of the best luxury street shopping experiences in Paris. You can find Lanvin, Moschino, Dior, and Chanel on the Rue du Faubourg side — the bougie side, as they say! Since it’s centrally located and a walk away from Jardin des Tuileries, don’t be surprised if you find style bloggers and Miranda Priestlys doing their shopping and research here!
Address: Rue Saint Honoré, 75001 Paris France
YouTrip’s Guide to Luxury Shopping in Paris 2022: Find out more about Rue Saint Honoré here.
7. Saint Germain des Prés
Image credits: Paris Tourist Office
Between Mabillion and Rue du Bac metro stations, an array of high-end boutiques and flagship stores bedazzle the boulevard, making Saint Germain one of the most charming districts in Paris for luxury shopping. Brands like BOSS, Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, Etro, and Karl Lagerfeld line the streets. Drop in at the large Hermes store and let its art deco interiors (formerly a swimming pool hall) take you by surprise! And if you’re a caffeine addict like us, there are many literary cafes for your midday coffee. Just enough to keep you energised on your trip. Score!
Address: Place St-Germain-des-Pres, 75006 Paris France
YouTrip’s Guide to Luxury Shopping in Paris 2022: Find out more about Saint-Germain-des-Prés here.
8. Le Marais
Image credits: The Shopkeepers
Unlike Triangle D’or or Rue Saint Honoré, Marais is best for quaint bookshops, homeware, and vintage shops that can get you that jacket that screams you or the first-edition you’ve always been looking for. The trendy district also has a plethora of cafes and patisseries to refresh yourself on your shopping spree, along the main streets of Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, Rue des Rosiers, and Rue Vielle du Temple.
Check out Vintage Bar, a bar-turned-vintage store for some snazzy Dior and Kenzo. Or Oft — the indie publishing house supporting local artists and find your next favourite book. Don’t forget to keep your phone charged because the winding streets of Marais are definitely worth the Gram!
Address: Le Marais 3e Arrondissement, 75003 Paris France
YouTrip’s Guide to Luxury Shopping in Paris 2022: Find out more about Rue Le Marais here.
Shop Till You Drop In The City Of Lights!
Now that you know where you can shop for the best LV and Prada with the best tax refund rates, it’s time to pack your bags and the City of Love will take care of the rest! Don’t forget to use your YouTrip card while dropping those Euros so you can get the best rates for your tax refunds and exchanges. Ça va?
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