9 Best Bookshops in Barcelona for Bookworms
If you’re planning a trip to Barcelona and wondering where the best bookstores to visit are, I’ve got you covered.
I’ve been traveling around Europe the last couple of years, finding and sharing the best indie bookstores, the most beautiful libraries, and the unmissable literary destinations. I hadn’t heard Barcelona mentioned often as a destination for book lovers, so I was pleasantly surprised with the number of great bookshops in Barcelona, each with their own thematic twist.
There are lots of options for those looking for English bookstores in Barcelona. There’s a great variety of bookstores available here, including used bookstores, new bookstores, aesthetically gorgeous bookstores, a book market, and specialist bookstores.
Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, a region of Spain rich with its own unique culture, heritage, and language (yes, the native tongue in Barcelona is actually Catalan, not Spanish). So I particularly enjoyed perusing and discovering Catalan literature here.
Read on for my personal recommendations on the best bookshops in Barcelona. And don’t forget to pin this post for later when you’re planning your itinerary.
As always, this post may contain affiliate links, which means at no additional cost to you, shopping from them may generate small commissions to support the operations of this blog.
Whenever possible, I recommend buying books at local bookshops or through Bookshop.org, because shopping there puts the profits right into the hands of indie bookstores all over the country.
But first: a few things to know about Barcelona bookstores
Here are some things to know when you’re looking for Barcelona bookstores, because there are a few quirks you should know when planning your time:
- Most bookshops in Barcelona are closed on Sundays. There are very few exceptions.
- Most Barcelona bookstores are open later than you might be used to, but they do close in the middle of the afternoon for the traditional siesta time. That means you can do your book shopping in the evenings here, typically until 8:30-9 pm, but not in the afternoons between about 1-4 or 5 pm.
All right, now that we’ve covered those important points, here are the bookshops in Barcelona to put on your bucket list.
Hibernian Secondhand English Bookshop
Hibernian is actually my favorite of all the English bookstores in Barcelona. It’s everything I love about a good bookstore — well-stocked, well-priced, and a pleasure to browse. It’s the kind of bookstore you can spend hours in without ever realizing it.
They sell primarily secondhand books, but they fill out their collection with some well-selected new copies as well (and these new books are usually listed a couple of euros below typical MSRP — a huge bonus!).
I even came across some gorgeous (new) editions of Jane Austen and other classic novels that I’d never seen before. They were so beautiful, it was all I could do not to empty my suitcase of all my clothes just to take them home with me.
There’s a great selection at Hibernian Secondhand English Bookshop, but also lots of space to browse, so you won’t be awkwardly maneuvering narrow aisles full of people (though I do love a good maze of a bookshop, like some of my favorite English bookstores in Paris).
What books will you find here? You can browse all your typical book genres, including fiction, classics, crime, science fiction, children’s literature, young adult literature, and more. They also have a dedicated section of Spanish and Catalan authors translated into English, so it’s a good spot to find some local literature.
The books here are priced very well, typically between 3-9 euros, which I think is just right for used books. I’d recommend putting Hibernian Secondhand English Bookshop at the top of your list of bookshops to visit in Barcelona. As a bonus, it’s located in the trendy Gracia neighborhood, which has lots of great options for food and drinks in Barcelona.
Address: C/ de Verdi, 66, Gràcia, 08012 Barcelona
Related: Berlin is, in my opinion, one of the best places to find English bookstores in Europe.
Taifa Llibres
Taifa Llibres is an amazing secondhand bookshop in the trendy Gracia neighborhood of Barcelona, and it’s perfect if you read in Spanish or Catalan. It’s absolutely gorgeous, with a vast selection of used books. Sadly, there’s not much here for English readers.
I found myself jealous of all the people who read in Spanish or Catalan who get to browse and shop and find hidden gems here.
Even if you don’t read in Spanish or Catalan, pop your head in to Taifa Llibres. Gracia was my favorite neighborhood of Barcelona to explore, full of cute vintage shops and great eateries. And it’s only a few minutes’ walk to the nearby Hibernian English bookstore (see above).
Tip: These bookshops in Barcelona are within strolling distance of the Casa Vicens Gaudi, one of the many Gaudi commissions in Barcelona. It also makes a great mid-day stop if you are walking between the Sagrada Familia and the Park Güell, two must-visit sights in Barcelona and some of my personal favorites.
Address: C/ de Verdi, 12, Gràcia, 08012 Barcelona
Llibreria Ona
Llibreria Ona is one of the most unique bookshops in Barcelona and should be high on your list of places to visit. This massive indie bookstore is dedicated to Catalan literature, and it’s truly inspiring to see.
