What to buy in Paris? — 25+ must buy souvenirs, gifts & best things to buy in Paris

Not only famous for its romance, elegant, quaint the French capital is also known as a great place for shopping. However, with countless diverse items from fashion clothes, cosmetics to local products, food and drinks… what should I buy in Paris as the most meaningful and valuable gift and what is Paris famous for shopping, what souvenirs to buy in Paris, what to bring home from Paris, what to buy in Paris, what to buy in Paris for gifts and where to buy cheap souvenirs in Paris? Let’s check out our Paris shopping guide with the suggested 25+ best Paris souvenirs, must buy in Paris, best things to buy in Paris, top things to buy in Paris, must buy items in Paris as well as where to buy in Paris, where to shop in Paris as below!

If you are planning a trip to Paris and you still don’t know what to buy in Paris, this article is for you. Your family and relatives will definitely feel excited and happy when receiving these gifts, because they will not only feel the love you have for them, but will also have the opportunity to learn more about the cities and famous landmarks you have passed through.

Paris is famous as a “mecca” for shoppers around the world, not just the French, with leading fashion trends and seemingly endless bustling shopping boulevards. Many people think that the “city of lights” is only for expensive, lavish shopping experiences, but that is not entirely true.

Traveling to France especially Paris, is not only about exploring wonderful landscapes and enjoying delicious food, but also about shopping! Paris is the capital of Cosmetics, Fashion, Perfume, luxury items… Shopping is part of the experience of life in Paris, especially when traveling, you can save more thanks to tax refunds. Finally, this is also a good occasion to prepare wonderful gifts for your loved ones.

Cosmetics (# what to buy in paris)

Choosing to buy souvenirs in Paris for women would be great if it was cosmetic products. If you love cosmetics, then you should definitely visit some cosmetic stores in Paris. Some rare perfumes can only be purchased there, possibly some of the best souvenirs from Paris.

Branded cosmetics are always the top choice of many tourists when coming to France. As the cradle of fashionistas, the cosmetic brands here are also extremely high quality and sought after by many tourists. Cosmetic products in France are often made from nature, organic ingredients which are quite safe and suitable for use on many skin types. In particular, this is also one of the tax-free items in France, so on a trip to Paris, when shopping for cosmetics, visitors will definitely be able to buy them at a much cheaper price.

France is a world leader in cosmetics and has some of the world’s most famous beauty brands. Therefore, buying cosmetics in France is often much cheaper than in other countries, with a wide variety of choices suitable for different skin types.

Monge Pharmacy is a famous Paris brand for skin care and cosmetics with very competitive prices and many incentives for tourists, 15% tax refund. You can find there all the famous cosmetic brands such as Bioderma, Avène, La Roche-Posay, Nuxe, Darphin, Sisley… but there are also new and famous brands in Paris.

• Address and direction: 78 rue Monge, 75005 Paris, Metro 7 stop Place Monge.
• Opening hours: Monday -Saturday 8:30-20:00 and some Sundays.

Perfumes (# what to buy in paris for gifts)

France is also a country famous for its diverse perfumes. For that reason, when coming here, visitors can search for a variety of perfume brands. One more special thing, perfume is also a duty-free item in France. Therefore, when coming here, visitors can buy at cheaper prices and with better quality than other places.

Popular to luxurious perfumes from world-famous brands such as Chanel, Sephora or Gallery de Lafayette. Carrying many luxurious scents that are especially refined, this is definitely a product that visitors should shop in France in general and in Paris in particular.

If you are looking for perfume and makeup products, the perfume store opposite Monge pharmacy, Burdin, has many brands to choose from.

Fashion and accesories (# what should i buy in paris)

Defintely, fashion items and accessories are mus buy in Paris. Coming here, you can find yourself the most trendy fashion clothes from budget to luxury.

If you are looking for high-end brands, luxury fashion labels and designer shopping, there are many stores near Champs-Elysées and the “Triangle d’Or” (Golden Triangle formed by Avenue Montaigne, Avenue George V and Rue Francois), with legendary designer brands such as Chanel and Dior with top fashion brands.

