The comparison
| Mall | Where | Who it suits | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield Forum des Halles | Paris 1st, Châtelet-Les Halles (RER A, B, D, metro 1, 4, 7, 11, 14) | First shopping trip, big-brand fashion, bad weather | About 125 shops on 4 levels (Visit Paris Region); open daily, Sunday hours differ by source |
| Beaugrenelle | Paris 15th, on the Seine | Calm shopping, cinema, away from crowds | Mall rebuilt and reopened in 2013; a sales guide gives 10am-8pm, Sundays from 11am (dated hours, check) |
| Les 4 Temps | La Défense (outside Paris), metro 1 or RER A | The widest choice, families, everything under one roof | About 320 shops over 140,000 m² according to guides; hours not found |
| Val d'Europe | Serris (77), RER A station Val d'Europe | A day to combine with Disneyland or the SEA LIFE aquarium | One stop before Disneyland on the RER A; SEA LIFE is inside the mall |
| La Vallée Village | Serris (77), brand outlet | Reduced prices on fashion and accessible luxury | Open all year except 25 December and 1 May; shuttle from Paris |
Which to choose
- A rainy afternoon in the centre: the Forum des Halles, with the Les Halles district around it.
- The most shops in one place: Les 4 Temps, in the business district of La Défense.
- Paying less: La Vallée Village. Without a car, the Shopping Express shuttle leaves the Pullman Paris Bercy hotel at 9am; day excursions from Paris also exist.
- The historic department stores (Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, Bon Marché) are not malls: see Printemps or Galeries Lafayette.
Tips
If you live outside the European Union, tax refunds apply from €100.01 spent in one shop: see where to buy watches and haute couture, and how to get VAT back. Sale periods are covered in sales in Paris.
