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Shopping In France

France is the ultimate shopping destination for the sophisticated consumer. It offers everything from the ultimate in haute couture to perfumes to wines and cheeses. And shopping in France is not the

utilitarian experience it can be elsewhere. Rather it’s a serious activity that demands attention and a certain flair.

First we look at Paris where the shops make up an important part of the fabric of the city’s cultural identity. Then we’ll head to Bordeaux which offers more than just its famous wines.

Shopping In Paris

Think of Paris and you think of designer fashions, perfumes, and accessories with brand names famous for their chic the world over. But of course they come with hefty price tags. Here’s a tip. Bargain seekers should do their window shopping at the grand fashion houses to get a feel of what’s in vogue. Then head to the budget shops and markets to get similar items at pennies on the dollar.

If you’re short on time you can get all your designer labels under one roof at one of the large French department stores. The two queens, les grands magasins Printemps and Galeries Lafayette, sit side-by-side on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement. Fully exploring them could take days.

If you want the real Paris shopping experience, head for one of the unique wonders of the city – the galleries or passages. These are glass-roofed shopping arcades that date back to the 19th century. They ooze charm and transform rainy days into episodes of romance and discovery.

Don’t’ forget that Sundays are closing days for most stores in Paris. But fear not, one of the city’s many flea markets will provide a great alternative shopping experience.

Shopping In Bordeaux

Bordeaux is truly one of Europe’s best kept shopping secrets. In the scenic charm of the city you’ll find the world’s most popular brand names: Cartier and Rolex for watches, Hermes and Christian Lacroix for fabrics and clothes, Louis Vuitton for luggage, Mont Blanc for pens, the list is endless.

Bordeaux is home to the longest pedestrianised street in Europe. Rue St. Catherine runs from the stately Place de la Comedie to the student district near the place de la Victoire. And its entire length is graced with some of the country’s premier shopping outlets.

Bordeaux’s epicenter for shopping is known fittingly as the Golden Triangle. This triangle contains the prime shopping zones of the Allées de Tourny, the Cours de l’Intendance and the Cours Clemenceau. In its heart is the Place des Grands-Hommes, where you’ll find Bordeaux’s most prestigious outlets.

If such luxury doesn’t tempt you, don’t worry. Bordeaux is home to a plethora of chain stores that offer good value purchases. And the local boutiques offer distinctive items without the brand name mark ups.

And of course don’t forget the wine. The Bordeaux region is France’s premier wine making area and you can get sublime local vintages by the bottle or by the case.

For shoppers who want to spend some time in France, check the internet for cheap France hotels and find Paris hotels or cheap Bordeaux hotels.

France is renowned as a shopping city but you have to choose your times well. Shop hours are Monday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm. Many small shops close for a two-hour lunch break. Thursday is the best time for late-night shopping. Many stores stay open until 9 or 10pm. Sunday shopping is generally limited to tourist areas and flea markets.

Shopping In Paris

If you want an authentic Paris shopping experience, you need to get away from the elegant outlets on the grand boulevards and to head to the flea markets. Paris has three main flea markets. Once haunted mainly by rogues and gypsies, the flea markets of Paris are now popular with everyone and a good place to look for bargains and serendipitous finds.

The first of the three main Paris flea markets is in Porte de Montreuil. This is one of the cheaper flea markets. It mainly hawks old clothes, furniture and other household items. The second is in Porte de Vanves which sells a wide range of bric-a-brac. The last one is located in Saint-Ouen / Porte de Clignancourt. This is the most famous and often simply known as the Paris Flea Market.

It’s best to visit flea markets in the morning. They’re quieter and there’s more to buy. The Paris Flea Market is the place to buy antiques. It is located in a working-class district so rents are low and also is a cash-driven business. So costs are low and so are the prices.

Shopping In Nice

Nice has its share of the affluent, both residents and visitors. So there’s no shortage of shops catering for the jet set.

Nice is a delightful city for a shopping stroll. You can browse the boutiques along pedestrianised rue Massena, place Magenta, avenue Jean-Médecin, rue de Verdun, and rue Paradis. This is mainly the preserve of high-end chain stores along with a few shoe shops, boutiques and restaurants. Pick up your Sonia Rykiel, Giorgio Armani and Louis Vuitton items here.

