1. Do Not Take Your Breakfast at Hotel

Our breakfast is most important meal of the day, some say. If your hotel has arrangements for the breakfast then ask if it is included in the rent. Most of the time, you will be charged for the breakfast at outrageous rates. You may have your breakfast for 5 Euros in the cafe. However, in your hotel the same breakfast will cost you more than 12 Euros. Since one can find a bar or cafe at the corner of every street, there is no serious reason to have breakfast in the hotel.

2. Say No to Taxi. Metro Is The Best

Metro of Paris is very efficient. In addition, it serves the city very well. You can find a subway station within a five minutes walk. It will not take more than 45 minutes to reach any destination within Paris, provided that you have basic information about 14 Metro lines of Paris. Take some time to understand Metro and RER network in Paris and then use it to commute within Paris. If you are planning to stay for longer period then it is better to buy a Navigo card. In case you are planning stay less than a week, then prefer all-day-long ticket. Both of the options will allow you unlimited travel on bus, metro and RER. Use a cab only in exceptional situation.

3. Use Your Mobile Phone for Calls

To use hotel’s telephone will be very expensive. Don’t use it. Instead, buy a sim card, which is very easy to get. You will only need a photocopy of your passport. While submitting your photocopy, don’t forget stating that you are submitting this copy to purchase your sim card. At the moment, Lebara Telecommunications is offering best rates for local and international calls. Calling from Lebara will cost you even less than calling from a taxi phone. You can check and compare the rates on the internet for further information.

4. Visit Museums on First Sunday of the Month

Good news is that most of the Parisian museums offer free entry on the first Sunday of every month. If you like going in museums then dedicate the very first Sunday of each month as a ‘museum day’ and appreciate their collection at no cost.

5. Drink Like A Parisian

You do not need to order expensive drink, if you want to enjoy the street scene of Parisian life at any cafe or bar. You can order a simple cup of coffee and can sit as long as you wish. A cup of coffee would cost around 2 Euros only. This is something which Parisians do. They order coffee and sit for hours. Remember, however, if you take your coffee and drink at the counter then it cuts the cost more than a half. Therefore, if you need just a shot of caffeine or a quick thirst-quencher, then standing at the counter will reduce your bill by 50%. I hope above mentioned tips will help you save your hard earned cash and wish you best of luck for your stay in Paris.

Author: Qasir M. Chaudhry: http://www.qasir.co.nr

Eating out in Paris does not have to be an expensive or an extravagant thing – you can eat well and very cheaply if you know where to look.

In Europe in general – and Paris is no different – it’s a good idea to make lunch your main meal of the day. Almost all cafes, bars, bistros and restaurants offer fixed price menus at lunchtime and will often throw in a glass of beer or wine for free included in the price. Even at dinner time if you look around you can find restaurants with menus offering three courses for less than fifteen euros.

Students who have an international student card can use the dining facilities of the Paris university campuses – and the local student food caterer called CROUS also provides food outlets around the city. Just search for CROUS Paris online for a list of addresses.

Good places to eat include:

Cafe Berthillon on Rue St-Louis-en-I’lle. This is the most fantastic place for ice cream and sorbet with flavours and styles like you couldn’t even imagine. Expect long queues for the most popular ice cream shop in Paris.

Cafe de la Mosquee on Rue Geoffroy-St-Hilaire provides authentic mint tea and middle eastern flavours in it’s savouries and cakes.

Cafe Very is in the famous Jardin des Tuileries right in the very beating heart of the city. This is the best of several cafes in the gardens and delivers the most perfect toasted croques you’ll ever find.

For a more restaurant level nosh up then try some of these great places:

L’as Du Falafel – no prizes for guessing what the dish of the day is here! The falafel is the most famous of all middle eastern treats – look out for the pitta special – with pitta bread, cabbage, aubergine, hummus and tabasco sauce – wonderful.

The Foyer Du Vietnam is on Rue Monge and is a very popular purveyor of vietnamese curries and noodle dishes. Popular with students and locals alike.

These are only a few suggestions on how to eat cheaply in Paris. The main tip is to remain flexible and – if you can – chat with the locals and ask for their advice.

