Nat Geo Day Tour: Paris, the City of Book Lovers

Free cancellation

Place: Paris

Duration: 4 hours

Language: English

Mobile voucher accepted

Instant confirmation

Official reseller

Entrance Fees Included

Guided Tour

Meal Included

Subject expert guide

Wheelchair accessible

Do this because

Ignite your passion for books as your historian guide takes you on a journey through Paris's literary history and some of its most notable book-related sites.
Visit the most important spaces in the Bibliotheque Nationale Française, one of the finest libraries in Europe.
Exclusive to National Geographic travelers, talk to the owner of one of the UNESCO-protected bookshops around the Seine river, a "Bouquiniste", and learn first-hand about their enduring trade and their significant role in the Parisian landscape.
Enjoy a guided visit to Shakespeare and Co, one of the most emblematic bookstores in Paris and once a hub for influential writers.

Immersive, enriching & sustainable guided day tours

Whether you prefer history, culture, gastronomy, conservation, nature, adventure, or photography these tours are designed to satisfy your curiosity.

Access

Immerse yourself in the destinations and attractions you explore through exclusive access and hands-on experiences based on National Geographic’s existing relationships around the globe.

Knowledge

Discover the world through the lens of National Geographic as National Geographic-trained guides and local experts share their knowledge and passion of the places and locations you visit.

Give back

Experience meaningful explorations with a commitment to sustainable tourism, with all tours meeting the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria and a portion of proceeds dedicated to fund research.

Local immersion

Become inspired to care about the planet and its people by gaining a deeper understanding of the communities and inhabitants of the places you visit through interaction and insights into their daily lives.

Storytelling

Be a part of the story of each destination you visit through the unparalleled content and research from National Geographic you’ll be exposed to, making you reflect on different current realities.

This experience meets the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria. By choosing this experience you can protect the places you love, care for the environment and support local communities.

What to expect

Paris has had a long love affair with books. The evidence is most visible along stretches of the Seine, where for centuries booksellers have traded in second hand, rare or antique books from their distinctive green stalls. This tour is designed for anyone with a passion for books, as your National Geographic-trained guide takes you on a voyage through Paris's literary history and some of its most notable book-related sites.

First, we'll visit the Bibliotheque Nationale Française, one of the finest libraries in Europe. This renowned space, famous for its wonderful architecture and vast collections, has three main sections: the readers' rooms, the Salle Ovale, and the Museum and Galerie Mansart. You will enjoy a private visit to all of these areas while your guide shares insights and fascinating stories about each one.

Next, take a stroll through the city, passing places linked to French history and literature, such as Place Colette, where your guide will reveal the story behind “Colette” and how she became a literary icon in Paris. You'll also see the Comedie Française and learn about French dramaturgist Molière. Pausing by the famous Pyramide outside the Louvre Museum, you will have the opportunity for further discussions with your guide about books that were written in Paris such as Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code.

You'll then take a break for refreshments in a special coffee-library named Café Livre where you can relax over a drink and talk books. A serene Seine River cruise follows, offering great views of the Notre Dame Cathedral, before disembarking to visit Shakepeare and Co, an iconic independent bookstore in Paris's 5th district. Established in the 1920s, it became a hub for influential writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald, T.S. Eliot, and Ernest Hemingway. Your historian guide will share insights about the Lost Generation writers connected to this bookstore as you take a look around the fantastic selection of books.

Lastly, you'll meet a "Bouquiniste", an exclusive experience for National Geographic travelers. These historic riverside booksellers have been a staple in Paris since the late 19th century, and have now been recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn from one of the booksellers the story of their occupation, the range of items they sell, and their significant role in the Parisian landscape.