Shopping in Paris: the top shopping centres in Paris

Of course, for shopaholics, planning a day trip to One Nation or La Vallée Village is a must. But for those who need or want to stay in the centre, Forum Des Halles, Beaugrenelle and Les 4 Temps in La Défense offer several shops, restaurants and cinemas.

For an easy and effortless afternoon of shopping, a look at Baby Dior and Chanel, followed by a coffee on the exquisite terrace of Village Royal is always a treat. The fact that it is so close to the Place de la Madeleine makes it so convenient. And let's not forget that the Champs-Elysées really is a great open-air shopping centre. There are several cavernous galleries, such as Le 66. These offer more specialised shops. Now, with free Wi-Fi along the Champs-Elysées and one Sunday a month designated as a "pedestrian zone day", it's looking more and more like an open-air mall.

10- Les 4 Temps - La Défense

With around 46 million visitors a year, this shopping centre in La Défense is one of the largest and closest to the city. La Défense looks like it's far away. But it's really only a few metro stations away from the Champs-Elysées. In this modern looking shopping centre you will find all the usual shops such as Comptoir des Cotonniers, American Vintage, Claudie Pierlot, Bose, Darty, FNAC etc. The metro stops right at the shopping centre.

You can then get off at Grand Arche La Defense. The Grand Arche is the imposing architectural reference that you can see from afar. Like from the Place de la Concord. It marks that area just outside Paris known as La Defense.

The shops stay open until 8.30pm. It is the favourite shopping centre for resident expats. It is always a top destination for shopping. It also offers dining options and a cinema.

09- Saint Lazare Shopping Centre Paris

In innovative French fashion, the city has quietly started renovating the existing old structures into newer, dynamic and modern functional attractions. Decades ago, we saw the old Orsay station transformed into a world-class museum. Now we have the former Saint-Lazare station. Already an anchor in the main historic shopping district of the Grands Boulevards of Paris in a covered shopping centre.

With 80+ shops, plus the requisite fast food options - Burger King and Starbuck's - this station-shopping centre gives you plenty of reasons to show up early for your Deauville train. Most shops open until 8pm. Its central location, just behind the famous Printemps, Galeries Lafayette and C&A department stores on Boulevard Haussman, makes it an easy stop.

08- Village Royal

This is not a shopping mecca. But rather a secret shopping experience in the garden. Baby Dior and Chanel will certainly catch your eye immediately. But the other shops are also worth a visit. Like Bar des Coloristes, where they concoct customised hair colour potions, with or without ammonia, after a thorough consultation and analysis of your hair. Guy Degrenne is another shop that sells tableware, cutlery, candleholders, crystalware and other kitchen essentials.

Of course, the central part of this small open-air mall is dominated by a charming café. It offers inviting tables and chairs to sit and enjoy a light meal, a conversation or both.

07-The Carrousel du Louvre Gallery

Surely only the French are bold enough to put a covered shopping mall under the world's most famous museum. Never mind that the Louvre was once home to kings and queens. It still houses the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. Apart from that, it is one of the most beautiful shopping centres. But also certainly the one with the best location in Paris.

Among the shops, you will find here a Fragonard perfumery, Lalique, Nature et Découverte and Yellow Korner. The latter is a chain of high-end framable art photography shops. The WC Point - private public toilets - here too is convenient and clean. There's even a food court here too. It offers a dozen or more choices and hundreds of seats. The brand new Au Printemps du Louvre is open even on Sundays.

06-Le Passage du Havre

This area of Saint-Lazare is best known for the French department stores Au Printemps and Galeries Lafayette. Indeed, it is a converted passage. Paris is full of "passages" which are traditionally interior walkways often found between buildings. They are the precursors of indoor shopping centres. This one, the Passage du Havre, has been completely renovated.

There is an FNAC for electronic gadgets, a Sephora and an Yves Rocher for women looking to stock up on beauty products. And there's even a Louis Pion for luxury. The only surprises you'll get here are the size and spacious interior and the beauty of the escalators that actually work.

05- Passy Plaza

Passy Plaza is a little secret in the 16th arrondissement. Unless you live in Passy, once the home of Benjamin Franklin, you've probably never heard of this little shopping centre. For it is rarely listed. Its main entrance is from Rue de Passy, a substantial little shopping street. This shopping centre takes the land and lower levels of a high-rise residential building. The shops you will find inside are Zara Home, H&M, Gap, L'Occitane, Monoprix as well as luxury clothing, shoes, make-up and accessories shops.

A very large grocery shop in the basement completes the scenario. Exit through the back and you'll find yourself in the middle of Rue de l'Assomption, a fabulous little pedestrian shopping street full of food shops and fun boutiques. Amongst other things, you'll pass a parapharmacy and a fantastic kitchen supply shop.

04- One Nation Paris

One Nation Paris is the latest addition to the city. It is only 10 minutes from Versailles and is easily accessible with its shuttle service from downtown Paris and Versailles. The shops here are both high-end couture like Courreges. As well as chic daytime fashion like The Kooples and Zadig & Voltaire. It has the very first and still unique Galeries Lafayette shop.

There are simple dining options here of the mall variety, which mainly means soups, salads and sandwiches. Here, the discounts offered each day in the shops are at least 30% off retail. During the sales periods of the year (January and July) the discounts are even greater.

03- Bercy Village

Line 14 takes you directly to Bercy Village. So if you leave from the Madeleine stop, it's only about 10 or 15 minutes. Especially in the summer, this is an excellent choice because the layout makes the centre feel much more like a village. Amidst the almost cobbled streets and stone facades, you will find many choices for good shopping. An Agnés B., Alice Délice, Sephora, Arteum and more. And Eric Kayser, the famous Parisian baker, has a dining room here in Bercy. Nice!

Be sure to visit the Cinémathéque Française during your stay. And don't forget that you can also dine in one of the many restaurants on site.

02- Centre Beaugrenelle Paris

This is the newest shopping centre in Paris. Beaugrenelle Paris offers the kind of shopping centre experience you know and love back home. It is about 15 minutes walk west of the Eiffel Tower. So, you'll be moving away from the city centre a bit. But it's conveniently located right next to the pier. So don't worry. You'll have a great time here.

The mall is divided into three separate buildings. The Panoramic building being the one that houses cinemas and fast food outlets like Chipotle. It is a three-storey building. It is a three-storey building, with restaurants on the upper floor, such as the trendy Bermuda Onion, offering a magnificent view of the Seine. The ground floor is a Pathé cinema multiplex. The shops you can find here in Beaugrenelle are FNAC, Hema, Darty, Lacoste, Zara, Maje... and more.

If you've always wanted to visit the Statue of Liberty in Paris, it's here on the small Ile des Cygnes. Between Beaugrenelle Paris and the Maison de la Radio France. It is easily accessible from the Grenelle bridge between the two.

01- Forum des Halles

The renovation of the Forum des Halles is now finished. And it's a must-see place for shopping. Moreover, it is surrounded by all the trendy and offbeat shops and cafés that make Les Halles a magnet for young people. The panoramic exterior roof gives a graceful accent to this iconic Les Halles landscape.

Inside, you'll find 180 shops and outlets on five levels descending to the bottom. The Espace Créateurs on level -1 showcases talented young designers. Otherwise, there are: Zara, Muji, Petit Bateau, Sephora, Esprit and more. This indoor mall also has movie theatres and direct access to the metro and RER lines. And there's even an indoor swimming pool.