Avenue Montaigne and Rue Faubourg St Honore are simply a dream for any woman: all of the best designers are concentrated in this area. Prestigious boutiques and high class ateliers, it is worth a visit just for window shopping to look at the high fashion garments, jewelry and fabrics displayed as if they were in a museum. Dior, Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent, among others, have their maisons here.

Champs Elysée is one long (almost 2 km) showcase for top international brands: Citroen, Peugeot, Walt Disney, Virgin, Louis Vuitton and Club Med, all the best brands compete for exposure in this exclusive location.

The Grand Boulevards on the right bank of the Seine, is the biggest shopping area of Paris, where the main international chains and department stores are found. Absolutely not to be missed: Gallerie Lafayette, a real joy for the eyes and Printemps, the fashion and cosmetics temple, both on Boulevard Haussmann. La Samaritaine, one of the oldest department stores in Paris, is located on Rue de Rivoli. One of the most interesting things in this area are the Passages: shopping centers which since 1800 have represented the heart of Parisian life. Passage Vero-Dodat, paradise of luxury and splendor, Gallerie Vivienne, with impressive Neoclassical arches and stained glass and the older Passage des Panoramas, opened to the public in 1800. Traditional antique and book shops along with the original boutiques still exist in the passages.

Les Halles and Rue de Turbigo are teeming with all types of shops, especially fashion for the younger set, try the Forum Des Halles department store, very popular with Parisians. The area around the Pompidou is excellent for crafts and souvenirs.

Ile St Louis and the Marais (around Place des Vosges) are excellent areas for art galleries, antique shops and boutiques of emerging designers. Don’t miss the Viaduc des Arts a little further on, behind the Opera de Paris Bastille: under the restored arches of a former railway viaduct scores of shops and workshops have been created which produce and sell all types of crafts.

If you are searching for books or art objects which may or may not be rare, you’ll have to visit the Left Bank, in the area between Blvd Saint Germain and Jardin du Luxembourg. Once the haunt of intellectuals, it is now an area filled with book stores and antique shops.

Paris has countless street markets of all types, Parisians love to shop at them, you’ll find plenty to choose from: flower markets, art and antique markets, covered food markets and much more. Porte de Vanves flea market is located in the heart of Paris 350 booths selling furniture, paintings, fabric, glass items, vintage jewelry, military mementos, photos, music and bric-a-brac.

Paris Saint Ouen flea market is the largest flea market in Paris, it is a real shopping city which extends over a huge area and contains various specialized markets. Excellent deals are guaranteed. Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.