Shopping in Paris

Begin your morning on Rue Montorgueil, a pedestrian market street where fishmongers, cheese shops, and bakeries have traded since the 12th century — stop by Stohrer at number 51, the oldest patisserie in Paris, open since 1730. From there, step into Galerie Vivienne, a glass-roofed covered passage from 1823 with neoclassical stucco reliefs and intricate mosaic floors by the same craftsman who decorated the Paris Opera. The afternoon takes you to Boulevard Haussmann and the twin temples of Parisian retail: Galeries Lafayette, where a 43-metre Art Nouveau stained-glass dome soars above 3,500 brands, and Printemps Haussmann, whose 1910 cupola earned it Historic Monument status. Both stores offer free rooftop terraces with panoramic views of the city. Galeries Lafayette and Printemps are closed on January 1, May 1, and December 25; non-EU visitors can claim a VAT refund on purchases over €100 at either store.