Shopping by Paris

Practical Info

Twice per year, in January and July, retailers liquidate their previous season’s collections offering reductions of up to 70% on the price displayed during the 30 days leading up to the sales. To make the most of the event, some stores extend their opening hours in the evening and also open on Sunday.

When are the sales?

The start and end of the sales, which take place for a maximum of 6 weeks, are determined by the préfectures of each département (administrative area). In Paris, the 2010 winter sales will start on 6th January and will finish on 9th February.

Happy shopping!

Opening hours of stores:

The majority of shops are open all day from 9am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday. Some smaller shops may close over lunchtime between midday and 2pm, or all day on Monday. Sundays and public holidays are the usual closing days, although there are some exceptions... During the week, the department stores all have one late-night opening day, known as a “nocturne” until 9pm. Supermarkets are open at different times depending on the neighbourhood, every day except Sunday, until 8, 9 or 10pm.

During the sales or in December just before the holidays, most stores, both large and small, may also open on Sundays. During the remainder of the year, take a stroll through the Marais or along the Champs-Elysées, where shopping is on the menu 365 days a year, sometimes even until midnight. In other districts more and more shops are opening on Sundays and holidays.

It’s worth knowing that a good many smaller shops close for their annual holidays from mid-July to end-August.

Banks

Banks are generally open every day from 9am to 4.30pm closed Mondays, Sundays and public holidays. If you have an International Visa card or Eurocard/Mastercard, you can withdraw cash 24 hours a day from most cash points.

In the event of loss or theft

Carte bleue Visa - Tel. : 0 892 705 705
Carte Diner's Club - Tel. : 0 810 31 41 59
Carte American Express - Tel. : 01 47 77 72 00
China Unionpay - Tel. : 0 800 905 942 (Free call)
Eurocard Mastercard - Tel. : 0 800 90 13 87 (Free call)

Currency exchange

You can change money at stations, airports, large bank agencies and bureaux de change (open until late in the evening). Before you go ahead with a transaction, it is a good idea to ask at what rates the agency buys and sells currency and how much is the commission charge.

A selection of bureaux de change

Change & collection - 1, rue Rouget-de-Lisle (1er) - Tél. : 01 42 60 00 35. www.yes-change.com
Comptoir Change Opéra - 9, rue Scribe (9e) - Tél. : 01 47 42 20 96. www.ccopera.com
Comptoir des Tuileries - 27, rue de l’Arbre-Sec (1er) - Tél. : 01 42 60 17 16. www.cdt.fr
Multi-Change - 7, rue Marbeuf (8e) - Tél. : 01 47 20 23 57. www.multi-change.com (Free call)

Duty-free shopping

You can benefit from duty free shopping if you are not a European citizen, are over 15 yearsold, and have made your purchases (over €175) within the last three months. To be reimbursed for 12% of the VAT (value added tax) , ask for “Tax-free Shopping France” receipts in the tax-free tourist stores. Have them stamped at customs and return the pink stamped copies within the three months in the pre-stamped envelope that you received when you paid for your purchase(s).

Customs information centre

Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 6pm, Tel : 0 811 20 44 44 (price of a local call)

Soldes by Paris

The shopping capital