10 Unmissable Bookstores in Budapest

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10 Unmissable Bookstores in Budapest

*Originally published by Lilian on May 2020 and Updated by Vanessa R on April 2023

When visiting Budapest, the Hungarian capital and you happen to need a book because you are done reading the one you brought with you or in need of a new read; we have a list of 10 bookstores that will cater for your needs while in the city.

No need to worry about language; some bookstores specialize in English language books.

There is also some interesting independent bookstores in this city that stock books ranging from English language books to Hungarian literature.

When visiting this beautiful cultured city in central Europe, literary work is one of its forte among other historical sites, impressive architecture and relaxation places.

Here is a list of the 10 unmissable bookstores in Budapest.

1. Bestsellers Bookshop

First on the list is bestsellers bookshop that is known for its wide range of books in a foreign language.

This bookshop was the first in the city to stock up multi-lingual books back in 1995 when it first opened its doors as a bookshop.

They expanded the selection of books in their bookshop in 2004 to stock academic books alongside their general selection.

If you want to catch up on the news around Europe, there are foreign newspapers and magazines sold as well as a good selection of DVDs in English.

The selection of books in the store is well curated by both the store owners and buyers that select books directly from the publishers, university presses and independent publishers.

These carefully selected titles in the book store reflect the unique and interesting taste of their regular patrons.

If you are interested in classics and curios to get one to take with you, the store owners have a list that they can recommend from their collection.

This has made them maintain a good relationship with their customers who can rely on them to recommend one of the best reads.

They have an online shop where one can place an order and have it delivered to their doorstep.

2. Antikvár.hu-Used Bookstore

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This is a second-hand bookstore in Budapest along 39 Múzeum krt. Its is a small cosy and friendly bookstore that stocks a range of genres one may be interested in. The Store specialises in selling used antique books to readers.

The bookstore opened its doors in 2010 and instantly became a favourite of many bookworms.

They are open six days n a week and also have a website where one can check for ‘new’ books that have been stocked, recommended book of the month, and all the available genres.

The staff at the store are more than ready to assist you to find a book or suggest a genre that might interest you.

One can find a rare book from the wide selection of antique books and leave with a good bargain.

3. Yellow Zebra Bookshop

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Next on our list is the Yellow Zebra bookshop located behind the Hungarian State Opera building.

This bookshop sells second-hand books written in the English language. It doubles up as a bike shop and offers city tour services too.

Among the more than 15,000 books available in the store include; romance, business, travel, self-help, crime fiction and bestsellers. There is a good selection of children’s books available.

They trade with readers that want to sell their already read books. One can also get a special discount on a book they buy when they trade with the book they no longer need.

The store does not have a reading nook, but once you find that book that you needed, there is a café within the store where one can get a drink while reading your new find.

4. Massolit Books & Café

Courtesy of Massolit Books Facebook page

This is another independent bookstore in Budapest near Krakow’s old town centre that sells books written in the English language. They sell both new and used books.

The store’s focus is on popular and academic books that are sold at discounted prices.

Their online store has a collection of more than 20,000 titles. If you love browsing through physical books, then visiting their store will give you the satisfaction of going through shelves of different genres including journals, international newspapers and magazines.

Massolit has a dedicated reading area at the back that is furnished to make it welcoming and comfortable enough for their customers, there is also a café where one can grab something to eat or drink while reading their book.

The bookstore and café offer such a relaxing atmosphere and is frequented by students, local and ex-pats.

Some unique titles that one can find in the bookstore include; titles that focus on gender, Jewish studies Polish and Central/East European Literature and History, and Asian Studies, and progressive politics.

On warmer seasons, one can enjoy their drink or meal while reading at the bookstores’ outdoor garden.

There are cultural events, book readings, art exhibitions, lectures and informational meetings held at the bookshop. All these events are posted on their social media pages. They buy used books mostly in the English language

5. Atlantisz Book Island

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The final bookstore on our list is the Atlantisz book Island bookshop located in the Jewish Quarter of Budapest. It is in a beautiful two-storey historic building.

The bookshop was founded in 1990 together with the Atlantisz foundation, it specialises on literature focusing on humanities and social sciences.

There is a wide selection of books for one to surf through such as social and human sciences, visual arts, architecture and travel written by some of the best and award-winning writers in the world.

One can also find a great selection of literature from central and eastern Europe, and other international collections of both fiction and non-fiction books.

The store also translates and publishes classic manuscripts of the western norms together with manuscripts that highlight on philosophy, history, religion, art, psychology and cultural studies. Such genres are a hard find in Hungary.

They liaise with research centres and publishing firms in the country to publish continue to enrich the field of social sciences.

A visit to this bookstore will give you the most recent local and international literature in the mentioned subjects.

They make these publications available to university students at very affordable prices.

All one need while visiting this bookstore is enough time to peruse through the shelves.

6. Írók Boltja

Elekes Andor, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This well-known bookstore, one of Budapest’s most popular and a destination for Hungarian literature, is located on the city’s iconic Andrássy Avenue. A handful of English-language books are also available, covering subjects like travel, architecture, and photography. The bookstore not only has a wide selection of books but also regularly hosts literary events like poetry readings, author-reader gatherings, and more.

7. Dani’s English Bookshop

Dani’s English bookshop is tucked away in the Castle District and is a hidden treasure among the historic cobblestone alleys that are usually bustling with tourists. The owner has been a bookworm since his days at Oxford and transformed his hobby into a business in an effort to spread his love of reading.

History and philosophy are on the left, crime and thrillers are in the back, and literature is arranged from A-Z to the right at this father-and-son bookstore’s extensive selection of mainly English-language copies of every imaginable genre. Even shipping has its own section. First and expensive editions are put on display to the left, directly inside the door.

8. Honterus

The name Honterus, which is a unique name, honours the theologian, cosmographer, printer, woodcutter, educator, lawyer, and founding character of Saxon Transylvanian literature of the Renaissance. While collectors peruse the more rarefied items stocked here, they are surrounded by busts of notable Hungarian figures.

Classical music and smooth jazz tunes liven up the afternoons. A member of the elderly staff will point you in the right direction if you get lost. A small selection of used English-language books is located towards the back on the left side. Special maps and etchings are carefully stored in the long drawers on the right.

9. Kárpáti és Fia

Since its founding in 1974, “Kárpáti & Sons” has changed its name from the Antiquarium Hungaricum to better reflect the family tradition. When the National Museum opened in 2002, it was moved from its original location on Pilvax köz to the centre of the secondhand book market. The books there are mostly educational because the owner is a history and library science graduate, and they claim that there are items housed here that date back to the 1500s. 

The small gallery that is located above the small room and the lovely vintage prints and maps that decorate the walls provide even more academic undertones. Go to the middle bookcase for English-language publications. There will undoubtedly be something worth framing.

10. Központi Antikvárium

IngimarE, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Astoria Hotel nearby opened its doors in 1891, over 25 years before the mother of all secondhand bookstores, the largest of its kind in Hungary, opened. The ‘Central Antiquarian Bookstore’ welcomes customers with a pretty lovely neon owl in a brilliant blue colour. Its many windows display historic advertisements from the early 20th century, and glass cabinets housing rare books and autographed editions line the walls of the roomy main area. A lot of the things here are monumental and quite expensive.