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Shakespeare and Company Bookstore
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Shakespeare and Company Bookstore

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Shakespeare and Company Bookstore
4.5
3,988 reviews
#1 of 65 Traveller Resources in Paris
Speciality & Gift Shops • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Libraries
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12:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Monday
12:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
12:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
12:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
12:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Friday
12:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
12:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
12:30 PM - 8:00 PM
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About
Famous bookstore located across from Notre Dame features several floors of books and Paris literary history.
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: 5th Arr. - Panthéon
How to get there
  • St-Michel – Notre-Dame • 2 min walk
  • Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame • 2 min walk
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
3,988 reviews
Excellent
2,517
Very good
1,062
Average
308
Poor
61
Terrible
41
Kennedy
12 contributions
Amazing selection of books, beautiful interior, fun unique shopping experience.
Mar 2023
After about 20-30 minutes in line, we entered the store and were allowed to spend as much time inside as we wanted. We spent an hour browsing and taking in the store, exploring upstairs and downstairs. You may spend less if you are looking for a specific book rather than taking it in as a tourist stop.

There are no photos allowed inside to protect other shoppers, which I appreciate.

They stamped the book I bought with a "Shakespeare & Company" stamp which is such a cool souvenir. I bought a book, a t-shirt, and a tote bag for €58. A little expensive but for me, worth it.

Gorgeous experience and there's sooooo many books.
Written March 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
schmidtmg
Switzerland1,027 contributions
nice bookstore
Oct 2022
this bookstore is extremely touristy, and even on a rainy October day there was a queue of people waiting to get in. Once inside, you'll find quite a number of gems and surprises... shelves are all laid out by subject matter which may be unusually at first but help you find what you want. On the side is a second store with antiquarian books but after a close look inside I did not find anything particularly noteworthy...
Written October 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Winn
San Francisco, CA13 contributions
Don't forget to get your books stamped!
Jan 2022
It was a little crowded when I stopped by (around 6-7 PM), but I still had a bit of room to explore and actually browse the shelves.

The catalog of books leans more on new blockbuster releases and perennial bestsellers. So if you're looking for more variety, then this may not be the best bookstore for you. That being said, I did spot of few cool editions that I purchased. If you do buy, make sure your sales clerk stamps the book with the Shakespeare and Company logo.

And check out the reading room upstairs! There's a cute cat chilling up there.
Written January 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SassyGirl S
1 contribution
Avoid at all costs!
Aug 2022
A tourist trap, clearly listed in every tourist guide on the planet Earth. Long lines, one salesperson not only spoke to me, insultingly, using obscene language, but I was also quoted multiple prices for the same book all much higher than Amazon. Worse experience I ever had in France. No longer the refuge of the English-speaking expat community in Paris, writers, and starving artists intended by Sylvia Beach. Avoid at all costs. Photo opp outside the shop is enough, save your money for a nice meal at a French restaurant, instead.
Written August 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Abigail Patchigalla
2 contributions
A charming must-see spot!
Apr 2023 • Couples
The most beautiful bookstore you’ll ever go to! My husband and I visited the charming store after being advised to by a local tour guide. He told us that Hemingway and his friends used to really hang out at the bookstore. It is a haven for writers and if you submit your writing, and they love it, they may offer you free accommodation to pursue your writing career surrounded by the building that inspired some of the best authors.
Written April 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveler O
Washington DC, DC849 contributions
More of an attraction than a bookstore
Sep 2022
With the return tourists, this bookstore has reverted to being a tourist attraction more than a proper bookstore. There's often a queue outside you have to wait in just to get inside, and even then it's not convenient at all if you're legitimately looking for a certain book or otherwise. If just coming to check it off the list, then so be it. Otherwise, head to a different bookstore or newsstand for what you need. Too touristy.
Written March 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wickhamchilds
Greater Manchester, UK7 contributions
One night in Paris...
Nov 2022 • Solo
Shakespeare and Company's bookstore is iconic, and the reviews are justifiably glowing. I feel I should just add this: I would like to say how kind, welcoming, helpful and utterly delightful your staff are at S&Co. Their knowledge, enthusiasm and passion, adds so much more to the character, ambience and sense of place.

"As I walked by the bookshelves, the words left the pages of the books and the noise became so intense. I sat down in an old chair; then, a calmness decended, and the words began to tell their own stories and narrative. I walked inside, and was lost in that magical space...and was happy to be so".

Philip Wickham
November 2022
Written November 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jai0777
New Jersey6 contributions
Worth the visit!
Mar 2023 • Friends
Very cute bookstore. There was a bit of a line to get in, but definitely worth it. There were many book options in English and some in French. There were a few sections that highlighted famous French stories or French history. It was a bit crowded, but there was so much to see in this small space. The downstairs had a good selection of books for purchase, and the upstairs included a reading section. The upstairs had a little piano, a place to write and leave messages on a wall, and a window that had a decent view of the Notre Dame Cathedral. They offer to stamp any book you buy with a Shakespeare and Co. stamp, which can make for a nice souvenir. They also sell Shakespeare and Co. merchandise like tote bags, book sacs, and tea towels.

This was about a 10-minute experience that I thought was cool to check out. It has a little coffee shop attached to the store as well if you would prefer to just buy something to drink or purchase their iconic merchandise.
Written March 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
busconi
Wenatchee, WA5,343 contributions
Bookstore soaked in history
Jun 2022
I LOVE bookstores, independent bookstores. And to visit Shakespeare and Company was a real delight and honour. The air in this store is just soaked with history, so many literary giants have spent time here....Allen Ginsberg, James Jones, Anaïs Nin, Langston Hughes, Henry Miller, Lawrence Ferlinghetti (of City Light Books in San Francisco), so many others.
We got here right before it opened and got to spend time inside without being jostled about. Great selection. Really friendly, knowledgeable staff.
Written July 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jay B
Fairhope, AL912 contributions
Not Just a "Bookstore"
Oct 2022
Wow, what an amazing place. Shakespeare and Company would be special no matter where they were located, but being in one of the oldest sections of Paris makes it even more special. Note that this is a really small store, so be prepared to wait for an entrance opportunity. Once inside, you will marvel at the many original and limited editions on the shelves. If you are a "book worm", leave plenty of time for shopping the thousands of volumes found here. It literally is a book lovers paradise.
Written February 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Shakespeare and Company Bookstore (Paris) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Shakespeare and Company Bookstore
Shakespeare and Company Bookstore is open:
  • Sun - Sat 12:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Shakespeare and Company Bookstore tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 25 Shakespeare and Company Bookstore tours on Tripadvisor

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