Shopping in France 2021: when to go, sales, where and what to buy
Shopping in France is gradually gaining popularity every year. Prices in this country are far from the lowest, but the quality of goods and things pleases buyers. Therefore, shopping tours to France have recently become popular. You can see the sights and buy truly French perfumes, clothes, food products.
France is the country where the most fashionable things in the world are made. All avid fashionistas strive to visit here at least once. Arriving in France, not even with the aim of wandering around the shops in search of stylish new clothes, you will not be able to return home empty-handed. There is such an extensive selection of goods that the eyes run wide. I want to buy clothes, perfumes, and accessories. The wallet after walking along the French streets will obviously lose weight, but instead of the “papers” in the suitcase there will be the most fashionable novelties of the season and a lot of necessary gizmos.
When to go shopping in France
It is profitable to go to France during the season of summer and winter sales. Who wants to buy a product at full price when you can buy it at a discount of up to 70%? During sales, shops and shopping centers are filled with both foreign tourists and Parisians. But you have to choose very carefully. It will take enough time to buy the right one. It is usually impossible to exchange or return an item bought on sale.
Going shopping, you should consider the season. In January and February it is better to buy outerwear, in March – things for spring and summer. The time from April to June is a great chance to buy goods for holidays, outdoor activities. During the summer months, they arrange sales with big discounts, and autumn is the time to get things for the winter.
To save money, you need to know that VAT can be returned from purchases. The tax is 12% of the purchase price. To get money, you need to ask in stores to issue a tax-free check immediately before paying. The exceptions are products such as alcohol, tobacco, food products.
Overview of the best places to shop
Usually tourists plan to go shopping in Paris, but you should not stop your attention only on the capital. In Paris, some goods are much more expensive than in the provinces. Yes, you will have to spend more time searching, but you can save money. If it is not possible to wind kilometers around the cities, then you can walk along the Parisian streets, distant from the center.
For example, on the Faubourg-Saint-Honore street, you should look into the world-famous fashion houses and boutiques. The service here is top notch. Purchases will delight their happy owners. Memories of shopping in these places will stick in your memory for a long time.
Gallery Lafayette
Avid shopaholics should visit such a large trading house as Galeries Lafayette. There are so many things here that many have never dreamed of even in a dream! The head will spin from a mega rich assortment not only for an ordinary buyer, but also for a pretentious, demanding and scrupulous fashionista in all respects. France is France. Here it is simply impossible to remain indifferent to what you see.
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Place Vendôme
Those who love to wear jewelry should not miss the Place Vendôme. Most of the best jewelry stores are concentrated on it. Competent sellers will kindly help you choose a piece of jewelry that will deify its owner and shine on him with such brilliance, from which it will simply be impossible to take your eyes off.
Market Les Puces
Flea markets have been very popular in Europe for many decades. On them you can find interesting fascinating books, antiques, interior items, various knick-knacks. If you want to visit this kind of trading place, then you need to find the Les Puces market. He works on weekends. What's not on sale!
In addition to the above, these are handmade products, creations of young designers. Don't despair if nothing comes up. Nobody goes into the pocket. Don't like it – don't take it. You can just walk along the rows, “wiggle your nose”, listen to street musicians.
The Good Market
Famous in France, the oldest department store. Prices are high, but if you get on sale, you can afford to buy something. The building was designed by the architect of the Eiffel Tower. There are as many floors in a department store as it would be difficult to get around. All goods are elite, there is no doubt about their authenticity. The most famous designers are designing things for this famous store.
If someone is not particularly versed in fashion trends and brands, then you can turn to Agnes B brand clothes. Designers have done their best to create masterpieces from fabric that the most picky and knowledgeable buyers in the fashion world are crazy about. The most famous phrase about the capital of France is: “See Paris and die.” Pretty hackneyed expression. It is better to use such a sentence: “Paris is a city in which it is impossible to be disappointed.”
The dream of visiting Paris is quite feasible. As soon as it's time to get ready to go, the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Elysees, cozy cafes, where visitors sit and have a conversation over a cup of aromatic coffee with a croissant, come to mind. Every person associates France with something. Someone – with champagne, someone – with delicious, melting in your mouth, truffles. Others have the Moulin Rouge, the novelist Victor Hugo, or the singer Joe Dassin.
You can go to France on a tour for the sake of sights, for Christmas (to get new emotions, to celebrate the holiday in charming Europe). Someone has to go here for work, someone – just for fun. Whatever the purpose of the visit, France will conquer any foreigner.
What souvenirs to bring from France
Buying souvenirs for yourself and your friends and relatives is not a problem. Thankfully, there are plenty to choose from. On the other hand, this is where the problem lies. The fact is that it is extremely difficult to stop your choice on something specific. It will be especially nice to get a functional efficient thing.
The most common souvenirs that you can stumble upon, literally everywhere, are key rings, ashtrays, plates, magnets with French symbols. Sometimes it is difficult to choose something as a gift for the authorities or a person whom you do not know very well. In this case, tea or cookies in a tin can be a good purchase. It is better, of course, to buy both as a gift, so that you can drink a cup of delicious tea with fresh fragrant European cookies.
Often, miniatures of the Eiffel Tower are bought as a souvenir. In the form of this building, you can purchase a napkin holder or pendant. From France you can bring quality food and alcoholic beverages: chocolate, cheese, champagne, wine. Of course, the stores have a large assortment of French wines.
To surprise and please a close friend or relative, you should look for products that are not exported from the country. To do this, it is better to visit the winery. There you can taste wines of various varieties and vintages. Having tasted the drinks, the choice will be easier to make.
If you need to buy something for a loved one, you will have to fork out a little. French perfume can be presented to a girl or woman. Each representative of the weaker sex will appreciate such a gift. Only here it is worth considering tastes. Many do not tolerate sweet smells, while others neglect neutral and fresh scents.
In order not to miss, buy a set of small bottles with different notes: fruity and floral. Perfumes brought from France must be persistent and leave behind a long trail. Makeup also makes a great gift. Many products are made according to a secret technology using only natural ingredients. They have a beneficial effect on the body, face and skin.
Often tourists buy products from Provence and Grasse as a gift. Provence has a huge number of vineyards. Here they sell excellent wine and high-quality olive oil. Well, and of course, how can you imagine Provence without fragrant herbs? They are inexpensive, useful in the kitchen of any hostess. Grasse is famous for the places where jasmine and lavender grow. Perfume, perfume water and cosmetics are immediately made from them.
As you can see, France is full of what you can bring home from it. And in no case should you miss the opportunity to buy goods that are produced and sold only in this most beautiful country in the world. Otherwise, you will have to remember with regret what could have been an excellent acquisition.
We examined purchases in France in more detail in the article .
Use the services of kiwitaxi and at the airport, at the specified time, the driver will be waiting for you, help with luggage and promptly take you to the hotel. Several classes of cars are available – from economy to Minibus with 19 seats. The price is fixed and does not depend on the number of passengers and the address within Paris. Taxi from / to the airport is a convenient and comfortable way to get to the right place.
Shopping in France on the map