When you have over indulged with designer fashions, and in the mood for some arts and crafts, Atelier Contre-Jour at 3 rue du Pont Vieux is the place to go. It offers painted-wood handicraft items such as picture frames, painted furniture, and silk lampshades. Plus, many artists have their studios and galleries in the side streets of the old town near the cathedral.

Nice is also famed for street markets. There’s the Marché aux Fleurs flower market, Marché à la Brocante, the main flea market. Another flea market at place Robilante on the port opens Tuesday to Saturday between 9am and 6pm. The summer months sees a nightly arts and crafts market on cours Saleya catering mainly for tourists.

For shoppers who want to spend some time in France, check the internet for cheap hotels in France and find hotels in Paris or cheap Nice hotels

Shopping In France

Few people give shopping the same energy, enthusiasm and thought as the French. Whether it’s a trip to the market for lunch ingredients or to an elegant boutique for a new evening gown, they give it their all. For you to truly enjoy the French shopping scene have to do the same.

France is home to a multitude of grand department stores, chain stores, small boutiques and flea markets. But a new concept in French shopping is the parapharmacie. It’s a mixture of chemist shop, health-care store, and beauty product vendor. Factory outlets are also becoming very popular selling off discounted items in boutique-like shops.

Shopping In Paris

It’s easy to spend all your time in Paris browsing at the boutiques and chain stores but for a real Paris shopping experience, you really have to head to the flea markets of which Paris has three. The former haven of gypsies and hustlers, Paris’s flea markets of Paris are visited by everyone in search of a bargain and a lucky find.

The flea market at Porte de Montreuil is one of the cheaper ones. It specialises in old garments, furniture and other household objects. Porte de Vanves flea market sells a bit of everything. The flea market at Saint-Ouen / Porte de Clignancourt is the most celebrated and is often just referred to as the Paris Flea Market. This is the best place to buy antiques. It’s location in a low-rent area so costs are low. Plus it’s a cash only business. This makes it a great place to pick up a bargain but you really need to know what you’re doing.

Flea markets are best visited in the morning when they’re quieter and have more goods available.

Shopping In Nice

Nice is a haven for the jet set and the well-heeled tourist, and the shops, boutiques and markets are ready to cater for them.

The heart of chic shopping in Nice is rue Paradis is a pedestrianised road running north-south linking Place Magenta with Avenue de Verdun. All the luxury designer and jewellery shops are located here making it a window shoppers’ paradise.

For a more relaxed outdoor shopping atmosphere head for the Cours Soleya market in the old town of Nice. This colourful pedestrian district is a favourite meeting place for locals. The streets are lined with stalls and terraced cafes and restaurants. Tuesday to Sunday sees the flower market and fruit and vegetable market, and there’s an antiques fair on Mondays. On summer evenings there’s a nightly arts and crafts market catering mainly for tourists.

Other markets worth visiting in Nice include the Marché aux Fleurs flower market and Marché à la Brocante, the main flea market. Another flea market at place Robilante on the port opens from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm.

For shoppers who want to spend some time in France, check the internet for cheap hotels in France and find hotels in Paris or cheap Nice hotels

Hands up who would like to shop in the fashion capital of the world? Paris happens to be one of the most attractive cities and one that could make your credit card tremble with fear! Despite Paris’ high prices, the quality of its products along with the variety and originality make them totally irresistible. There are fortunately stores and boutiques to fit all budgets in Paris. Most Parisian shops and establishments are open from Monday to Saturday 10:00-20:00 but the more traditional Paris shops you will usually find taking a break between 12:00 and 15:00 pm.So where do we choose to go on a day’s shopping in this wonderful city? We could start our shopping spree with the famous Lafayette Galleries and stroll around or even go to Haute-Couture boutiques – but have your credit ready though! Paris even has the traditional street markets like Márches aux puces which just happens to be one of the largest in the world. Paris department stores are great places to stroll around if you have both time and money. In the Haussmann Boulevard you’ll stumble upon two shopping centres: the Lafayette Galleries and the Primtemps shopping centre. Here is where you’ll find shoes, jewellery and prêt-à-porter along with more expensive lines amongst other fine goods. For the foodies among us Lafayette Gourmet has a wine store with around 1800 bottles of the finest wines in the world. You’ll also find the traditional delicatessen stores showing off their wares. These galleries receive more than 20 million visitors per year from all over the world. It is also the largest commercial area in the western world and the European department store with the largest number of shops.Paris street markets are great fun and a sight to see. One of the largest flea markets in the world the Márches aux puces de Saint-Ouen has more than 3000 market stalls in seven hectares of space. You will find this little gem open from 10:00am to 18:00pm Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. This particular market enjoys around 120,000 visits from both Parisians and tourists alike – daily! You will also find many things here including second hand clothing, books and antiques along with shoes, collectables, music and pictures. It’s worth mentioning two other Parisian markets; Aligre Market and the Conventio Market which are quite important and well worth a look, too.You will find some of the best boutiques and shops on Montaigne Avenue which is synonymous with elegance, luxury and distinction. Some of Paris’ best known designers have their shops here and you’ll find it stretching from the river Seine right till the Champs Elysees. Other things noteworthy of this famous Avenue are the fine restaurants, beautiful cafés and hotels of this wonderful city.So, what are you waiting for? Get that credit card out, brush off the dust and head for Paris. It will be the trip of a lifetime.

