BHV Marais shopping guide: brand highlights & full VAT refund guide
Paris offers endless shopping options, but if you want to explore fashion, beauty, home goods, and souvenirs all in one place, BHV Marais is one of the most efficient stops. From cosmetics and fragrances to kitchen essentials, from French fashion to DIY tools, its 8 floors and 2,000+ brands cover a wide range of needs.
This guide will help you quickly understand BHV Marais’ floor layout, the categories and brands worth exploring, and how to claim a VAT refund in France more easily using Zapptax.
Curious how much VAT you can recover after shopping in France? Try the Zapptax refund calculator.
Key takeaways
- BHV Marais is located at 52 Rue de Rivoli, 75004 Paris, directly accessible via métro lines 1 and 11 (Hôtel de Ville station).
- The main building has 8 floors covering beauty, womenswear, shoes, stationery, luggage, kitchenware, home décor, kids’ items, bedding, and more.
- BHV L’Homme, located across the street, has 5 floors dedicated to menswear.
- Non-EU visitors can combine eligible purchases more flexibly with Zapptax and claim a VAT refund after Customs validation when leaving the EU.
BHV Marais: a shopping landmark in the Marais district
BHV Marais (short for Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville) was founded in 1856 by Xavier Ruel, just opposite Paris City Hall. After more than 160 years of development, it has become one of the most iconic department stores in central Paris.
Unlike the traditional department stores on Boulevard Haussmann, BHV Marais focuses more on lifestyle. In addition to beauty and fashion, it stands out for its strong DIY, home, and kitchen sections. For travelers looking for practical souvenirs or wanting to experience everyday Parisian shopping culture, BHV Marais is a must-visit destination.
Floor guide and top brands
The BHV Marais main building has 8 floors, each clearly organized by category, making it easy to navigate. Whether you’re looking for beauty, womenswear, stationery, kitchenware, or home goods, you can quickly head to the right section.
Across the street, BHV L’Homme focuses entirely on menswear across 5 floors.
Basement: DIY & hardware
This is one of BHV’s most distinctive areas, offering tools, lighting, hardware, renovation supplies, and DIY products. Compared to traditional department stores, this section is what makes BHV unique and especially popular with locals and hobbyists.
Ground floor: beauty & accessories
This floor features skincare, cosmetics, fragrances, leather goods, and jewelry. If you’re mainly interested in perfumes and beauty products, this is the key level to explore. Brands like Jo Malone London have dedicated beauty corners here.
First floor: womenswear & shoes
Focused on women’s fashion and footwear, this floor ranges from everyday styles to more premium fashion. French brands such as Zadig & Voltaire and Longchamp are worth exploring here.
Second floor: stationery & luggage
This level covers stationery, art supplies, books, and travel goods. There is also a good selection of luggage and accessories, including brands like Samsonite.
Third floor: kitchenware & gourmet
Ideal for kitchen essentials, tableware, and specialty foods. Iconic French brands like Le Creuset are a major draw for visitors and make great gifts or souvenirs.
Fourth to sixth floors: home, lingerie, kids & bedding
These floors focus on lifestyle and home inspiration, including décor, bedding, lingerie, and children’s products. Compared to more fashion-driven department stores, these levels offer a more authentic glimpse into Parisian living. Dining areas are also located on the upper floors, making them perfect for a break.
Menswear building (BHV L’Homme)
Located at 36 Rue de la Verrerie, this separate building has 5 floors dedicated to men’s clothing, shoes, and accessories. If someone in your group is focused on menswear, heading there directly will save time.
Practical information
- Address: 52 Rue de Rivoli, 75004 Paris
- Menswear building: 36 Rue de la Verrerie, 75004 Paris
- Transport: métro lines 1 and 11, Hôtel de Ville station
- Opening hours: Monday–Saturday 10:00–20:00 / Sunday 11:00–19:00
- Website: www.bhv.fr
Opening hours may vary during holidays, so checking the official website before your visit is recommended.
What is VAT refund in France?
When shopping at BHV Marais, prices are usually shown tax-inclusive, meaning French VAT is already included. In France, the standard VAT rate for most goods is 20%.
