The Best Independent Bookstores In Budapest

Bookworms in Budapest won’t be disappointed with its literary offerings: Hungary‘s capital is home to a number of great independent bookstores. Whether you’re looking for English language texts or want to expand your Hungarian repertoire, take a look at our round-up of the best.

Bestsellers

The go-to foreign language bookstore in the city, Bestsellers has been providing local residents and visitors with great literary reads since 1992. Operating both online and through their store in downtown Budapest, they carry a combination of academic and general titles, thanks to the shop’s former function as the bookstore for the Central European University. Staff are knowledgeable and friendly, and if there’s a book you want to read but don’t see in store, they’re happy to order it for you where possible.

Massolit Books & Café

Atlantisz könyvsziget (Atlantisz Book Island)

Founded in 1990 alongside the Atlantisz Foundation, this bookstore in Budapest’s 7th district works to promote humanities and social sciences in Hungary. To that end, visitors can find plenty of fascinating reads here covering fields including philosophy, psychology and art theory. There are also a number of fictional titles nestled among the shelves of this two-storey book shop with a cosy, old-world atmosphere.

Írók Boltja

Located on Budapest’s iconic Andrássy Avenue, this popular bookstore is one of the city’s most renowned and a go-to for Hungarian literature. There are also a number of English titles, covering topics such as travel, architecture and photography. As well as offering a great range of books, the store also holds regular literary events – such as poetry readings, author-reader meetings and more.

Yellow Zebra Bookshop

The Yellow Zebra Bookshop is an independent English-language bookstore located in the heart of Budapest, Hungary. The shop offers a wide range of new and used books in various genres, including fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, and travel guides. In addition to books, the shop also sells a selection of souvenirs and gift items.

The store has a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, with comfortable seating areas and friendly staff who are always happy to recommend books or offer advice. The shop also hosts a variety of events and book clubs, making it a hub for the English-speaking community in Budapest.

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