Where to buy books in Croatia – Impressive bookstores and book festivals

#2 Hoću knjigu

Hoću knjigu is a relatively new but successful chain of bookstores with a fantastic offer in the biggest Croatian cities. In addition to selling books, they organize book promotions, book clubs, and similar literary events.

Email: info@hocuknjigu.hr

#3 Ljevak

The old bookstore Ljevak operates at the main Zagreb city square – Trg bana Josipa Jelačića. Thanks to its long lifetime (they operate since 1964), Ljevak traditionally gathers generations of readers and offers a significant volume of books, including literary and professional content, schoolbooks, and children’s books.

[Read: Most significant Croatian children’s books]

Email: knjizara-ljevak@knjizara-ljevak.hr

#4 Mozaik knjiga

Mozaik knjiga is one of Croatia’s leading publishers, also selling books in its online store. They publish more than 150 new titles and 100 reissues of popular books every year.

The first and biggest Croatian book club called Svijet knjige (The world of book) operates within Mozaik knjiga. It has more than 30.000 members who are lucky to buy books at special discounts.

Email: info@mozaik-knjiga.hr

#5 Super knjižara

Super knjižara is a bookstore that sells books written by domestic and international authors as well as a wide range of old and rare books. It was founded in 2001 and is located at Roosevelt’s square in Zagreb.

Email: superknjizara@superknjizara.hr

#6 Školska knjiga

Školska knjiga is a publisher founded in 1950 who specializes in the education and upbringing fields. They publish books, dictionaries, lexicons, professional and children’s magazines, and encyclopedias.

Email: info@skolskaknjiga.hr

#7 VBZ

VBZ is another publisher with a tradition longer than 30 years. Their physical bookstores can be found in larger Croatian cities. You can find a list of VBZ’s bookstores in Croatia here.

Email: webshop@vbz.hr

#8 Znanje

Znanje is one of the oldest publishers in Croatia with 7 bookstores operating throughout Croatia. They publish approximately 130 new titles per year. A list of Znanje’s bookstores is available here.

Email: webshop@znanje.hr

Alternative places where you can get books

Although a smell of a new book is irreplaceable, there is something special in holding an old one that passed through who knows how many curious hands.

If you cannot visit the bookstore or do not prefer online shopping, you can go to alternative stores and find your dream book. And if you are persistent and lucky, you may come across a real treasure without spending a fortune.

Let’s take a look at other places where you can buy a book.

#1 Second-hand bookshops

A second-hand bookshop is called antikvarijat in Croatian. Second-hand bookshops are pretty popular among book collectors. The possibility that a rare or valuable book is hidden on their shelves is common. If you are lucky, you may grab a superb example of a well-preserved book for a significantly low price.

Second-hand bookshops are also a good solution for buying schoolbooks for your children at lower prices. For best results, visit them immediately after the school publishes the list of schoolbooks for the following year. Otherwise, you might be late.

[Read: How to get school books for your children in Croatia]

A list of second-hand bookshops in Croatia is available here.

#2 Njuškalo

Another proper source for finding desired books is Njuškalo. Njuškalo is the biggest Croatian advertising web site where people sell and buy different kinds of products. You could call it “Croatia’s Craigslist”.

On Njuškalo, you can often find different genres of books and magazines that people sell at relatively low prices. You may even find someone who gives away an interesting book they no longer need. Book ads are published under the category Literatura (Literature), which is available here.

[Read: An English guide to Njuškalo (Croatia’s Craigslist)]

#3 Flea market

A flea market is called buvljak in Croatian. It is a place where you can buy or exchange different sorts of used goods in an open space. Flea markets are often organized in parks or libraries by local organizations such as book clubs or udruga. They are usually open to everyone which means everyone can sell and buy books.

If you are staying in Zagreb, we recommend visiting the legendary buvljak called Hrelić – heaven for lovers of recycling and cheap. It is open on Wednesdays and Sundays from 6:00 to 14:00. Come as early as possible to grab the best buy. You may be surprised by what you can find for next to nothing.

#4 Book write-off

Specific local libraries and faculties sometimes write off books. This means they sell them at symbolic prices or eventually give them away for free. It would be wise to ask them directly for more information. Then you will be ready to chop that marvelous book when the time comes!

[Read: How to get a library card in Croatia]

# 5 Facebook groups

Social networks are perfect places for book exchange, selling, and buying. If you have duplicates or excess books and want to get rid of them, offer them in Facebook groups. The possibility you’ll find someone interested who lives near you is quite good.

Are you pleased with bizarre, almost unbelievable situations – the ones we call coincidences? If you have already given up on finding a specific book, you have nothing to lose by trying on Facebook. The “coincidence” may happen to you as well. You may also meet someone who shares the same literary interests.

Here are a few book-buying/selling Facebook groups:

Where to buy books written in foreign languages

Books written in English or other foreign languages can be physically bought in almost all the bookstores we mentioned in the previous section. In fact, most likely, you will find many books written in English. Other foreign languages are less represented. However, the offer varies in each bookstore.

