• Year Built: 1799
• Location: between Boulevard Montmartre to the north and rue Saint-Marc to the south, home to the Stern boutique
• Highlights: Oldest surviving passage in Paris, known for its vintage shops, restaurants, and philately (stamp) dealers.
• Access : The Grands Boulevards metro station is on lines 8 and 9, on the border of the 2nd and 9th arrondissements.

The first covered gallery, in the Palais-Royal, opened in 1786, followed by the Passage Feydau in 1790-1791, the Passage du Caire in 1799, and the Passage des Panoramas in 1800.

Located opposite the Passage Jouffroy and the Musée Grévin, it was built in 1799 and has retained its old-world charm and lively shopping atmosphere. Each shop window reflects a part of the capital’s history; from the Bourse district to the Grands Boulevards, sheltered by a superb glass roof, the commercial artery is a listed historic monument. Along its 133-metre stretch of bustling streets, you’ll find a succession of delicatessens and art craftsmen. They rub shoulders with numerous collectors of postcards, coins, autographs and old stamps. Admire surviving period decors, such as those of the former Marquis chocolatier and the Stern printing works, symbolizing the ambitious urban planning of the late 18th century. Inaugurated in 1807, the Théâtre des Variétés is still in operation today.

• Year Built: 1823
• Location: between Rue Vivienne, 2nd arrondissement and 4, rue des Petits-Champs and 5, rue de la Banque
• Highlights: Beautiful mosaics, luxury boutiques, bookstores, and wine shops.
• Access : Metro line 3,  station Bourse

Built in 1823 and listed as a historic monument since 1974, is one of Paris’s most emblematic galleries. Quietly located in Paris’s 2nd arrondissement, behind the Richelieu library and close to the Palais Royal, it is characterized by its neo-classical Pompeian decor. On the floor, you can admire the colorful mosaics created by the famous mosaicist Facchina, and look up to appreciate the beautiful glass roof that lets the light in. The shops are numerous: high-end ready-to-wear boutiques, tea rooms, gourmet stores, wine cellars, grocery stores, antique bookshops (including the Jousseaume bookshop, the oldest store in the gallery), renowned restaurants…

• Year Built: 1836
• Location: between Boulevard Montmartre, 9th arrondissement and 9 rue de la Batelière
• Highlights: Houses the Musée Grévin (wax museum) and quaint toy stores. One of the first passages to use iron and glass construction.
• Access : station Grands Boulevards (lines 8 and 9), 100 m east up boulevard Montmartre, and station Richelieu – Drouot, 130 m ouest (same lines)

The Passage Jouffroy is the first passage built entirely of iron and glass.
Its metal structures bear witness to the evolution of techniques, with cast-iron columns supporting the floors and rising up to the glass roof. The passage was the first to be underfloor heated.

Passage Jouffroy has always been one of the capital’s busiest covered passageways. Located on the Grands Boulevards and in the continuation of the Passage des Panoramas, it owes its charm to its beautiful iron and glass architecture – the ogive-shaped glass roof is an immediate eye-catcher – and its marble paving, renovated in 1987. Another asset of the Passage Jouffroy is the variety and originality of the establishments it houses. Young and old alike can visit the Musée Grévin and its famous wax figures. The Salon des Miroirs is a former 19th-century brasserie, which today can only be privatized and is transformed into a club on Saturday evenings. The Hôtel Chopin is a unique place to spend the night. Numerous boutiques, each more original than the last, complete the visit: antique canes, antique books, paper specialists… and many more. The shop windows alone are worth the detour. Gourmets can take a break at Le Valentin, the passage’s unmissable tea room.

• Year Built: 1847
• Location: between 6, rue de la Grange Batelière and  31, bis rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 75009 Paris
• Highlights: Antique shops, vintage photography, and a peaceful atmosphere.
• Access : the Passage Verdeau is an extension of the Passages des Panoramas and Jouffroy.

As soon as nearby Hôtel Drouot opened (large auction venue in Paris, known for fine art, antiques, and antiquities), the Passage attracted many collectors. In addition to old books, the Passage is also home to second-hand cameras, antique furniture and embroidery. There are also several restaurants and tearooms.

