Galeries Lafayette is a famous grand magasin (department store) of Paris, which has been open since 1912! The store is well known for carrying a wide variety of designer fashion for men and women. It’s also a luxury destination for beauty and homeware goods. What’s also special about Galeries Lafayette is that they have a Gourmet food shop to boot, which offers fine French foods and treats!
The Galeries Lafayette store has been decorated and designed in the Art Deco style, which was popular in Paris during the 1920s! An exquisite glass dome was installed and even today you can see this intricately designed roof for yourself.
Galeries Lafayette offers a wide range of services, including tax-free shopping for non-EU residents, personal shopping, and beauty consultations. The stores often host events and pop-ups, providing visitors with a unique and exciting shopping experience.
That being said, if you are on a tight budget or not interested in high-end products, Galeries Lafayette may not be the best choice for you. The stores can be quite crowded, especially during peak tourist seasons, and the prices can be quite steep.
Best Time to Visit Galeries Lafayette
Galeries Lafayette is lovely to visit year-round, but it’s especially stunning at Christmas. Every year the department store is decorated for Christmas in Paris, making December a wonderful time to go to Galeries Lafayette. A large Christmas tree decorated in different themes has been suspended from the ceiling since the 1970s! Each year the theme changes.
How to Get to Galeries Lafayette
You can reach Galeries Lafayette by metro, getting off at the Chaussée d’Antin La Fayette metro station stop on line 9. You can also take metro line 8 and get off at Opéra.
What Brands are in Galeries Lafayette?
Galeries Lafayette features a mix of established luxury fashion brands and emerging designers. Some of the notable fashion brands available at Galeries Lafayette include Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Saint Laurent, and Valentino, as well as up-and-coming designers such as Jacquemus, Marine Serre, and Off-White.
The Galeries Lafayette store. offers a vast selection of beauty products from luxury brands such as Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Estée Lauder, La Mer, and Tom Ford, as well as niche and emerging beauty brands like Drunk Elephant, Herbivore, and Sunday Riley.
You can shop Galeries Lafayette for a wide range of accessories from top luxury brands, including watches and jewelry from Cartier, Chopard, and Van Cleef & Arpels, and bags and accessories from brands such as Balenciaga, Celine, and Fendi.
Galeries Lafayette Maison offers an extensive selection of home decor products, including furniture, bedding, kitchenware, and lighting from brands such as Alessi, Flos, Kartell, and Vitra.
Which Galeries Lafayette to Visit
There are several Galeries Lafayette locations in Paris, each offering a unique shopping experience:
- Galeries Lafayette Haussmann: This is the most iconic location, situated in a stunning Art Nouveau building on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement. The store offers an extensive range of fashion, accessories, beauty products, and home decor items, and also features panoramic views of the city from the rooftop.
- Galeries Lafayette Champs-Élysées: This location is situated on the famous Champs-Élysées avenue and is a more recent addition to the Galeries Lafayette family. The store offers a curated selection of high-end fashion and beauty brands.
- Galeries Lafayette Le Gourmet: This luxury gourmet grocery store and food counter is dedicated to food, pastries, desserts, candy, and wine, offering everything from freshly made meals and snacks to gourmet packaged food and French wine. It is located across the street from Galeries Lafayette Haussmann.
Which Galeries Lafayette to visit in Paris? Ultimately, the choice of which Galeries Lafayette to visit in Paris will depend on your personal interests and preferences. If you’re interested in high-end fashion and beauty, Galeries Lafayette Haussmann or Champs-Élysées may be the best choice, while those interested in gourmet food, pastries, and French restaurants may prefer Galeries Lafayette Le Gourmet.
Galeries Lafayette Rooftop
Now, even if you’re not looking to go shopping, I highly recommend a visit to Galeries Lafayette to experience the magnificent views of Paris. The upper floors of the department store have several restaurants, bars, and coffee shops where you can sip on something nice while taking in the southern views of Paris. If it’s a nice day, then you can go to the very top floor and see a magnificent view over Paris in the open air!
The department store roof offers views of Palais Garnier, La Madeleine, and even the Eiffel Tower! The Galeries Lafayette Rooftop is free to visit, and you don’t need to make a purchase in the store to experience it!
Printemps vs. Galeries Lafayette
The equally impressive department store Le Printemps is located just down the street from Galeries Lafayette. Galeries Lafayette Haussmann is situated on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement, while Printemps Haussmann is located a stone’s throw away.
Both stores offer a mix of established luxury fashion brands and emerging designers. Galeries Lafayette may have a slightly wider range of luxury brands, including Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Prada, while Printemps offers a mix of both high-end and mid-range brands, including Burberry, Givenchy, and Alexander McQueen.
There is somewhat of a rivalry between the two stores over which one has the best view! All the more reason to go and compare them for yourself!
Is Galeries Lafayette worth it?
Galeries Lafayette is definitely worth a visit if you are interested in high-end fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products. The stores offer a luxurious shopping experience with an extensive selection of products from top brands. The iconic Galeries Lafayette Haussmann location, in particular, is known for its stunning architecture and impressive dome ceiling, making it a popular tourist attraction in Paris.
If you enjoy luxury shopping experiences and have the means to splurge on high-end products, Galeries Lafayette is definitely worth a visit!
Galeries Lafayette
40 Boulevard Haussmann
75009 Paris
