How To Pass Time On The River Seine Like A Paris Local, Per Rick Steves' Tour Guide

Paris is one of the world's most romantic destinations. Over the centuries artists, writers, philosophers, have flocked to the city, inspired by its enchanting atmosphere. Tourists, especially those traveling from the United States, often have strong opinions about the city. It's one of those places that you either fall instantly and madly in love with, or you just never really understand what the hype is about. Travelers looking to see the heart and soul of Paris and understand what makes the city so special should spend some time experiencing Paris like a Parisian.

Without a doubt, a first trip to Paris requires that you visit some of the best tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower and the Notre Dame Cathedral, but you should also carve out time to simply wander the streets, people watch, and enjoy some of the locals' favorite pastimes. According to Krisitn Kusnic Michel, who is a researcher for Rick Steves' travel guidebooks and a tour guide, one of the best things to do in Paris is to browse the bouquinistes along the River Seine. The famed Parisian open-air used book market stretches about 2 miles on either side of the river, with over 900 boxes of books to browse.

The word "bouquinistes" is believed to have Dutch origins, where "boeckin" means "small book." In Paris, bouquinistes translates to secondhand bookseller, and that's exactly what they are. Specifically, they're a group of Parisian literary merchants who have been gracing the banks of the River Seine for around 500 years. The profession hasn't changed much over the centuries, but it's played an important role in Parisian history.

Bouquinistes are believed to have emerged in Paris in the Renaissance era. There's a local legend that the first used book sellers along the Seine were sailors. The story goes that a ship filled with books sunk in the river near the Notre Dame Cathedral and that the sailors jumped overboard, retrieving as many books as they could. The damaged books were then sold on the streets surrounding the river by the sailors, who suddenly found themselves out of a job. In the mid-1600s, the used book markets were outlawed to appease more traditional booksellers, but in the 1800s the law was revoked. Over the centuries they've faced trouble for distributing Protestant pamphlets, and later political brochures that helped fuel the French Revolution.

"After the Revolution, business boomed when entire libraries were liberated from nobles or clergymen and wound up for sale cheap on the banks of the Seine," Kristin wrote for Rick Steves' website. Even if you only have one day in Paris, the bouquinistes are well-worth exploring.

Today, bouquinistes are enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. It's an incredible free thing to do on your next trip to Paris, and offers wonderful people watching. Bouquinistes are the perfect place to purchase a unique souvenir to commemorate your time in Paris. The market is open daily. Booksellers enjoy permanent spots along the river, and they each receive four blue bins in which to sell their books. 

To keep their position, they are required to sell books at least four days out of the week. According to Kristin, there is an eight year waiting list to become a bouquinistes. "The most coveted spots are awarded based on seniority," she wrote in her blog post. "With little overhead, prices are usually cheaper than in most shops."

Shopping at the bouquinistes is a quintessentially Parisian experience. Take a break from visiting tourist attractions and spend a long afternoon meandering along the streets surrounding the beautiful River Seine, browsing the blue bins full of dusty old books. You'll find almost every genre represented – from classic novels to fascinating anthologies. When you find a book that ignites your curiosity, buy it and head to a nearby cafe where you can spend an hour or so reading as you nibble on a fresh croissant and sip on a warm cup of espresso or a glass of wine. The markets are open everyday rain or shine from morning until dusk. According to Kristen, sunny Wednesdays are the best time to visit.