Paperback Exchange
Paperback Exchange
4.5
About
Are you an English-speaking traveler who loves to read? Trade in some of your old paperbacks and pick up some new ones: with hundreds of titles to choose from, you'll never get bored.
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The area
Neighbourhood: Duomo
Florentia, as it was called by Latins, is permeated by an eternal beauty spread in all corners of the city. The historic center is characterized by the immensity of the Duomo, able to transport tourists into the brightest age of Florence: the Renaissance. Who does not know the Brunelleschi Dome, San Giovanni Baptistery and the Giotto’s Campanile? Everything is enclosed here and it would be easy to imagine the city as it was in ancient times, with maids walking in the main square and horses carrying coaches. Nowadays, roads are busy with street artists. Rustic Tuscan bakeries give way to fashion shops; just stop for a few minutes in the middle of Piazza della Repubblica to enjoy the colors and sweet melody of the carousel that will bring back great memories from anyone’s childhood.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles16 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
4
Average
1
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0
Terrible
1

Walker R
Paphos, Cyprus15 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Solo
The name of this store suggests it is an exchange for used books. That's only a part of what they do. They have tons of new books. I visited three bookstores in Florence and this one by far has the largest selection of new books in English. And they have the Great Books, not just pulp fiction. I needed to get some old classics and new classics for my book club and they had everything I wanted right there. And the guy working behind the counter knew a lot about books. He's read Thomas Pynchon! That's impressive.
Written 19 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GattinaGirl
Pesaro, Italy26 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022 • Solo
Every time I travel to Firenze (I live elsewhere in Italy, where few English books are sold), I bring a suitcase of (English language, paperback) books that I've finished reading & sell them for credit here. Then I spend a good 2 hours or so, browsing until I find new gems to take home with me, paid for with my credit. Thank you, Paperback Exchange!
Written 1 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ariana
Cleveland Heights, OH194 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2019 • Friends
Nice little English bookstore in Florence. Make sure to ask if they have a discount bin--that proved to be very useful for me and my friends.
Written 22 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RandiFayeC
Longwood, FL1,036 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2018 • Solo
Just down the street from our AirBnB. Unexpectedly finished the book I had brought very quickly so when I walked by I was happy to see that I could replenish. They even bought my old book - very happy I didn't have to bring it home to donate.
I stopped by twice, both times the staff was friendly and helpful.
Written 5 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Taycheedah
Edinburgh92 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2018 • Solo
I love this shop, which I first discovered around 15 years ago. The stock is brilliant and very well-organised, the shop is attractive and inviting, the staff are helpful, and it's wonderful to be able to exchange the books I've read en route to Florence for credit towards other books to read on my way back home to Scotland. I think they're very generous with the credit that they offer, and they always have an interesting selection of second-hand books, as well as lots of new ones in various fields. Among the second-hand books, I found an Amy Bloom, a Mohsin Hamid, and a Monica Ali I hadn't already read, so my time at Bologna Airport was spent very happily reading these lovely books. Highly, highly recommended!
Written 18 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tim R
North Carolina Coast, NC225 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2017 • Couples
This is a wonderful find for readers. It's a well-stocked book store for those of us always looking to find an important book or two. The staff is alert and friendly. It's simply a wonderful place to browse the shelves, searching for something perfect to read. I'm certain that you can find it here....
Written 30 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LeahS1950
Tel Aviv, Israel14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2016 • Couples
A rainy evening in Florence drove us to search for shelter. The Paperback Exchange was perfect. The huge selection kept us browsing until the rain stopped. Also picked up some hard-to-find second hand books. They have a good selection of quirky travel guides for local sights. Great atmosphere!
Written 26 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TawnyaSingapore
Singapore, Singapore168 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2016 • Couples
We popped in here to find souvenirs for young relatives, and were given lots of great help by the staff (owner?). There was a really good selection, and it's within feet of my favorite wine store and a two good gelato places. I could live here!
Written 29 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jonathan
London, UK19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2015 • Couples
A lovely little shop that is deceptively large and well-spaced out. You can browse for a good hour and there is even some seating if the person who accompanies you needs a rest.

They have a good mix of new and used books, everything from fiction to textbooks, plenty of books on Florence & Italy, and very interesting children's books.

Browsing will pay off, I found a little sale section and managed to pick up a copy of the Aeneid for only €3. They also have a wealth of Dante's Divine Comedy copies to suit everyone's taste and budget.

Even if you're not into classics or used books, they also have a great selection of new releases in both hardcover and paperback.

Best of all, every member of staff was welcoming, polite, and helpful. Not to be missed.
Written 3 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ecenada
Istanbul, Türkiye139 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2015 • Solo
I went to Paperback Exchange the next day I arrived in Florence to buy some secondhand books and seeing the atmosphere of the store, I really liked it. Though the staff was helpful and nice enough, I found the books to be too expensive, I couldn't find a secondhand book less than 8 euros.
But if you want to enjoy the bookworm atmosphere, go ahead but about buying some books I think you should think twice, there are other secondhand bookshops with a reasonable price.
Written 16 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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PAPERBACK EXCHANGE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Paperback Exchange