Trips To Paris

Among the many words used to describe Paris, sophistication is used frequently. The famous city has been a true inspiration many artists, designers and writers with its haute couture and exquisite sense of style. Luxury pieces are, of course, very expensive but tourists with a small budget can do a lot of window-shopping in the fashion districts. I did that too while I was in the French capital.

But you can approach a boutique if you see the “special offer” sign. Sometimes, select haute couture or pret-a-porter pieces are sold for a relatively small price. And you can always find an exotic or traditional gift in the Parisian shops.

The neighborhood Triangle dOr is the main center of attraction of Parisian luxury shopping and it consists of Avenue Montaigne (with brands like Gucci, Celine, Chanel and Dior), Avenue George V, and Rue Francois next to the Champs Elysees. Rue Faubourg Saint-Honore, on the other side of Avenue Champs Elysees near Metro Saint-Philippe-du-Roule (hosts labels like Versace, Yves Saint Laurent and Hermes). And lets not forget about Louis Vuitton on 101 by Metro George V.

A small advice would be to wear comfortable shoes. A shopping place very famous is Galeries Lafayette and Au Printemps. They are vast and you can get easily tired when you visit Galeries Lafayette, strolling between the floors.

But Paris is not known for fashion but also for antiques. If you like to see or buy antiques, you should not miss Marche aux Puces de St-Ouen.

And if you want to taste tempting food, don’t miss the food shops at Rue Rambuteau, Rue Montorgueil and Place de la Madeleine in the Opra Quarter.

If you still have the budget and the time, I would also like to suggest: the chic Place des Victoires, the Garment District (Sentier) Royal behind the Palais Royal, the Carr Rive Gauche near the Orsay museum, and Rue de Seine, Rue Jacob and Rue du Bac near the Saint-Germain des Prs church. As far as shopping is concerned, you can find anything you want in Paris.