25 Best Readaway Destinations for Literary Lovers Worldwide

Embark on the ultimate literary pilgrimage with our guide to 25 timeless readaway destinations, featuring historic writers' homes, iconic bookstores, and the world's most beautiful libraries.

25 Best Readaway Destinations for Literary Lovers Worldwide
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  • 1.

    The Bodleian Library

    One of the oldest libraries in Europe, this landmark houses over 12 million items, including Shakespeare's First Folio and a Gutenberg Bible, set within stunning Gothic architecture.

    Oxford, England
  • 2.

    Shakespeare and Company

    This legendary English-language bookstore on the Left Bank has served as a hub for 'tumbleweeds' and literary icons like Ernest Hemingway and James Baldwin for decades.

    Paris, France
  • 3.

    El Ateneo Grand Splendid

    Housed in a grand 1919 theater, this bookstore preserves ornate carvings and a frescoed ceiling, with the former stage serving as a cafe for readers to enjoy their latest finds.

    Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • 4.

    Trinity College Long Room

    Walking through this 65-meter-long oak-lined gallery feels like entering another era. It houses 200,000 of the college's oldest books and the famous Book of Kells.

    Dublin, Ireland
  • 5.

    The Writers' Museum

    Dedicated to the lives of Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson, this museum celebrates the literary heritage of the world's first UNESCO City of Literature.

    Edinburgh, Scotland
  • 6.

    The Mark Twain House & Museum

    The picturesque High Victorian Gothic home where Samuel Clemens wrote his most famous works, including 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' and 'Huckleberry Finn'.

    Hartford, Connecticut, USA
  • 7.

    Livraria Lello

    Known for its stunning neo-Gothic architecture and a magnificent crimson staircase, this bookstore is often cited as a key inspiration for magical settings in modern literature.

    Porto, Portugal
  • 8.

    Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum

    Visit the Spanish Colonial estate where Hemingway lived and worked. The property is famous for its lush gardens and the descendants of his six-toed cats.

    Key West, Florida, USA
  • 9.

    Jane Austen Centre

    Located in a permanent exhibition space in Bath, this center offers a detailed look at the life and times of the author who captured the essence of Regency England.

    Bath, England
  • 10.

    Library of Congress

    The world's largest library offers tours of its stunning Thomas Jefferson Building, featuring intricate mosaics and murals that celebrate the history of knowledge.

    Washington, D.C., USA
  • 11.

    Strahov Monastery Library

    This breathtaking theological and philosophical library features exquisite stucco decorations and ceiling frescoes that have remained untouched for centuries.

    Prague, Czech Republic
  • 12.

    The Elephant House

    Famed as the location where the first books of the Harry Potter series were drafted, this cafe offers views of Edinburgh Castle that inspired a generation of readers.

    Edinburgh, Scotland
  • 13.

    Powell’s City of Books

    Claiming the title of the world's largest independent bookstore, this multistoried shop occupies an entire city block and houses over a million volumes.

    Portland, Oregon, USA
  • 14.

    Hay-on-Wye Book Town

    Known as the world's first book town, this village on the Welsh border features dozens of secondhand bookstores and hosts a world-renowned annual literary festival.

    Powys, Wales
  • 15.

    New York Public Library

    The iconic Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, guarded by marble lions, features the Rose Main Reading Room, a majestic space for silence and study in the heart of NYC.

    New York City, New York, USA
  • 16.

    The Kafka Museum

    An immersive journey into the world of Franz Kafka, exploring his unique relationship with the city of Prague through first editions and personal artifacts.

    Prague, Czech Republic
  • 17.

    Libreria Acqua Alta

    A quirky bookstore where books are kept in bathtubs and gondolas to protect them from flooding, complete with a staircase made of old encyclopedias.

    Venice, Italy
  • 18.

    Ashdown Forest

    Walk through the real-life Five Hundred Acre Wood that inspired A.A. Milne's setting for Winnie-the-Pooh, including the bridge used for 'Poohsticks'.

    East Sussex, England
  • 19.

    Admont Abbey Library

    The largest monastic library in the world, its late Baroque architecture and ceiling frescoes represent the Enlightenment through a fusion of art and science.

    Admont, Austria
  • 20.

    The Brontë Parsonage Museum

    The former home of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë, where they wrote masterpieces like 'Jane Eyre' and 'Wuthering Heights' amidst the Yorkshire moors.

    Haworth, England
  • 21.

    Royal Portuguese Reading Room

    A stunning Neo-Manueline library that holds the largest collection of Portuguese literature outside of Portugal, known for its intricate wood and limestone interior.

    Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • 22.

    The Last Bookstore

    Located in an old bank building, this shop is famous for its 'Book Tunnel' and artistic book sculptures, making it a modern mecca for California bibliophiles.

    Los Angeles, California, USA
  • 23.

    Bibliotheca Alexandrina

    A massive modern commemoration of the ancient Great Library of Alexandria, featuring a sun-disk architecture and a reading room with space for eight million books.

    Alexandria, Egypt
  • 24.

    Gabriel García Márquez House Museum

    Visit the childhood home of the Nobel laureate in Aracataca, the town that served as the primary inspiration for the fictional village of Macondo.

    Aracataca, Colombia
  • 25.

    The Literary Man Hotel

    A unique hotel designed specifically for book lovers, featuring over 45,000 titles and a decor centered entirely around the joy of reading.

    Óbidos, Portugal

Disclaimer

This content may have been generated with the assistance of AI tools. While we strive for accuracy, please verify important information independently. If you notice any errors or have concerns, please contact us.

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