Bookstores in Geneva
If you judge a town by its bookshops, Geneva, Geneva gives you 58 to judge by. That's 58 bookshops mapped around Geneva, each with its own shelves and specialties. The used sections are where the real bargains hide. Staff picks shelves are the fastest way to read a shop's personality.
This guide covers every bookstore we could verify in and around Geneva (within about 30 km), built from OpenStreetMap's community-maintained data. Names you'll run into include La Librairie de l'Aviation and Librairie du Lycée, plus Au chien bleu. If a bookshop's missing from Geneva's list, it probably just hasn't been mapped yet.
The Geneva bookstore lineup
58 mapped within about 30 km:
La Librairie de l'Aviation
Bookstore
La Librairie de l'Aviation is Bookstore on 14 Rue Lissignol, Genève. La Librairie de l'Aviation also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
14 Rue Lissignol, Genève, 1201
Librairie du Lycée
Bookstore
Librairie du Lycée is Bookstore. Librairie du Lycée also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-Sa 07:00-19:00; Su 08:00-12:00.
Hours: Tu-Sa 07:00-19:00; Su 08:00-12:00
Au chien bleu
Bookstore
Au chien bleu is Bookstore on 11 Rue Leschot, Genève. Au chien bleu also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 09:30-18:30; Sa 09:30-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
11 Rue Leschot, Genève, 1205
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-18:30; Sa 09:30-18:00
Phone: +41227003860
l'Archipel des Mots
Used bookstore
l'Archipel des Mots is Used bookstore. l'Archipel des Mots also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu,Fr 12:00-19:00; We,Sa 09:00-19:00; it has a website with more detail.
Hours: Tu,Fr 12:00-19:00; We,Sa 09:00-19:00
Les Arts Frontières
Bookstore
Les Arts Frontières is Bookstore on 34 Grand'Rue, Ferney-Voltaire. Les Arts Frontières also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-Sa 10:00-12:30,14:00-18:30; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
34 Grand'Rue, Ferney-Voltaire, 01210
Hours: Tu-Sa 10:00-12:30,14:00-18:30
Phone: +33 4 50 40 21 83
Fahrenheit
Bookstore
Fahrenheit — Bookstore, found on 24 Rue Voltaire in Genève. Also worth knowing about Fahrenheit: the map lists its hours as Tu-Fr 09:30-14:00,14:30-18:00; Sa 12:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
24 Rue Voltaire, Genève, 1202
Hours: Tu-Fr 09:30-14:00,14:30-18:00; Sa 12:00-17:00
Phone: +41 22 566 28 27
Nouvelles Pages
BookstoreRun by Véronique Rossier
Nouvelles Pages is Bookstore run by Véronique Rossier on 15 Rue Saint-Joseph, Carouge GE. Nouvelles Pages also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-18:30; Sa 10:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
15 Rue Saint-Joseph, Carouge GE, 1227
Hours: Tu-Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-18:30; Sa 10:00-17:00
Phone: +41 22 343 22 33
Librairie du Boulevard
BookstoreRun by Librairie du Boulevard (autogestion)
Librairie du Boulevard is Bookstore run by Librairie du Boulevard (autogestion) on 34 Rue de Carouge, Genève. Librairie du Boulevard also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo 13:30-18:30; Tu-Fr 09:00-18:30; Sa 10:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
34 Rue de Carouge, Genève, 1205
Hours: Mo 13:30-18:30; Tu-Fr 09:00-18:30; Sa 10:00-17:00
Phone: +41 22 328 70 54
Librairie du Rameau d'or
Bookstore
Librairie du Rameau d'or is Bookstore on 17 Boulevard Georges-Favon, Genève. Librairie du Rameau d'or also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 09:30-18:30; Sa 09:30-17:30; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
17 Boulevard Georges-Favon, Genève, 1204
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-18:30; Sa 09:30-17:30
Phone: +41 22 310 26 33
Les affamé.es
Bookstore
Les affamé.es is Bookstore on 6 Passage Jean Moulin, Annemasse. Les affamé.es also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-Sa 10:00-19:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
6 Passage Jean Moulin, Annemasse, 74100
Hours: Tu-Sa 10:00-19:00
Phone: +33 4 50 49 26 82
Librairie Delphica
Bookstore
Librairie Delphica is Bookstore on 19 Boulevard Georges-Favon, Genève. Librairie Delphica also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 10:00-18:30; Sa 10:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
19 Boulevard Georges-Favon, Genève
Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-18:30; Sa 10:00-17:00
Phone: +41 22 310 76 86
Payot
Bookstore
Payot — Bookstore, found on 7 Rue de la Confédération in Genève. Also worth knowing about Payot: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-19:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
