Paris is a sublime place to shop, whether you?re someone who can afford an original Cartier diamond bracelet or you're just an impecunious lèche-vitrine (window licker). From the ultra-chic couture houses to the boutiques of the Marais, Paris is a city that knows how to make it, how to present it ? and how to charge for it. Unlike many cities, Paris doesn't really have a shopping "centre": browsing is a fascinating way to discover hidden parts of the city. Many quartiers still specialise in a single product or art, and the myriad boutiques - still the heart and soul of Paris shopping - are often worth a visit in themselves. Credit cards are accepted everywhere (Visa is the most common), but not travellers cheques. Many stores, in particular large department stores and "duty-free" stores, will give foreign-passport holders discounts of 10% if asked; but bargaining is frowned upon, except at flea markets.

Large department stores are concentrated around the Grands Boulevards and Opéra, while the chic area around rue St-Honoré and Place Vendôme are lined with the haute couture fashion and jewellery houses and art dealers. St-Germain in the 6th is another chic shopping district, while the nearby Latin Quarter is known for its bookshops. The Marais offers some quaint and charming little specialty boutiques, galleries and antique shops. The area in the 2nd just north of the huge Les Halles commercial centre is the place for young designers and funky labels.

Of course Paris would not be Paris without bustling markets and charming streets packed with merchants selling cheese, meats, vegetables and regional specialties. A good spot is rue Lepic or rue des Martyrs, near Montmartre. The rue Montorgueil and rue de Bretagne (in the 2nd and 3rd arrondissements respectively) are also animated and picturesque commercial districts. If it's bargains you're after, head out to Paris' lively flea markets.

Japanese-inspired Colette is an ode to style over all else. Its selection and display of clothes, accessories and odds & ends is exquisite. Featured designers include Alexander McQueen, Marko Matysik and Lulu Guinness.

The most famous food store in Paris: six departments sell the most incredibly mouthwatering (and expensive) delicacies, from foie gras to confitures. The fruits - the most perfect you've ever seen - include exotic items from southeast Asia, including mangosteens, rambutans and jackfruit. Fauchon also has several eat-in options.

An enormous barn filled with rack after rack of colourfully original street and club-wear, plus a startling range of quality second-hand clothes and accessories.

These three shops painted yellow, pink and green stand out vividly along the Canal St-Martin. Inside, you'll find flowers, accessories, decorations, clothes, giftware - all sorts of lovely, bright and funky treasures. There's also a little food store and a salon de thé.

Warm and sensual fragrances for the body and the home, including mûre et musc (blackberry & musk), fig, tea and rose.

A close rival to Fauchon, this is a luxury food store stocks an enormous selection of chocolates, teas, coffees, wines, pâtés, caviar and preserves stacked high to the ceiling. You’ll also fon pre-prepared dishes at the deli counter, and fresh fruit and vegetables.

This wonderful, huge food hall - with its own delicatessens, fruiterers and fromagers - has everything you need for glamorous groceries, gourmet picnics and general gastronomical indulgence.

Paris' premier tea shop (founded in 1854) has around 500 varieties from 32 countries; the most expensive is a variety of Japanese thé vert (green tea). In summer you can cool off in the 19th-century salon de thé (tearoom) with a choice of five kinds of tea-flavoured ice cream. There are branches at 13 rue des Grands Augustins (6e) and 260 rue du Faubourg-St-Honoré (8e).