Built in 1847, it is one of the capital’s most charming covered passages. It follows on from two other well-known passages: Les Panoramas and Jouffroy. Together, they form an original place to stroll. Numerous antique shops and unusual boutiques (old books, vintage postcards, vintage cameras…) have taken up residence in the Passage Verdeau. The visitor’s eye is drawn to the beautiful shopfronts, bathed in light thanks to the high, fish-ribbed glass roof.

• Year Built: 1825
• Location: between 10 rue Dussoubs and 145 rue Saint-Denis
• Highlights: Soaring glass roof, artisanal boutiques, and jewelry designers.
• Access : metro line 4, station  Étienne Marcel

Just off rue de Turbigo in the Montorgueil district, and a few minutes’ walk from Châtelet-les-Halles, the Grand-Cerf covered passageway was created in 1825. At almost 12 meters, it is one of the tallest covered passageways in Paris. Its metal and wrought-iron structure lets in plenty of light thanks to a beautiful glass roof. Strollers will discover a number of attractive craft stores selling jewelry, furniture and design. And enthusiasts will discover cutting-edge knitting and lighting shops… Another entrance is available on rue Dussoubs. A typically Parisian passage not to be missed!

In 1862, it was bequeathed to the Assistance Publique. Gradual disuse affected its upkeep. Neglected for many years, the Passage du Grand Cerf was rehabilitated in 1990. Today, it is one of the most attractive passages in Paris.

• Year Built: 1826
• Location: in the 2nd arrondissement between Place des Victoires and Jardin du Palais-Royal, at 6, rue des Petits-Champs and 2, rue Vivienne.
• Highlights: Neighbor to Galerie Vivienne, known for its grand rotunda and cultural institutions.
• Access : station Palais-Royal – Musée du Louvre (lines 1 and 7) and station Bourse (line 3).

Built in 1823, the Galerie Colbert is just a stone’s throw from its great rival, the Galerie Vivienne. This attractive covered gallery is owned by the Bibliothèque Nationale and, unlike other Parisian galleries, houses no stores. With its focus on culture, it houses the Institut Nationale d’Histoire de l’Art (INHA) and the Institut National du Patrimoine (INP). It is, however, open to the public, who are invited to discover the magnificent rotunda topped by a glass dome. The brasserie “Le Grand Colbert”, with its Art Nouveau decor and listed building, often used for cinema, is located at the entrance to the gallery.

It was closed in 1975.
The Bibliothèque Nationale bought the gallery. In 1986, the architect Blanchet renovated it to a condition close to its original state.
It is now home to the Institut National d’Histoire de l’Art, and houses a number of institutions concerned with art history and cultural heritage.

• Year Built: 1825
• Location: between rue des Petits-Champs to the south and rue Saint-Augustin to the north.
• Highlights: Recently renovated, home to the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens.
• Access : Quatre-Septembre metro station on line 3

Theater and literature were the two most striking aspects of the passage. Regulars from the surrounding theaters strolled down the long alley.

Paul Verlaine’s first publisher had his bookshop in the passage, and the child Louis Ferdinand Céline lived there for many years, immortalizing the passage in its bygone decrepitude as the “Passage des Bérésinas” in “Mort à crédit”.
“Passage des Bérésinas” in ‘Mort à crédit’, 1936.

Since its origins, the life of the Passage has been linked to that of two theaters: the Opéra Comique, housed in the Salle Ventadour, which now belongs to the Banque de France, and the Bouffes Parisiens, Jacques Offenbach’s theater, which belongs to his descendants and was for a long time Jean Claude Brialy’s theater.

A major restoration of the Passage Choiseul, in partnership with the City of Paris, took place from 2015 to 2017. The glass roof was completely rebuilt.

Of particular note is the presence of Anna Stein, painter and sculptor at number 23. Gastronomes enjoy a gourmet break, while stressed-out city dwellers relax at the Bar à sieste. An unusual place for a stroll! Two other entrances: 23 rue Saint-Augustin and 40 rue Dalayrac.