7 Rue de la Confédération, Genève, 1204
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-19:00
Phone: +41 22 316 19 00
Librairie Pacific
Bookstore
Librairie Pacific — Bookstore on 5 Rue Dancet. Also worth knowing about Librairie Pacific: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:30-18:30; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
5 Rue Dancet
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:30-18:30
Phone: +41 22 321 89 27
Epsilon SA
Bookstore
Epsilon SA — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Epsilon SA: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
1227
Phone: +41223430100
Cultura
Bookstore
Cultura — Bookstore, found on 6 Rue de Montréal in Ville-la-Grand. Also worth knowing about Cultura: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
6 Rue de Montréal, Ville-la-Grand, 74100
Phone: +33 4 50 84 58 16
Librairie Histoires Sans Fin
BookstoreRun by MATMORA
Librairie Histoires Sans Fin is Bookstore run by MATMORA on 47 Rue de Silence, La Roche-sur-Foron. Librairie Histoires Sans Fin also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-Sa 09:00-12:30,14:00-19:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
47 Rue de Silence, La Roche-sur-Foron, 74800
Hours: Tu-Sa 09:00-12:30,14:00-19:00
Phone: +33 4 50 25 41 91
Bunq'inn
Bookstore
Bunq'inn — Bookstore.
Editions Limonade
Bookstore
Editions Limonade — Bookstore.
Librairie du Centre
Bookstore
Librairie du Centre is Bookstore on 9 bis Grand'Rue, Ferney-Voltaire. Librairie du Centre also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-Fr 10:00-13:00, 14:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-18:30; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
9 bis Grand'Rue, Ferney-Voltaire, 01210
Hours: Tu-Fr 10:00-13:00, 14:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-18:30
Phone: +33 4 50 42 36 76
La Grotte aux Fées
Bookstore
La Grotte aux Fées — Bookstore, found on 5 Rue de la Faucille in Genève. Also worth knowing about La Grotte aux Fées: the map lists its hours as Mo-Th 14:00-18:00; We off; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
5 Rue de la Faucille, Genève, 1201
Hours: Mo-Th 14:00-18:00; We off
Phone: +41 22 733 49 14
Livres d'occasion
Bookstore
Livres d'occasion is Bookstore on 15bis Rue des Gares. Livres d'occasion also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 15:00-19:00; Sa 14:00-18:00.
15bis Rue des Gares
Hours: Mo-Fr 15:00-19:00; Sa 14:00-18:00
Les Recyclables
Bookstore
Les Recyclables — Bookstore, found on 53 Rue de Carouge in Genève. Also worth knowing about Les Recyclables: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
53 Rue de Carouge, Genève, 1205
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-17:00
Phone: +41 22 328 60 44
Les Arts Frontières
Bookstore
Les Arts Frontières is Bookstore on 33 Rue de la République, Bellegarde-sur-Valserine. Les Arts Frontières also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-Sa 09:30-12:30,14:00-18:30; it has a website with more detail.
33 Rue de la République, Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, 01200
Hours: Tu-Sa 09:30-12:30,14:00-18:30
Librairie De Lune à L'Autre
Bookstore
Librairie De Lune à L'Autre — Bookstore, found on 31 Rue de la République in Valserhône. Also worth knowing about Librairie De Lune à L'Autre: the map lists its hours as Tu-Fr 09:00-12:00,14:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-12:30,14:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
31 Rue de la République, Valserhône, 01200
Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-12:00,14:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-12:30,14:00-18:00
Phone: +33 4 50 48 09 17
Cumulus
Bookstore
Cumulus — Bookstore on 5 Rue des Etuves. Also worth knowing about Cumulus: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 10:30-19:00; Sa 10:30-17:30; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
5 Rue des Etuves, 1201
Hours: Mo-Fr 10:30-19:00; Sa 10:30-17:30
Phone: +41 22 732 81 12
Entre Parenthèses
Bookstore
Entre Parenthèses — Bookstore, found on Rue Domino in Douvaine. Also worth knowing about Entre Parenthèses: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 09:00-12:30,14:30-18:30; Sa 10:00-12:30,14:30-18:30; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
Rue Domino, Douvaine, 74140
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-12:30,14:30-18:30; Sa 10:00-12:30,14:30-18:30
Phone: +33 4 50 85 02 20
Hermès
Bookstore
Hermès — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Hermès: the map lists its hours as Tu-Fr 10:00-12:00, 14:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-12:00, 14:00-18:30.
