Book Off Châtelet: A Hidden Gem for Used Books in Paris

A local’s guide to visiting Book Off in Châtelet, one of the best bookstores in Paris for second hand books, DVDs and CDs two steps from Rue de Rivoli!

I really enjoy walking around Châtelet.

You find so much street food there, the magnificent Fontaine des Innocents, plenty of clothing stores, Speaker’s Corner (an installation made of open books), as well as several lively streets nearby like Rue Saint-Martin, Rue Saint-Denis, and Rue Montorgueil with the historic Stohrer bakery.

Between Rue de Rivoli and Châtelet, you’ll find Book Off, which is a second-hand bookstore.

It is originally a Japanese franchise, and the Châtelet location is the brand’s largest in Paris – not that far from my favorite Boulinier bookstore, also great for second hand books.

Book Off Châtelet: A Hidden Gem for Used Books in Paris

You can find Book Off on Rue Saint-Martin; if you take one of the Châtelet exits close to Rue de Rivoli, you will find yourself right in front of it in no time.

I absolutely love beautiful bookstores, but I also enjoy buying books that have a bit of history, which is why shops like Book Off or Boulinier are particularly interesting to me.

You won’t just find books in the bins outside the shop for one or two euros, but also inside and on the lower level.

Whether it’s fiction, personal development, CDs, DVDs, video games, or even English books (though you’ll find more at Shakespeare and Company and Brentano’s), it seems you can find a bit of everything at BookOff Châtelet.

If you don’t find what you’re looking for in this store, you can find another Book Off at Quatre-Septembre in the 2nd arrondissement.

This one offers a large selection of manga, J-pop, and Japanese art – or at Bastille, which is a bit quieter than Châtelet and where you’ll notably find best-sellers and comic books.

Book Off Châtelet Paris Photo Gallery

Book Off Châtelet: A Hidden Gem for Used Books in Paris

Afterward, if you wish to continue on a literary itinerary, why not head toward Montmartre to see the secret statue of Le Passe-Muraille (The Passer-Through-Walls)?

Or, perhaps, continue with a more artistic exploration of Paris, visiting the magnificent Art Nouveau spots from Boulevard Haussmann to Saint-Germain-des-Prés, where you’ll also be able to enjoy the sophisticated design books at Taschen and Assouline?