Enjoy your trip to Paris.

Author: Gary Hill is a travel journalist from Scotland. He has a special interest in Europe vacations. He now lives and works for part of the year in Barcelona.

No. 58 La Generale de Pharmacie sells many French cosmetics and beauty products at 40% cheaper than a normal drugstore. Look for Roche Posay, a French brand for sensitive skins — easily as good as Clinique and 1/3 price. Stock up.

At no. 45 is a clandestine chausseure operation, depicted above, going by the name of Moda. The exterior windows are stacked high with shoe boxes; the owner does not want any publicity because they have an agreement with the big names to keep schtum about their wares. Inside, you’ll find cute and colorful Marc Jacobs, Cacharel, Chloe loafers, and sexy Viktor and Rolf high heels. They also have men’s shoes, including Prada sneakers and good-quality formalwear shoes. All this at 50-60% less than normal price.

At no. 35, Pullsion sells cut-price classic French brand Petit Bateau, a brand for kids but worn by everyone from French teenagers to grandmothers, priced from EUR9 euros — a fraction of the cost at the shop on the Champs Elysées.

The Latin Quarter adopted its name from the early Latin speaking students that lived there and has been inhabited since the early Middle Ages. You will generally find artists, intellectuals, and others who have adopted a Bohemian lifestyle. This area include various Paris landmarks like the Musée de Cluny, the Institut du Monde Arabe, the Muséum National d’histoire Naturelle, and the Jardin des Plantes. At the heart of Latin Quarter, as its symbol, stands famous University La Sorbonne .

It’s a vibrant neighborhood with both historical buildings and fine shops. At night, enjoy the smoky pubs and jazz clubs. This quarter has a vast array of stores that are beautiful and with a good quality at a price that fits on our budget.

Directory of Flea & Antique Markets

Marché d’Aligre
Address: Place d’Aligre, 75012 Paris
One of the city’s most interesting markets, made up of the covered Marché Beauvau (open since 1777) and an open-air market in the surrounding square with produce as well as flea-market stalls. Aligre is both well supplied and typically Parisian. It’s a great place to get an insight into life in the capital, and shows off its cosmopolitan side with numerous Asian and North African shops located around the market. Don’t get there too late, or you’ll find all the good things have gone.
Hours: Tues. – Sat., 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 to 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Ledru Rollin (line

Marché aux Puces de Montreuil
Address: avenue de la Porte de Montreuil, 75020 Paris / 93100 Montreuil-sous-Bois
Like one vast car boot sale, this market disgorges mountains of second-hand clothing, parts for cars, showers and sundry machines, and a jumble of miscellaneous rubbish from its dusty, grungy bowels. You’ll find little pre-1900, but there are fun collectables like branded pastis water jugs.
Hours: Sat. – Mon., 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Porte de Montreuil (line 9)

Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves
Addresses: avenue Georges Lafenestre & avenue Marc Sangnier, 75014 Paris
Phone: (+33) 06.88.64.82.77;
Every weekend of the year, 350 stall holders await you: furniture, trinkets, paintings, fabric, glassware, time pieces, jewelry, military objects, photography, music, and curios. In the heart of Paris, an exciting place that will capture your imagination. It’s the place to visit for flea market enthusiasts.
Hours: Weekends; avenue Marc Sangnier until 1 p.m.; avenue Georges Lafenestre all day.
Porte de Vanves (line 13)

Les Puces de Saint-Ouen
Address: 48, rue Jules Vallès (Marché des Antiquaires), 93400 Saint-Ouen
(between the Porte de St-Ouen and Porte de Clignancourt, just outside 18th arrondissement)
The world’s biggest flea market welcomes 200,000 visitors each weekend. You name it, this place has it: furniture, pictures, new and second-hand clothes – all at rock-bottom prices (especially if you’re adept at haggling). There’s a jovial fairground atmosphere, with the aroma of food wafting in the air and people crowding round the stalls, hoping to pick up a 1970s leather jacket or rare Louis XV chest of drawers. Make sure to bring cash, as stallholders seldom accept credit cards and the nearest available ATM always has a line.
Hours: Sat. – Mon., 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Porte de Clignancourt (line 4), Porte de St-Ouen (line 13)

