Buy5th arrondissement

Shakespeare and Co.

Probably one of the most eccentric bookstores you will ever visit, this must-see was established in 1951 by George Whitman. Three rambling floors literally crammed with books, both new and (mainly) second-hand. The bedding shoved amid the shelves is for the (largely American) expats (called tumbleweeds) who doss down here at night. It is the sister store to City Lights in San Francisco.

Address: 37, rue de la Bûcherie
Hours: Daily 12ː00-24ː00
Price: Cash only
Website: shakespeareandcompany.com (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Paris/5th arrondissement, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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