25 Best English Bookshops in Berlin for Travelers and Locals
Berlin, the vibrant and culturally diverse capital of Germany, is not only known for its rich history and thriving art scene but also for its love affair with literature. I’ve been to Berlin countless times on weekend trips while I studied abroad. I actually studied German literature and film in Prague, but I truly connected with Berlin’s literary scene with my master’s program residency there a few years later.
Berlin boasts a myriad of enchanting English bookshops that cater to the city’s international community and literary enthusiasts alike. From cozy independent stores adorned with vintage decor to modern spaces housing an extensive collection of books from around the globe, Berlin’s English bookshops offer a haven for bibliophiles seeking solace in captivating stories and literary treasures.
Because finding new bookstores in new cities is one of my favorite travel activities, I thought I’d share some of the best bookstores in Berlin to inspire other bookish travelers and share these fantastic shops with more people.
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Read Also: Books to Read Before Visiting Germany
So let’s get into the best English Bookshops in Berlin.
Shakespeare and Sons
Address: Warschauer Str. 74, 10243
Shakespeare and Sons in Friedrichshain is a cozy bookstore that sells a great range of English books but also has a café inside where you can enjoy your reading with a cup of coffee. Shakespeare and Sons first opened in Prague in 2002 in a former brothel. See my post on other great English bookstores in Prague.
After moving to a larger location in the city, they decided to open another location in Berlin. Shakespeare and Sons Berlin has also moved and expanded over the years, and now includes a bagel bakery Fine Bagels and cafe along with the bookshop and is among the top bookstores in the world.
As an international bookshop, there is a wide selection of English books, including classics and contemporary novels. They also often have in store events like author readings and book clubs.
They’re open every day from 8AM to 7PM.
Another Country
Address: Riemannstraße 7, 10961 Berlin, Germany
Another Country is an independent bookstore that focuses on contemporary literature and offers an impressive collection of English books, including both fiction and non-fiction titles. The interior of the store can be described as chaotic, but in a good way. It almost reminds me of Flourish and Blotts from Harry Potter where there’s a piles of books on every available surface. For those looking for a second-hand bookshop in Berlin, especially one focusing on LGBTQ+ literature, Another Country is the place. Most second-hand books can be purchased for €1.50.
The staff are super friendly, and they have a few events the hold regularly, like their quiz nights, readings, concerts, and suppers, all at incredibly affordable prices. They’re open daily from 1-7PM so make sure you do some sightseeing before heading over to the shop.
Saint George’s
Address: Wörther Str. 27, 10405
Saint George’s has friendly staff and a welcoming atmosphere. This bookshop is a haven for English book lovers in Berlin. They offer new and used books, as well as a wide range of children’s literature.
The interior has over 30,000 books, mostly used, and many English or British literature. The shelves are overflowing and barely leave enough room to browse. But it’s like stepping into a laid-back British bookshop while in the heart of Berlin. If you’re looking for a quaint English bookshop with used English language books, look no further.
Open Monday to Friday 11AM-8PM and Saturday 11AM- 7PM.
Berlin Book Nook
Address: Pflügerstraße 63, 12047
For a truly cozy English bookshop in Berlin, head to the Berlin Book Nook, a quaint and no-frills second-hand bookshop that specializes in English language books. Find 6,000 titles of classics, contemporary literature, travelogues, cookbooks, and more piled onto their shelves.
Stop in after a morning of sightseeing in Berlin to get a free cup of tea and buy a used book.
Open Monday to Saturday 12-6PM.
Curious Fox
Address: Lausitzer Platz 17, 10997 Berlin-Kreuzberg
The Curious Fox is charming new and used English bookstore in Berlin. It stands as aliterary haven and a welcoming retreat for book lovers. The shelves are adorned with an eclectic selection of books spanning various genres, catering to the diverse tastes. Though it is primarily an english book store, you can find German language books as well if you’re looking to learn or have already mastered the language.
The Curious Fox has recently moved so if you’ve been before but it’s been a while, you might want to double check the address below to make sure you go to the right Berlin bookshop.
It’s open Monday from 2-7PM, Tuesday-Friday 11AM-7PM and Saturday 11AM-6PM.
Read Also: Literary Travel Guide to Berlin
Love Story of Berlin
Address: Kastanienallee 88, 10435
Love Story of Berlin is an amazing English language bookshop in Berlin that houses countless books in their cozy store while offering over 50,000 books to pre-order for next-day pickup. The bookshop also has many German books but their English section is sizeable and you’ll be able to find non-fiction, crime, cookbooks, and classics when you visit.
They’re open Monday- Saturday 10AM-9PM.
German Bookstores with English Sections
All of the bookstores I mentioned above are either entirely English language books or have a majority of their books in English. But I wanted to include a few other bookstores in Berlin that aren’t necessarily for English readers but have large English sections that are still fun for travelers to check out.
Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus
Address: Friedrichstraße 90, 10117
Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus is known as one of the largest bookstores in Europe and definitely the biggest bookstore in Berlin. This bookshop has an impressive English section, offering an extensive selection of books across various genres.
Readers can cozy up in its vast two-story English section to wile away a rainy afternoon.
It’s open Monday-Friday 9AM-12AM, Saturday 9AM-11:30PM, and Sunday 1-6PM.
Marga Schoeller Bücherstube
Address: Knesebeckstraße 33, 10623
If you can only go to one Berlin bookstore it should definitely be Marga Schoeller. It has an amazon history of hiding forbidden books from the Nazis to then being in post-war Soviet and then British occupied territory and is one of the best bookstores in Berlin.
The store has a huge selection of German books but also a really impressive collection of English titles to choose from. It’s open Monday-Wednesday 10AM-6PM and Thursday 10AM-7PM so be sure to head there during the week.
