Can I buy English-language books in Marseille?

Some shops keep a small shelf of English titles, and many can order a book for you in a few days. Ask at the counter with the phrase "Pouvez-vous commander ce livre ?". Second-hand shops sometimes have English paperbacks as well, but the stock changes constantly, so call before travelling across town.

Is a librairie the same as a library?

No. A librairie sells books, while a bibliothèque or médiathèque lends them. If you want to borrow books in Marseille, you would look for a public library instead. The list on this page covers shops that sell books, whether new or second-hand, as identified in public data.

Are bookshops open on Sundays?

Most independent bookshops are closed on Sunday, and some close on Monday too, but practice varies. Many also close for a lunch break. Use the Open now button and the opening hours on each listing, and tell us about any mistake through the Correct this listing link.

Colourful facades and shops along Cours Julien, lined with cypress trees, in Marseille

Book stores in Marseille

A checked list of book stores in Marseille, covering new and second-hand books, with map, opening hours and directions.

Updated October 2026

A bookshop is a librairie in French, not a bibliothèque, which is a library. Independent shops often have a good selection of French literature, comics (bandes dessinées, a big part of French reading culture), children’s books and local interest titles about Provence and Marseille.

What to look for:

New or second-hand: livres neufs or livres d’occasion
Foreign-language shelves: ask whether they stock English titles, or can order them (commander)
Specialisms: comics, travel, religion, academic, children

In France, new books generally cost the same everywhere, because the law fixes a single price for each title. Do not expect big discounts.

Lists in this category are being checked.

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