Hours: Tu-Fr 10:00-12:00, 14:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-12:00, 14:00-18:30
Zadig
Bookstore
Zadig — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Zadig: the map lists its hours as Tu-Sa 09:30-12:30,14:00-18:30.
Hours: Tu-Sa 09:30-12:30,14:00-18:30
Librairie Les Arts Frontières
Bookstore
Librairie Les Arts Frontières is Bookstore on 2 Rue des Hautains, Saint-Genis-Pouilly. Librairie Les Arts Frontières also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-Sa 10:00-12:30,14:00-18:30; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
2 Rue des Hautains, Saint-Genis-Pouilly, 01630
Hours: Tu-Sa 10:00-12:30,14:00-18:30
Phone: +33 4 50 99 12 16
L'olivier
Bookstore
L'olivier is Bookstore.
Des Livres et Vous
Bookstore
Des Livres et Vous — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Des Livres et Vous: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
Phone: +41223015567
La Dispersion
Bookstore
La Dispersion is Bookstore on 1 Place des Grottes, Genève.
1 Place des Grottes, Genève, 1201
Librairie lettres libres
Bookstore
Librairie lettres libres — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Librairie lettres libres: the map lists its hours as Tu-Fr 09:00-12:30,14:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-12:30,14:30-19:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-12:30,14:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-12:30,14:30-19:00
Phone: +33 4 50 97 34 19
Albatros
Bookstore
Albatros — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Albatros: the map lists its hours as Mo 14:00-18:00; Tu 10:00-18:00; We 12:00-18:00; Th 14:00-18:00; Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 11:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
Hours: Mo 14:00-18:00; Tu 10:00-18:00; We 12:00-18:00; Th 14:00-18:00; Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 11:00-17:00
Phone: +41 22 731 75 43
Cultura
Bookstore
Cultura — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Cultura: the map lists its hours as Mo-Su 09:00-20:00.
Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-20:00
La Musique des Mots
Bookstore
La Musique des Mots is Bookstore on 49 Place de la Mairie. La Musique des Mots also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 09:30-12:30,14:00-18:30; Sa 09:30-12:30,14:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
49 Place de la Mairie
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-12:30,14:00-18:30; Sa 09:30-12:30,14:00-18:00
Phone: +33 4 50 11 41 34
Les bouquineuses
Bookstore
Les bouquineuses is Bookstore on 9 Rue de l'École, Boëge. Les bouquineuses also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-Sa 09:00-12:30,14:00-18:30; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
9 Rue de l'École, Boëge, 74420
Hours: Tu-Sa 09:00-12:30,14:00-18:30
Phone: +33 4 50 31 43 64
Le vent des routes
Bookstore
Le vent des routes — Bookstore.
la ligne
Bookstore
la ligne — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about la ligne: the map lists its hours as Mo 15:00-18:45; Tu-Fr 10:15-18:45; Sa 10:15-17:30.
Hours: Mo 15:00-18:45; Tu-Fr 10:15-18:45; Sa 10:15-17:30
La Librerit
Bookstore
La Librerit — Bookstore on 1bis Place du Marché. Also worth knowing about La Librerit: the map lists its hours as Mo 14:00-18:30; Tu-Fr 10:00-18:30; Sa 09:30-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
1bis Place du Marché
Hours: Mo 14:00-18:30; Tu-Fr 10:00-18:30; Sa 09:30-18:00
Phone: +41 22 343 97 71
Bulles de pions
Bookstore
Bulles de pions — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Bulles de pions: the map lists its hours as Tu-Sa 09:30-12:30,14:00-18:30.
Hours: Tu-Sa 09:30-12:30,14:00-18:30
Maison de la bible
Bookstore
Maison de la bible is Bookstore. Maison de la bible also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 09:30-18:30; Sa 10:00-18:00.
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-18:30; Sa 10:00-18:00
L'Arcane 7
Bookstore
L'Arcane 7 is Bookstore. L'Arcane 7 also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 10:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-17:00.
Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-17:00
Un jour, une veille
Bookstore
Un jour, une veille is Bookstore.
BD Fan Comics
Bookstore
BD Fan Comics — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about BD Fan Comics: the map lists its hours as Mo-We 09:00-19:00; Th-Fr 09:00-19:30; Sa 09:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
Hours: Mo-We 09:00-19:00; Th-Fr 09:00-19:30; Sa 09:00-18:00
Phone: +41 76 335 29 00
Atmosphère
Bookstore
Atmosphère is Bookstore. Atmosphère also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo 12:00-17:00; Tu-Fr 10:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-18:00.
