Perfumes, cosmetics or clothes: what to buy in Paris?

Paris, the 'city of love,' is not just about romance. It's a haven for shoppers, thanks to its artistic and cosmopolitan atmosphere that draws people from all over the world to its shops and galleries.

But what is worth buying in Paris? Throughout this article, you'll learn about the products and items you should pay special attention to during your trip to the French capital and the best places to shop.

You'll also learn about the Wise international card, which allows you to shop abroad practically, and safely.

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What's worth buying in Paris?

Paris is an attractive city that allows shopping in all kinds of places. Our highlights go to products where the French capital is of particular international importance:

• Art and decoration
• Cosmetics
• Fashion
• Perfume
• Cheese
• Wine

Where to buy art and decoration in Paris

Art is an essential part of Parisian culture, both in its more erudite form, present in the many local museums, and in its more popular versions, which can be found in the city's markets and galleries.

Independent art galleries in Paris include:

• Pigment Galerie (23 rue de Roi de Sicile),
• Laurence Esnol Gallery (7 rue Bonaparte)
• Galerie Univer / Colette Colla (6 B cite de I Ameublement).

On the other hand, you can find real finds at the street markets dedicated to art and antiques, such as:

• Le Marche de la Creation de Paris Montparnasse (held every Sunday during the day)
• Marche aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves (on weekends in the morning).

When it comes to decorating, you can also turn to the traditional French and international shops in the Paris shopping areas, which we'll list below.

Where to buy cosmetics in Paris

The French cosmetics industry has a worldwide reputation, and Paris is home to some of the world's most renowned brands and chains. So it's only natural that you'll find some unique opportunities in the French capital, both in terms of price and products that might otherwise be difficult to find. There are options for all tastes.

Where to buy cosmetics in Paris:

• Aroma-Zone stands out for its vegan and organic products with few ingredients;
• CityPharma for its low prices and great variety;
• Le Bon Marche for its high-end products;
• Pharmacy Du Forum Des Halles for its selection of lesser-known brands;
• La Samaritaine for being one of Europe's largest beauty retailers.

Where to buy fashion items in Paris

Considered by many to be the capital of fashion, Paris is a paradise for those looking for luxury goods or designer fashion products. Many of these leading brands were born in Paris, and others are represented in the French capital due to the city's great influence on the global fashion industry.

The epicenter of French luxury fashion is the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, which has dozens of boutiques, including top brands such as Hermès, Sonia Rykiel, and Jun Ashida. However, you'll find high-end fashion shops in many other places, such as Rue Royale or Rue Saint Honoré.

Suppose you're looking for more affordable quality pieces. In that case, you can head to La Vallée Village, an outlet shopping center for designer brands. You'll find dozens of shops and plenty of opportunities to buy at considerable discounts here.

Where to buy perfume in Paris

Paris excels in almost all areas of the so-called' beauty industry', and perfumes are no exception, both in the big brands and in independent perfumeries.

Perfumes are so important in Parisian history that the city has a museum dedicated to them: the Musée du Parfum Fragonard, a must-see for anyone interested in the subject.

In addition to well-known brands such as Chanel or Dior, boutiques such as L'Artisan Parfumeur, Serge Lutens, Atelier Cologne, Guerlain, and Fragonard sell many designer perfumes from independent brands.

Where to buy cheese in Paris

The variety and quality of cheeses you can buy in Paris are unique. However, if you want to take a cheese back to Ireland or elsewhere, you should take your return journey into account before deciding what to buy: to enjoy a good cheese, you must preserve it under certain conditions, and not all journeys allow it to arrive at its destination with its properties intact.

Recommended cheese shops in Paris include:

• Fromagerie Laurent Dubois (47 Ter Bd Saint-Germain)
• La Fermette (86 Rue Montorgueil)
• Barthelemy (51 Rue de Grenelle)
• Fromagerie Laurent Dubois (47 Ter Bd Saint-Germain).

💡 Don't be shy about asking to taste a cheese before you buy it: it's normal in this type of shop, like cheeses sold by weight.

Where to buy wine in Paris

It's hard to talk about a trip to Paris without mentioning the famous French wines, one of the local prides.

Suppose you want a wine to accompany a specific meal or cheese. In that case, you can always get advice from specialized shops, which are usually happy to recommend the best accompaniments for each product.

You can find quality wines in most French supermarkets. But if you want to see something unique or expert recommendations, in that case, you can visit shops like Cave de Belleville or Lavinia, which have a really impressive range of wines.

If you want a more personalized experience, you can visit L'Etiquette, which organizes hour-long tastings, or La Cave des Papilles, where the winemakers make regular visits and hold tastings once a month.

🔎 Read also: Can I use my Revolut card abroad?

Wise Card: Pay in Euro and in +40 currencies

Shopping while travelling often involves paying high international fees and even unfavourable exchange rates when paying in another currency. However, this is no longer a concern with the Wise international debit card.

This card is linked to Wise's multi-currency account, which allows you to manage more than 40 different currencies, including the Euro.

When planning a trip, even in the Eurozone, the Wise card can be a great ally as an extra card for your spending. This is because it offers some exciting features:

• Card with no maintenance costs, just a one-off fee of 7 EUR when you order it
• Possibility of creating up to 3 virtual cards for free to organise your expenses
• Add your card to Apple Pay or Google Pay digital wallets
• Virtual card number is different from your physical card number - which adds an extra layer of security
• You can make up to two withdrawals totalling €200 for free¹
• Receive real-time notifications of your spending in the Wise app
• Freeze and unfreeze your Wise card whenever you want

Open your Wise Account
for free 🚀

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The best places to shop in Paris

Almost every product worth buying in Paris can be found here:

• Boulevard Haussmann
• Champs-Elysées and Avenue Montaigne
• Louvre-Tuileries
• Marais

Boulevard Haussmann is a grand boulevard where the shops that transport you to the Belle Époque are famous. As well as enjoying the grand interiors, you can also find luxury fashion, gourmet food, jewellery and decorative items.

The Champs Elysees and Avenue Montaigne are ideal for discovering the latest in the fashion world, especially regarding the world's most acclaimed brands.

In the Louvre-Tuileries district, you'll find quality cosmetics, high-end interior decoration, and the epicentre of designer fashion: the famous Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, mentioned above.

Finally, the Marais neighbourhood offers an eclectic selection of vintage and luxury shops, artisan products, art galleries, perfumeries, and cosmetics shops.

🔎 Read also: Bank of Ireland debit card abroad

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Sources

1. Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but some additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks.

Information last checked on 3/05/2024