There's something special about independent bookshops where the atmosphere is personal, and the staff are genuinely happy to help you find the right read. While most major bookshops now stock some titles in other languages, the ones on this list are dedicated to foreign-language books – and no, it's not all in English!
Bestsellers Bookshop
Bestsellers Bookshop, a real gem near St Stephen's Basilica, feels like a cozy English high street spot right here in central Budapest. They're your go-to for English-language books, magazines, and albums, but you'll also find selections in French, German, Spanish, and Italian, with occasional titles in other languages like Dutch, Portuguese, and Ukrainian. What's cool is they're always on top of trending international books, especially those blowing up on TikTok, and they make a point to get major new releases in on the official publication day. Whether you're into fantasy, romance, young adult fiction, literary classics, or non-fiction, they've got you covered, plus a great children's section. Since last autumn, they've introduced a special shelf with lucky dip books—an ideal choice if you're in the mood to discover something unexpected and let fate decide your next read. It's no surprise this place is a favourite for both tourists and expats.
Di-Plant Language Bookshop
Tucked away in one of Budapest's quieter corners, Di-Plant is the kind of bookshop where you can slow down, take your time, and enjoy a proper browse. Run by Zoltán Nyitrai, the shop offers a carefully chosen range of foreign-language books, and if there's something specific you're after, he's more than happy to order it in. While the core selection includes English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish, you'll sometimes come across titles in Swedish, Korean, or Japanese too. Di-Plant is also a brilliant resource for language learners, with shelves full of coursebooks, simplified readers, dictionaries, and exam prep materials. It's a favourite among both students and teachers. There's also been a noticeable rise in demand for Russian-language books – especially vintage or second-hand editions of the greats. So if you're keen to tackle Dostoevsky or Tolstoy in the original, this is a great place to start.
Libra Books
Libra Books has two locations, both situated downtown, directly across from each other. One shop focuses exclusively on English-language books, while the other offers a diverse range of foreign-language titles. Here, you'll mainly find language-learning books and educational materials, alongside a solid selection of literature, non-fiction, travel books, and cookbooks. There are even board games and puzzles on offer. They have strong connections with top global publishers, but are also happy to track down more unique titles on request. If you're following the latest book trends on TikTok, Libra has you covered. In addition to fiction, the shelves feature a great mix of comics, manga, fantasy, sci-fi, and children's and young adult books. They also take orders for rare language books (like from the Far East and Scandinavia) and stock learning materials from publishers like National Geographic Learning, Macmillan, and Pearson. Plus, Libra often hosts book launches for the newest releases – worth checking out!
LibroShop Bookstore
LibroShop is the kind of place you can happily spend time just wandering through the books and little knick-knacks without feeling the pressure to buy anything. That said, the selection is so wide that you're bound to leave with something – even if it's just a lucky dip (surprise book). They place a big emphasis on diversity, showcasing a broad range of genres and stories that cross geographical and cultural boundaries. The shelves are stocked with popular releases, literary classics, language books, and graded readers. There's a healthy mix of adventure novels, contemporary works, and sci-fi, plus stunning collector's editions. You'll find special releases like unique Jane Austen and Harry Potter editions that are a real treat for fans. Interestingly, they are involved in the LibroQuest Project, a social media initiative promoting reading, with regular events to get people engaged with books.
Massolit Books & Café
Massolit Books & Café is not just a bookshop, but also a café, making it the perfect spot to grab a new read and enjoy a coffee in a relaxed atmosphere. The shop mainly offers a mix of used, new, and publisher's surplus English-language books. You'll find a great selection, including contemporary fiction, classics, non-fiction, and even academic texts in subjects like sociology, psychology, biology, mathematics, and physics. Massolit really shines with its Hungarian literature, culture, and history selection, plus great English books on Jewish culture. You'll also find some titles in Norwegian, German, Spanish, Italian, and Polish. If you're hunting for something rare, especially second-hand books, this is a good bet. It's also a lively spot for bookworms, with regular book clubs, launches, and the monthly Budapest Poetry Collective events.
(Cover photo: Zsuzsi Forgács – We Love Budapest)
