What is the Target Equivalent in Paris?
This blog post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for any purchases made through these links. Click here for the disclosure statement.
If you’re an American visiting Paris, you might be wondering: is there a Target in France? I did, too, when I first moved here. Although Paris has many incredible things to offer (cuisine, shopping, and art, to name a few), our favorite one-stop shop isn’t one of them.
That’s right: there are no Target stores in France. And it’s something that many of us American expats miss dearly. However, there are several alternatives where you can stock up on everyday essentials, affordable home finds, clothes, snacks and beauty bits while you’re in the City of Light.
Here are 9 equivalents to Target in Paris (and what to buy at each of them).
What is the Target Equivalent in Paris?
Monoprix
The closest thing to Target in Paris is Monoprix. The French retail chain is very similar to Target in that they carry a varied selection of groceries, beauty, cleaning supplies, fashion, home goods, stationery, books and magazines. They’ve got just about everything you could possibly need.
If you’re in a pinch, many Monoprixs also stock luggage, travel adapters, phone chargers and other items you might lose or forget during your trip.
Like Target, Monoprix frequently does fashion and home collabs with famous designers. One of my favorites was with American fashion designer, Clare Vivier!
Some Monoprix stores even have parapharmacies inside where you can buy French pharmacy beauty and health products, plus some non-prescription medicine. You might consider purchasing all of the cult-favorite pharmacy products while you peruse the aisles for other French souvenirs.
Now, fair warning: Monoprix can be more expensive than other grocery stores in France. If you’re just looking to shop for food, chains like Carrefour, Auchan, Lidl, or E.Leclerc are often more affordable. But the perk of Monoprix is that they sell far more than groceries, all in one store.
In Paris and across France, you’ll find smaller versions of Monoprix called Monop’, which only stock groceries (and maybe a limited selection of home goods).
Read More: Monoprix Gift Guide: 30 French Supermarket Souvenirs
Carrefour
Carrefour is one of France’s biggest supermarket chains and a go-to for groceries and household items. You can find several Carrefour supermarkets (Carrefour Supermarché) and convenience stores (Carrefour City and Carrefour Express) throughout the center of Paris.
I will say, Carrefour is not as aesthetic as Target, but it’s practical and usually more affordable than Monoprix. If you’re staying for a while in France, Carrefour is the perfect place to stock up on the basics (including bottled water, toiletries and snacks).
They also have larger stores, called Carrefour Hypermarché, with a wider selection that includes clothes, homeware, tech and beauty, but they are mostly on the outskirts of Paris.
E.Leclerc
E.Leclerc is another major French hypermarket with an excellent range of groceries, clothing, books, electronics, and more. It’s also one of the cheapest grocery stores in France after Aldi and Lidl (more on that below).
The biggest E.Leclerc locations are closer to the suburbs, but they do have some smaller E.Leclerc Relais stores in the city center (about the same size as Carrefour City or Express, but with fewer locations).
I especially love their beauty section, which has a decent drugstore selection that’s often cheaper than Monoprix.
Lidl
Lidl is a German discount supermarket chain that’s super popular in France. It’s one of the best spots to shop for affordable groceries and household basics.
They also have non-grocery items like kitchenware and tools. The selection changes from season to season, so for frequent shoppers, there’s always something new to discover.
There are several Lidl locations throughout Paris. If you’re familiar with Aldi in the U.S., the concept is very similar, although many Lidl stores here are bigger than the Aldis I’ve seen in both France and the States.
I personally do a lot of my grocery shopping at Lidl. It’s also where I buy flowers at the same price I used to pay at Trader Joe’s back home.
Read More: A Day in the Life of an American in France
HEMA
HEMA is a Dutch brand with several Paris locations that carry affordable stationery, home goods, kitchenware, beauty products, party supplies and gifts. It reminds me a lot of the Target Dollar Spot with a lot of random, but useful things. When I first moved to France, I bought hand towels and a muffin pan here!
Flying Tiger
Flying Tiger is originally from Denmark, but they have two stores in Paris. You walk in and follow a one-way path through aisles of gifts, party decor, office supplies, toys, games and more.
Like HEMA, it’s very similar to Target’s dollar section and almost everything is under €10. I buy a lot of seasonal items here, including decorations for my annual Halloween party. They seriously have one of the best Halloween selections I’ve found in France (which can be hard to come by!)
Normal
Normal is another Danish variety store with a mix of skincare, snacks, makeup, and toiletries at low prices. They have over 100 stores in France, including about a dozen in Paris.
I buy a lot of affordable makeup and toiletries here (their makeup sponges are always in my shopping basket). They also randomly sell some of my favorite American things: Scrub Daddy sponges, Dove deodorant, and even Tajín.
Mr.Bricolage
Mr.Bricolage is a French retail chain with home improvement and do-it-yourself goods. It’s not an exact equivalent to Target but worth checking out for small appliances, home decor, and organization tools (on top of renovation and gardening products). I’ve picked up everything from cat toys to under-bed storage bins here.
Read More: How to Decorate Your Apartment Like a Parisian
FNAC
If you love Target for its electronics and books, FNAC is pretty much the French equivalent. They sell books (mostly in French), electronics, music, headphones, laptops, games, and even hot tools. When I first moved to France, I bought my Babyliss hair dryer here for around €30!
It’s also a great place to browse if you want to pick up French-language books or magazines.
Final Thoughts on Target in Paris
Even though there’s no Tar-jay in Paris, I’ve learned to live without it. It has taken a bit of trial and error over the years, but now I know where to go for almost everything in France.
Between Monoprix, Carrefour, Normal, and the rest, there are plenty of French alternatives that get the job done. Although, nothing quite replaces my suburban Target runs back in the States!
I hope this list helps if you were hoping to find a Target in Paris. If there’s a specific item you’re trying to track down in France, feel free to leave a comment, and I can try to help you out!
Do you have a favorite Target alternative in Paris or elsewhere in France? Let me know in the comments below.
