Opening Hours
France's opening hours follow their own rhythm — and the lunch break is no legend, but sacred.
Typical Opening Hours
- Shops: Mon–Sat 10:00–19:00 (boutiques), large department stores until 20:00 or 21:00. Many small shops close 12:30–14:00 (lunch break!)
- Supermarkets: Mon–Sat 8:30–20:00 or 21:00. Hypermarchés often until 21:30 or 22:00
- Bakeries: Tue–Sun 6:30–13:00 and 15:30–19:30 (many closed on Mondays). In tourist areas, open continuously
- Banks: Mon–Fri 9:00–12:30 and 14:00–17:00, sometimes Saturday morning
- Post (La Poste): Mon–Fri 8:30–12:00 and 14:00–17:30, Sat 8:30–12:00. In large cities, open continuously
- Museums: Usually 10:00–18:00, often closed on Mondays or Tuesdays. Large Parisian museums have evening openings (Louvre: Wed+Fri until 21:45)
- Restaurants: Lunch 12:00–14:00, dinner 19:00–22:00. Between meals ("le coup de feu"), the kitchen is closed — those seeking a hot meal at 15:00 have a problem
Sundays
Sunday is a day of rest in France. Most shops are closed. Open are: bakeries (morning), florists, newsstands, small grocery stores, and shops in special tourist zones. In Paris, the Marais, the Champs-Élysées, and the area around Gare Saint-Lazare are open on Sundays.
💡 Tipp
The lunch break is sacred to the French. Plan your sightseeing so that you are in a restaurant between 12:00 and 14:00 — not standing in front of a closed boutique or office.
