Nowadays it’s quite easy to buy a book. We just run into a big book store, we make a pick and off we go with our brand new copies. But there are some people who need that extra excitement when they go shopping: they are looking for treasures, first editions and signed copies or they just simply want to find a unique, one of a kind book.

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The first second hand bookshop was established by Ferenc Meissner in 1976 in Buda. The second hand book business became an instant success for two main reasons: first of all it was cheaper to buy ‘used’ copies than to purchase new ones and secondly there were real treasures amongst these books so people became serious collectors before they even noticed. Thanks to the university students and bookworms second hand book shops are still very popular.

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Antikvár.hu

Second hand books with a modern twist – this is what Antikvár.hu is about. The shop is quite small but it’s very friendly and it’s only one of the many second hand book shops of Múzeum körút. Before antikvár.hu opened in December, 2010, 39 Múzeum krt. gave home to another book store. Ever since they opened they are offering treasures for the lovers of fine arts. They are open from Monday till Saturday but if we would like to browse their supply we can check their website and webshop. If you have some questions or if you are looking for something you can ask for the help of the kind and lovely staff members.

Address: 39
 Múzeum körút, Budapest 1053
Phone number: +36 1 266-2653
Opening hours:
 Monday-Friday: 10 - 18
Saturday: 10 – 13
Sunday: closed

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Nyugat Antikvárium

34 Bajcsy Zsilinszky Street gives home to a veteran of second hand bookshops. The name is very telling, it says a lot about the shop that was originally opened in 1990. We can find all sorts of books here. They run a retail commission sales service and they also organize auctions. Bids can be made on telephone as well. There is a 10% discount for students, pensioners and libraries after at least 5000 forints of purchase. It’s worthy of a visit, especially when you need to get away from the crowd and the noise of the street – Nyugat Antikvárium offers a quiet and peaceful alternative.

Address: 34 Bajcsy Zsilinszky Street, Budapest 1054
Phone number: +36 1 311- 9023
Opening hours: Monday-Friday: 10 – 17:30

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Font Antikvárium

1062 Budapest, Andrássy út 56.
Több infó

Andrássy Street is not just about the luxurious high-end boutiques – there’s also other great places such as a second hand bookshop at No. 56 which was established in 1991. Interestingly it didn’t get its name from a family; it was named after a font type which originally meant alloy. As we enter we see books all around us – next to us, below us and even above us (there’s a gallery as well). It may seem a bit cluttered at first, but visitors will feel a lot more comfortable as the members of the staff offer their help. They also have a webshop but it might be nice to visit them especially now – they have a signed Kosztolányi copy at the moment.

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Szőnyi Antikvárium

The 20-years-old Szőnyi Antikvárium, close to Jászai Mari Square is one of the many second hand bookshops of Falk Miksa Street. The books on the shelves are organized in a very strict, library-like manner. We can hardly take our eyes off the series of encyclopaedias but if we eventually can we will instantly be mesmerized by the maps and engravings that are hanging from the ceiling. These things are for sale as well and they most definitely give a very special touch to the interior design. Auctions are very popular here as well, the last one, the 27th, was a great success; the first edition copy of János Vitéz by Sándor Petőfi was the ultimate favourite. A first edition copy of Madách’s Ember Tragédiája was also offered for auction before, not to mention the copy of a supposedly genuine Vizsolyi Bible.

Address: 3 Szent István krt., Budapest 1055
Phone number: +36 1 311-6431
Opening hours: Monday-Friday: 10 – 18
Saturday: 9 – 13