Foire de Paris Finding Tickets

The Foire de Paris (parts of website available in English) always has something new to discover. To enjoy a day’s activity, especially if it’s a cloudy day, plan on at least 4 1/2 hours of walking, escalator and people mover riding, eating, drinking and gawking. Be tempted to try a product or the food. Be careful though; you could be sucked right in and buy something you might not need so make sure it’s not too expensive in the first place: At the Foire, it’s a “you buy it, you own it, no return” policy. (Foire de Paris 2017)

How do you get in expensively for all this fun?

Planning ahead
Planning ahead and being aware of certain dates helps. Like clockwork, the last week of April and first week of May are the Foire de Paris (Paris Home Show) days. Here are a few tips on how to get in for a reduced price.

Your first opportunity is in January. The Foire runs a special 2-for-1 for Valentine’s Day (February). Either get on their mailing list, Foire de Paris Facebook page  or Twitter (@foiredeparis).

Closer to the event, the week before the show opens, Télé7Jours, the television magazine, places a 2-for-1 admission coupon on the cover. The new edition comes out every Monday.

It is cheaper to buy your tickets on line than at the gate. These are the current prices: Full price at the ticket office: 14 €, full price online: 12.50 €, family pass (2 adults and 2 children 7-14): 32 €; children (7 to 14 years old): 7 €, Under 7: free.

How much did you spend last year? When you spend a certain sum at the Foire de Paris (depends on the stand and the product), you can put your name on the list for product during the at any of the trade shows or show genuine interest in a large-ticket item, you can receive either invitations for a return visit or be put on a mailing list for the following year to receive invitations.

During the show if you are interested in returning, the merchant may give you one or two free invitations for the current show (the name of their stand is on the back).

I found a couch and chair that I liked and wanted to bring my husband back. Buying at the Foire is tempting because they always offer a special “Foire” rate – usually 20% off the marked price tag. It helps to know your products before you go. Then they will give you invitations. Use them or give them to a friend.

What is so special about the Foire (means trade show)
On average, you can be one of the 500,000 visitors during the 12-day run. You can see the latest innovations for the home, enjoy the themed entertainment, take advantage of the home delivery service and get lost among the 1,700 stands (600 home-related). The Foire is in its 113th year and has three specific areas: Habitat, Gastronomy and Shopping.

The Concours Lépine is the inventor’s corner and has been around since 1901 (Read a little history about the Concours Lépine).

Smaller Foire de Paris during the year
A smaller Foire de Paris (trade show) is held in the Fall: “Foire de Automne”. The coupons will be available on the magazine, the prices are lower, the trade show is smaller.

Foire de Paris
How to get to Porte de Versailles
METRO: Line 12 : Station Porte de Versailles
Line 8 : Station Balard (hop on the T3 line toward Porte de Vincennes)
TRAMWAY: Lines T2 and T3 – Arrêt Porte de Versailles
BUS: Lines 39 and 80 – Station Porte de Versailles