An English writer once said that “reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” But why spend money on books when there is the Internet, there are tablets and smartphones, and free Wi-Fi everywhere? Well, for book lovers, reading a book still remains a very relaxing way of spending a rainy afternoon or a sunny day in the park. And there are plenty of bookshops in Bucharest for them.

However, even if you are not a fan of books, you might want visit some of the Romanian capital’s bookshops. Besides books, they also offer games and toys, music and film, travel guides, and stationery products. Moreover, some of them are located in very nice buildings.

Here’s a list of some of the biggest bookshops in Bucharest.

Carturesti is one of the largest bookshop chains in Romania. There are no less than seven such bookshops in Bucharest, and another ten across the country.

Carturesti Carusel is one of the chain’s largest bookshops in Bucharest. Located on Lipscani street in the Old Town, the shop opened earlier this year. Its offer includes books, travel guides, music & film, toys, tea and tea accessories, and stationery products. The top floor also hosts a small cafe. The bookshop is open daily between 10:00 and 24:00.

Another important Carturesti bookshop is the one located on Arthur Verona street, close to Romana Square. Carturesti Verona, located in a very nice old building, offers a wide range of products, from books, sweets, and tea, to music and films. One can also spend some quality time with children in the special room arranged for them, or have a refreshing drink on the terrace located behind the building. This shop is open daily between 10:00 and 22:00.

The other five bookshops in Bucharest are Carturesti Pantelimon (located on Pierre de Coubertin street, inside Mega Mall), Carturesti AFI (inside AFI Palace Cotroceni shopping center), Carturesti Nord (inside Baneasa Shopping City), Carturesti Floreasca (inside Promenada Mall), and Carturesti Quintet (located on Edgar Quinet street).

Across the country, there are Carturesti bookshops in Ploiesti, Cluj, Timisoara, Brasov, Constanta, Suceava, Iasi, and Arad.

Book lovers can also visit one of the six Diverta bookshops in Bucharest. Four of them are located in some of the largest shopping centers in Romania’s capital, namely Baneasa Shopping City, Bucuresti Mall, Plaza Romania, and Unirea Shopping Center. All of them are open daily between 10:00 and 22:00.

The Diverta bookshop in CC Jolie Ville (Erou Iancu Nicolae street) also stays open daily between 10:00 and 22:00, while the shop located on Fainari street is only opened during weekdays (Monday-Friday), between 09:00 and 17:00.

Diverta’s offer includes books, toys, gadgets, stationery products, games, music & film, electronics and IT products.

If you are not in the capital, don’t worry. There are other 16 bookshops across the country, in Alba Iulia, Arad, Pitesti, Oradea, Resita, Cluj, Constanta, Craiova, Deva, Petrosani, Targu Mures, Piatra Neamt, Campina, Sibiu, and Timisoara.

Humanitas also runs four bookshops in Bucharest, and another 11 across the country.

The Humanitas bookshop located next to Cismigiu park, downtown Bucharest, is one of the chain’s best known shops. The bookshop not only sells a wide range of books – from fiction, to history and romance, but also hosts cultural events such as book launches or readings. It stays open from Monday to Saturday between 10:00 and 21:00, and on Sundays between 10:00 and 19:00.

The Humanitas Kretzulescu bookshop is also one of the largest shops of the chain, offering a large number of titles. Located on Calea Victoriei street, the bookshop is open between 10:00 and 21:00 from Monday to Saturday, and between 11:00 and 19:00 on Sundays.

There is another Humanitas bookshop located at 120 Calea Victoriei street, and a fourth one inside Auchan Titan commercial center.

Outside Bucharest, you can find Humanitas bookshops in Alba Iulia, Brasov, Cluj-Napoca, Galati, Iasi, Oradea, Piatra Neamt, Ploiesti, Ramnicu Valcea, and Sibiu.

The Mihai Eminescu Bookshop located on Regina Elisabeta boulevard in Bucharest, not far from Universitate square, may also be a good place for book lovers. The shop offers many books from various areas, such as history, romance, science fiction, medicine, Romanian literature, poetry, economics, and theater. The bookshop also offers discounts and hosts cultural events. The shop is open between 9:00 and 20:00 from Monday to Friday, and between 10:00 and 16:00 on Saturday. It stays closed on Sundays.

If you want to make sure that you will find books in English, visit the Anthony Frost English Bookshop downtown Bucharest. Its offer includes books from various fields, including children’s books, comics, computer & internet, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and sports, all in English. Located on Calea Victoriei street, the shops is open between 10:00 and 20:00 from Monday to Friday, between 10:00 and 19:00 on Saturdays, and between 10:00 and 14:00 on Sundays.

Kyralina Bookshop is the perfect place for French speakers or those who want to improve their French. The shop offers both well-known books written by French classics, and Romanian books translated into French. The small bookshop located on George Enescu street is open between 10:00 and 20:00 from Monday to Saturday, and between 12:00 and 18:00 on Sundays.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: freeimages.com)