The ultimate guide to shopping at pharmacies in Paris and how to save money by getting a tax refund — Wevat (2024)

Apart from fashion boutiques and department stores, pharmacies are also an absolute must-visit for travellers visiting France with a wide selection of health care products, from vitamins to cosmetics.

So, if you’re travelling to France and wondering how to shop for the best deals on skincare products and other treatments, look no further! Here is your ultimate guide to shopping at pharmacies in France. From researching different options to taking advantage of tax-free shopping with the Wevat tax refund app, this guide will help you to shop the most for your visiting pharmacies in Paris. Read on to find out more!

Top pharmacies to visit in Paris

There’re thousands of pharmacies in Paris, France, with an eye-catching green crossing at the entrance or outside of the store. Here’re some of the most popular ones for both tourists and locals.

Citypharma

Located in the sixth arrondissem*nt in Paris and as France’s largest pharmacy chain, Citypharma carries a wide variety of medications and treatments, from common to rare – all of which are offered at very reasonable prices. What’s more, it offers an extensive range of health and beauty products, including skincare, cosmetic, and vitamin brands, such as La Roche-Posay, Vichy, Avène, Bioderma, Caudalie, Nuxe, and many more!

Regarded as the cheapest pharmacy in France, Citypharma is always full of shoppers with its tight and narrow store layout. So make sure to have your shopping list before shopping, and try to visit there in the morning or at mealtime to avoid crowds.

Address: 26 Rue du Four, 75006 Paris

Pharmacie Monge

If you’ll find somewhere for leisure browsing with fewer people, Pharmacie Monge is a great option. Situated in the fifth arrondissem*nts of Paris, Pharmacie Monge is one of the city’s premier pharmacies. And it also offers discounts on certain drugstore and beauty products and special offers on larger purchases. The store layout is a bit wider than Citypharma, with a special dedicated area for luxurious brands including Clarins, Lancome, Klorane, Sisley, etc. So if you’re seeking a more relaxed shopping experience, Pharmacie Monge would be a good one to check out.

Address: 1 Pl. Monge, 75005 Paris

Other Paris pharmacies worth visiting

If you just want to have a casual shop for skincare products and treatments and may not want to travel to the pharmacies above, it’s fine for you to directly go to the pharmacy near your hotel or destination. They also provide the main selection of medications, treatments, and health and beauty products. Here’re some stores that our users often shop at and recommend for visiting:

• Pharmacie du Forum Des Halles

  Situated in the bustling Forum Des Halles shopping center, Pharmacie du Forum Des Halles is one of the most convenient and sought-after pharmacies in Paris. If you're visiting some famous tourist attractions in the first arrondissem*nts of Paris such as the Louvre Museum or shopping for luxury at Place Vendôme, Pharmacie du Forum Des Halles is the perfect place to shop for some skincare.

  Address: 1 Rue Pierre Lescot Étage -2, 75001 Paris

• Pharmacie Carré Opéra

  Right within walking distance from Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, and Opéra Garnier, this pharmacy is a popular pharmacy for locals and tourists alike, which is sure to have something for everyone.

  Address: 52-54 Rue de la Chau. d'Antin, 75009 Paris

• Pharmacie Anglaise des Champs Elysées

  If you’ll looking for a great pharmacy in Champs-Élysées, Paris, make sure to visit this one.

  Address: 62 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Rue La Boétie, 75008 Paris

1. Prepare a wish list before shopping - Before visiting any pharmacy, it is important to research the products online and have a list of products that you’re interested in purchasing. Many items are listed in French, so make sure to get familiar with the products or treatments you need to avoid feeling overwhelmed and lost to navigate the shelves.

2. Ask for a pharmacist’s help - The staff working in the pharmacy in France is knowledgeable and helpful. If you have questions about a product or need a recommendation, just talk to a pharmacist, and they will be more than happy to help you find the products that you need or give you some advice.

3. Search for deals and discounts - Although many products at a French pharmacy are selling at a lower price than the same brands in the UK, USA and many more countries you’re travelling from, there’re often extra promotions for many popular products. For example, goods on sale are marked on a yellow label at Citypharma. Don’t miss out on them, which will save you a reasonable amount of money.

