Best department store in Paris & tax-free shopping
You’re in Paris searching for a department store that feels truly Parisian ? Not just “a big shop,” but a place with beautiful architecture, great brands, and maybe even a rooftop view, or a gourmet corner worth the detour.
This guide compares the most famous grands magasins (Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, La Samaritaine, and BHV), so you know exactly where to go and why. At the end, you will also learn how to shop tax-free in Paris with Zapptax.
Let’s start with what Paris does better than anywhere else: making shopping feel like an experience you won’t find anywhere else.
Don’t miss our list of the 15 best shopping malls in Paris.
Key points
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The department stores, called “grands magasins” in Paris are true shopping destinations : iconic architecture (Art Nouveau/Art Deco), rooftop views, and even gourmet food stops.
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The 6 best department stores are definitely Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, Le Bon Marché, La Grande Épicerie, La Samaritaine, and BHV.
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If you’re eligible for tax-free shopping, Zapptax simplifies the VAT refund: ask each store for an invoice made out to Zapptax, upload it in the app, then validate your form at departure (usually via a PABLO kiosk).
Why do Parisian department stores feel like landmarks ?
In most cities, a department store is practical, whereas in Paris, it is part of the scenery. You step inside and you’re suddenly looking up at a dome, crossing an Art Nouveau staircase, or following the smell of pastries into a gourmet hall.
These places were designed to impress, so even if you buy nothing, they still give you something to remember, a view, a mood, an architecture.
Galeries Lafayette : the Art Nouveau dome on Boulevard Haussmann
If you only have time for one classic department store in Paris, make it this one.
Galeries Lafayette Haussmann sits right in the heart of the grands magasins district on Boulevard Haussmann, and it is famous for a reason : the dome isn’t decoration, it is a statement.
Don’t miss the rooftop terrace with the Eiffel Tower view. Even if your plan is just a quick browse, the view is the kind of Paris bonus that makes the whole stop worth it. For many visitors, this alone helps Galeries Lafayette claim the title of best department store Paris for first-time shoppers.
Discover our step-by-step guide to getting your tax back at Galeries Lafayette.
📍40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris.
Printemps Haussmann: a flagship address for beauty and fashion
Printemps is close by, but the vibe shifts slightly. It feels more polished, more “flagship,” and often more beauty-forward.
Printemps is the kind of place that makes you want to “just have a look”… and then suddenly you’re testing fragrances, comparing skincare, and leaving with a gift you didn’t plan to buy.
📍64 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris.
Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche: quiet luxury on the Left Bank
When you want Paris to slow down a little, go to the Left Bank. Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche is luxury without the rush, more quiet confidence than tourist frenzy. It feels curated, spacious, and calm in a way the Haussmann flagships rarely do.
If your idea of the best department store Paris experience is “I want beautiful things, but I also want breathing room,” Le Bon Marché is usually the one.
📍24 rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris.
La Grande Épicerie for gourmet food
This is where your shopping day gets delicious. La Grande Épicerie is attached to Le Bon Marché and it’s one of the best places in Paris to buy gifts. Indeed, it is all gourmet food that looks beautiful and travels well.
What you should try :
- biscuits, chocolates, and beautifully boxed sweets
- teas, spreads, and condiments that pack well
- french wine from local producers
- “host gifts” that instantly look premium
📍38 rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris.
La Samaritaine: Art Nouveau and Art Deco near Pont Neuf
La Samaritaine is the most cinematic of the bunch. Its location near the Seine and Pont Neuf already feels like a postcard, and the building itself is part of the reason you go. It is often discussed through the lens of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, which gives the shopping experience a strong “landmark” character.
This is a perfect choice when searching for the best department store in Paris that includes architecture, central location, and a sense of place, not just a list of brands.
📍9 Rue de la Monnaie, 75001 Paris.
BHV Marais: home, luxury, design and gifts
BHV (Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville) is the practical genius of Paris shopping: home, design objects, lifestyle finds, and gifts you’ll actually use. It sits near Hôtel de Ville, which makes it feel very Parisian, not just touristy.
If you’re excited about a perfect candle, a chic kitchen tool, or a design object that upgrades your home, you’ll definitely enjoy the BHV.
📍52 rue de Rivoli, 75004 Paris.
Which department store in Paris is best for you ?
Now that you know the 6 best department stores in Paris, the choice becomes surprisingly simple. There is certainly one that matches what you want to enjoy most : views, beauty, fashion, quiet luxury, architecture, or gifts.
- For Iconic architecture and rooftop views : Galeries Lafayette (Haussmann 75009)
- Beauty and flagship atmosphere on Boulevard Haussmann : Printemps
- Quiet luxury on the Left Bank : Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche (24 rue de Sèvres)
- Art Nouveau / Art Deco near the Pont Neuf : La Samaritaine
- Home and gifts near Hôtel de Ville : BHV Marais
Wherever you go, you’re not just planning a shopping stop, you’re choosing the Parisian experience you want to live.
How to shop tax-free in Paris with Zapptax ?
If you’re eligible (typically if you’re a non-EU resident), tax-free shopping can make a real difference in your shopping trip. Especially when you’re buying fashion, accessories, perfumes, wine, or gifts in Parisian department stores.
The key rules to remember for VAT refund
In France, tax-free shopping starts with a simple threshold: your purchases need to reach €100.01 VAT included during your stay.
To be eligible, the goods must be new and unused and meant for personal use, not resale.
You also need to travel with the goods in your personal luggage when you exit the EU, because French Customs may ask to see the items before validating your tax-free form.
Finally, timing matters: you must leave the EU within three months after the month of purchase (so don’t wait until the very end of your trip to figure it out).
How to get a VAT refund on purchases made in department stores ?
Zapptax helps simplify the VAT refund process by centralizing your invoices in the app and guiding you through the steps, including Customs validation at departure.
First, ask each store to issue an invoice made out to Zapptax and upload it in the Zapptax app. Once you’re ready to leave France, Zapptax generates your tax-free form, and you need to validate it at your departure point (airport, train station, etc), usually at a PABLO kiosk before you board.
If your goal is to enjoy the best department store Paris highlights and keep more of your budget, tax-free planning is the quiet power move.
Conclusion
The “grands magasins” in Paris are worth visiting even if you don’t buy a thing (we doubt it).
Think of them as shopping destinations you can explore: a dome on Boulevard Haussmann, quiet luxury on the Left Bank, Art Nouveau and Art Deco near Pont Neuf, and design finds by Hôtel de Ville.
And if you’re eligible, Zapptax helps you shop tax-free without turning your trip into paperwork.
FAQ
1. What is the best place to shop in Paris?
If you want the most iconic shopping destinations in one area, head to Boulevard Haussmann, you will find the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. For a calmer, more curated experience, Le Bon Marché around the Left Bank is a great choice too.
2. What is the most beautiful department store in Paris?
For many visitors, Galeries Lafayette Haussmann is the standout in Paris, mainly because of its spectacular Art Nouveau dome, which feels more like a landmark than a retail ceiling.
3. What is the biggest department store in Paris?
In practice, the Boulevard Haussmann flagships, especially Galeries Lafayette and Printemps are among the largest-scale department store experiences in central Paris.
4. What are the five Parisian department stores?
The five iconic names most travelers look up are: Galeries Lafayette, Printemps Haussmann, Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, La Samaritaine, and BHV Marais.
