Looking for the best bookstores in Istanbul for English books? I’ve got you covered. Whether you’re a resident, a traveller, or just passing through, Istanbul is a paradise for book lovers, but finding a good English-language section in a bookshop can be challenging.
Here’s a guide to the best bookstores in Istanbul where you can find English books, complete with opening hours so you know when to drop by. If you know where to look, the city is full of places to browse, sip coffee, and discover your next great book.
- 1. Minoa Pera
- 2. İstanbul Kitapçısı
- 3. Books & Coffee
- 4. Homer Kitabevi
- 5. İnsan Kitap
- 6. Mephisto Bookstore & Cafe – Beyoğlu
- 7. Frankestayn Kitabevi – Bookstore & Cafe
- 8. Pandora Kitabevi
- 9. Remzi Kitabevi
- 10. Robinson Crusoe 389
- 11. Sahaflar Çarşısı (Secondhand Book Bazaar)
- More Istanbul Bookstores
- Nomad Book Club
- Travel Essentials
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1. Minoa Pera
Location: Beyoğlu
Opening Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
A sister store to the original Minoa in Beşiktaş, Minoa Pera is honestly one of the most beautiful bookstores I’ve ever been in.
It’s also a triple threat: books, coffee, and cats! There’s a café upstairs and a bar downstairs, and the resident kitty loves to roam around the bookshelves.
With a huge English-language offering covering literature, philosophy, design, and art (plus a book club!), it’s a perfect place to spend an afternoon reading or working.
2. İstanbul Kitapçısı
Locations: Karaköy, Kadıköy, Eminönü, Taksim & more
Opening Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM (varies by location)
Backed by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, İstanbul Kitapçısı offers a diverse collection of books, including a well-stocked English section focused on Turkish history, literature in translation, and travel.
The Galataport branch is particularly scenic, right on the Bosphorus. Who doesn’t want to read with a cup of coffee and a river view?
3. Books & Coffee
Location: Kadıköy (Yeldeğirmeni)
Opening Hours: Daily, 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
This is a big chain and you’ll see Books & Coffee bookstores all over Istanbul. Think warm and inviting spaces where you can browse a small collection of English books and sip expertly brewed coffee.
4. Homer Kitabevi
Location: Beyoğlu
Opening Hours: Daily, 10:00 AM – 7:30 PM
For the best selection of English books, Homer Kitabevi is a must-visit. This independent bookstore has a huge variety of English-language books on Turkish history, archaeology, art, and philosophy. It’s the place for serious readers and curious minds.
Sadly, there’s no adjoining café, but there is a cat, so bonus points for that. They also have wrapped “blind date with a book” packages if you can’t make up your mind and would like a little surprise.
5. İnsan Kitap
Locations: Beyoğlu
Opening Hours: Daily, 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
İnsan Kitap is known for its thoughtful curation and progressive outlook. Its small English section includes a mix of literature, non-fiction, and pop fiction. It also has more of a souvenir shop vibe.
6. Mephisto Bookstore & Cafe – Beyoğlu
Location: Near Galatasaray High School, İstiklal Street
Opening Hours: Daily, 10:00 AM – 00:00 AM
Mephisto is a beloved Beyoğlu institution. One of the upper floor houses an English-language section. Again, it’s an odd mix of fiction, non-fiction, and other books. There’s also a cute rooftop café.
7. Frankestayn Kitabevi – Bookstore & Cafe
Location: Kadıköy (Caferağa)
Opening Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Monday closed
Frankestayn is one of Kadıköy’s most unique spots — part bookstore, part café, part cultural space. Unfortunately, this bookstore was closed when I tried to visit, so I can’t personally vouch for the English language section, but I believe it’s good. This bookstore is on my list for my next visit to Istanbul!
8. Pandora Kitabevi
Location: Beyoğlu (İstiklal Caddesi)
Opening Hours: Daily, 10:30 AM – 8:00 PM
A go-to for English-speaking readers in Istanbul, Pandora has a strong collection of English books upstairs. You’ll find fiction, poetry, philosophy, Turkish authors in translation, and more. It’s small, organized, and full of hidden treasures.
This bookstore was a little out of the way, so I didn’t manage to visit on this trip, but it comes highly recommended for books in English.
9. Remzi Kitabevi
Location: Nişantaşı & other branches
Opening Hours: Daily, 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
A clean, modern bookstore chain with an excellent English section at its Nişantaşı branch. From international bestsellers to business books and children’s titles, Remzi is perfect if you’re looking for something specific — or just want a calm browsing experience.
Located close to Pandora, I didn’t manage to get to this bookstore either, but it’s on the list! There are also more branches, but further out of the city centre.
10. Robinson Crusoe 389
Location: Inside SALT Galata
Opening Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM | Monday closed
Once a legendary İstiklal bookstore, Robinson Crusoe 389 now lives on inside SALT Galata, which is actually trickier to find than you think. Unfortunately, it no longer has the comprehensive English-language section it once had.
So, I’m including it on this list as a bit of a warning: a few Twilight and Harry Potters in a basket in one of the sides rooms is not an English-language section.
11. Sahaflar Çarşısı (Secondhand Book Bazaar)
Location: Beyazıt, near the Grand Bazaar
Opening Hours: Monday–Saturday, 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM | Sunday 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Ok, so your chance of finding English books here is pretty slim, but in terms of vibes, it’s a winner. For treasure hunters and vintage lovers, Sahaflar Çarşısı is a magical place.
This open-air second-hand book market, adjoined to Istanbul’s famous Grand Bazaar, has been running since the Ottoman era. Maybe with patience and luck, you’ll find some English-language classics, vintage travel guides, and more.
More Istanbul Bookstores
Whether you’re into Turkish writers, the latest novels, Turkish history, or just love the smell of books and coffee, Istanbul has something for every kind of reader. The city’s bookstore scene is all kinds of cosy.
Have a favourite not on this list? Let me know in the comments — always happy to discover new corners of the city, one bookstore at a time.
Nomad Book Club
Turkey is the Nomad Book Club pick for April 2025, where we explore a new country or region each month through books set in that place. Sign up to the newsletter to join the club and follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for updates.
More Fantastic Books & Where to Find Them
For more of what to read where, check out my full Travel Books Guide, filled with book recommendations for different destinations, the most beautiful bookstores around the world, tips on how to get the best deals on audiobooks and e-books, as well as more literary travel.
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Travel Essentials
Here are the websites and services I personally use and recommend.
FLIGHTS: The best deals can be found on Skyscanner, Google Flights and Kiwi (learn more about Kiwi travel hacking here).
TRAVEL INSURANCE: I recommend World Nomads for travel insurance because you can purchase once you’re already overseas and you can easily extend your policy. For digital nomads, I recommend and personally use Genki (learn more about Genki digital nomad health insurance here).
E-SIM: For travel in Europe, I use an e-sim with GoMobile, which is a provider based in Malta, but you need to be there to set it up.
ACCOMMODATION: I use Booking.com for hotels and Airbnb for apartments. For Colivings, I usually book privately, but Coliving.com is a good place to start.
THINGS TO DO: I use Viator or Get Your Guide for booking day trips, city tours and other activities, though I often check reviews on TripAdvisor too.
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