Article Source: Lace Matarlo ]]> http://www.paris-visitor.com/finding-affordable-shopping-in-paris/feed/ 0 http://www.paris-visitor.com/four-great-parisian-coffee-shops/ http://www.paris-visitor.com/four-great-parisian-coffee-shops/#comments Wed, 02 Feb 2011 12:34:54 +0000 admin http://www.paris-visitor.com/?p=177 Coffee shops are ubiquitous. Parisian coffee shops are some of the coziest coffee shops in the world. Providing a peaceful environment for studying or catching up with good friends, these coffee shops provide a temperate and inexpensive backdrop to do so.

The following coffee shops shine above them all:

1. Laduree- Opening the door to any Parisian coffee shop will immediately teach you that Parisian coffee shops are very different from most American coffee shops. This coffee shop welcomes you with aromas of baked goods the moment you walk in. This shop is most famous for its delicious macaroons. The building itself is reminiscent of an old boutique, providing the perfect quaint environment for an evening cappuccino or tea. Prices are a bit higher than a typical coffee shop, but all loyal customers will agree that the experience is well worth the extra Euros.

2. Angelina- The diner’s rule of thumb for French restaurants is the longer the line, the better the food and service. Angelina is no exception. The wait is surprisingly brief, and once you are inside, you will be glad you exercised a bit of patience. In this beautifully decorated and intimate cafe, flavorful treats are served with the richest of teas. The hot chocolate is legendary, with loyal patrons describing it as, “rich” and “delicious.” In addition to serving wonderful teas and treats, Angelina offers delectable sandwiches as well.

3. Flora Danica- is quite possibly the closest to American coffee shop culture simply because it is quick. The coffee is freshly brewed and the service is superb. Flora Danica even offers brunch on Sundays. And as if great flavor and service were not enough, this cafe is modestly priced.

4. Cafe des Deux Magots- Another great past time of visiting the city of Paris is people- watching on a patio of a Parisian cafe. Cafe des Deux Magots has been hailed by the locals as one of the best venues in Paris for people- watching. Satre, Picasso, and Hemingway have all sat at this very cafe, so many people come here to observe and be inspired. In addition to delicious teas and coffee, this cafe also serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The best part about including any of these fine coffee shops on your next Parisian voyage is that they allow you to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Too often, travel becomes a competition to hit the most tourist destinations and check off as many items on our itineraries, and we forget that the real point of traveling is to experience life and culture in a new place. Soak it all in at any Parisian coffee shop and truly enjoy your time in this great city.

Author: Jason Boehle, who invites you to visit Golden Book Traveller to see more European travel resources.

Traditional French cuisine involves rich sauces and dishes made with fresh products, cheese and wine.

Although eating out in Paris can be a bit expensive, the law ensures that Parisian restaurants provide exemplary service. Parisians eat their lunch at noon before 2:30 pm and prefer late dinners and as a result most restaurants close after 2:30 pm only to open again for dinner at five pm or 6 pm. The following is a list of five traditional French restaurants, which offer delicious culinary experiences.

1. C’est Mon Plaisir – C’est Mon Plaisir presents a traditional French menu and is known to serve delicious fare. If you are interested in tasting authentic French cuisine then this charming restaurant on the Rue Falguiere is a must visit place. Renowned for its seafood dishes, this restaurant also features a large collection of exquisite wine and local pottery. Since the staff speaks English, tourists will be able to feel at home here.

2. L’Oulette – This famous French restaurant is located at Lachambeaudie in Paris and specialises in traditional French delicacies specially prepared by experienced and talented French chefs. A delightful feature of this restaurant is the presentation of a Cigar box after each meal to guests.

3. Chez Lena et Mimile – Well-known for its comfortable ambience and friendly staff, this great restaurant serves traditional French delicacies such as grilled fish and roasted rabbit. It is located a short distance from the Rue Mouffetard and its student bars. Tourists will enjoy listening to the medieval fountain nearby while having dinner on its summer terraces.

