If you are used to 24-hour shops like in the U.S.A, store-opening hours in Paris is going to be quite a shock. And that is actually pretty good compared to the rest of France, where hours are even more restrictive.
Store opening and closing times
In general, opening hours in large cities like Paris and Marseille are:
- Grocery stores generally open around 8am and close around 8pm.
- Shopping malls usually open around 10am and close around 8-9pm.
- Other stores may open up later and close earlier.
Across France, hours may be even more restrictive, especially if you are in a small village or in the countryside.
In addition, it is important to note that if it says that the shop is closing at 8pm, in practical terms that means that last entry will be 20-30 minutes before, and everyone is expected to be out before the doors close exactly at the hour indicated. This applies equally to museums and tourist attractions.
It can be quite difficult to get used to these more restrictive hours, but France places an emphasis on quality of life for both shoppers and employees.
Closed on Sundays
Most shops and grocery stores in Paris and across France are closed on Sundays. There are a few exceptions such as:
- shops in officially designated ‘tourist’ areas
- certain malls
- hardware stores
If you are in Paris, the tourist zones where shops should be open are around the Champs-Elysées, Marais, Montmartre, and Saint-Germain.
Restaurant hours
Restaurants in France only typically serve food around
- Lunch: between 11am and 2pm
- Dinner: between 7pm and 11pm
These hours generally apply, unless the café or restaurant is in a tourist zone in Paris. In tourist areas, food is usually served all day long, to account for jet-lagged visitors.
However, in small towns and villages, cafés and restaurants will usually close their kitchens, but may continue to serve drinks and small desserts or pastries.
It is generally rare for French people to arrive at a restaurant at 3pm and expect to eat, so planning ahead is important.
The same Sunday rules also apply to restaurants which are also usually closed on the “jour de repos” unless specially authorized in a tourist zone.
Museums closed
Many museums in France opt to remain open on the weekend and close on either Monday or Tuesday.
In addition, while large museums are open all day, many small museums especially those outside big cities, choose to close for lunch hours usually between noon and 2pm.
Public Holidays
Another thing to watch out for is public holidays, where most restaurants and shops are closed. Legally, employees are required to be paid a surcharge, so most stores and restaurants opt to close on Sundays and public holidays.
Some stores, malls and restaurants will have extended hours during the Christmas shopping season, but it depends on the area and the shops in question.
Public transport hours
Public transport in Paris usually runs during the following hours:
- During the week, Paris metros run from 5:30 am to 1:15 am.
- On Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as on the eve of public holidays, they run until around 2:15 am.
- The RER trains runs from around 5:30 am to 1:20 am everyday.
- Busses and trams run on a more limited schedule, especially outside the big city.
Other major cities like Lyon and Marseille will have similar hours for their metros and local trains.
During certain events and public holidays like New Year’s eve, Nuit Blanche, etc., certain public transport lines are open all night long.
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