Paris Shopping Guide: Stores and Shops in Paris, France

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The euro, sadly, isn't showing much mercy for foreign visitors traveling with tight purse strings. That said, simply perusing the creative vitrines (window displays) of the one-off boutiques, chocolatiers, and high-fashion houses will let you truly appreciate the exquisite art of shopping in Paris. Shoppers should keep in mind that most stores are closed on Sundays and that US citizens are entitled to a sales-tax refund on more substantial purchases – be sure to request a "détaxe" form from the store and claim your refund through customs before leaving France. Bargain hunters might want to coordinate their visit with the soldes – major biannual sales usually held in January and July. We've rounded up some of the not-to-miss areas and shops to get you going.

The 8th arrondissement is a magnet for upscale shoppers on the prowl for international haute-couture and assorted fine wares. The two undisputed go-to spots for glamorous garb at gargantuan prices are the famed Rue du Faubourg St-Honoré, the address of choice for designer houses from Dior to Hermès, and Avenue Montaigne. Nearby, the Champs-Elysées (www.champselysees.org) has, in recent years, lost much of its shopping appeal due to an onslaught of banks, fast-food chains, and cinemas, but shoppers still make a pilgrimage to the mammoth Virgin Megastore here, as well as to check out its mix of upscale boutiques like Louis Vuitton and Cartier, and more pocket-friendly chain establishments like Zara and Sephora.

The grand magasins (department stores) sell everything from home fashions to clothing – you can take in two side-by-side favorites on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement: Galeries Lafayette (40 boulevard Haussmann) and Printemps (64 boulevard Haussmann); the former often hosts fashion shows, so ask about daily schedules.

If there's one neighborhood not to miss for trendy togs, it's the Marais (3rd and 4th arrondissements), a fantastic pedestrian-friendly shopping district, with a medieval maze of streets harboring trend-setting boutiques, and fine shops and galleries along the perimeter of the Place des Vosges.

Open-air markets are also plentiful in Paris, and usually prove to be the best bang for buck for bargain shoppers. One of the most popular produce markets is the Rue Montorgueil market, behind St-Eustache (Mon-Sat 9am-7pm) in the 1st. Additionally, flea markets on the outskirts of Paris are worth the trek for antique treasure hunters; the marché aux puces de (flea market of) Saint-Ouen (Porte de Clignancourt; Sat-Mon 9am-6pm; www.les-puces.com), in the 18th, is the best reputed.