4. Chez Maitre Paul – This French restaurant offers a menu of roast chicken, terrines, several varieties of hard cheese, sausages, foie gras and traditional French wines. The place has been around for nearly half a century, pleasing several customers with country cuisine peculiar to the Frenche-Comte and Jura areas of France.

5. Jacques Cagna -One of the most popular traditional French restaurants in Paris, the Jacques Cagna serves some of the most exquisite French delicacies such as veal in lime and ginger with buttery potato and ground tomato. The ambience is exemplary and the service is excellent.

Tourists must remember that French traditional restaurants often draw a crowd, especially at weekends, owing to which they must reserve a table well in advance.

Credit: James works in the Travel industry and in between watching FC Barcelona, works with Holiday Velvet

Bistros are small, moderately priced restaurants. Some bistros serve regional and traditional dishes while others provide more modern fare.

If you want to eat in a large restaurant with lots of people, look for a Brasserie. They have large menus and most are open all day and late into the night.

Wine bars and cafes usually open early in the morning and serve drinks and food that consist of salads and sandwiches. They usually offer a special hot meal at lunch. The prices at cafes can vary in the different areas of Paris. Wine bars have simple lunch menus and serve sandwiches.

In almost any area of Paris you will find a good to excellent restaurant. The greatest concentration of restaurants seems to be on the Left Bank where many tourist visit. Prices will vary as will the quality of the food. Each area of Paris such as the Latin Quarter will have restaurants that specialize in foods from other countries such as Chinese and Vietnamese.

There are not a lot of vegetarian restaurants in Paris. If you see a salad on the menu and it has meat, you can always request that the meat not be included. Some restaurants will accommodate you if you call ahead and request a special meal.

The price of a meal in Paris can vary from cheap to expensive. The law requires that all French restaurants display their menu and prices outside. The price includes a service charge but not a tip.

You should make a reservation if you intend to dine in a restaurant. Some brasseries and bistros may also require reservations or you will find yourself waiting for a table. Not all restaurants are accessible by wheelchair. If you need assistance, you should indicate this at the time the reservation is made. In the U.S we are used to requesting a high-chair for a small child. Such accommodations are not the norm in Paris.

We had dinner at a brasserie near the Moulin Rouge and had tickets for a show. We were seated almost immediately. The restaurant was busy and we spent over two hours from the time we were seated until we finished our meal and left the brasserie.

When you find the restaurant, bistro, or brasserie of your choice, do not expect to sit down and eat in an hour. Meals are ordered in a specific way and are cooked to order. If you have tickets for a show or an event and want to have dinner before going, make sure you allow enough time.

Credit: Sandra Rouse Sandra Rouse

The city has more tourist attractions than almost any city in the world but if you plan to drive good luck getting to them.

Thank goodness for the METRO. The Paris metro system is the most efficient mode of transportation on the planet, bar none. The metro system has 380 stations. The stations that stop without continuing are called Terminus stations. Sixteen rail lines serve them. The rail lines are colour coded and easy to follow. In fact, the entire system is very well thought-out.

RER lines and Commuter Rails are like the metro only with fewer lines (5) dedicated to them. These trains travel to the outskirts of the city and into the suburbs. On the rails map, they are lettered A through E. RER also services the airports. If you want to cross the city quickly or get in and out of the city, consider the RER as the express metro system. The commuter rails travel above ground and actually go into the suburbs. Many travellers making the daily work commute use these during the week.

Ticket pricing would be too complicated to go onto here but I can say that the best way to purchase travel tickets would be carnet. (Pronounced CAR-NAY) Carnet is buying a pack of ten tickets. In France, you ride by length of time rather by than distance so it is good to have extra tickets should you decide to make an extended stop.

The same tickets you use for the metro are used for the bus. The bus system in Paris is a good one. First, you actually see the city while you ride. This is obviously a big plus if you are visiting for the first time. There are more buses in Paris than in most major cities of the world. One problem I mentioned above is the bus stops. You have to be on your toes to figure out where the buses let passengers on and off. If you want to transfer to another bus, you have to have a different ticket. Bus transfer tickets have a T+ on them and cost a little bit mote that a regular ticket.

