Gate-side reading at Terminal 1 before the first departure
WHSmith in Terminal 1 sits airside, after security, covering the basics for books and magazines from the first departure to the last flight out. It’s your main stop at MMX if you want something to read on a short SAS hop or a longer European sector. Stock leans toward bestsellers, crime novels, Scandinavian authors, plus the usual airport mix of thrillers and light non-fiction.
The shop opens with the earliest morning departure and doesn’t close until the final evening flight leaves, so even the 06:00 crowd can grab a paperback. Prices land at standard Swedish airport levels: expect to pay a bit more than city-centre shops, especially on imported English paperbacks and glossy magazines. You’ll also find basic travel extras like snacks, drinks, and chargers, but the focus here is print.
English-language choice is decent for a regional airport this small, with current fiction, some classics, and a shelf of travel guides to larger European cities. Kids’ books and activity pads are on a smaller rack, fine for distraction on a 1–2 hour flight. Don’t expect deep backlist titles or niche genres; this is a quick-grab book wall, not a full bookstore.
Plan one extra stop: pick up drinks or fresh food elsewhere in Terminal 1, then swing through WHSmith for something to read so you’re not stuck with only the inflight magazine once boarding starts.