Russia is one of the very few countries where writers become full-fledged celebrities, and street performers recite poetry on a regular basis. Russians love literature; indeed, it is still their favourite pastime on long commutes in town or across the country. And the demand drives the supply – the entire country is densely sprinkled with bookshops.
Moscow has nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to its bookshop scene. The bookshops are more than shops – they are little community centres where people gather for lectures and discussions. Even if you don’t speak Russian yet, the booksellers of Moscow will have something to offer you, from literature in English to meetings with international authors. Here are the top seven bookstores in Moscow that you need to see.
Biblio-Globus
Bookstore
Biblio-Globus is a huge bookshop within walking distance from the Red Square. At times, it seems to be more of a labyrinth than a bookstore. You’ll find yourself diving between the shelves, surrounded by a surreal crowd, and at some point, you’ll probably forget where you came in and how to get out. All you will know is that there are books everywhere. Biblio-Globus also carries a very decent range of stationery and a good selection of literature in English. It also happens to sit on Myasnitskaya, one of the cutest streets in the whole of Moscow. Get yourself a book and walk away!
Moscow House of Books
Bookstore
Moscow House of Books (or Moskovskyi Dom Knigi) is one of the biggest and most important bookshops in the city. It carries fiction and popular literature, non-fiction, textbooks, second-hand treasures and much more. Lectures and special events take place here on a regular basis. The bookstore lies in New Arbat, one of the main arteries of central Moscow. If you’re a book lover in the city, this place should be on your bucket list.
Respublika
Respublika is a chain of high-end bookshops that don’t carry as much as Biblio-Globus or Moscow House of Books. They specialise in all kinds of albums, contemporary literature and guidebooks. They also carry a very wide selection of witty designer gadgets, including funny cushions, book holders and stationery, to name a few. Every Respublika is also just a lovely place to hang out in, so if you’re wandering around the city and need a short, pleasant break, this bookshop is the place to go. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb4lVH-DbkA/?hl=pl&taken-by=respublica_ru
Molodaya Gvardya
The publishing house of the same name opened Molodaya Gvardya in 1974. It is particularly well known for its excellent selection of textbooks and its section on early childhood development. It carries more than 80,000 titles though, so just about any book aficionado will find something here. The bookshop sits in Zamoskvoreche, one of the more scenic parts of Moscow, so it makes for a perfect pit stop on a beautiful winter walk.
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Bookshop Moscow
Bookstore, Store
Bookshop Moscow is a legendary store on Tverskaya, the main artery of central Moscow. It is by far the locals’ favourite bookshop. Backpackers with all of their gear on them should not try to kill time here though, as the number of titles they offer is reversely proportional to the amount of space between the shelves. Moscow carries a very decent selection of titles in English, as well as beautiful postcards. It is a must-see for any book lover in the city.
Chitai-Gorod
Chitai-Gorod is a chain of bookshops spread around the entire city. It offers a decent selection of titles (some of them in English) and an excellent choice of stationery. A Chitai-Gorod is a good place to acquire reading material before catching your flight – that way you can avoid airport prices.
While Russkaya Derevnya is a small, specialised bookshop, it is nonetheless worth visiting. They carry rare titles published in provincial Russia. If you’re looking for a unique souvenir or if you need an academic publication for your Russia-related research, Russkaya Derevnya is where you should go.