It is possible to travel to most of the tourist attractions by boat. You can purchase a pass that is good all day and enjoy eight stops along the Seine River. The cost is 12 euros. ($16.50 American dollars) Wouldn’t you rather travel by boat, anyway? The public transport Paris has offers each individual a variety of options when travelling.

Finally, the French have come up with a way to get around the city and stay healthy doing it. There are bicycle stations called Velib Stations. They are everywhere and the process is a simple one. You go to a velib station and take a bike out of its rack. Then, simply ride the bike to your hearts content. When you are done, no matter where you are, drop the bike at the closest Velib station and you are on your way.

Overall, it is very easy to get around in Paris. With Public Transport Paris is wide open. Besides public transportation, you can rent a car but I do not recommend it, unless you are very familiar with Paris and do not mind tourist constantly getting in your way. Besides, I think I would enjoy Paris on a bike. It would be so very, French.

Credit: Paolo Matzi – freelance copyrighter, promoting transport services in Europe. See Removals London to Paris.

1. Free entry to museums and cathedrals – There are over 180 museums and monuments in Paris many of which offer free entrance at specific times. Almost all churches and cathedrals offer free admission daily (except for la Sainte Chapelle), but you may need to pay an extra fee to visit the crypts or climb the towers (e.g. Notre Dame Cathedral). Many major museums, including the big favorites such as the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Musée Rodin and Musée Picasso, offer free admission the first Sunday of every month. The same museums, plus many more, offer free admission daily to citizens of any nation of the European Union who are under 26 years old and to children and youths under 18 years old, regardless of nationality.
2. The Paris Museum Pass – Museum lovers who plan to visit lots of museums should buy the Paris Museum Pass. The pass allows unlimited entry to over 60 museums and monuments, including the Louvre Museum, Château de Versailles, the Musée d’Orsay, the Rodin Museum, the Picasso Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Sainte Chapelle. You can visit any number of participating museums, without waiting in line, during the pass’ period of validity (2, 4, or 6 days). Anybody who wants to see as many museums as possible during a short visit, also needs to manage their time. So one of the most attractive features of the Paris Museum Pass is the ability to visit museums without waiting in line to buy tickets.
3. Free concerts Paris has a great deal to offer music lovers. If you’re fortunate enough to have a flexible schedule, you should be sure to consider visiting Paris during the Summer when you can experience the Fête de la Musique (June 21) or the Free Summer Jazz concerts held every weekend in the Parc de Vincennes. If you’re time is not so flexible, you can still take advantage of the free concerts that are frequently offered at the Maison de Radio France. Dates and times vary, but a schedule and free tickets can be collected in the office at, 116, avenue du Président Wilson, 75016 Paris.
4. Shop for designer clothes at department store sales and designer outlets – Paris is the capital of fashion and the home of myriad designers and labels. The high priced boutiques along the Rue du Faubourg St Honoré and luxury labels such as Hermes and Louis Vuitton may only be accessible to the few, but savvy shoppers can pick up close outs or seconds of designer outfits for huge discounts at designer outlet stores. Inside the Paris city limits, the Mouton à 5 Pattes on the Boulevard Saint Germain is a favorite, as well as the many ready-to-wear shops found in the 14th arrondissement, on the rue d’Alésia. If close outs aren’t your thing, big department stores like Bon Marché, Galleries Lafayettes and Printemps have twice yearly sales in January and July, typically discounting designer duds by up to 70%.
5. Visit the Flea Market – The world famous Paris Flea Markets are a shopper’s delight and a good way to spend an afternoon, whether or not you’re planning to buy something. The largest of the Flea Markets is located at Porte de Clignancourt to the North of Paris. A huge selection of art, antiques, clothing and many other items are on sale. Entry is free and the atmosphere is reminiscent of the Great Bazaars of Middle Eastern cities like Cairo and Istanbul.
6. Visit the Paris Opéra – Paris boasts two great opera houses: the Opéra Bastille and the Opéra Garnier. The Opéra Bastille is the newer of the two. It opened in 1989 and claims that every seat offers a clear view of the stage. The neo-Baroque Opéra Garnier is a renowned architectural masterpiece and the home of the Paris Opéra Ballet. It opened in 1875 and seats over 2000 people. Tickets for performances at either opera can go for over 100EUR for the best seats, but the cheapest seats (which may not always offer a great view) often cost less than 10EUR.
7. Visit a Paris Cabaret – Cabarets like the Moulin Rouge, Crazy Horse and Lido are Paris institutions. While tickets featuring dinner and a bottle of champagne can cost up to 200EUR or more per person, most cabarets offer tickets that allow you to see the show for much cheaper by going to the second performance (without dinner) purchasing a ticket to the afternoon matinee, a ticket without drinks, or a seat at the bar. These cheaper tickets cost about 80EUR.
8. Eat a good meal outside of the Paris City Center – Most areas that tourists are likely to visit (the Champs-Elysées, Saint Germain, Marais) can be much more expensive than less central, but still very nice neighborhoods. Paris offers many neighborhoods with concentrations of ethnic restaurants that are good, yet affordable. Authentic Indian restaurants can be found on the Rue Brady in the 10th arrondissement, as well as the area north of Gare du Nord. The area in the 13th arrondissement just south of Place d’Italie is Paris’ Chinatown and many affordable Chinese restaurants can be found here, as well as along the rue des Gravilliers in the 3rd arrondissement.
9. Get a cheap Paris Airport transfer – Getting from the airport to the Paris city center can be expensive! Taxis typically cost 40EUR – 60EUR, depending on your destination, time of day and traffic. But a ticket on the Metro only costs 8EUR50. If you have too much baggage for the Metro, consider the shared airport shuttle which can cost as little as 17EUR per person.
10. Rent a Paris Vacation rental apartment – Hotels in Paris aren’t cheap, so if you’re planning to stay for an extended period or if you’re more than two people in your group, a short-term vacation apartment rental is a good option that will also allow you to cook your own meals and get a better ideal of what it’s like to live like the locals do.