There’s multiple rooms and levels to this bookstore; it seems to go on and on, with unique decor and themes as you go. I love the book spiral in the entryway as well as the multimedia visuals in the large children’s section. There’s even a café hidden inside the bookstore.
While I was visiting this Barcelona bookstore, there were not one but two author events happening in different parts of the shop, so they really do dedicate themselves to promoting local writers. I love to see the sense of community here as well as the pride they take in their regional literature.
While Llibreria Ona sells books primarily in Catalan and Spanish, there is a pretty substantial section of English translations, making it the best place in Barcelona to discover Catalan literature (you won’t find a massive selection of Catalan writers translated into English anywhere, because only about 20 Catalan books are translated into English each year!).
I loved perusing the English section and picking out a couple of local books to read. There is a helpful and free pamphlet in English that highlights some of the books in their selection, and a very friendly bookstore employee who spoke great English spent a good 20 minutes giving me his personal recommendations.
I really believe that every visitor to Barcelona should explore the local culture with a visit to Llibreria Ona.
Address: C/ de Pau Claris, 94, L’Eixample, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
Related: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon was one of my top reads of 2023 and is set in Barcelona.
Re-read Llibreria Lowcost Barcelona
Re-read Llibreria is a chain of used bookshops in Spain and a great place to find secondhand books in Spanish, Catalan, and English.
One awesome feature that simplifies the used book shopping experience is Re-Read’s standardized prices. As of 2024, used book prices at Re-Read Llibreria branches are as follows:
- 1 book for 4€
- 2 books for 6€
- 5 books for 12€
That means you can find some awesome steals at this Barcelona bookshop (hence their slogan, “Almost new books at almost impossible prices”). I walked away with several used books in great condition and was very happy with the price I paid for them.
There are 8 Re-Read Llibreria locations around Barcelona, so you’re likely to stumble across one on your Barcelona travels without even trying to. The branches I visited had decent selections in English and French so I definitely would call this a worthwhile bookshop for any bargain hunters.
Re-read also buys used books if you happen to arrive with any to sell.
Barcelona’s Sunday Book Market / Mercat del Llibreria Dominical de Sant Antoni
The Barcelona Sunday book market is one of the best-kept secrets in Barcelona. Tourists flock to the Boqueria market, but the book market is still flying mostly under the tourist radar. It’s lively and full of locals and when I visited, full of music and dancing, too. A stage outside the market hosted a live music group, and the square in front of it was bursting with locals joining together in a local dance.
But what about the books? The Barcelona book market is full of independent vendors, approximately 60-70 of them, who set up tables and stalls each Sunday. Visitors can peruse many offerings of used books, comic books, and vintage magazines, in addition to the vendors selling game cards and other collectible items.
There weren’t many books in English when I visited (understandable), but I think this is absolutely a worthwhile visit just to take in the local energy.
Address: Carrer del Comte d’Urgell, 1, L’Eixample, 08011 Barcelona
Related: Book markets are usually a great spot to find good deals on books AND to take in the local culture. They are usually frequented by locals and retain their cultural authenticity. Some other favorite book markets of mine include the Istanbul book market and the Amsterdam book markets.
Llibreria Inglesia Come In
The Llibreria Inglesia Come In is another destination for people looking for English bookstores in Barcelona. This is a cute indie bookshop that sells all new books at MSRP prices (if you’re uncertain which price, handy electronic price checkers are located throughout the store).
There’s a huge selection here of children’s and YA literature in particular, though most book genres are accounted for.
Oddly, signs throughout the store ask you not to take pictures of the books — I can only presume that is to discourage people from discovering books here just to buy them on Amazon later — a problem that’s killing bookstores all over the world.
While I personally prefer used bookstores, Llibreria Inglesia Come In is a great option for finding new English books in Barcelona.
Address: C/ de Balmes, 129 Bis, L’Eixample, 08008 Barcelona
Do you enjoy reading books set in different countries? I’ve designed a custom Read Around the World Journal specifically for readers who want to explore more world literature and track their progress. Make lists, color in bookshelves, and play Read Around the World Bingo in this unique reading tracker.
You can take a peek inside the journal, peruse my list of resources to help you on your reading journey, and order a copy if you think it’s the right fit for you!
Llibreria Finestres
The Llibreria Finestres is a two-part Barcelona bookstore. The store is divided into two sections, each across the road from the other, and you’ll find different genres of books featured in each.
