5 Bookstores in Brno with English Books

#LifeInCzechia Bookstores hold a special place in the hearts of avid readers and literary enthusiasts. The mere sight of towering shelves adorned with books of various genres has a magnetic effect, drawing us into a world of imagination and knowledge. As a foreigner who isn’t fluent in the Czech language and is a lover of books, I’ve found it important to look for bookstores that have books in English. While I like to check bookstores wherever I travel, I found that it’s easier to have a few bookstores in Brno specifically because it’s where I spend most of my time. In this blog post I will share the bookstores I’ve visited that have sections of books in English that I believe are worth visiting.

Barvic & Novotny

When I first spotted Barvic & Novotny near Ceska I thought I was looking at a Czech version of Barnes & Noble. The ambiance and overall style of the bookstore truly reminded me of home. After exploring the lower level of the bookstore I went upstairs and found the English section. Initially I was shocked that there even was an English section of books but after considering how many people speak english in Brno I found it not to be as shocking.

The section of English books in Barvic & Novotny is about five bookcases along with two tables. The books are sorted on the bookcases depending on genre and the most popular titles or authors can be found on the tables along with the books that are on sale. During my first visit I found two books that now live on the bookshelf in my dorm room.

Address: Česká 13, 602 00 Brno-střed, Czechia

Oxford Bookshop

This bookstore has a variety of books in several languages including English. In June the name changed to Megabooks Bookshop but after checking on Google when searching for bookstores you’ll find that it’s still found as Oxford bookshop on Google Maps. However if you go to this bookstore you’ll find more foreign language literature than leisure reading books. If you’re trying to study languages this store is the best place to find books. It’s also important to note that this is a chain bookstore and it has a few other locations in Czechia like in Prague, Olomouc, Ostrava, Pilsen, České Budějovice and Hradec Králové.

Address: Novobranská 544, 602 00 Brno-střed, Czechia

Knihy Dobrovský

When I visited this bookstore I was very pleased with the English section of books. On the third floor there is a small room’s worth of books in English. The shelves are much taller and hold more books than both Barvic & Novotny and Knihkupectvi Academia. After browsing through the books they had I had to stop myself from purchasing any because I only have so much room in my suitcase. However I did spend a bit of time at their cafe debating on if I could make some space in my suitcase for a few of their English books. There were also some knick knacks in the store like water bottles, mugs, bookmarks, and other miscellaneous items.

Address: Joštova 6, 602 00 Brno-střed, Czechia

Book Therapy

This shop is smaller as it is an independent boutique bookstore however it carries a good selection of english fiction books. You’ll find a variety of books and subjects when visiting. When I visited the store I found that they had many books that recently came out which is also a bonus as you’ll have the latest literature available. The only thing that I found as a downside but also an upside is that they have a strict rule and that is: “when a new title comes to the store, they have to say goodbye to another one.” I say this is an upside because they’re circulating more books and you’ll have the chance to discover new books with every visit.

Address: Zelný trh 10, 602 00 Brno-střed, Czechia

Knihkupectví Academia

I didn’t find this bookstore on my own; however, I was invited to check it out by a few of the other interns in my program. Once again the English section is on the second floor but this section is larger than the one at Barvic & Novotny. Instead of five smaller bookcases this bookstore has around seven or eight larger bookcases. I wasn’t as successful finding books at this bookstore however, they have a great selection of books to choose from and they also have a cafe where you can sit and read which in my opinion is a bonus.

Address: 13 79 Náměstí Svobody Brno Brno 2 Brno-město, 602 00, Czechia