Shopping in France

Information on opening hours, sales and the regulations for Sunday shopping in France...

In France, shops are generally open Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 19:00, with many closing for lunch between 12:00 and 14:00. In large towns, shops may stay open at lunchtimes, or reduce their midday closing times. Shopping centres, department stores and supermarkets are generally open from 08:00 or 09:00 until 21:00 or 22:00 and do not close for lunch.

Sales take place twice a year in January and end of June/July, and run for six weeks. The dates are not the same throughout the country; in parts of the Grand-Est region they start a week earlier than the rest of France, and in the summer, sales start later in some departments - Corsica, Alpes-Maritimes and Pyrénées-Orientales.

Trading restrictions in France meant that shops were not allowed to open on Sundays except on specific dates before Christmas and in tourist areas. However, these rules are changing across the country and in many large cities, such as Paris, Marseille and Lille, shops and shopping centres are allowed to open on Sundays. Some supermarkets are open on Sunday morning and on public holidays.

Most towns and villages throughout France have their own food market selling fruit, vegetables, flowers, fish and regional specialities such as cheese, honey and cured meats.