Where to Buy Postcards in Paris
The bouquinistes on the Seine quays sell old and modern postcards, often next to books and prints: the best place for a card that stands out. The kiosks and souvenir shops around the major sites offer the classics (Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, Notre-Dame), and the museum bookshops sell reproductions of artworks. Prices vary widely from one shop to the next: compare before buying around the busiest sites. For more gift ideas, see our guide to souvenirs from Paris.
Buying Stamps: Post Offices, Tabacs, Machines, Online
Stamps are sold at post offices (at the counter or at the self-service machines in many branches) and at tabacs, which are the most convenient option in the evening and at weekends. Paying by card is common, but keep a few euros in coins; see our guide to paying and withdrawing money in Paris.
| Destination (card under 20 g) | Stamp | 2026 price |
|---|---|---|
| France | Green stamp (lettre verte) | €1.52 |
| France, digital | Digital stamp (code) | €1.52 |
| Europe and rest of the world | International stamp (lettre internationale) | €2.25 |
Prices checked in October 2026. Since 2019 there has been a single international rate: the same stamp works for Germany and for Japan.
Two options without a counter. The digital stamp is bought in the La Poste app: an 8-character code appears on your phone, which you copy by hand, in black or blue pen, at the top right of the card. It is valid for 8 days, can be used once, and works for France only (mainland and overseas), not for abroad. For abroad, the Mon Timbre en Ligne service lets you create and print a stamp from a computer and printer, which is only useful if you have both at hand.
Addressing a Card for Abroad
- The stamp goes at the top right of the address side (or the digital stamp code, for France).
- Write the recipient's address on the right: name, number and street, postcode and city, then the country in capital letters on the last line, in Latin letters.
- A standard postcard under 20 g needs no envelope; if you put it in an envelope, check the weight, because above 20 g another rate applies.
- A short, legible message avoids spilling into the address area.
Yellow Mailboxes, Collections and Delivery Times
La Poste's yellow mailboxes are in the street, outside post offices and near metro stations. The time of the next collection is shown on the box itself; a card posted after the day's collection leaves the next day. You can also hand it in at a post office counter.
La Poste's indicative delivery times: about 3 working days for a green stamp within France, 2 to 3 days to the European Union, 4 to 5 days to the main European cities with the international stamp, and from a few days to several weeks for the rest of the world. A card posted before you leave may therefore arrive after you.
Paris's Handsome Post Offices
The Poste du Louvre, at 50-52 rue du Louvre (75001), occupies a large late 19th-century building and stays open late in the evening, including on Sundays: a good fallback when other branches are closed. It is a few minutes' walk from the Louvre museum, so you can write your card on leaving the galleries and post it straight away.
The Postal Museum
The Postal Museum, near Montparnasse station, traces six centuries of message delivery and presents an overview of French stamps from 1849 to today: an obvious visit for stamp collectors.
A Printed Card from Your Phone
Several online services and apps let you choose a photo on your phone, write your message, and have the card printed and sent by the provider, who takes care of the stamp. It is handy if you have no time to look for a post office or want to use your own travel photos; in return, the price is generally higher than a card you buy and stamp yourself. Compare prices and delivery times before ordering.
Going Further
Also look at tipping customs in France, more souvenirs of Paris to bring home, and a visit to the Postal Museum to follow up on the subject.