This is a bookshop in Barcelona where you can find all new books across a vast array of genres and in multiple different languages. Interestingly, the store is not divided up by language, but by genre only; that means if you’re looking for English, French, Catalan, or Spanish books, you’ll just have to search that genre alphabetically as usual and then look for a copy in your preferred language. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen that before.
Visually, the Llibreria Finestres is gorgeous and very modern. There’s also a really adorable café located inside one of the branches (much like the bookstore cafés I loved in Prague).
Books are sold at list price here.
Address: C/ de la Diputació, 249, L’Eixample, 08007 Barcelona
La Impossible
I love when bookstores take me by surprise, and La Impossible was one of them. I came across it while walking to one of the Barcelona bookshops on my list and popped inside for a browse. While it looks like a small shop on the outside, it’s surprisingly large inside!
This bookshop in Barcelona sells all new books and mostly in Spanish and Catalan with a decent selection in English as well. They pride themselves on offering a culturally diverse array of books and in giving personal recommendations.
Address: C/ de Provença, 232, L’Eixample, 08036 Barcelona
Llibreria Altair
I don’t often do this, but I’m adding to my list of bookshops in Barcelona to visit a shop that I myself didn’t get a chance to pop into, because I’m so confident of its quality. It belongs on this list because I can’t wait to explore on my next visit.
Hem obert portes i ja us estem esperant rere aquests dos arcs per viatjar plegats arreu del món!
— Altaïr (@altairviatges) January 15, 2024
No hi ha millor manera de començar la setmana que passejant entre llibres de tots els continents, fins ara🥰🗺️ pic.twitter.com/e2O2EsAAzq
Llibreria Altair is a bookshop dedicated to travel (much like one of my favorite bookshops in London). They sell travel guide books, maps, dictionaries, and international literature. Books are sold in Spanish, Catalan, and English.
This bookstore is a popular favorite among locals and tourists alike, and I can’t wait to get here myself.
Address: 95Q8+3H Barcelona
Finding Accommodations in Barcelona
Barcelona has an extensive metro system, which opens up a lot of options of where to stay. I enjoyed a stay at the Villaroel Barcelona apartments. There was lots of space for our larger group, including a full kitchen, which allowed us to save money on food.
As you look for somewhere to stay, I recommend checking for lodging on Hotels.com. I almost always book my accommodations through Hotels.com, because you can earn rewards for every night you stay without having to choose only one hotel chain to be loyal to. You can even book locally owned apart hotels and bed and breakfasts.
If you’re looking for privately owned vacation rentals, I recommend checking VRBO. I’ve personally had much better experiences with their owners and rentals than I have with their primary competitor.
Travel Resources At-A-Glance
All of the following are links to sites and services I actually use to book and plan my travel or to purchase books or travel gear.
For flights: Skyscanner is my number one go-to resource for booking flights. I love using the “explore” function to find the cheapest places I can fly during a given time or using the fare calendar to identify the cheapest days to fly.
For hotels and lodgings: For hotels, hotels.com, and for vacation rentals, VRBO.com. I’ve had much better experiences with private rentals through this website than through other popular private vacation rental websites.
For car rentals: Kayak allows comparisons across a wide range of booking agencies and lists reviews of companies as well. I’ve found this to be the most user-friendly and efficient way to compare car rental prices.
For tours & excursions: Viator and Get Your Guide are my top choices for booking excursions and tour experiences in a new destination.
For travel gear: Amazon.com and REI for more outdoorsy items. Check out my travel gear recs here.
For booking trains & buses: I find the Omio app and website to be the most easily navigable for comparing options for public transportation, especially in Europe,
Best travel credit card: My favorite travel rewards credit card for European travel has been the Chase Sapphire Rewards card. Visa is accepted just about everywhere in Europe, and there are no foreign transaction fees on the card. Some of the travel benefits I love on the Chase Sapphire include free TSA pre-check or Global Entry (worth it every time), an annual $200 travel credit, an annual $200 hotel benefit, built-in rental car, and trip insurance, and points are worth 50% more when used to book travel. I travel around Europe a LOT, and I end up with many free flights and hotel stays from using my points on my Chase Sapphire.
For books: Bookshop.org often has prices as good as Amazon or sometimes better, but profits go to indie bookstores all over the country. Whenever possible, consider buying your books from this online indie bookshop resource.
Hopefully this information helps you make the most of your time in Barcelona. The book shopping really is divine and should be a part of any Spain itinerary!
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