• Year Built: 1828
• Location: Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis, 10th arrondissement
• Highlights: Known as “Little India,” famous for its Indian and Pakistani restaurants and grocery stores.
• Access : métro station Château d’Eau – line 4

India in Paris! In the Gare de l’Est and Château d’Eau districts, the Passage Brady, built in 1828, is one of the few passages in Paris to consist of two parts, separated by the Boulevard de Strasbourg. One side is covered by a glass roof, the other is open to the sky. A visit to the Passage Brady is an invitation to a visual, sensory and aromatic voyage. Commonly known as Little India, it’s home to numerous Indo-Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Mauritian and Reunionese shops. Visitors come here for a spicy gourmet break, to buy exotic products and even to rent colorful costumes! There are many other ways to enter this colorful world: 22 or 33 boulevard de Strasbourg and 43 rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin, for the open-air part.

• Year Built: 1798
• Location: located in the 2nd arrondissement, between Place du Caire to the west, Rue du Caire to the south, Rue Saint-Denis to the east and Rue d’Alexandrie to the north
• Highlights: The longest and one of the oldest passages, with an Egyptian theme featuring sphinxes and pharaohs.
• Access : metro station Strasbourg Saint-Denis (lines 4, 8, 9) and station Reaumur-Sebastopole (lines 3 and 4). Open to public pedestrian traffic Monday to Saturday (excluding public holidays), 8am to 8pm

Built in 1798, the Passage du Caire is the capital’s oldest covered passageway. Named after the Egyptian capital, it features 3 cow-eared statues of the goddess Hathor at its entrance. The passage is known as the longest and narrowest in Paris. Under its large fishbone glass roof, activity is non-stop. Located in the Sentier district, the Passage du Caire is almost entirely dedicated to ready-to-wear wholesalers. A visit is worthwhile for the architecture of the beautiful facades on the upper level, which have retained their original appearance. Numerous secondary entrances provide access to the passage: rue d’Alexandrie, rue Saint-Denis and rue du Caire.

The Passage du Caire owes its name and the decoration of its facade, adorned with three superb effigies of the goddess Hathor and opening onto the Place du Caire, to the enthusiasm for Egypt that followed Bonaparte’s expedition in 1798.

The passage’s main industry was lithographic printing, later replaced by the manufacture of window mannequins. Located at the heart of the pathway, the passage has become a meeting place for ready-to-wear professionals and wholesalers. In contrast to recent storefronts, the upper register of facades often retains the original layout.

A major restoration of the Passage du Caire took place in 2017 as part of a partnership with the City of Paris. The glass roof and interior facades are being completely restored.

• Year Built: 1860
• Location: connects 5, boulevard des Italiens, to the northwest, with 97, rue de Richelieu, to the east. 2nd arrondissement.
• Highlights: Rebuilt in the 1990s; known for its toy stores and family-friendly atmosphere.
• Access: station Opéra (line 3, 7, 8) and station Richelieu – Drouot (line 8 and 9)

An unknown future. The toy store that opened in the passage in 2002 closed its doors in 2022. Since then, the Passage des Princes has been under renovation.
For many years, the entire passageway was occupied by the Jouéclub toy chain, earning it the nickname “passage des petits princes” (“passage of the little princes”). Plagued by difficulties during the Covid crisis, the store finally vacated the premises in 2022. The future of the currently closed Passage des Princes is not yet known.

The history of the Passage des Princes is an eventful one. Built in 1860 and destroyed in 1985, it was finally rebuilt identically in 1995. Located just a stone’s throw from the Palais Garnier and department stores, its architecture blends perfectly with the district’s fine Haussmann buildings. Considered the temple of gaming, this covered passageway is home to numerous stores dedicated to toys, model making, video games… A delight for young and old alike who have kept a childlike spirit. The second entrance to the passage is at 97 rue de Richelieu.

It was the last covered passageway built in Paris in the 19th century. The beautiful 1930s cupola remains. Today, it’s owned by the Allianz group.

