Paris Department Stores. The top 5

Shopping at Paris department stores

Founded in late 19th century, they have always sold the best of what France is famous for: high-end French fashion brands, lingerie, jewelery, perfume and tableware. The best brands are sold there. The key advantages of department stores are central location, choice of top brands for quick shopping, tax refund, personal shopper, delivery to hotels and abroad.

The department stores compete with shopping malls in and around the city as largest stores in Paris. Locate department stores on Paris shopping map

Department stores open Sunday

Department stores are open on Sunday, facilitating shopping weekends. This holds for Printemps Haussmann, Galeries Lafayette, Le Bon Marché, Samaritaine and Le BHV Marais. Check opening times before visiting.

Paris department stores district

The two most famous department stores are in Boulevard Haussmann, near Opéra Garnier, not far from Louvre.

Galeries Lafayette at 40, Boulevard Haussmann, and Le Printemps, at 64 Boulevard Haussmann, compete head to head to attract high-end customers from all over the world. International customers represent 40% of their sales.

Galeries Lafayette stands out with its first class La Cave wine store and its exclusive Bordeaux wine assortment.

Champs-Elysées hotel

Hôtel Barrière Fouquet's is the only hotel overlooking the Champs-Elysées. This 5-star hotel features a spa with a swimming pool and sauna, 3 bars and 2 restaurants, including the historic Fouquet's brasserie. All rooms have been decorated by top designers. Most rooms offer views of the Champs-Élysées, Avenue George-V or the hotel's interior garden. Champs-Elysées hotels.

Galeries Lafayette

Galeries Lafayette are specialized in French fashion and perfume brands. They boast a first class La Cave wine store with exclusive Bordeaux wine assortment. Galeries Lafayette organize great macaroon workshops. The 7th floor terrace has a spectacular view over the city. The spectacular store cupola is a top attaction. There are Fashion show on Friday at 3pm. Locate Galeries Lafayette on Paris map.

Paris metro: Chaussee d'Antin, line 9. Opening hours: Coupole, Homme and Maison stores: Monday to Sunday 11 am to 7 pm. Gourmet store: Monday to Saturday 10 am to 7 pm and Sunday 11 am to 7 pm.

Galeries Lafayette have a second store in Champs-Elysées. The four story store sells fashion, beauty and perfumery products, delicatessen.

Le Bon Marché

Le Bon Marché is close to Hermès and other top fashion stores in Rue de Sèvres. Smaller and high end, very Parisian, it specializes in fashion. The perfect department store for quiet and trendy shopping. Next door, La Grande Epicerie, 38 rue de Sèvres, is one of the best delicatessen stores in town. Locate Le Bon Marché on the map.

Paris metro: Sevres Babylone, line 10, 12. Open Monday to Sunday 11am to 6.45pm.

Printemps

Founded in 1865, the famous Printemps store focuses on beauty, lifestyle, fashion, accessories, and men's wear. Printemps shop windows at Christmas time are spectacular.

Locate Printemps on the map. Paris metro: Havre-Caumartin station, line 9. Open Monday to Sunday 11am to 7pm.

Samaritaine

After 15 years of closure, Samaritaine reopened in 2021 to honor its founders, Ernest and Marie-Louise Cognacq-Jaÿ. The 1870 store has been reimagined, fusing original Art Nouveau and Art Deco details with contemporary newness. Located in the heart of the city, at walking distance of the Louvre Museum, Les Halles and Notre-Dame Cathedral, this iconic landmark will become a must-visit destination for locals and travelers to indulge in what is quintessentially the Parisian experience. Top fashion brands and many restaurants.

Locate Samaritaine on the map. Paris metro: Louvre-Rivoli station, line 1.

Open Monday to Sunday 10am to 8pm.

Le BHV Marais

Le BHV Marais is not as fancy and high end as the other department stores. Traditionnaly the best hardware store in town, Le BHV Marais has good fashion, house decoration, kitchenware, tableware departments. The advantages of Le BHV Marais are its location, its mid range positionning and its moderate size for quick shopping. Le Marais is the heart of trendy French fashion. Find there a myriad of stores from innovative brands you will find nowhere else. Rue des Rosiers and rue des Francs Bourgeois are the heart of Le Marais shopping district.

Locate Le BHV Marais Department Store on the map.
Paris metro: Hotel de Ville, line 1. Open Monday to Sunday 11am to 7pm.

Department store history

Le Bon Marché is the oldest Parisian department store. In 1838, Paul and Justin Videau opened a business where customers could find linen, umbrellas and haberdashery. In 1853, Aristide Boucicaut joined the two brothers and decided to create a department store focused on women. In the following years, Aristide and his wife bought the shares of their associates, enlarged the store, staged the items, labeled their products. The Bon Marché pioneered other novelties: the principle of "satisfied or refunded", the exchange, the possibility of trying on clothing before the purchase. The Boulevard Haussmann Printemps store opened its doors in 1865. At the time, the district was little urbanized, But two entrepreneurs, Jules Jaluzot and Jean-Alfred Duclos, took the bet to install their store, then specialized in the sale of fabrics. Quality and cheap prices made the store famous throughout France. Its neighbour, Galeries Lafayette was created in 1894. At the time, Alphone Kahn and his cousin Théophile Boder took over a multi-specialist retail business at 1, rue La Fayette and continuously enlarged the store.