All things considered, with just a little bit of advance planning, some of the most desirable attractions that Paris has to offer can be available to you absolutely free of charge or for a much more reasonable price than most tourists typically have to pay.

Credit: Joshua Green of Paris Net

You should know that the most of the Paris establishments open from Monday to Saturday, from 10:00am to 20:00pm, approximately. But the most traditional shops usually take a break between 12:00am and 15:00pm.

Now, you have to choose where you want to begin your shopping day… Do you want to have a walk along the famous Lafayette Galleries? Or maybe you’d prefer to have a look at the Haute-Couture boutiques? Although the vintage stores would also be a good way to jumpstart your shopping trip; but if you like markets, the Márches aux puces is one of the largest in the world.

Parisian department stores are the perfect place for those who have time and money to spend. In the Haussmann Boulevard you’ll find two shopping centres: the Lafayette Galleries and the Primtemps shopping centre. There you’ll find jewellery, shoes, expensive clothes and the prêt-à-porter latest tendencies …Food lovers, will find the best national and international delicatessen shops. Lafayette Gourmet has a wine store with 1800 bottles of the finest wines in the world. These galleries receive more than 20 million visits per year. It is the largest commercial area in the western world and the European department store with the largest number of shops. The Drugstore Publicis are small shopping centres with pharmacies, bookstores, gift shops, perfume stores and tobacconist’s. They are open until 2:00pm!

The Montaigne Avenue is synonymous of luxury and distinction. You’ll find here the best boutiques of some of the most well known Paris designers. This street stretches from the River Seine to the Champs Elysees. The Montaigne Avenue also has the most luxurious cafes, restaurants and hotels of the city. In addition, in the Marais neighbourhood there are the young Parisian designer’s shops.