• Year Built: 1824
• Location:  from 59, rue Sainte-Anne, opposite the Rue Rameau and Rue Chérubini junction. It ends 47 m west, directly on the Passage Choiseul, at no. 52. 2nd arrondissement.
• Highlights: A smaller, lesser-known passage offering peace and charm.
• Access : metro station Quatre Septembre (line 3)

The Passage Sainte-Anne was opened in 1829 on the site of the former convent of the Nouvelles Catholiques community, shortly after the opening of the Passage Choiseul. It was listed as a historic monument in 1974, at the same time as the Passage Choiseul.

All shops closed today

• Year Built: 1828
• Location: between rue Saint-Denis to the west and rue de Palestro to the east. 2nd arrondissement
• Highlights: Connecting two busy streets, featuring vintage charm and iron detailing.
• Address 120, rue Saint-Denis – 3, rue de Palestro, 75002 Paris
• Open Monday to Saturday –  7:30am to 7:30pm
• Closed Sundays and and public holidays.
• Access: metro station Etienne Marcel – line 4

Built in 1828 between the Passage du Grand Cerf and the Passage de l’Ancre, the Passage du Bourg l’Abbé formed a long promenade providing shelter from the weather and traffic.
Originally, it opened onto the rue du Bourg l’Abbé.

After a fire that destroyed part of it, the passage was restored a few years ago in partnership with the City of Paris.

Beautiful frescoes and friezes have been restored on the façades, as have the mirrors adorning the spandrels at each end. Of particular note is the beautiful semicircular glass roof with its ventilation system.

Number 18 houses the workshop of cabinetmaker and craftsman IVAN LULLI.

• Year Built: 1845
• Location: between 9 place de la Madeleine, and 30 rue Boissy d’Anglas (75008) – Near the famous Place de la Madeleine
• Highlights: It is adorned with beautiful display cases and refined decorations typical of the period in which it was built. The gallery is home to a number of specialty stores, luxury boutiques, delicatessens and, occasionally, restaurants and cafés. You’ll also find a number of high-end retailers. It’s a popular spot for discreet, elegant shopping.
• Access: Madeleine metro station is served by metro lines 8, 12 and 14.

Well-preserved, it was until recently home to small shops and craftsmen, but now houses mainly luxury boutiques.

Strolling through the chic Place de la Madeleine in the 8th arrondissement, visitors discover the Galerie de la Madeleine. The construction of this covered gallery is linked to the construction of the square and the church of the same name in the 19th century. With its elegant architecture, including two beautiful caryatids at the main entrance, it is home to a number of luxury brands and food shops offering a gourmet break. It can also be reached via 30 rue Boissy d’Anglas.

The most famous establishment was undoubtedly the Lucas-Carton restaurant, located at the entrance on the Place de la Madeleine side. Today, it’s the renowned Sanderens restaurant. Inside, the decor designed by Etienne de Gournevitch in 1904-1905 is a fine example of Art Nouveau. Despite its exceptional location, the Galerie de la Madeleine was never a great success. Today, luxury boutiques bring the passageway back to life, and it’s a popular spot for tourists visiting the area.

• Year Built: 1826
• Location: between present-day rue Jean-Jacques-Rousseau (then rue de Grenelle-Saint-Honoré) and rue du Bouloi.1st arrondissement
• Highlights: Luxurious, with neoclassical decor and high-end shops like Christian Louboutin.
• Access: Metro stationPalais Royal – Musée du Louvre – lines 1 and 7

Galerie Véro-Dodat is ideally located. It’s a stone’s throw from the Louvre, and one of the few covered galleries in the district. Its limited length is offset by the perspective effect created by the black and white rhombuses of the marble paving. The ceiling is adorned with beautiful engravings where it is not glazed. A veritable haven of peace, with a very Parisian charm, Galerie Véro-Dodat has a few surprises in store. It is home to a number of very elegant boutiques: furnishings, decorations, art galleries, musical instruments and antique dolls. And fashionistas will flock to luxury shoe designer Christian Louboutin’s atelier-boutique at the entrance to the gallery (rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau). The second entrance to this ideal place to stroll is on rue du Bouloi.

