Lafayette Gallerie in Paris

Beautiful interior and great view of Paris rooftops from the outdoor lounge on top.

I'm assuming you mean Galeries Lafayette. It's a department store, so if you enjoy nicer department stores you'd probably enjoy that. Frankly, I find hardware store more interesting, but that's personal preference.

Two nice things are the art nouveau glass dome in the store, and the terrific view of Paris from its terrasse (speaking here of the Haussman location near Palais Garnier).

I was there at Christmas time, and it is absolutely stunning. If you're there around that time, you might even forget that you came to shop!! It truly is a grand store, with beautiful window displays that look like they took days to create! Stunning, and I'm certain you'll love it.

Unfortunately we visited on a weekend this past April and the crowds were overwhelming. We went up to the rooftop, saw the large crowds, and promptly went back down. I love to shop while on vacation but every floor was packed.

Unfortunately we visited on a weekend this past April and the crowds were overwhelming. We went up to the rooftop, saw the large crowds, and promptly went back down. I love to shop while on vacation but every floor was packed.

We were there in May and encountered the same, massive crowds. We have been going to this store for decades and had never seen that many people, not even during the Christmas season, a favorite time of year for us to visit Paris...it was unpleasant, and we quickly left.

Tip from a local: Les Galeries Lafayette are a famous shopping destination for locals and visitors alike. -- The store near les Galeries Lafayette, Le Printemps, also offers great shopping and a rooftop terrace. Better yet: its lesser-known dome, all glass and steel in shades of greens and blues, was inaugurated in 1924. Recently restored, it sits on the 6th floor of the store named "Printemps de la Mode" (with a bar conveniently sitting under it.) :-) You'll likely find it less crowded than "les Galeries." -- During my Parisian years, I always preferred shopping at le Printemps and still do, in my city Tours (Loire Valley) :-)

Agree with above, especially Christmas season.

Depending on where you end up in the city, you might also enjoy popping inside the Bon Marché, not too far from St Germain des Prés.

It helps if you go earlier in the day.

Thank you! Yes, just like most malls, it’s better when the mall opens…but this is great info,

Veroniques, is this other place also a mall type venue?

Oh, and I love the fact it has a place for the guys to go for a drink while we gals shop.

The Printemps is a department store that is very similar to the Galeries Lafayette: a bit less magnificent inside (except the area that Véronique points out), but half the crowds. Tons of restaurants on the 6th floor of one of the stores (women's I believe?). By the way, the Printemps' men store is excellent - much better than the one at Galeries Lafayette.

And the Bon Marché is a bit smaller, but similar overall.

They're not malls, they're department stores. Not the same vibe.