The 4 places at a glance
| Place | Area | What to know | Hours read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shakespeare and Company, 37 rue de la Bûcherie | Latin Quarter (5th) | legendary English-language bookshop facing Notre-Dame | 10 am-8 pm Monday to Saturday, noon-7 pm Sunday (two directories); another site gives 10 am-9 pm Thursday to Saturday |
| Librairie Galignani, 224 rue de Rivoli | Tuileries (1st) | presents itself as the oldest English-language bookshop on the European continent | check hours on its website |
| Smith & Son, 248 rue de Rivoli | Tuileries (1st) | independent English bookshop, former W.H. Smith founded in 1903 | check hours on its website |
| Bouquinistes along the Seine | Left and Right Banks | green boxes along the river, old books and postcards | no fixed hours according to the sources |
How to choose
- For literary atmosphere: Shakespeare and Company. There is a café next door and a queue sometimes forms at the door; mid-morning on a weekday is calmer.
- For English books on the Right Bank: Galignani and Smith & Son are a few steps apart, near the Tuileries.
- For old books and souvenirs: the bouquinistes, for browsing with no schedule.
Practical tips
If you are visiting Notre-Dame, Shakespeare and Company is a few minutes' walk away: see our guide to visiting Notre-Dame. For a coffee after shopping, see our Paris cafés. If you buy many books, ask the bookseller about shipping costs.
A treat afterwards
After the Left Bank bookshops, a tasting walk around Saint-Germain mixing chocolate and pastry rounds off the day. Check the stops on the booking page.
The Paris Authority editorial team, read on 30 October 2026.
