I haven’t spent as much time as I’d like in Vancouver, but the last time that I passed through I managed to pop-in at some of the city’s best bookstores. Fortunately, Travel Between The Pages follower Markus H. sent us a post on some of his favorite literary haunts.

Macleod’s Books on West Pender Street is a labyrinthine treasure trove for book lovers in downtown Vancouver. There are thousands of secondhand, collectible, and antiquarian titles literary spilling off the crowded shelves and piled everywhere throughout the packed bookshop. If you go, be prepared to devote hours to browsing.

Kestrel Books is a beloved community institution in beautiful laid-back Kitsilano that stocks everything from “Archie comics to medieval manuscripts” and more. When you visit, you will know why it has been named the “Best used Bookstore” in Vancouver more than once. Be sure to say hi to Ruby the bookstore cat.

Just up the street from Kestrel. Banyen Books and Sound has been the place to go in Vancouver for books on spirituality, philosophy, religion, music, and art for nearly 50 years.

Tanglewood Books is another Kitsilano favorite for secondhand and hard to find out-of-print titles. There’s a great selection in every imaginable genre from art to zoology. You’ll quickly see why it has been a “Best in Vancouver” winner.

Canterbury Tales Bookstore has been a fixture in East Vancouver’s Drive community for more than 20 years. It’s a great choice for used books, but they also offer all new titles at a 30% discount. If Canterbury Tales doesn’t have what you’re looking for, they will order any title and still give you 30% off list.

The Paper Hound has only been around for about five years, but it has quickly built a devoted following due to the well curated selection of new, used, and collectible books. They are open daily in the heart of downtown.

Spartacus Books is a collectively run, politically oriented shop that focuses on progressive reading material and environmental action. Largely staffed by dedicated volunteers, the bookstore has a surprisingly good selection of titles on politics, art, philosophy, gender issues, poetry, and ecology. It’s a good place to find magazines and journals, and also to meet like-minded locals.