I am going to Paris for 2 days. I have to buy souvenirs but I don't have much money. Any ideas?

Question

If you know a big department store or shop that stock things like this it would be great!!

Answer 1

i guess u sud get smething cool & also cheap.keep ur budget the quality etc in mind.i think photo frames or keychains or watches wud work.good luck.

Answer 2

Wrapping paper!

The gift shop at the Louvre, I think, (and you don't need to pay to get in if you only go to the gift shop) sells or gives away wrapping paper that is a wonderful old map of Paris

Answer 3

lafayette Galleries !! that is an awesome place and at the 6th floor they sell souvenirs !

Answer 4

Souvenirs abound nearly everywhere.

Something nice is the postcards or small paintings from one of the stalls or an artist working along the Seine; I have collected small original paintings from various cities in Europe and love looking at them. Prices vary with artist and proximity to major landmarks. I was in Paris in Oct 07 and bought a set of 6 small original watercolors for 20 euros up in Montmartre at Sacre Couer.  You can frame them cheaply when you get home or just give the painting. Shopping at end of day is best price time.

You could also pick up handfuls of the metro maps of Paris for free inside any metro station to give either framed or not, depending on frame cost back here.

Other interesting things are old postcards from the same stalls, or small reproductions of gargoyles at souvenir shops, or charms for charm bracelets. You can get small medallions from Notre Dame and other churches as well as charms of famous Parisian sights like Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe.

the stalls and souvenir shops also have reproductions of the famous paintings in the museums to give. Eiffel tower keyrings or refridgerator magnets are ubiquitous and fairly cheap.

Answer 5

Lots of street vendors (especially in Montmartre) sell inexpensive paintings/prints. you can buy these and bring them back, buy a frame and a mat at target, and voila - cheap but special souvenir. I have 2 hanging in my den from 10 years ago and I still love them! Everyone comments on them and thinks they are more expensive than they are.

Other good ideas are candy bars - the chocolate in France is to die for and not that expensive.

Answer 6

be honest be yourself

Answer 7

If you bring back food, chocolate does clear customs unharmed !

PS: Côte d'Or is my favorite chocolate

Answer 8

HOW ABOUT THIS...

sugarcube pinchers :

("des pinces-sucre" / day pants sue kra)  the kra is pronounced as in the word okra.

BUT, in France, they sell stainless-steel ones that you hold in one hand, like holding a syringe, squeeze down on your thumb, and the "pinchers" open up to let you pick up a sugar cube or two.  Really unique (or at least i've never seen them stateside--probably because we only use "packets" and  the French still mostly use the hard cubes).

There were some in GalleriesLafayette last time I was there.

Answer 9

Along the Seine you will find vendors with most everything you'll need. I found a great deal on scarves for just a Euro. My sisters loved them.

Answer 10

Emily, hi,

There are some wonderful suggestions here!

I'd like to add that buying A4/Letter sized posters from street stalls, especially along the Seine, and in all kinds of little stores, look fantastic when framed.  Buy a handful of posters, roll them up, they take up no space and are VERY light.

When you get back to your country, find inexpensive photo frames with glass.  You can even write a special message on the glass with a gold, silver or black art pen [which works on glass].

Put the date of your trip too, and this will be a cool keepsake for your friends and family.

You might think posters are a bit big to frame inexpensively, so just buy the postcards - there are fabulous art cards in Paris, I love the old product advertising ones - very colourful and sooooo French!

Hey - keep one for yourself for your desk to remind you about PARIS all the time :-)

Cheers

Bonjour2007

My tips on things to do in Paris:

Answer 11

A small Eiffel Tower in a bowl of glass.

You shake it, and it snows.

You can also find pens singing the "Marseillaise"

Answer 12

Go to the grocery store. Department stores in Paris are very expensive, and they sell the same merchandise you can find in US stores.

French grocery stores sell items that many Americans consider luxury imports. You can bring canned duck pate (7 to 12 euros is typical), baked goods, jams, liquors, and good chocolate through customs. These items can be consumed and enjoyed by recepients, are impossible to buy or cost more than three times as much to buy in the US, and will probably be more appreciated than t-shirts, keychains, and statuettes.

As unconventional French groceries are as gifts, there's nothing better than getting a tin of Valrhona chocolate pellets and a box of crepes dentelles cookies from a good friend. Let your friends and family savor the French lifestyle too!

Answer 13

shop lift...alot

Answer 14

Have a wander around the city as there are tons of souvenier shops that are fairly cheap

Answer 15

Refrigerator magnets.  They are everywhere - in the museum gift shops and everywhere you might want to go.  People see them all the time and they are useful.  A great souvenir.

Peace!

Answer 16

First of all whoever said 4 euros equals $2.50 is using a very old exchange rate!  Four euros is nearly $6 these days.  

Secondly, I would suggest going to Monoprix.  That is a chain of discount stores, almost like Wal~mart but much smaller.  They also have groceries.  Before buying food items to bring back, though, you should check Customs regulations.  I bought a jar of honey in the grocery store, and US Customs confiscated it when I came back home.

Along rue de Rivoli, there are quite a few little shops that sell relatively inexpensive souvenirs.  Check them, too.

Answer 17

key chain..or postcard..although its cheap..but the most important is u sincere to give the sourvenirs..=)

Answer 18

There are two areas that offer up the best souvenir shopping in Paris, in my opinion.

Rue de Rivoli, across from the Louvre and Tuileries Garden have great deals. There, you can find postcards (I've seen 13 for 1 Euro), mini Eiffel Towers (all sizes, starting at around 1 Euro), beautiful scarves, figurines, T-shirts, mugs, bags, shot glasses, etc.

Another great place for souvenir shopping is across from Notre-Dame Cathedral. If you are facing the cathedral, it's on the left. There's also two great cafes: Quasimodo and Cafe Esmerelda.

Galeries Lafayette is fun to browse in, but the souvenirs (located on the top floor) are a bit overpriced. However, who says you have to bring home a miniature Eiffel Tower? There are some fun and trendy items, such as purses and hair clips and jewelry and such.

I've found that when you stroll away from a major monument or museum, the cheaper the prices. The closer you are, the higher the prices. Shop around.

If you do get a lot of mini Eiffel Towers to bring home, don't try to carry them on the plane. Pack them in your checked luggage, trust me.

You can also check out flea markets...Clignancourt is the best and largest. The first few stands are mostly souvenir-ish stuff...but there are some nice jewelry items and such there. You can find just about anything you want the deeper you venture into the flea market. People won't mind if you don't bring home a coffee mug with the Eiffel Tower emblazoned on the front. As long as it's got a good story, they're happy. (you can tell them about bargaining at the flea market, etc).

Answer 19

2 disposable cameras. Practice on the first, take good shots with the second. Great photos in a nice frame are far better than any doo-dad, or t-shirt. Also packs well.

For the shoppers, go to the chic-chic street and take photos of the windows.

Get creative! Save money and be savvy, you savvy? Create a scrapbook with little stories and photos, after you get home.

Make it personal and really share your trip. Take good photos of landmarks, be artistic. Polaroid snaps of drunk tourists won't do the job.

Good luck and bon voyage!