The best bookshops in Paris in 2026 are Shakespeare and Company opposite Notre-Dame, Galignani on rue de Rivoli, the first English bookshop on the Continent, Librairie Delamain, the oldest bookshop in Paris, The Red Wheelbarrow by the Luxembourg Gardens, and the green bouquiniste stalls along the Seine.
Paris has more bookshops per head than almost any city, protected by France's fixed book-price law, which keeps independents alive. English-language readers are well served by Shakespeare and Company, Galignani, Smith & Son and The Red Wheelbarrow; French-language shops such as Gallimard and Delamain are worth a visit for their atmosphere and beautiful editions. Most bookshops close on Sundays except in tourist zones.
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1. Shakespeare and Company — Latin Quarter (5th)
The legendary English-language bookshop facing Notre-Dame.
Shakespeare and Company was opened by George Whitman in 1951, taking the name of Sylvia Beach's famous interwar shop. Its crooked rooms are stacked with new and secondhand books in English, and writers have slept among the shelves as 'Tumbleweeds'.
The café next door serves coffee and snacks with a view of Notre-Dame.
Good to know: Visit early in the morning to avoid the line, and look for readings on its events calendar.
The first English bookshop on the Continent, under the rue de Rivoli arcades.
Galignani describes itself as the first English bookshop established on the Continent, on rue de Rivoli since the 19th century. Its wood-paneled rooms hold English and French books, with a strong art and fashion section.
It is elegant, calm and perfect for gifts.
Good to know: Browse the art-book tables at the back.
The oldest bookshop in Paris, opposite the Louvre.
Librairie Delamain, near the Comédie-Française and the Louvre, is often described as the oldest bookshop in Paris, dating to the early 18th century. It sells new French literature alongside rare and antique books.
It is a beautiful stop for book lovers who read French.
Good to know: Look at the antiquarian section for old editions and prints.
A friendly independent English bookshop by the Luxembourg Gardens.
The Red Wheelbarrow is an independent English-language bookshop facing the Jardin du Luxembourg, with well-chosen fiction, nonfiction and children's books, and staff happy to recommend.
Buy a book and read it on a chair in the gardens across the street.
Good to know: Ask the staff for their recommendations on books about Paris.
A large English bookshop on rue de Rivoli, with a tearoom upstairs.
Smith & Son, the former WHSmith Paris, is a large English-language bookshop on rue de Rivoli near Place de la Concorde, with books, magazines and British groceries, and a tearoom on the first floor.
It is the best-stocked English bookshop in the city.
Good to know: Stop for tea upstairs after the Tuileries.
The flagship of France's great literary publisher.
The Gallimard bookshop on Boulevard Raspail is the shop of one of France's most important publishers, known for its cream-covered Blanche collection and the Pléiade editions.
It is a lovely place to buy a classic French novel as a souvenir.
Good to know: A Pléiade volume makes a handsome gift.
7. The Bouquinistes of the Seine — Seine quays (5th/6th/1st/4th)
Green riverside stalls of old books, prints and posters.
The bouquinistes have sold secondhand books from green boxes along the Seine for centuries, a tradition recognized as part of Paris's heritage. Today they sell old books, maps, prints, posters and postcards.
Walk the quays between the Pont Marie and the Quai Voltaire and browse.
Good to know: Opening depends on the weather and each seller; sunny afternoons are best.
A design, photography and art bookshop on the canal.
Artazart, with its bright orange facade on the Canal Saint-Martin, specializes in books on design, graphics, photography and visual culture, with a gallery space.
It is a favorite with creatives and a good find on a canal walk.
Good to know: Combine with an evening on the canal quays.
The Librairie des Abbesses is an independent French bookshop near the Place des Abbesses, with a carefully chosen selection and an active program of author events.
It is a good example of the neighborhood bookshops that make Paris special.
Good to know: Pair with a walk up to the Sacré-Cœur.
Shakespeare and Company, on the Left Bank opposite Notre-Dame, an English-language bookshop with a famous literary history and a café next door.
Where can I buy English books in Paris?
Shakespeare and Company, Galignani and Smith & Son (both on rue de Rivoli), and The Red Wheelbarrow near the Luxembourg Gardens.
What are the bouquinistes?
Secondhand booksellers who trade from green boxes fixed to the Seine's parapets, mainly between the Pont Marie and the Quai Voltaire. They are part of Paris's cultural heritage and sell old books, prints and posters.
Can you take photos inside Shakespeare and Company?
The shop has restricted photography inside at times to manage crowds; check the signs at the door and be respectful of readers.
Are books cheaper in Paris?
No — France's fixed-price law means new books cost the same everywhere, which is why independent bookshops survive.