English Bookstores in Warsaw and other book related tips
Which are the best bookstores in Warsaw for English speakers? Unfortunately, there aren’t that many bookstores in Warsaw and the choice of books in English is rather limited. However, we managed to find quite a few that offer fiction, nonfiction, design, architecture, photography and other kinds of technical books.
In the past years, many of us abandoned the good old fashioned books, the ones you can touch and smell, for the practical, space-saving, portable ebook readers. But is the traditional “real” book really dead? Is it really obsolete and meant to disappear soon? If so, how the heck are we going to fill our bookcases?
We believe that books are not going to disappear. There is something special about holding a book in your hands and displaying it proudly on your bookcase.
In this post we are going to tell you about:
- places in Warsaw where you can get your hands on second-hand books for crazy low prices,
- a list of bookstores in Warsaw filled with new books in English,
- the best library in Warsaw to borrow foreign titles for free,
- a list of online bookshops + a couple of ways to support this website 🙂
At OddUrbanThings we strive to make your life in Warsaw easier and more exciting.
Second-hand Bookstores in Warsaw with English titles
Thebooks.pl Antykwariat
This recently opened bookstore in Warsaw has a nice selection of English books. The owner, Paweł Woźniak, shares our love for books that you can actually hold in your hands. He has a website as well as a shop in Mokotow.
Where: Puławska 140, Warsaw
Price: a second-hand book for 6 PLN (50% discount if you bring another book)
Website: thebooks.pl
Antykwariat Grochowski
This was one of our first finds in Warsaw. A hidden gem in Praga Poludnie. The place is just perfect, old, cozy and filled with books and vinyls. It’s divided into two parts, one of which hosts a decent selection of English titles. Nothing compared to their full collection of Polish books, but still worth to go check it out.
Where: Ludwika Kickiego 12, Warsaw
Price: a second-hand book from around 5 PLN to 18 PLN
Website: agrochowski.pl
Other Bookstores in Warsaw to buy new books in English
Co-liber
Their mission is to bring foreign books to Poland. They have wide selection of English, German, Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese and Japanese books. What’s even better, if you are looking for something they don’t have, they’ll try to find it and order it for you.
Where: Plac Bankowy 4, Warsaw
Website: www.coliber.waw.pl
Bookoff
Bookoff opened its doors in summer 2008 as a specialist online bookstore for the art, photography, design and architecture markets. They are the best in Poland if you want to browse through this kind of books.
Where: Ogrodowa 7, Warsaw
Website: www.bookoff.pl/main-eng.html
As You Like It
Quaint bookshop with books revolving around design, photography, fashion, architecture and more.
Where: Emilii Plater 4, Warsaw
Super Salon
Similar concept to ‘As you like it’ but with a more modern look.
Where: Chmielna 10, Warsaw
Website: www.supersalon.org
Art Bookstore
A chain of bookshops located in the biggest museums in Poland offering a large range of art, design and architecture publications. Here you can also find some cute Warsaw related souvenirs (like the crunchable map of Warsaw).
Where: Center for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle (Jazdów 2, Warsaw) and other locations
Website: artbookstore.pl/en_US/index
Księgarnia MDM
The second floor has a good selection of technical/scientific books in English.
Where: Koszykowa 34/50, Warsaw
Borrow books for free – The best public libraries in Warsaw for English books
Praga-Południe
The Foreign Languages Library is a part of the Public Library in Praga Południe District.
They have quite a big collection of books, audiobooks, course books (teaching and learning) and films (altogether over 50 000 items) in foreign languages (English, German, Spanish, Italian, French, Russian, also Ukrainian and Croatian). You can borrow books there completely for free!
Where: Meissnera 5, Warsaw
Price: free (except for movies)
Online catalogue (in Polish)
They also organize free Polish courses (A1 & A2)! Contact them for more info.
Wola
This little library also offers books in various languages, as well as audiobooks, e-books and magazines.
Where: Nowolipie 20, Warsaw
Independent English Online Bookstore shipping to Warsaw
Thebookshop.pl
Thebookshop.pl is a small and enthusiastic bookshop based in Płock with a great collection of titles for the whole family. They opened two years ago because they could not find the books they wanted for their kids. The shipping cost to Warsaw starts from 6 PLN.
Expats selling books to expats. Sounds good!
Alternatives/support to our site
We support independent bookshops and we encourage you to do the same.
Sometimes, however, it is REALLY hard to find what you want. If you decide to shop on Amazon or Bookdepository, we’d appreciate immensely if you could do so through our links. We will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
It will help Odd Urban Things to stay alive and provide you with more articles like this one.
- Bookdepository link (free shipping to Poland)
- Amazon Link
Do you know more English Bookstores in Warsaw?
Let us know in the comment section below!
Nice post. There is also a nice bookshop on plac Bankowy.
Thanks Aline. Is it “coliber”?
Hello!
There is a little hidden foreign-language library called Poliglotka, on Nowolipie! It’s small but free to join and I’ve found some great books there!
Thanks for your comment Tomasz!
The Prus bookstore opposite the University on Krakowskie Przedmieście was having an English book sale recently – everything for 5zl. Not a huge range, and not sure how long it is on for, but might be worth a try.
Wow great tip Nick! Thanks a lot:)
I sell children’s books in English – new and second -hand, this is my website: https://ksiegarniakangurek.pl/
It’s an on-line bookstore, but located in Warsaw, so personal collection is an option.