Timeline
09:00
Arrive at Eglise de Saint Sulpice as it opens. The massive interior is best appreciated in the quiet morning light before the crowds gather. Take a moment to look up at the ceiling and find the shadow line of the Gnomon of Saint-Sulpice if the sun is high enough.
09:35
Walk six minutes to Café de Flore. This was the favored smoking and coffee venue for the Surrealists in the 1920s and Existentialists in the 1940s. Order a coffee and sit in the café to feel the artistic history that still attracts an intellectual crowd today.
10:10
Walk five minutes to Les Deux Magots, right next door. Sartre and Hemingway were regular patrons here. The café confirms its literary connections with an annual book prize. Stay for a while to compare the atmosphere with its rival across the square.
10:50
Walk fifteen minutes to Shakespeare and Co. This eccentric bookstore has been established since 1951. Climb the three rambling floors crammed with new and second-hand books. It is a perfect end to a literary-themed morning walk.
Local tip
The churches and cafés in this area are central to Parisian intellectual history. If you want to avoid the busiest times, arrive early. The bookshop is cash only.
Check before you go
- Eglise de Saint Sulpice opens at 07:00.
- Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots are open daily from 07:30.
- Shakespeare and Co. is open Daily from 12:00. Arrive before noon or after to ensure it is open.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Paris (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).