It’s pretty rare to see me without a book in My hand, so one of the first things I did when I moved here was to find places to buy English books in Madrid. I work in the center of Madrid, and I like to have a book when I am on public transport. Sometimes I’ll even stop in a park on the way home and get a few pages in.
At first I would buy loads of books when I went back to London and bring back stuffed backpacks. I could just fill an e-book, but I still like to hold a book in my hand. Thankfully I managed to find a few places that sell English books in Madrid. I want to share this information with you.
You might have forgotten to bring a travel book with you, or you just closed the last page and need a new one. Whatever the reason, I will give you all my favorite places in Madrid to buy an English Language book.
Buying English Books In Madrid
Books in Madrid are not the cheapest of things, but then I am comparing this to what I am used to in the UK. English books have to specially be brought into stores, so I can understand the price being a little higher. If you are looking for a specific English book in Madrid, then you will probably need to go to a large bookstore that may have it in stock or can order it for you.
On the other hand, if you just want to casually browse and find a book you are interested in reading, then a second hand book shop is a great option. These are the types of stores you will find cheap English books in Madrid.
I will give you some information on some of the larger book shops, and also all the second hand book shops that have an English section.
Book Stores In Madrid
The first point of call when looking for English books in Madrid would be to visit the bigger chains of stores. They tend to have newer books that are in the charts, and also books that are popular all the time like Harry Potter, Lee Child, 50 Shades etc… The English section in these stores can be a little small, but when you have less choice I find you are more decisive and choose a book quicker.
So here’s the list:
Pasajes Libros Madrid
This is my favorite book shop in Madrid for new releases. If there is an important book that’s going to be released, they will have it here for sure. If they don’t they will order it for you. The range of English books they have is very extensive from the social sciences, kids books, gastronomy to History, Politics and Fiction.
The lady that runs Pasajes Libros is extremely helpful and speaks English so you wont have to rely on translating apps to get your point across. It’s right next to Alonso Martinez metro so you will have no trouble finding it.
Address: Calle de Génova, 3, 28004 Madrid
Casa De Libro
Casa de Libro is a large chain of bookstores with locations all over Madrid. They have a pretty good section of English books including new releases, classics and bestsellers. The flagship store is on Gran Via and the one I usually go to because it’s close to my office.
The building itself that houses the store is impressive in itself, and worth a visit just for that. They also have a loyalty program where you can sign up for free and get discounts on future purchases. I usually come here to buy books for my kids for school and new releases I know I won’t find in a second hand store.
Fnac
Fnac is another store with various locations in Madrid with a flagship store in Plaza de Callao. They have a pretty good section of English books including non-fiction, children’s books and comics. When you enter the store, they have a few life size figurines of Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman like characters, great for a selfie.
Other than books, Fnac also sells electronics, music, movies and has a really cool section merchandising and figures from some of the most popular shows and movies present and past. The store is very easily accessible in the heart of the city, definitely worth a trip.
J & J Books and Coffee
Looking for English books in Madrid and a place to grab a coffee and read it at the same time? This one featured in my post about the best bagels in Madrid, but they also have a good English book section.
The atmosphere here is very cosy, the smell of coffee, the books, it makes this store a really great place to browse and relax once you find something that interests you. If you are around the Malasaña neighborhood, it’s worth popping in to have a look.
Address: C. del Espíritu Santo, 47, 28004 Madrid
The British Council Madrid
The British Council is a cultural organization offering English language courses and cultural events in Madrid. They also have a library that is open to the public, and you can browse and read but will have to be a member to borrow any books. If you are a student or staff member, this service is free to you.
Address: Edificio Palacete, P.º del Gral. Martínez Campos, 31, 28010 Madrid
Second Hand Book Shops In Madrid
I am very used to going to a charity shop in London, and searching through the shelves of books and actually enjoy the search. At first I was a bit upset that I couldn’t find any charity shops that sell books in Madrid, but then after a while of living here I found quite a few of them.
It’s not so much about just finding a book store though, but a second hand book store that sells English books in Madrid. They can be in pretty obscure places, but I have found some pretty good ones and I want to share them with you.
Tik Books Madrid
This was the first book store I found that sold English books in Madrid. There are quite a few of them around the city and you can find a good assortment of books. They sell many other language books too, but there is always a section in there just for English books. I found a whole set of John Grisham books in there, Lee Child and also a few good books on business.
Each book costs €2.90, but you can get two for €5 or five books for €10. You can also trade in your old books and get a discount on your purchases. The staff at these stores are very nice and friendly, and will help you search for books if you ask them and they have it in stock.
You can search on their website using the barcode, name or author of any book, and it will tell you if they have it in stock, and at what store.
Booksellers
Booksellers Is a second hand book shop with 2 locations. One in La Latina and the other in the Retiro neighborhood. They have a great selection of fiction, non-fiction and children’s books, but also have a bit of fame for having some harder to find out of print titles.
Tuuulibreria Lavapies
My kids absolutely love this shop, much to my detriment. It’s a store where you pay as much as you think the book is worth, and seeing as knowledge has no price it can be pretty hard to gauge. I tend to leave between €3-€5 euros per book and feel this is pretty reasonable.
As far as selection of English books in Madrid, I think this store has the most options. When you enter the store, the room toward the back is where you find the foreign language books. The entire right hand side of this room is stacked with shelves and boxes full of English books.
You can find all sorts of books here. Biographies, comics, science, fiction, they have a little of everything. If you are visiting the Rastro market, it’s on the street adjacent, worth a visit and the money goes to a good cause.
Address: C. de Murcia, 22, 28045 Madrid
Re-Read
Re-Read is actually a franchise of second hand book stores, and a really good choice when looking for English books in Madrid because they have a network. I always go to the branch they have in Atocha, and they will check from there if they have any of the books I am looking for in any of their stores.
I really like the way you search for books on their website. They take pictures of the shelves with all the books on them, and you can browse through pictures and get through more books a lot quicker.
Joy Libros
Now if you have kids in school in Madrid, this is where you get cheap school books in Madrid. I saved hundreds of euros buying my kids school books from here. You simply go there and tell them the year your child is in, and they have all the books in packs or individually. You can also exchange or sell your own books here for a discount.
These are all of the Second hand bookstores where I have found English books in Madrid. There are still a number of stores I have not been to, but I will add them to the map of stores that sell English books in Madrid below.
Map Of Where To Buy English Books In Madrid
FAQ’s
Can you buy English books online in Madrid?
Most of the shops on the list have a website where you can buy books online, or you can reserve and pick the books up at the store.
Do any of these bookstores offer English-language events or readings?
A few of the book stores on the list have language exchanges, book clubs and J&J even have author readings from time to time. You just need to check the websites of the stores to stay informed.
Are English books in Madrid Expensive?
If you are buying a brand new book, I do feel they can be a little pricey, but you have to factor in the extra costs for the stores. In the second hand shops though the books are pretty cheap at €2-€5 a book in most cases.
Conclusion
So as you can see, there are many options when looking to buy English books in Madrid. Whether you want to just grab your book and be on your way, or grab a book and a coffee and chill out while you get into a new book for a couple hours there is definitely something for you.
If you do manage to visit any shops that sell English books in Madrid not mentioned on the list, I would really appreciate if you drop it in the comments so I can go check it out as well.