4. Take the advantage of tax-free shopping - Non-EU residents (including British travellers as a result of Brexit) can reclaim the tax on purchases made at most retailers in France including pharmacies, and save up to 13% on your shopping with the Wevat tax refund app. Check below to learn more.
   

How to get a tax refund on your shopping at pharmacies

There are two main ways you can get a tax refund on shopping in France – using a traditional in-store paper method, or a mobile tax refund app like Wevat. The main perk of using a digital method like Wevat is the higher refund rates you can enjoy compared with the traditional in-store method, not to mention the convenience of not having to deal with paper forms ever again.

If going with the traditional in-store method, you’d have to bring your passport around with you when shopping and show it to the store every time you buy something over the €100 minimum qualifying amount to get a tax refund form. And you’ll obtain an 8%-12% VAT refund (excluding any fees), which will be less if instant cashback is chosen.

With Wevat, all you need to do is to ask for a purchase invoice addressed to Wevat at the till – no more hassle and waiting around at the checkout, and you can expect to save up to 13% off your purchases. Using Wevat also means your passport can stay in your hotel safe, away from pickpockets, giving you the peace of mind to stroll along the beautiful streets of Paris without fear of theft or losing your passport.

Another benefit of shopping with Wevat is that there’s no minimum spending required in a single store, as long as you spend a total of over €100 across all your purchases during your trip in France, you can claim your tax back! It couldn’t be better to shop for a small number of skincare products and cosmetics and save some money by getting tax refunds with Wevat!

When departing, traditional methods require you to undergo complicated airport procedures with customs, and you’ll have to wait up to 8 weeks to get your money back. Wevat’s scan-and-go system makes it much faster and easier, and you can track the refund progress from the in-app refund tracker or check with the friendly customer support team from the app. (See these articles to learn more about what you need to do at the airport or train station you’re leaving from).

Recap of how to use Wevat

Follow these five steps to get your VAT back in a simple way with Wevat.

1. Download the app – make sure you have signed up and have onboarded before visiting the store

   See Also

   French pharmacy shopping guide - O'Bon Paris

2. Request a ‘facture’ (invoice) - show the ”request an invoice” screen in the app to get a business invoice with Wevat name and address. Make sure the invoice is not addressed to yourself!

3. Snap your invoice – upload it straight to the app, ideally immediately before you’ve left the store

4. Generate refund barcode – follow the prompts on the screen to get your digital refund form

5. Scan and go – visit the tax refund kiosk at your departure point, scan your refund barcode on the Wevat app, and off you go! Make sure to keep your goods on hand in case customs inspects the goods (in unused and original packaging).

Examples of a valid invoice and Wevat address can be found in the app.We also have helpful step-by-step videos on our YouTube channel.

Tips for getting an invoice:

• Ask for a “facture” (Invoice in French) with Wevat name and address (Click our mascot on the app homepage to find the “request an invoice” screen. Simply show the screen containing Wevat’s address details to the store staff to get the right purchase invoice

• Do not mention tax refund in the store, otherwise the sales assistant will issue you a paper tax refund form from a traditional tax refund company and you will not be able to use Wevat

So, following these simple tips, you can rest assured that you are shopping the most for pharmaceutical products when travelling to France. With a little research, making use of getting a tax refund with Wevat, and some savvy shopping, you can make sure that you get the very best value for your money when shopping at French pharmacies.

About Wevat

Wevat is a digital tax refund app that makes it easy for travellers to save money on their shopping in France! We are a community of people who love traveling, shopping, and saving money. Since our launch in 2019, we've helped refund travellers from 88 countries more than €18 million on their shopping.

Compared with in-store VAT refund providers, Wevat gives you up to 23% more VAT back with no minimum spending requirements on each purchase. With Wevat, you can simply snap a picture of your purchase invoices and then generate and scan your barcode when you leave France. There are no paper forms, repeated scanning, or dropping off forms required with us. Our super-friendly, multilingual customer support team will be always on hand to support you throughout your trip via our app.

We are fully regulated by both French and UK customs and tax authorities.

Download Wevat

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