1. Another Country (Bookshop)
Riemannstraße 7, Kreuzberg
Tel: (030) 6940 1160
Web site
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.–8 p.m.;  Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Don’t be fooled by the rocks it ain’t got. This shabby used bookstore in the stately Bergmannstrasse neighborhood is a gem. The fiction section may need a thorough re-cataloging, but the real highlight is the owner’s lovingly curated personal sci-fi collection. Many of the obscure titles are for borrowing only.

2. Saint Georges English Bookshop
Wörther Straße 27, Prenzlauer Berg
Tel: (030) 8179 8333
Web site
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

As Germans would say, klein aber fein (“small but fine”). The Saint Georges offers a reading series and a good selection that mainly caters to the expat crowd.

3. East of Eden
Schreinerstraße 10, Friedrichshain
Tel: (030) 423 93 62
Web site
Hours: Mon.-Fri 12 p.m.–7 p.m.; Sat. 12 p.m.-4 p.m.

I don’t know about Eden, but this indy shop certainly is on the eastern side of the city. Most books are used, except for new reprints of classics (read: cheap!).

4. Dussmann – das KulturKaufhaus
Friedrichstrasse 90, Mitte
Web site
Hours: Mon-Sat 10 a.m.–midnight

What am I doing writing about this mammoth corporation when I should be promoting small local bookshops? Well, just look at the newly built English section, tucked away in the back—it has plenty of seating and an up-to-date selection. Plus, it’s open until midnight, for those late night book cravings.

More planning advice: Are you planning a trip to Berlin? If so, be sure to stop by our guide to the best budget hotels in Berlin. Our editors have visited, inspected and reviewed affordable hotels all over central Berlin and recommend their favorites. Read more in our Berlin guide.

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Florence’s English-language bookstore

Located at Vialle delle Oche 4R, this little shop of treasures has been pushing books to Florence’s Anglo community since 1979 and some of their prices haven’t changed since! They carry a large selection of new and (not so) used books which enable paperback pick-ups for as little as 3 euros. They’ve got everything from travel to textbooks to poetry in a clean, cozy interior where Ikea meets the “New Hampshire cottage” feel. The staff is friendly, helpful and willing to special-order any books not found on their shelves. (This is a fast and convenient “no-access-to-Amazon” arrangement convenient when traveling or living under a bridge. Ahem.)

The Paperback Exchange lets you trade in your used books for credit towards purchases, which will chop down the cost even more! (My cheapo sense has just exploded from the double savings!)

But best of all, the store is reader-friendly, meaning you can peruse, sit and read before leaving with your golden nugget find. It’s also a good place to meet travelers or members of the local English-speaking community.

The Paperback Exchange is open on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

Florence’s free English-language newspaper

Make sure to also pick up a copy of “The Florentine” while you’re at the bookstore. “The Florentine” is Florence’s free bi-weekly English newspaper which is loaded with news, sports, travel, and cultural events going on in the city.

Finally, check the store’s bulletin board for all things Anglo-related. It’s a mini carousel of information for courses, services, and social groups.

Other bookstores in Florence

Other bookstores scattered in the downtown core include Feltrinelli and Mel Bookstore on the nearby via Cerretani. They carry mostly Italian titles and don’t sell secondhand books, but their international sections are peppered with pretty good stuff.

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J & J Books and Coffee
Calle Espiritu Santo, 47
Metro: Noviciado
Telephone: +34 91 521 85 76
Web site

J & J is a great place to go for a coffee, beer and, of course, English-language books. Walk in and you’ll likely find lots of expats chatting away. The staff speaks English and they are always willing to help you find titles. The bookstore itself is downstairs, and here you’ll find the classics, contemporary fiction, travel guides, teaching materials, non-fiction, biography and more. Since it’s a used bookstore, the prices surely beat the bigger chains.

Pasajes Libreria Internacional
C/ Genova, 3
Metro: Alonso Martinez
Telephone: +34 91 310 12 45
Web site

Known for its wide variety of titles in Spanish, German, English, French, Italian, Portuguese and Russian, Pasajes more often than not will have what you’re looking for. English subject matter includes: Language and Linguistics, Philosophy, Literature, History and Geography, Social and Political Sciences, Psychology, Religion, Science, English as a Foreign Language, Art, Music, Cinema and Children’s Books. For all the titles it offers one would think the space would be large; however, the bookstore is small in size and the atmosphere is quite cozy.

Petra’s International Bookshop
C/ Campomanes, 13
Metro: Santo Domingo y Ópera
Telefone: 91 5417291
Web site

This used bookstore in Madrid’s city center carries a wide selection of English titles. The staff is super friendly and if the book you’re looking for isn’t on the shelves, they’ll call you when they have it. Walk by the bookstore and you’ll find titles spilling out onto the street. Walk in and you’ll notice that the layout is similar to an apartment–and in fact, it used to be one! This place has great prices and a friendly atmosphere.

Biblioketa
C/ Justiniano, 4
Metro: Alonso Martinez
Telephone: +34 91 391 00 99
Web site

What makes this bookstore different from the rest is that it specializes in Spanish, English and French titles for children and teens. The great selection starts at books for toddlers zero to three and it doesn’t go too far beyond teen literature. Another feature that sets this place apart is the “La Cuevade Keta,” a space where you can catch lectures, book readings, author signings, music, theater and more. Activities are in English, Spanish and French.

Casa del Libro
Multiple Locations
Web site

One of the biggest bookstores in Madrid (with chains all over the world), Casa del Libro has plenty of stores in the city. It’s no surprise that you’ll find an English language section here. Even though the store is big, the English literature selection isn’t. So it’s possible you may find what you’re looking for, but it’s not guaranteed.

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