Hopscotch Reading Room
Address: Kurfürstenstraße 14/Haus B, 10785
For those seeking more unique books, especially from non-western and diasporic perspectives, head to Hopscotch reading room on Kurfürstenstraße. The shelves are packed with poetry, theory, novels, and history books with an emphasis on anticolonial struggle. They also offer evens like readings and can suggest books if you may not know where to begin with this necessary but often not-widely-recognized theme.
They’re open from Tuesday to Saturday 1-7PM.
Ivallan’s Second-Hand and Exceptional Books
Address: Schönleinstraße 32, 10967
When you first hear of Ivallan’s, it sounds like a whimsical and magical bookshop. And that it truly is. Only Ilya Evdakov offers English second-hand books in Berlin in a remarkable way. Evdakov wants to reimagine the book-buying experience, organizing his shelves by personalized themes instead of my author. He even acts as your “literary matchmaker,” making a trip to Ivallan’s truly unique and special.
They’re open Tuesday to Saturday 12-8PM.
Pro qm
Address: Almstadtstraße 48, 10119
Pro qm is a centrally located Berlin bookstore with a focus on design, art, and architecture. Those looking for coffee table books in both German and English would love Pro qm. You can also find a wide selection of lifestyle magazines from around the world.
Open Monday-Saturday 11AM-7PM.
Do You Read Me?
Address: Auguststraße 28, 10117
Do You Read Me? Is a spacious and aesthetic store that holds magazines, journals, and books from more than 20 countries around the world. Most of the magazines focus on art, fashion, design, architecture, and photography, but also music, culture, and literature.
They’re open Monday- Saturday 11AM to 7PM.
She Said
Address: Kottbusser Damm 79, 10967
As the name might suggest, She Said is a bookshop focusing on queer feminist literature. Opened in late 2021, the entire shop is dedicated to the unsung literary heroines. With 1300 titles to inspire and educate readers, you can find something perfect in store. You can also step inside for a cup of coffee or tea in their cafe while you read your newest book.
They’re open Monday-Friday 10AM-7PM and Satruday 10AM-6PM.
Pequod Books
Address: Selchower Str. 33, 12049
Pequod’s is a lovely used book store in Berlin that sells both English and German books. However, it also has a selection of books in French, Dutch, Swedish, Turkish, Italian, Polish, Danish, Norwegian, and other languages.
Open Monday to Saturday 1-7PM.
Ocelot
Address: Brunnenstraße 181, 10119
This modern bookstore prides itself on offering carefully selected titles from around the world. Their English section includes both popular bestsellers and lesser-known gems. One of the main reasons I recommend Ocelot is because of the beautifully designed interior. With large and modern oak-panelled walls, it’s easy to feel cozy when you step inside. Plus, you can head over to their cafe for a hot coffee or tea to enjoy with your new book.
You can find a huge selection of English literature and translations from writers like James Joyce or Haruki Murakami.
They’re open Tuesdays 11AM-8PM and Wednesday to Saturday 10AM-8PM.
Bücherbogen am Savignyplatz
Address: Stadtbahnbogen 593, 10623
Situated near Savignyplatz in a brick viaduct under the S-Bahn, this unique bookstore features an excellent selection of international literature, including many English books from renowned authors (nearly ⅓ of their stock is in English).
They’re open 10AM-7PM Monday through Saturday.
But don’t think the book shopping stops there. There are a ton of bookstores that you can spend weeks browsing. Other shops include Hammett Krimibuchandlung, Hundt Hammer Stein, Otherland, Modern Graphics, Belle-et-Triste, Mundo Azul, Berliner Buchertisch, and Antiquariat Die Deisterschmiede.
Berlin Travel Tips
When you’re looking around the English bookstores in Berlin, you should definitely see some of the other amazing sights the city has. While I always love to push literary travel locations like Literary Colloquium, The Savoy Hotel (where American author Henry Miller often stayed), Bebelplatz (the site of the Nazi’s largest book burning purges), and The Grimm Zentrum. See my Berlin Travel Guide for more ideas.
While in the city, you shouldn’t miss out on traditional Berlin sights like the Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust Memorial, the East Side Gallery, and the Reichstag Building.
On my many trips to the city, I loved wandering around, finding the best English bookstores in Berlin. From large international bookshops with huge selections of multi-language books to smaller English language bookstores, there are some fantastic bookshops in Berlin that every bookish traveler should visit. So on your next trip, head out to these shops, grab some new books to read or just browse some of the best bookstores in Berlin for inspiration and get a glimpse into German culture.
If you do visit one of these English language bookshops, share a photo with me over on Instagram or Facebook so I can see the great new selections they have until the next time I head to Berlin!
Map of English Bookshops in Berlin
Are you ready to Travel?
- Book Your Flights– To find the cheapest flights, flexibility is a must. Some great options are Google Flights for the calendars to find the cheapest options, Skiplagged, and Skyscanner. For more options, see our resources page.
- Find Transportation- If you’re driving, look into Rentalcars.com before arriving to find the best rates. Also check for rail or bus routes as they might be cheaper than renting a car.
- Book Your Accommodation– Look at Booking.com, Hotels.com, or Expedia for hotels. You can also look at AirBnB or VRBO if you want a bigger space.
- Book Tours and Experiences- Check Viator or Klook for some of the best tours and attractions for a great price.
- Stay Connected– If your phone’s data plan is going to be expensive, order an eSIM card before you go.
- Buy Travel Insurance- I always recommend World Nomads for insurance. It’s better to protect yourself in case of mishaps.
- Pack Your Bags– Check out my packing lists, or my favorite travel gear to help you remember all of the essentials.
- Learn About Your Destination: Learn about your location with guidebooks like Lonely Planet, or, novels and books about the country, or, shameless plug, search around my site for more info.
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