Index
Where
The well-known public park El Retiro will become a paradise for passionate readers and avid book collectors from the 27th of May to the 12th of June, days in which the 75th Madrid Book Fair takes place. If you are in the city during these dates, make sure not to miss such a delightful event!
What
Every year since 1933, the book fair makes El Retiro crowded with the people who stroll and browse books in the more than three hundred book stands that are erected there for this event. Each of these stands belongs to a different publishing house (Alba, Cátedra,Valdemar, Zenith…), bookstore (Casa del libro, Librería de mujeres, Librería desnivel…) or distributor (UDL libros, Unyban libros, Azeta). In short, you will find specialized stands as well as general ones and a huge variety of genres and subjects: from children’s literature to economics.
In addition to buying books (all of which have a special discount), you can have them signed by their author (as long as he or she happens to be at the stand of his or her publishers) and take part in various cultural activities such as talks, discussions, demonstrations of handmade binding, out loud readings of literary masterpieces, photography exhibitions and improvised poetry. Furthermore, there is an area specially designed for children so that they can relish the pleasure of reading too. There they will find books for readers their age and a number of acts like tale-telling, illustration and creative writing workshops, theatrical representations, puppet shows… All in all, the book fair is the perfect place to spend a nice afternoon if you like to read or are interested in the Spanish culture. Moreover, the natural beauty of El Retiro with its vast green areas and its crystal palace will amaze you and make you fall in love with Madrid.
When
The fair is open workdays from 11 am to 2 pm and from 6 pm to 9:30 pm and weekends from 11 am to 3 pm and from 5 pm to 9:80 pm. You can go to the park by car, by foot or by public transport (metro station El Retiro or buses number 2, 19, 20, 26, 28, 61, 63, 146 or C-1). Check the fair’s official webpage for additional information about the programme and when and where to find your favourite author to get his or her signature.
