Best Things to Do:
The Beaugrenelle Shopping Center in Paris
I imagine that going to a shopping mall isn't a top activity for most people crossing the Atlantic to visit Paris. Even so, it's good to know that such a place exists in the city (a common question from many readers) and that there's an option for when the street shops are closed.
The Beaugrenelle shopping center is located in the residential 15th arrondissement of Paris, along the banks of the Seine River and just a 25-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower. Its location is convenient for those staying near the metro stations Bir-Hakeim, Duplex, La Motte-Picquet - Grenelle, and Cambrone.
One interesting fact is that right across from the Beaugrenelle, in the middle of the Seine, at the tip of the Île des Cygnes, stands one of the many replicas of the Statue of Liberty found in Paris (read more about it here).
Unlike most malls in Brazil, Beaugrenelle makes excellent use of natural light that floods the space through its glass facade and ceiling. Due to space limitations and Parisian land-use laws, the shopping center is divided into 3 different buildings, each dedicated to a specific type of commerce:
- In the Magnetic building, the largest of them, you'll find clothing, beauty, perfume, accessories, footwear, home decor, and appliances. Highlights include Uniqlo (where you can buy winter clothes, read our article here), Sephora, the largest Zara in Paris, Michael Kors, FNAC, and even a "nail bar" (quick manicure);
- In the Panoramic building, you'll find cafes, restaurants, and snack bars, as well as Marks & Spencer (a British department store) and cinemas. The good news is that they stay open until midnight;
- In the City building, you can find everyday services like post offices, banks, and opticians.
The advantage of Beaugrenelle is its opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Restaurants and cinemas are open every day until midnight.
Metro: Bir-Hakeim on line 6 and Charles Michel on line 10.
Discounts and Gifts for Conexão Paris Readers
GALERIES LAFAYETTE: Gifts on purchases over 50 euros made at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, click here for more information and to download the vouchers.
FRAGRANCE DE L'OPÉRA PERfumery: €10 off for every €150 spent at Fragrance de l'Opéra - click here for details and to download the voucher.
CARRÉ OPÉRA PHARMACY: 10% off purchases made at Carré Opéra Pharmacy - click here for details and to download the voucher.
SAINT ANDRES DES ARTS HOTEL (charming 4-star in Saint Germain): 10% off + 1 bottle of wine + breakfast - use the code paris-story.com when making your reservation on the hotel website, click here to access.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: 5% off your Travel Insurance purchase using the code paris-story.com. Travel insurance is one of the documents that may be required upon entering Europe, click here for more information.
TICKETS: 5% off tickets, tours, and excursions sold on Tiqets using the code paris-story.com, click here to visit the site.