Directions: Alma Marceau metro stop 9, Franklin D. Roosevelt Metro 1 and 9, George V Metro 1, Charles de Gaulle-Etoile RER A.

Rue Saint-Honoré, Rue de la Paix and Place Vendôme also have many flagship stores of famous designers, many high-end watch stores (around Vendôme, such as Rolex, Hublot, Blancpain, Boucheron , Patek Phillippe, Breguet…) as well as jewelry.

Directions: Concorde, Tuileries Metro 1, Pyramides Metro 7, 14

Leather goods (bags, wallets, belts) and jewelry (# must buy in paris)

It is the cradle of branded wallets, purses and jewelry with sophisticated, classy and beautiful designs. When coming here, brand lovers can freely choose between high-end brands. Therefore, a trip to France will be a waste if tourists do not take advantage of owning a few branded items here.

These branded items are often sold mainly in shopping malls. In addition, in large central areas, you will also easily see large stores of these brands. So, don’t miss the good opportunity when shopping in Paris is a wonderful experience for tourists with these high-quality items.

Antiques, second hand, vintage goods (# best things to buy in paris)

Although Paris’s most famous ancient place, the Louvre Des Antiquaires with countless of its antiques and jewellery shops is about to close, there are many interesting antiques worth seeing in Paris. If you have time to visit and shop, look for unique antique items only available in Paris. You can buy them at flea markets, or in many antique shops on the streets of Paris.

France is also a great country for bargain hunters! There are many places where you can find used or antique products, second-hand goods and you can find Vintage items at good prices. Second-hand stores can be found anywhere in Paris, but are more concentrated in certain areas, such as Le Marais. There are some that focus on high-end vintage products and others that sell more casual vintage items, such as Kilos stores (where you pay according to the weight of the clothes you buy).

You can also explore and find great treats in the “Brocante” and “Vide-greniers”. Brocante are flea markets (attended by professional vendors) and open-air “mess” vide-greniers (with individual vendors). These events usually take place outdoors, mainly in the spring and summer. Each town and each neighborhood organizes its own flea market, usually lasting one day and mainly on weekends.

In addition to temporary summer flea markets, there are also regular open flea markets in Paris. The most famous is the “Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen”, the largest in the world, found in 1870. You can find almost everything there, from rare and expensive antiques to trinkets . However, because the sellers are all professionals, it’s difficult to get a good deal (and you’ll need to bargain).

Transportation: Metro 4 Porte de Clingancourt or Metro 13 Garibaldi
Opening hours: Friday 08:00 – 12:00, Sat-Mon 10:00 – 18:00.

Another option is the Vanves market (Puces de Vanves) and its 300 stalls, located south of the District 14, Paris. The flea market in Vanves is where you can find vintage sundries and tableware, all kinds of collectibles, old photos and some vintage clothing.

Transportation: Tram 3 stops Didot, Metro 13 stops Porte de Vanves.
Opening hours: Sat-Feb 07:00 14:00.

Made in France souvenirs (# what is paris famous for shopping)

Finding souvenirs in Paris is easy: there are hundreds of shops around the tourist areas, selling the same products: the Eiffel Tower, beret hats, Parisian tote bags… but most of them are usually not made in France. That’s why Made in France souvenirs are more meaningful. There are very few stores that only focus on selling products made in France. “Paris est toujours Paris” is one of those very few rare names.

Located in one of Paris’s most beautiful covered passages, Passage Jouffroy. The shop has a wide variety of souvenirs, from traditional items related to the Eiffel Tower (but made in France!) to porcelain, clothes, umbrellas… This is the ideal place to find souvenirs concept if you don’t have a clear idea.

Location and direction: 47 Passage Jouffroy, 75009 Paris, Metro 8 Grands Boulevards.
Opening hours: Daily, 11:00-19:00.

The beret is also a symbol of France, but most of the cheap berets sold in Paris are made abroad. The only brand that produces Berets in France, near the Pyrenees Mountains, is Laulhere.