The Paris markets are a huge spectacle, especially the Flea Market (Márches aux puces de Saint-Ouen). It is one of the largest markets in the world. It has more than 3000 stalls spread across 7 hectares. It opens Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 10:00am to 18:00pm. The Flea Market receives more than 120,000 daily visits from tourists and Parisians! Here it’s possible to buy almost anything: from first and second-hand clothes, shoes, books and antiques, accessories, collectible items, music, pictures or the most absurd junk. Other important markets in Paris are: the Aligre Market and the Conventio Market.

What are you waiting for? Take the first flight to the French Capital and remember not to take too much luggage with you as you’ll be coming back with lots! Enjoy the best accommodation renting Paris Apartments at the best price.

Credit: Diana Roig of Only Apartments

Shopping is one of the main reasons for Paris to draw millions of visitors every year, and given below are some the leading shopping districts and shops.

1) Place de lopper & Boulevard Hausmann

These are two popular streets in Paris which hosts massively large departmental stores like Printemps and Galeries Lafayette. Like most popular stores they too feature designer collections, gourmet foods, household goods, jewellery, hardware and much more. The Printemps Department store also boasts of a large rooftop terrace with panoramic views of Paris. Visitors choose this shopping area as anything they desire is available here. Boulevard Hausmann is about 2.5 kilometres and is one of the tree-lined boulevards in Paris.

2) Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore

This is relatively a narrow street when compared to the rest in Paris. However, it is considered to be one of the most fashionable streets in the world because it hosts practically every single major global fashion house. It has a serious of high fashion stores and other exclusive establishments. Rue de Faubourg Saint-Honore is an extension of Rue Saint-Honore. On this street at number 55 is the Elysee Palace which houses the President of the Republic.

3) Mistigriff

Mistigriff is located on Rue St Charles is a store that might have a ‘budget-style’ look, but sells genuine clothes at attractive discounts. Women’s apparel and accessories are available for a very small price. You will need to spend some time in this store to find a Couture garment from a famous label. Mistigriff is listed as one of the popular shopping stores in Paris.

4) Shoes at Andre

Andre is a major French shoe brand and there are many shops in Paris and France. Visitors will find very trendy shoes at reasonable prices here, and they also offer limited edition shoes in collaboration with young and talented designers. Each season Andre takes pride to invite hot fashion designers like Katherine Pradeau and Bali Barret to create exclusive shoe and handbag collections.

5) Cosmetics at Viseart

Viseart recently opened their make-up bar on Rue Charlot, 3rd Metro Republique and is the latest tip for good-value and quality cosmetics. This store is well-known within the fashion and film-world. The assistants are professionals who will help you to test and choose your product. They will also give you a 45-minute makeover by appointment.

6) Saint-Ouen Flea Market

This is one of the famous flea markets in Paris officially known as Les Puces de Saint-Ouen but known to everyone as Les Puces (The Fleas). The Flea Market is located in a city close to Paris and is about six hectares in extent. It is open on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays and is estimated to welcome over 70,000 visitors every week. It has over 2000 shopping selling almost everything and is one of Paris’ most famous shopping venues.

7) Avenue des Champs-Elysees

This is the most prestigious avenue in Paris, France and is a very famous tourist destination. There are cinemas, cafes and luxury speciality shops located amidst clipped horse-chestnut trees. It is one of the most famous streets universally as well and is the most expensive strip of real estate in Europe. It is also known as “The most beautiful avenue in the world”.

Avenue Montaigne

Originally this street was called Allee des Veuves (widow’s alley) because women who were in mourning gathered here, but the street has changed since the early days of the 18th century. Avenue Montaigne now boasts of many stores specialising in high fashion, such as Dior, Chanel, Valentino and Ralph Lauren. Jewellers such as Bulgari are found on this street as well.

9) Les Helles

Les Helles is one of the most important shopping centres in Paris. It is named after the large central wholesale marketplace which was demolished in 1971 and is now replaced with an underground modern shopping precinct. This area contains sculptures, fountains, museums etc and is very popular amongst visitors.

10) Rue d’Alesia

Rue d’Alesia is another major street in the south of Paris. It is the best place to find shops selling last season’s fashions at a discount. This street is frequented by visitors who are keen on bargain deals for clothing.

Credit: Jane Smith of Rocket French review