The 7 Best Places for Christmas Shopping in Paris
Paris is a great place for Christmas shopping, the city becomes a winter wonderland during the holiday season.
Growing up in Belgium, just a short train ride away from Paris, I spent many Christmases exploring its lively shopping districts.
Now that I live on the other side of the world, I still manage to make it to Paris every year — especially at this time of year.
In this article, we will walk you through the top 10 places for Christmas shopping in Paris.
From fancy boutiques on the Champs-Élysées to cozy stalls at traditional Christmas markets, we’ll show you where to find unique gifts, festive decorations and delicious holiday treats.
Finding that perfect gift can be stressful but with our insider tips you’ll navigate the bustling city with ease and joy.
The department stores at Boulevard Haussmann
Boulevard Haussmann is known for its grand department stores — especially Galeries Lafayette and Printemps.
Galeries Lafayette’s flagship store, located on the corner of Boulevard Haussmann and Rue La Fayette, spans a staggering 70,000 square meters and offers everything from prêt-à-porter to haute couture across various fashion brands.
The store’s Art Nouveau architecture — complete with a beautiful dome that provides sweeping views over Paris — has made it a popular tourist attraction itself.
Printemps Haussmann is another iconic department store; it is considered a historic monument because of its gorgeous Art Nouveau facade and stunning stained glass cupola.
Both stores offer more than just shopping: there are often fashion shows, cooking classes and gourmet food halls inside them too.
This makes both must-visit destinations if you’re doing your Christmas shopping in Paris this year!
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Christmas shopping in Le Marais
Le Marais is a trendy neighbourhood right in the heart of Paris that boasts plenty of cool boutiques where you can have an alternative shopping experience unlike anywhere else in town. The area is known for its mix of high-end fashion (think designer brands), vintage finds and independent designers.
Le BHV Marais is a department store favourite among locals because it offers over 900 brands, including fashion, beauty, homeware and delicious food to try.
Approximately 80% of its customers are Parisians, so you can trust that this really is a true Parisian shopping destination.
The store even has an entire building dedicated to menswear — over 200 brands are represented here, including luxury boutiques like Fendi, Givenchy and Gucci.
Other notable boutiques in Le Marais include Merci (a concept store which combines fashion, home decor and dining all under one roof) and Hema (a Dutch chain offering affordable yet stylish products).
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Buying Christmas Presents at La Grande Epicerie de Paris
La Grande Épicerie de Paris is located next to the famous Le Bon Marché department store and is a food lover’s paradise.
This high-end food emporium boasts around 30,000 products from around the world — many of which are exclusive to the store.
Staff members include an award-winning cheesemonger from France, 62 craftsmen and 12 apprentices who work tirelessly to produce exceptional food in the store’s own bakery, patisserie and kitchens. Visitors can explore different sections of the store — such as Place du Marché (the fruit and vegetable area reminiscent of traditional French markets) or the wine cellar that houses more than 3,000 wines.
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The boutiques of Saint-Germain-des-Prés
On the Left Bank of Paris is Saint-Germain-des-Prés, a fashionable district that has an air of elegance about it all year round but especially at Christmas.
In between the high-end boutiques, art galleries and literary cafés are what might be described as understated festive decorations, while stalls in the annual Saint-Germain-des-Prés Christmas Market sell artisanal goods, luxury items and gourmet treats from around 30 chalets.
Think handcrafted leather wallets, jewellery, scented candles and liqueur-filled chocolates by way of unique gifts; macarons and mulled wine; candied chestnuts; caviar and smoked salmon; truffles and foie gras… Boulevard Saint-Germain and Rue de Rennes are two key shopping streets.
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Shop till you drop (or run out of money) on Rue de Rivoli
Paris is home to some of the biggest and most famous shopping streets in the world. One such street is the Rue de Rivoli, which is located in the first arrondissement of Paris. It stretches from Place de la Concorde to Place de la Bastille, and houses a number of tourist attractions.
The street offers a mix of international brands and local boutiques, all beautifully decorated for Christmas.
Some well-known shops on Rue de Rivoli include H&M, Zara, Sephora, and BHV Marais – one of Paris’ most famous department stores.
As well as being lined with shops, Rue de Rivoli also has many elegant arcades and buildings.
Some examples of this stunning architecture are the Louvre Palace and Tuileries Gardens.
A wide range of products are available on Rue de Rivoli; from clothes and accessories to books, toys and unique Christmas gifts.
Alongside BHV Marais there are many other boutiques along the street that are worth visiting.
The great thing about shopping on Rue de Rivoli is its central location. You can easily combine your shopping trip with visits to nearby attractions such as The Louvre Museum or Palais Royal – two must-see sights for any visitor to Paris!
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Vintage shopping at Montmartre
Another area of Paris that’s perfect for festive retail therapy is Montmartre. This charming district is known for its artistic heritage and bohemian atmosphere all year round – but during Christmas it becomes even more magical!
Montmartre’s cobbled streets are filled with quaint boutiques, art studios and speciality shops – all beautifully decorated at this time of year.
If you’re wondering where to start your shopping spree here then look no further than Rue des Abbesses or Rue Lepic: two key streets for retail therapy.
Fashionistas will love Montmartre; stores like Ba&sh, Kookaï Sandro & Karl Marc John have amazing fashion finds!
Vintage lovers can also find treasures in the many second hand shops dotted around the area.
For something a little different – and some great handmade crafts/souvenirs to take home – why not head to one of Montmartre’s concept stores? Spree is a fantastic store that combines fashion, design and art all under one roof.
And finally, no trip to Montmartre would be complete without visiting Maison Georges Larnicol…This chocolate museum is filled with unique creations (including a giant chocolate Eiffel Tower!) that would make any chocoholic’s dreams come true!
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Shopping in the covered arcades in Paris
The romantic covered arcades in Paris make for a cozy and personal shopping experience during the holiday season.
These 18th and 19th-century covered walkways are home to charming little boutiques, antique shops and specialty stores, all of which are decorated beautifully with festive trimmings.
Under their magnificent glass roofs and above their delicate ironwork railings, shoppers will find unique vintage discoveries, handmade wares and gifts that can’t be found anywhere else.
The most important passages are those like Passage Jouffroy – where narrow corridors are lined by book stalls selling old novels or rare editions next door to curiosities shops filled with antiques from all over the world; Passage Verdeau – known mostly for its antique dealers but also featuring some really weird stores; And finally the oldest passage of them all: Passage des Panoramas.
In this last one you’ll find restaurants mixed up amongst stores selling everything under the sun so it’s great if your’e feeling peckish!
While walking through these warm atmospheric tunnels it’s worth taking notice not only at what surrounds you but also above head level because sometimes there might just be something hidden away waiting just for you ahead of time.
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