Istanbul is a city with a diminishing number of second-hand booksellers. You can especially find them in neighbourhoods such as Beyoğlu, Cihangir and Kadıköy where most inhabitants love to read. In a digital age, where less and less people enjoy reading, it is a delight to feel that these book stores are still alive and well.
Lamelif Second-hand Bookseller, Beyoğlu
When you visit any of these districts, make sure to stop by the second-hand booksellers, where you’ll find a cornucopia of old books, magazines, encyclopedias, posters, postcards, and much more from bygone eras of Istanbul and the cultural life of Turkey. Most booksellers offer a welcoming atmosphere, with cats sleeping on the bookshelves, a cup of coffee waiting to be served, and great conversations ready to happen.
And here is the extraordinary story of one of Istanbul’s booksellers—a tale that feels as if it has been taken straight from a novel: the story of Oktay Çetinkaya, who calls himself “the book thief.”
