Havana Travel Forum

Hi VT members.
Does anyone know the existence of any book market, or used books in Havana? My search is more about cuban authors.
Thanks in advance.
Pedro

There is a huge used book market in the zocalo in the old town several times a week. You can't miss it. Some interesting titles but not always in great shape. There used to be several vendors there...they also sell some baseball cards and old cigar labels which used to be collected.

when it comes to buying old and new books you have come to the right place. Havana is the most literate city in all of the Americas.. perhaps Buenos Aires or Sao Paolo will come any near.
All over the city there are used books being sold on the pavements. in Plaza de las armas there is a permanent market during day of old books and also while walking through calle obispo you would see a lot of books on sale. remember these are in dollar/cuc and they tend to reflect the interest of foreigners in cuban literature or santeria etc and the ever present books by che or fidel.
If you want recent literature published in cuba by cuban authors, there are plenty of bookstores in havana that stock and sell them and they are sold in moneda nacional 24 cup to 1 cuc.. about 30 cup to 1 euro... more or less. and they are great bargains.. my favourite two bookstores for buyin in moneda nacional are . one on the way to the chinatown area in calle neptuno and the other one is in vedado close to pain de paris.. and if you want journals publshed in cuba, you can go to UNEAC union of cuban writes at 17th in Vedado.
there is also a bookstore near the university of havana in vedado across the street from fernando ortiz(our great anthropologist)'s house.. the books are mostly in cup and has a good selection. you may not be able to find all the books at the same place but if you wish to look around you would be rewarded. Tourists and cubans living abroad tend to buy classic cuban writers whereas spanish speaking visitors tend to buy the newer authors..there are a veritable collection of essays by intellectual giants of cuba, who are still alive.. good luck and good hunting.. if you need more information, let me know.

book market or used books is by word of mouth, you need to talk to the local people on site to find the new ones. However, there are some official places where you get not only these books but also information ::)

Alma Mater,at street San Lazaro and L, next to the stairs to the University of Habana. The library Fernando Ortiz, at calle L No 202 ,corner with street 27, its about political themes, economy and essays.
Centenario del Apostol,at calle 25 No 164 ,corner with street O, used to have used books,need to confirm on site.

The library Libreria Bella Habana, at the palace of Segundo Cabo, in the plaza de Armas (street O’Reilly No 4,corner with street Tacon). ON weekend they did had used books sale.

Next to the Parque Central you have two good ones.
La Internacional,at street Obispo No 526 with lots of Cuban authors

Library Cervantes, at street Obispo and Bernaza, older books.
Also, Rayuela,the library of the Casa de las Americas, at street 3ra and G,neighborhood of Vedado;contemporary literature and CD's.

I have not been back in a while so do not the stock nor the hours now, but these were very good sources.