Location and direction: 7 Rue la Vieuville, 75018 Paris, Metro 12 Abbesses station.
Opening hours: Daily, 11:00-19:00.

Cake baking tools (# what to bring home from paris)

Known as the paradise of cakes, Paris has many cake shops with many delicious and delicate flavors. If you can’t buy cakes as gifts, think about buying baking kits and tools as gifts for your loved ones. This tool set includes many parts, can meet the needs of simple baking in the family.

Miniature model of the Eiffel Tower (# what souvenirs to buy in paris)

As a famous souvenir chosen by many tourists, the miniature Eiffel Tower model is an extremely interesting suggestion that you should not miss. Considered a symbol of the beautiful capital Paris, the Eiffel Tower is one of the famous attractions that any visitor to Paris wants to visit. If you have the opportunity to come here, look to buy this souvenir, because for sure, this will be a typical gift that you can only buy in Paris.

Books

The city of lights of Paris is a source of inspiration for many artists, illustrators and writers. And you might enjoy taking home something of the Parisian atmosphere, through the words of some of the very famous writers who once lived there. Shakespeare & Company bookstore has a large selection of books about Paris in English. You can find them on the left hand side when you enter the bookstore.

Not only is this the easiest gift to bring back, but it is also very useful and wonderful, especially for those who love books and magazines. You can buy them at the legendary bookstore Shakespeare & Company, collect antique books at stalls along the Seine River or secondhand books in Merci.

If you want to buy books about art and pictures, go to the bookstores of famous museums such as the Louvre, Pompidou Center, Palais de Tokyo or Fondation Louis Vuitton.

Paintings at Place du Tertre (# what to buy in paris)

Place du Tertre is a square located in the Montmartre neighborhood of Paris. This place is filled with restaurants and shops, but the main reason why it attracts tourists is the presence of artists who painting here and sell unique works of art. In particular, here, if you want, you can also own your own portrait paintings done by artists to take home as souvenirs!

If you’re looking for a souvenir to bring home from your trip, buy a painting at Place du Tertre. One advantage is that during your stay in Paris, Montmartre is a destination you must definitely visit because this is the most charming and artistic neighborhood here. While walking around Montmartre, you can visit Place du Tertre. Visitors will easily see images of true artists, making money from their creative artistic activities. Buy paintings here and feel the unique culture of this beautiful capital!

Other artworks

Buying souvenirs in Paris is not difficult, but to choose an artistic gift you have to look everywhere. Paris is known as a city of art and its museums are a great place to find some artistic souvenirs.

You can also choose to buy a map of France that can be colored and very cute postcards with comic-style drawings of some of the symbols of the country and cities. One of the best travel tips when visiting Paris is to go shopping at the city’s flea markets. You can choose all kinds of gifts: luxurious vintage fashion, antique treasures and works of art that will adorn your home.

Musée D’Orsay is also a great place to shop – the souvenir shop is huge and often quieter than those in the Louvre museum, while the gifts are reasonable in quantity without being too expensive.

Scented candles

What to buy in Paris? Another interesting gift you can find is scented candles. In Paris in particular and France in general, candles have many typical scents for many different types of flowers that you certainly can’t find in other places. In today’s modern life, when bright, shimmering lights have completely replaced candles, scented candles are considered an extremely meaningful gift, contributing to creating a romantic atmosphere. Romantic, sophisticated and equally cozy for important events!

The capital of lights, Paris, is home to very good quality candles, and the designs are especially beautiful. The oldest candle manufacturer is Claude Trudon, which started selling candles in Paris in 1643. You can choose candles to suit your mood with different scents, or candles that create rainbow colors or wax candles of Marie Antoinette…

Eiffel Tower keychains (# best things to buy in paris)

Buying souvenirs in Paris that fit your budget is neither too nor too difficult if the recipient likes a symbolic gift.

Instead of riding around with a heavy metal models, grab a keychain instead. They’re cheaper, come in a variety of styles and colors, and you can easily wear it on the outside of a handbag or backpack to show off that I visited Paris!

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