You have a wide array of shopping malls in Paris to choose. Paris has an array of kitchenware, discount shopping, fashion shops, art stores, antique malls, department stores, jewelry shops, bookstores and more. Paris has a selection of music stores, perfume and cosmetics, souvenir shops, China and Glassware stores, malls, Lingerie shops and so forth. No matter what you like, Paris has something for you. How to choose stores: When choosing stores in Paris it is best to shop around. If you know what you want, then shop at the stores that sell your items. For instance, if you are searching for antiques, check our Paris’s Antique malls. If you plan to carry souvenirs home then shop at the stores where souvenirs are sold. If you want, a variety visits Paris’s discount shopping malls, department stores, and so on. When searching for designers you may want to visit Paris’s popular Alain Figaret mall. The store has a wide array of clothing, including shirts and blouses for men and women. The stores have a selection of fabulous silk ties for men and scarves made of silk for the ladies. Alain also sells a selection of nightgowns, pajamas, underwear, bras, shirts, and more. Across from the fabulous Paris Bristol Lodge is the wonderful boutique Anna Lowe’s. The store has a wide selection of discounted items. The store sells famous clothing, designed by well-known designers. The clothes may have been worn, but you are purchasing items worn by famous models. The store sells a collection of Galliano creations, Mugler, Valentino, and more. The items are sold used, but visitors say that the labels remain on the items, and the prices are within your means.  The fabulous Au Bon Machê, which is a low-budgeting mall in Paris. If you are searching for furniture, fashion designers, children clothes, houseware, or related items then visiting Machê is where you want to go. Inside the mall, you will find one of Paris’s prevalent dining areas. Paris also presents the wonderful mall of Annexe des Crêateurs. The discount store should not fool you. This particular store has received high-media attention for its popularity of selling some of the top-of-the-line products. Annexe des Crêateurs offers discounts up to 70%, yet you will find a wide array of Meister fashions, McCartney, Westwood, and more. Most clothes are used is why the prices are affordable, yet the clothes were worn once by meticulous fashion faders. Therefore, what you are purchasing is the top-of-the-line garments perhaps worn by famous people once. How do I choose flower shops in Paris? If you are searching for flowers visit the outstanding Marché aux Fleurs. In English, it means the Market of Flowers. This market has attracted the interest of popular photographers and artists (In French: artistique) respectively. The floral market sells a wide selection of perfumes, flowers and so on. French Riviera from the Grasse factories is the designer of many perfumes sold at Marché aux Fleurs. At the store, you will find colorful Fleurs on a stylish display case. How about flea markets? Paris has flea markets. One of the popular flea markets in Paris includes the popular Marché (Market) aux Puces St-Quen de Clignancourt. (Paris Metro) Puces, St-Quen sums up the used variety of products sold at Paris’s popular flea market. Choosing Tasty Dishes in Paris Flea Markets: The flea market also has a wide array of pizza stores, cafés, restaurants, and so forth. At the eating areas, you can enjoy salads (French: Salade), sauces and more. No matter what your tastes are, you will find it at the Paris Metro Flea Market. Before hopping a flight to Paris consider planning your activities, hotel stay and so on.