I stopped by some quaint shopping areas that are a little off the beaten track. First stop was Place des Vosges near Rue de Lappe, which is a gorgeous square in an area that houses some very unique shops. Here’s where you can get some antique books and I even saw a dollhouse that I liked! The area is near the Picasso and Victor Hugo museum, so you can also visit those if you like. I also grabbed a coffee and pie in one of the little cosy joints in the arcades.

Next stop was Galerie Vivienne, located between the Bourse and the Palais-Royal. Here’s where you can find a range of very interesting and luxe shops, including a Jean-Paul Gaultier boutique. There’s also a fantastic wine shop called Cave Legrand. I also spotted some musical boxes in one shop that play almost any classic tune you can think of. The area leads into a well-kept and romantic garden. Again, the trees are planted in a straight line and there was even a fountain in the middle of the garden. I bet many marriage proposals have taken place here!

I then walked through Passage Choisel and even went past Place Gaillon, which is a restaurant, that French actor Gérard Depardieu opened. Heard it’s pretty good! I finally reached Galeries Lafayette and was blown away by its amazing architecture. Also located at Boulevard Haussmann, it features a spectacular glass and steel dome and an Art Nouveau staircase built by architect Caumartin back in 1912. The store, which houses 10 floors of shopping, is also classified as a historic monument and it’s not hard to see why.