From dusty second-hand havens to mammoth stores crammed with wall-to-wall page-turners, Sydney has some great bookshops
Adyar Bookshop
This basement-level treasure trove contains a wealth of information on every topic on the alternative spectrum, from palmistry to meditation according to David Lynch to Jungian psychology. Whether it's your first foray into New Age or a return visit to life's mysteries, Adyar will have detailed guidebooks and fascinating instructions by the bagful.
Sydney
Ariel Booksellers
It always makes a difference when a bookstore chooses its stock with care, and Ariel has been a Paddington landmark since 1985, thanks to their knowledgeable staff and superb selection of quality titles, particularly their exceptional art and design range.
Paddington
Elizabeth's
With three decades of dealing with second-hand books, Elizabeth's has some serious history behind it. The Pitt Street store is their main Sydney outlet, stocking a huge variety of non-fiction titles as well as classic and modern literature. Best of all, they have the full range of perennial children's favourites Asterix and Tintin.
Sydney
Galaxy Bookshop
If your reading tastes run to swords and sorcery or starships and laser battles, then Galaxy Bookshop has got you covered. With more than 200,000 fantasy and sci-fi titles in stock, as well as DVDs and collectibles, they have everything you need to send your imagination soaring. Sydney
Gleebooks
Frequently named the best independent bookshop in Sydney, Gleebooks is a dream for literature fans. On top of stocking an unbelievably diverse range of fiction and non-fiction titles, Gleebooks also presents talks from both local and international writers.
Glebe
Gould's Book Arcade
If you enter Gould's looking for anything in particular, you're likely to leave exhausted and broken - a hurricane could do a better job of ordering their tens of thousands of books. However, if you go in there with some time to kill and a keen eye, you're bound to exit with armfuls of second-hand treasures.
Newtown
Kings Comics
Hollywood has fallen in love with comic books, and now you can, too. As well as the latest superhero releases from the United States and Britain, Kings also stocks a gigantic selection of graphic novels and assorted comic book merchandise.
Sydney
Kinokuniya
It's got everything - classics, art books, pulp, textbooks, children's and loads more - but the thing that sets this mighty store apart is the huge range of Japanese language texts and their massive collection of manga as well as collectables and DVDs. There's also an in-store café where you can get a beverage and read your new purchases.
Sydney
MCA Store
As you would expect, the MCA Store is replete with art books of every stripe: scholarly works, gorgeous collections of prints, catalogues, coffee table art pieces and more, for everyone from the interested fan to the trained expert. They've also got loads of gift ideas for the art lover in your life.
The Rocks
Sappho Books
Sappho understands that a second-hand bookshop should have an element of shabby chic about it. The walls are lined with dusty classics, recent releases and everything in between jumbled into a bibliophile's treasure trove, with a serene courtyard café out back where you can sit and enjoy your purchases.
Glebe
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