Although the gallery’s appeal has waned, it continues to offer visitors an image of the Belle Époque. It was remarkably restored in 1997. You can admire the splendid coffered ceilings, restored to their original condition, and the richness of the decor.

Art galleries, fashion boutiques, a renowned violin maker and a “period” brasserie are all to be found here. Robert Capia, collector and expert in antique dolls, had his store here for many years.

Note Atelier Christian Louboutin, world-famous shoe designer.

• Year Built: Early 19th century
• Location: Rue Saint-Denis, 2nd arrondissement
• Highlights: A lesser-known passage with an authentic, working-class Parisian vibe.
• Access:

The Passage du Ponceau, opposite the Passage du Caire, has been restored, in particular its glass roof, under a contract with the City of Paris.

It has two storeys beneath the glass roof. The upper register of the facades and the ceilings under the cross-buildings are fairly well preserved.

The stores were long occupied by the fabric merchants of the Sentier. Today, the Passage du Ponceau has become trendy again, with a wide variety of stores and establishments: culinary workshops, fashion boutiques, concept stores, tattoo parlors, galleries specializing in graffiti, bookstores and more.

• Year Built: Opening 1st October, 1926
• Location: between 78 avenue des Champs Elysées and 59, rue de Ponthieu, 75008 Paris.
• Open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
• Highlights: In the heart of the City of Light, the Arcades des Champs-Élysées evoke an irresistible blend of glamour, history and shopping. Located on the illustrious Avenue des Champs-Élysées, these emblematic arcades invite visitors to a unique experience, where Parisian elegance meets contemporary dynamism.
• Access: line 1 – Stations Charles de Gaulle Étoile or George V

Listed as a Monument Historique in 1991.

In 1926, the Arcades des Champs Elysées revived the fashion for covered passageways. The Arcades des Champs-Élysées, a 19th-century legacy designed by architect Jacques Hittorff, represent a unique blend of historic elegance and contemporary shopping.

In 1929, the Société Hydrothérapique et Balnéaire des Champs Elysées built an underground bathing area of over 4,000 m2.

The gallery was nicknamed “Arcades du Lido” after the famous cabaret that occupied it from 1946 to 1977 (before moving 116 bis avenue des Champs-Élysées)

Today, the gallery is worth a visit for its large domes, stained-glass windows, sconces and chandeliers by René Lalique, and the gigantic glass roof is sumptuous. Most of the decor is intact, except for Lalique’s two fountains, which have disappeared. Chic cafés and refined restaurants add a gastronomic dimension, while cultural events, from exhibitions to fashion shows, make the Arcades des Champs-Élysées a dynamic place where history, fashion and modernity meet.

• Year Built: end of 18th century and 1st half of 19th century
• Location: Part of the Palais-Royal, a monumental complex (palace, garden, galleries, theater) north of the Palais du Louvre in Paris’s 1st arrondissement, is a landmark of French history and Parisian life.
• Open daily
• Highlights:Today a peaceful place, a garden surrounded by three buildings housing French government offices, it was for a century the center of the political intrigues that marked French history.
• Access: metro station Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre (line 1 and 7) – Metro station Pyramides (lines 7 and 14) – RER station Stations C

Created by Cardinal de Richelieu in 1633, the Palais Royal and its gardens, a stone’s throw from the Louvre Museum and the Tuileries Gardens, were home to the royal families until the construction of Versailles. It was also at the heart of the French Revolution: occupied by Louis-Philippe d’Orléans (also known as Philippe-Egalité), who was opposed to his cousin, King Louis XVI, the Palais Royal became the anti-Versailles. Both cousins ended their lives on the scaffold in 1793.

Just before the Révolution, The Duke of Orléans, Philippe Égalité, to meet the expenses of his court, enlarged the Palais Royal. He had the galeries de Valois, de Beaujolais and de Montpensier, named after his three sons, built around the gardens of the Palais Royal.
Inside, other galleries were built, the remains of which are still visible, such as the such as the Galerie d’Orléans, of which only the colonnades remain. He rented out the first floor to traders and greengrocers, transforming the Palais Royal into a veritable bazaar.