Books written in foreign languages can also be purchased in online stores.

Libristo.hr sells books written in different languages, including English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Chinese. You can check out their offer and prices here.

Knjižara i antikvarijat Brala from Zagreb also has a webshop where they primarily sell books written in English. View their offer here.

We also recommend reviewing Dobra knjiga’s offer here, which is mainly in English.

Where to buy books for Croatian language courses

Croaticum, a section of the Croatian Language and Literature Department of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb, offers online and in-person courses for learning the Croatian language.

In addition, Croaticum as well publishes its own textbooks and workbooks used in Croatian language lessons. You can view their publications here. Their book offer can be bought in Školska knjiga.

If you are considering learning the Croatian language, view our guide on the biggest Croatian language schools in Croatia here.

For the ones who prefer remote and more independent learning, we prepared a guide on free and paid online courses for learning the Croatian language. You can view it here.

Croatia’s book festivals and book fairs

If you think we are done with this listing, we finally came to the sweetest part. Among all the places where you can purchase books, Croatian book fairs and festivals for sure have the most charming atmosphere.

The season of Croatian book festivals usually starts in September. Let’s introduce the ones that will spark your imagination.

#1 Crtani romani šou

Comic enthusiasts will most definitely enjoy Crtani romani šou – CRŠ (Zagreb Comic Con) – a comic fair devoted to comics and its fans. So far, it hosted some of the most prominent international cartoonists and comic authors. CRŠ is a winning combination to obtain rare examples or stay on track with the latest publications.

Date: Usually late spring or autumn
Location: Zagreb

#2 Festival svjetske književnosti

Festival svjetske književnosti (World Literature Festival) was established in 2013 by the publishing house Fraktura. For the ones who admire prominent international authors, this festival is inevitable. You can listen to their stories and eventually meet them in person.

Date: September 4 – September 9, 2022
Location: Zagreb

#3 Interliber

Existing since 1977, Interliber is the most beloved Croatian book fair with the longest tradition. Bookworms diligently write down significant titles throughout the year in order to catch them on Interliber.

If you have a chance, visit the fair during the week in the morning. During the weekends, it is too crowded, and you will not be able to comfortably review the offer.

Date: November 8 – November 13, 2022
Location: Zagreb Fair, Avenija Dubrovnik 15, 10 020 Zagreb – view map

#4 Kliofest

Kliofest is a festival of history and historiographical productions that gathers both domestic and international historians and authors. If you are a fan of historical materials, attending historical round tables, exhibitions, quizzes, and book promotions will bring you particular joy.

Date: May
Location: National and University library, Ul. Hrvatske bratske zajednice 4, 10 000 Zagreb – view map

#5 Noć knjige

Noć knjige (Book night) is a manifestation that promotes the importance of reading through programs and actions related to books and reading. Programs are held by libraries, educational, cultural, and scientific institutions, publishers, booksellers, and public and non-profit organizations.

Book night is inspired by Croatian Book Day, marked on April 22, and World Book and Copyright Day, marked on April 23.

Date: April 23
Location: Entire Croatia; find programs here

#6 Knjiga svima i svuda

Knjiga svima i svuda (A book for everyone and everywhere) is a project whose goal is to promote the availability of books at fair prices. It is a sales part of the Noć knjige. The project offers discounts at various publishers’ and bookstores’ web shops and more than 100 bookstores in Croatia.

Date: Together with Noć knjige

#7 Mediteranski festival knjige

Mediteranski festival knjige (Mediterranean book festival) is usually held at the beginning of May, but in 2022, as well in September. They prepare a plethora of literary happenings including book promotions, meeting authors, and attending workshops. It is an excellent opportunity for passionate readers to buy desired books at promotional prices.

Date: September 28 – October 2, 2022
Location: ŠC Gripe, Osječka 11, 21 000 Split – view map

#8 Sa(n)jam knjige

Sa(n)jam knjige (I dream of books) is a fair held in Istria since 1995. It offers more than 100 events, including book promotions, expert gatherings, tribunes, round tables, and exhibitions. The fair’s central theme is different every year and is the starting point of the annual program.

Date: usually in December
Location: Ex Arena Trikotaža, 52 100 Pula – view map

#9 Vrisak

Vrisak festival is special by presenting brave and contemporary literature which pushes the individual’s comfort zone and encourages thinking. In 2022, Vrisak is going to be held for the 15th time.

This year, Vrisak will primarily cover the topics of climate change, ecology, literature on social networks, European poetry, and regional prose. On this occasion, V.B.Z.’s bookstores offer discounts of up to 80%.

Date: September 11 – September 18, 2022
Location: Art-kvart “Benčić”, 51 000 Rijeka – view map

#10 Zagreb Book Festival

Zagreb Book Festival is another annual book festival held in Zagreb. It is known for well-attended panel discussions covering current social topics and lectures of foreign and domestic professors, scientists, and intellectuals. They dedicate a significant part of the program to children, emphasizing the importance of reading from an early age.

Date: May
Location: Zagreb