Hours: Mo 12:00-17:00; Tu-Fr 10:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-18:00
Librairie Café Recto Verso
Bookstore
Librairie Café Recto Verso — Bookstore on 208 Route de Divonne. Also worth knowing about Librairie Café Recto Verso: the map lists its hours as We-Sa 11:00-19:30; Su 09:00-14:00; it has a website with more detail.
208 Route de Divonne, 01210
Hours: We-Sa 11:00-19:30; Su 09:00-14:00
Librairie le Parnasse
Bookstore
Librairie le Parnasse is Bookstore. Librairie le Parnasse also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
Phone: +4122 736 27 26
La Procure
Bookstore
La Procure is Bookstore on 42 Rue de Lausanne, Genève.
42 Rue de Lausanne, Genève, 1201
Art'Othèque
Bookstore
Art'Othèque — Bookstore.
Carré 76
Bookstore
Carré 76 is Bookstore.
Illibrairie
Bookstore
Illibrairie is Bookstore.
Letu Books
Bookstore
Letu Books — Bookstore.
Librairie Colibri
Bookstore
Librairie Colibri is Bookstore on 782 Avenue de Savoie, Viuz-en-Sallaz. Librairie Colibri also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 08:00-18:50; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
782 Avenue de Savoie, Viuz-en-Sallaz, 74250
Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-18:50
Phone: +33 4 50 85 79 03
Le Papillon Bleu
Bookstore
Le Papillon Bleu — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Le Papillon Bleu: the map lists its hours as Tu-Fr 10:00-12:30,14:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-13:00,14:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
Hours: Tu-Fr 10:00-12:30,14:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-13:00,14:00-18:00
Phone: +33 4 50 20 44 75
Payot
Bookstore
Payot — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Payot: it has a website with more detail.
Librairie Droz
Bookstore
Librairie Droz — Bookstore, found on 11 Rue Firmin-Massot in Genève. Also worth knowing about Librairie Droz: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
11 Rue Firmin-Massot, Genève, 1206
Phone: +41 22 346 66 66
Payot
Bookstore
Payot — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Payot: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 08:30-19:00; Sa 08:00-18:00.
Hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-19:00; Sa 08:00-18:00
What the map tells us about bookstores in Geneva
40 of the 58 list their opening hours on the map, which is genuinely useful — bookshops keep civilised hours, so the listed ones are usually reliable.
26 have websites listed. Worth a look for events — readings and signings get announced there first.
Most of the bookstores in Geneva list a phone number. Useful for checking whether a specific title is in stock before you visit.
The Geneva bookstore crawl
Making a day of it in Geneva? Work this order: La Librairie de l'Aviation on 14 Rue Lissignol, Librairie du Lycée, Au chien bleu on 11 Rue Leschot, l'Archipel des Mots, Les Arts Frontières on 34 Grand'Rue, Fahrenheit on 24 Rue Voltaire, Nouvelles Pages on 15 Rue Saint-Joseph, and Librairie du Boulevard on 34 Rue de Carouge. That's the bookstore crawl in one sensible loop, no backtracking. 50 more are listed below.
Bookstore tips for Geneva
A few things worth knowing before you work through Geneva's bookstores:
- Magazines and journals matter at La Librairie de l'Aviation. The little-magazine rack is where new writers appear first. Cheap, weird, and full of discoveries.
- Buy the signed copy at Librairie du Lycée. Signed stock costs the same as unsigned and only goes up in charm. Ask at the till; shops often have signed copies behind the counter.
- Support the shop's own publishing. Some independents publish local authors or print their own anthologies. Buying them funds the ecosystem directly.
- Come back seasonally. Stock turns over with the publishing seasons. The shop you browsed in spring is a different shop by autumn.
Good to know
We searched about 30 km around Geneva — that covers the town itself plus the surrounding communities you'd reasonably drive to. Listings come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by local volunteers, so a brand-new bookstore in Geneva can take a while to appear. If you spot one of the 58 that's closed, or a great bookstore we missed, the fix is to update the map itself — that's where this guide reads from.
We don't list prices — they change constantly and vary by edition. What we list is the where: real shops, verified by real mappers, in alphabetical order with no favourites.
If you run one of the 58 listed here and something's wrong — a closure, a move, new hours — the fix is the same: update the shop on OpenStreetMap and the correction flows through to this page on the next daily refresh.
Bookstore listings for Geneva: 58 mapped from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Photos from Wikimedia Commons contributors; individual photo credits appear in captions. Listing data was last refreshed automatically — verify hours before visiting.