For eligible non-EU visitors, part of this VAT can be refunded if the goods are exported outside the EU within the required timeframe and the tax-free form is validated by Customs.
At BHV Marais, items such as clothing, bags, cosmetics, perfumes, stationery, kitchenware, and home goods are typically eligible for VAT refunds. In contrast, services such as hotels, restaurants, and transport are not eligible. Goods must also be new, unused, and exported before the end of the third month following the purchase month.
Under official French rules, traditional VAT refund methods usually require spending over €100 (tax included) within 3 days in the same store or within the same retail group. While this threshold is relatively easy to reach in a large department store like BHV Marais, it becomes more restrictive if you shop across multiple stores in Paris.
With Zapptax, eligible purchases can be combined across your entire stay. This means you can merge purchases from different stores and dates into one tax-free form, as long as the total amount reaches the minimum threshold. For travelers planning to shop beyond BHV Marais, this approach is much more flexible.
What is Zapptax?
Zapptax is a digital VAT refund operator that helps non-EU travelers claim VAT refunds in France through a mobile app. Instead of following the traditional in-store paper-based process, you simply request VAT invoices issued under Zapptax’s name and upload them in the app.
In the context of BHV Marais, this means you can upload your invoices after shopping there, and continue adding eligible purchases from other stores in Paris to the same trip.
Once all invoices are uploaded, Zapptax generates a tax-free form that can be validated at Customs. Compared to traditional methods, Zapptax offers a more digital, flexible solution that better fits modern shopping habits.
Before leaving the EU, you simply validate your form at a PABLO kiosk or with a Customs officer at the airport, train station, or border. After validation, your refund is processed according to your selected method.
How non-EU visitors can claim a VAT refund with Zapptax
After shopping at BHV Marais, eligible non-EU residents can apply for a VAT refund in France. Generally, you must meet the following conditions:
- Be a non-EU resident
- Be at least 16 years old
- Stay in France or the EU for less than 6 months
- Purchase goods that can be exported in your luggage
- Complete Customs validation when leaving the EU (usually via PABLO kiosks in France)
Traditional VAT refund rules require spending over €100 (tax included) within 3 days in the same store or group. With Zapptax, you can upload invoices throughout your stay and generate a tax-free form once the threshold is reached.
Steps to claim a VAT refund with Zapptax
- When shopping at BHV Marais, ask for an invoice issued under Zapptax’s name.
- Upload all invoices in the Zapptax app.
- The app generates a tax-free form with a barcode.
- When leaving the EU, scan the barcode at a PABLO kiosk or have it validated by Customs.
- After validation, your refund is processed via credit card, PayPal, or another selected method.
Zapptax allows you to combine purchases from different stores and dates and can refund up to 90% of the VAT paid.
Conclusion
BHV Marais is one of the most lifestyle-oriented department stores in Paris. Whether you’re shopping for French fashion, beauty products, kitchenware, or souvenirs, it offers a well-rounded experience in one place.
Don’t forget to claim your VAT refund with Zapptax to make your shopping trip even more worthwhile.
FAQ
1. Where is BHV Marais located and how do I get there?
BHV Marais is located at 52 Rue de Rivoli in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, directly opposite City Hall. It is easily accessible via métro lines 1 and 11 (Hôtel de Ville station).
2. What are the opening hours of BHV Marais?
Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00, and Sunday from 11:00 to 19:00. Hours may vary on holidays, so checking the official website is recommended.
3. Can I claim a VAT refund when shopping at BHV Marais?
Yes. Non-EU residents can claim a VAT refund on purchases over €100.01 (tax included). By uploading invoices in the Zapptax app and validating the form at departure, you can receive your refund.
4. What are the best brands or categories to shop at BHV Marais?
BHV Marais offers a wide range of categories worth exploring, including beauty and fragrance, womenswear and accessories, stationery and luggage, as well as kitchenware and home goods.
5. What is the difference between BHV Marais and Galeries Lafayette?
Galeries Lafayette is known for luxury fashion and its iconic dome, while BHV Marais focuses more on lifestyle, offering categories such as DIY tools, home décor, and kitchenware, with a more everyday Parisian feel.
