Barcelona is a city that breathes culture. Among its streets full of history, art and creativity, it also hides a refuge for book lovers: second-hand bookstores. These magical places are not just stores where you can buy used books; they are much more. They are places where you go without looking for anything in particular, but with the hope of finding something special, a forgotten treasure that deserves a second chance.
Second-hand bookstores: a flea market of surprises
Second-hand bookstores have become a kind of literary flea market where any book can reappear. Here it is common to find titles that were once given as gifts at Christmas or on a birthday, and that ended up in these stores when someone moved or decided to free up space at home. The fascinating thing about these bookstores is that they not only offer cheap books, but also the possibility of stumbling upon out-of-print editions, first editions or unexpected titles.
“The book is a small physical object to which we give a great value”, Fernando Pelayo.
They are places where time seems to stand still. You enter with the idea of finding something, but without knowing exactly what, and you stay as long as you want, immersing yourself among shelves that hold stories waiting to be rediscovered.
The value of a literary second chance
The books that arrive at used bookstores have a history of their own, they have already passed through the hands of other people, and many times they are full of small marks that tell the story of their journey: a dedication, a folded page, a note in the margin. These books deserve a second life, and second-hand bookstores are the ideal place for them to be read again.
Joan Manuel Serrat’s new book: a journey through his life and his music.
Barcelona, with its great cultural and artistic legacy, is one of the favorite destinations for readers in Spain. While the city is home to renowned bookstores, there is also a charming circuit of second-hand bookstores, each with its own personality and unique offerings. Below, we explore some of the highlights.
Tuuulibreria: organized chaos for those who enjoy browsing
Tuuulibreria is the kind of place where you enter without expectations, and leave with a literary gem under your arm. It is a space where books are organized in a chaotic way, stacked on top of each other, almost as if they were participating in a game of jenga. This disorder is part of its charm; here, searching calmly is the key to finding real hidden treasures. The payment system is as particular as its organization: you decide how much to pay for the books you take. All proceeds go to charity projects, so every purchase is also a donation.
- Address: Carrer del Planeta, 17.
Re-Read: the network of second-hand bookstores with fixed prices
Re-Read is one of the best-known second-hand bookstore networks in Barcelona. With 14 locations throughout the city, it offers a great advantage over other bookstores: fixed and scalable prices. This means that the price of the books does not change, and you can buy several books at a lower price if you take more than one. In addition, they have an online search engine that allows you to check if they have the book you are looking for. If it is not available, you can sign up for a waiting list and they will let you know when they receive it.
- Some locations: Carrer del Roselló, 158; Passeig Sant Joan, 152.
La Retrobada: order and aesthetics in a second-hand bookstore
If you are one of those who prefer order when buying books, La Retrobada is the ideal place for you. Although it is a second-hand bookstore, its aesthetics and organization could be confused with those of a new bookstore. The selection of titles is smaller, but it makes up for it with the quality of the books on the shelves. The prices are reasonable, which makes this bookstore a perfect destination to find something special without breaking the bank.
- Address: Carrer de Marià Aguiló, 124B.
Taifa Llibres: the best of both worlds
Located in the heart of the Gràcia neighborhood, Taifa Llibres has two clearly differentiated sections: one for new books and the other for second-hand books. The advantage of this bookstore is that they keep a record of the books they sell, so if you do not find what you are looking for in the second-hand section, you can always choose to take it new.
- Address: Carrer de Verdi, 12.
Aida Books&More: a bookstore with a cause
Aida Books&More is not only a second-hand bookstore; it is also an NGO. The booksellers who work there do so on a voluntary basis, and all proceeds go to projects to fight poverty. In addition to books, you will find a large amount of reading material of various genres, all at affordable prices.
- Address: Carrer d’Astúries, 78.
Hibernian Books: the English book paradise
Hibernian Books is the second-hand bookstore par excellence for those looking for books in English. Located in the Gràcia neighborhood, it offers a wide selection of second-hand books in English, although it also has a small section of new books. Its target audience is people who are fluent in English and are looking for titles that are not so easy to find in conventional bookstores.
- Address: Carrer del Montseny, 17.
A literary tour of Barcelona
Barcelona is a city with a lot to offer, and its second-hand bookstores are further proof of this. These spaces are not only places to buy books at lower prices, but they are also places where the experience of finding a book becomes an adventure. Each visit is an opportunity to discover titles you didn’t expect, to relive stories that had been forgotten on a shelf. If you are a book lover, we recommend you to visit these bookstores and enjoy the magic of giving a second life to a book. Barcelona, with its vibrant cultural atmosphere and welcoming spirit, is the perfect setting to lose yourself among books, whether in a large bookstore or in one of these second-hand literary corners.
