Russians love books, which can be found everywhere. They are sold in stores, at markets, and in little kiosks inside major metro stations – food for the commute. Almost every self-respecting mall will have at least a small bookstore. There are numerous popular Russian authors, and many translated foreign works for sale; and they are typically surprisingly inexpensive.
Small bookstores and private (non-chain) stores will not typically have foreign-language books available, but you can find a small foreign language selection at any medium or large branch of the major chains. The top three languages are English, French, and German. The Anglia British Bookshop is a small chain with branches in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Samara, which specializes in English books.
Bookstores Selling Foreign-Language Books
Anglia British Bookshop
Higher prices, but a great non-fiction section and fairly well-equipped fiction section as well. A list of new arrivals is available at their web site. Sells new books, but you can purchase used books for a special charity sale Sundays from 1-4 p.m. You can also get a discount card for donating books to the sale.
Vorotnikovsky Pereulok 6
Closest Metro: Mayakovskaya or Tverskaya
Tel: +7 (495) 299 77 66
Mon-Fri 10:00 – 19:00
Sat 10:00 – 18:00; Sun 10:00 – 17:00
http://www.anglophile.ru
Biblio-Globus
One of the biggest bookstores in Europe, with a decent selection of English and other foreign-language books. You can also order books not available in the store through their customer service staff.
6/3 Myasnitskaya St., building 5
Closest Metro: Lubyanka
+7 (495) 781 19 00
Mon-Fri 10:00 – 22:00
Sat 11:00 – 21:00; Sun 11:00 – 20:00
http://www.biblio-globus.ru/
Dom Knigi
This chain has branches all across Moscow; the biggest is on Novy Arbat. It has English, French, and German books. You can also order books online.
Novyj Arbat 8
Metro: Arbatskaya
Tel: (495) 789 35 91
Mon-Fri 9:00 – 23:00
Sat-Sun 10:00 – 23:00
http://www.mdk-arbat.ru/
Moskva
A large centrally-located bookstore with an English section open until 1 a.m.
Tverskaya St, 8
Metro: Tverskaya, Pushkinskaya, or Chekhovskaya
Tel.: +7 (495) 629 64 83
Mon – Sun 10:00 – 01:00
http://www.moscowbooks.ru
Universum
An antique bookstore that occasionally carries English-language or other foreign language works.
Mal. Nikitskaya Ul, 16
Metro: Tverskaya, Arbatskaya, Barrikadnaya
Mon – Sat: 11:00 – 19:00
Library
There is also an extensive English-language fiction library at the American center where you can take up to 3 books at once. To join take your passport and a passport photo.
Library of Foreign Literature
1 Nikoloyamskaya Street
Moscow 109189
Tel: 495 777 6530
http://www.amc.ru/
Market
While you’re less likely to find foreign-language books here, you may also want to visit the book market, which takes place in the sports complex Olimpiyskiy, from the early morning hours until 14:00. Closest metro: Prospekt Mira
