Discover Bucharest: The largest bookshops in Romania’s capital

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.