Today, the estate is home to French institutions, two theaters, boutiques, art galleries and cafés. Prestigious and peaceful, the gardens are set in a superb, forward-looking architectural ensemble with contemporary sculptures by Buren and Bury. Commissioned from artist Daniel Buren, Buren’s columns are located in the courtyard, near the garden and the Ministry of Culture. The 260 octagonal columns, striped in black and white, are well worth a visit and have become one of the symbols of Paris.

• Year Built: Opening in June 1997. It was built on the site of a 19th-century covered passage of the same name. The entire block at the corner of Place du Havre was demolished to create the Condorcet RER E station, a major urban planning project.
• Location: between 69, rue de Caumartin and 109, rue Saint-Lazare
• Open
  • Stores Monday-Wednesday and Saturday, 9:30am-8pm; Thursday-Friday, 9:30am-8:30pm; Sunday, 11am-7pm
  • Parking and gallery: Monday-Saturday, 7.30am-8.30pm
  • Special opening times: FNAC, Starbucks and Maison Pradier (consult website)
• Highlights:in the heart of Paris, close to Gare Saint-Lazare and Opera Garnier. Inaugurated in June 1997, the Passage du Havre offers a diversified shopping experience, combining boutiques, restaurants and services.
• Access: close to metro stations Havre – Caumartin (lines 3 and 9), Saint-Lazare (lines 3, 12, 13, 14), Saint-Augustin ‘line 9) et Opéra (lines 3, 7, 8) and Haussmann – Saint-Lazare RR station  and  also RER Auber (line A).

Le Passage du Havre is a 40-store shopping mall featuring fashion, beauty, multimedia and accessories brands such as Fnac – Sephora – Nature et Découvertes – Caroll – Courir and Normal.
Renovated in 2012, this former Parisian passageway boasts two outdoor relaxation areas: a tree-lined garden and a terrace, accessible in fine weather, where it’s pleasant to take a break after visiting Starbuck’s, Maison Pradier or Prêt-à-Manger.
Services available: tax-free shopping, phone chargers, toilets, free wifi, ATM, photo booth, Amazon lockers, etc.

This diverse shopping center is home to a variety of boutiques, offering clothing, accessories, beauty products, homeware and electronic gadgets. There are also restaurants, cafés and fast-food outlets. In addition to stores and restaurants, Passage du Havre offers a variety of services and amenities, including vending machines, toilets, rest areas, a children’s playground and free Wi-Fi access.

The mall regularly organizes special events and entertainment to keep visitors entertained, from fashion shows to live performances. Le Passage du Havre implements ecological initiatives such as recycling and the use of energy-efficient lighting.

• Year Built: 17th century (renovated in 1823)
• Location: two different entrances: 223 rue Saint-Marin or 30 rue Turbigo. But to appreciate the pretty entrance porch, we recommend 223 rue Saint-Martin (note that the passage may be closed at weekends). 3rd arrondissement .
• Highlights: Hidden gem with greenery and quaint workshops.
• Access: metreo station Arts et Metiers (lines 3 and 11) or metro station Reaumur-Sebastopole (Lines 3 and 4)

This unusual passageway is located at 223 rue Saint-Martin. After passing through a blue door with surprisingly sloping lines, you’ll discover a cobbled alley lined with artists’ studios, now converted into offices. With its colorful facades adorned with flowers and climbing plants, this passageway offers a bucolic interlude just a stone’s throw from the Musée des Arts et Métiers.

Just over 50 meters long, this passage is quite different from the traditional covered passages of Paris. You won’t find any grand glass roofs or old collectors’ stores, just an abundance of flowers lined with colorful shop windows (a passage now mostly occupied by offices).

No old stores? Yes, there are, and not the least… Note the Pep’s store in the middle of the passage, specializing in the repair and sale of umbrellas, parasols and canes. A unique and original store!

Considered to be one of the oldest passages in Paris, its name comes from an anchor-shaped sign that once graced the premises of an old inn.