If you like to read in English, Denmark is kinder to you than you might expect. There are plenty of options from grand old book halls to tiny volunteer-run shops and basement gems, as well as options in other cities around Denmark.
Central Copenhagen
The obvious place to start is Politikens Book Hall. This is the big independent bookshop on Rådhuspladsen, just by City Hall and the Strøget pedestrian street. The store has been around for over a century and is often described as one of the best bookshops in Denmark.
With a wide selection of English-language fiction and non‑fiction on the upper floors, it has a spacious, modern interior wrapped around older stonework. You will find everything from contemporary literary fiction and classics to crime, fantasy, children’s books and also current affairs. The attached café makes it easy to sit down with your new purchase straight away – a very Copenhagen way to spend a dark winter afternoon.
A short walk away, Paludan Book & Café on Fiolstræde near Nørreport station combines a bookshop with a café in a high-ceilinged, slightly chaotic space where tables sit between bookshelves. It calls itself Denmark’s oldest book café and stays open into the evening until 10pm, so you can browse the English section before settling down with a book and a beer. The selection is smaller than in a dedicated bookshop, but the atmosphere is part of the draw. It feels like a student hangout in a library.
Another classic option is ice cream Arnold Busck on Købmagergade, which has been selling books to Copenhageners since 1896. They have a large section of English-language classics and Scandinavian literature in translation if you’re interested in Danish literature but your language isn’t quite up to reading it in the original yet.
Independent and community bookshops
If you like your books with a side of literary conversation, Sheet Books in Nørrebro is worth the visit. Located on Møllegade, it is a non‑profit, volunteer‑run shop specializing in English‑language literature and theory, with a strong showing for philosophy, politics and “the best stories you’ve never heard,” as its motto puts it. The volunteers are genuinely book obsessed, events and reading groups are mostly held in English, and there are even rumors of a resident cat. All of these make it feel more like a tiny cultural center than a retail space.
A short walk away on the other side of the lake is 154a studio slash English bookshop on Gothersgade 154. This only opened in November 2025 and has a small selection of English books for sale in the gallery. They also run events.
Up the coast in Hellerup, a short S‑train ride from central Copenhagen, Books & Company is a favorite among international families. This English‑language shop focuses on new titles and is praised for its wisely curated selection and personal recommendations. Staff are happy to order specific titles in English, and the shop runs events in English which help make it a social hub for English‑speaking residents.
Smaller independents like Thiemer’s Magazine in Vesterbro and concept boutiques such as Palermo Hollywood on Jægersborggade also stocks some interesting English titles, often focusing on female authors, art books or small presses. You won’t find a lot here, but you may discover a book you didn’t know you were looking for, which is half the pleasure of browsing in the first place.
Second-hand treasure hunting in Copenhagen
Second‑hand is where Copenhagen really shines for English readers. The cult classic is The Booktrader on Skindergade, a basement bookstore founded by an American and long known for having one of the city’s widest stocks of second‑hand English books.
Shelves are packed with everything from humanities and art titles to entire rooms of English and American paperbacks covering classics, thrillers, science fiction, fantasy and more. Prices are relatively reasonable by Danish standards, and the interior feels like the kind of place where you lose track of time and, occasionally, of daylight.
Around Fiolstræde, second‑hand shops such as Vangsgaard’s Antiques have long been recommended by locals for their English sections. The mix changes constantly, but it is a good hunting ground for older paperbacks, academic titles and art books in English at a fraction of new book prices.
For something a bit quirkier, Storr’s Antiquesa small antiquarian bookstore, includes a charming selection of English‑language titles among its roughly 5,000 books. Much of the pleasure here is in the atmosphere, narrow aisles, the smell of old paper and the sense that you might pull a forgotten classic from a crowded shelf.
Beyond specific shops, many charity stores (thrift stores) across Denmark keep a shelf or two of English novels, so it is always worth a quick scan while you are donating clothes.
Where to buy English books outside Copenhagen
Your main options outside of Copenhagen are larger independent bookshops, the national chains and the library system. The nationwide chain Book & Idea advertises a broad selection of English books both online and in its physical stores including bestsellers.
In Aarhus, locals in international groups often point newcomers towards Kristian F. Mollera long‑standing bookstore on Store Torv with a substantial English section. There is also a specialist shop literally called English Books on Frederiks Allé, while other street bookshops and some charity stores keep at least one shelf of English fiction.
Denmark’s public librariesfrom Aarhus and Odense to smaller towns, are another under-used resource. They can often order English titles on request and are generally very helpful if you show up with an ISBN or author name.
Online options
Even with the best bookshops, there will be times when the exact edition you want simply is not in stock. Danish readers often turn two Saxo.dkthe country’s major online bookseller, which carries a wide range of English titles and delivers within Denmark. Book & Idea also sells English books online, and can have them delivered to your local branch or directly to your home.
If you are after more niche titles, some residents order from international sites like Blackwell’s in the UK or Kenny’s Bookshop in Ireland, which specializes in shipping English‑language books to Europe with relatively low postage. Delivery takes longer, and you should always double‑check current customs rules, but for serious readers who cannot find what they want locally, these can be useful backups. Remember that Ireland, unlike the UK, is still in the EU, which means you may be able to avoid customs charges if you order from an Irish bookshop.
Getting hold of English books in Denmark is very much possible. You just have to know where to look, and perhaps embrace the fact that hunting for books through Copenhagen’s side streets is now part of your reading habit.
