“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page.” – Saint Augustine
If you don’t know me, you at least know I love to read. My love for books is literally laid out for all the world to see on this website. One thing that isn’t so obvious is my love of travel. I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited four continents and 14 countries. Every year, my husband and I plan one big trip. We usually try to make it last at least two weeks and we usually try to cram in as many destinations as we can. And we love it because it’s always an adventure! Getting to experience different cultures, overcoming language barriers, and occasionally going outside of our comfort zones makes me feel like a global citizen.
Right before the pandemic caused a global shutdown, we had the opportunity to travel to Europe. We spent two and a half weeks hitting London, Paris, Barcelona, and Istanbul, but when I was researching our European extravaganza, Lisbon, Portugal originally made the list of destinations. Mostly because of timing, we weren’t able to include it but one of the things that really enticed me to Lisbon was a bookstore. And of course you’re shaking your head and wondering why I’d go all the way to Lisbon, Portugal, for a freaking bookstore. Do I need to remind you about my love of books? Yes? Ahem.
That is absolutely how I proposition a good book. I’m smooth like that. Anyway, the bookstore in Lisbon is reportedly the oldest bookstore in the world which makes it a bookstore that I’d travel half the world to see. The idea of traveling for a bookstore motivated me to put together a list of the top ten bookstores that are officially on my travel bucket list. Now I just need to convince my husband that flying around the world to see bookstores is worth it…
If you’re anything like me and want to see all the different types of bookstores this world has to offer, or if you’re not like me and just need a good list of places to visit, check out the list below.
I talked about it so much that I had to add it. Livraria Bertrand in Lisbon, Portugal, is the oldest operating bookstore in the world! It was founded in 1732 by Pedro Faure which officially makes it older than the United States.
Powell’s City of Books in Portland, Oregon, may not look like more than any other department store but don’t judge a book by its cover (come on guys, you know that!). Powell’s City of Books is the largest independent bookstore in the world! It covers an entire city block and houses approximately ONE MILLION BOOKS. Can you even imagine being in the same room as ONE MILLION BOOKS?! For me, I’m pretty sure that’s just called heaven.
Did you know Buenos Aires, Argentina, takes its bookstores very seriously? In fact, it’s the bookshop capital of the world! With over 700 bookstores, Buenos Aires contains more bookstores per capita than any other store. It’s no surprise then that it also houses what might be the most beautiful bookstore in the world – El Ateneo Grand Splendid. Located in a beautifully preserved, antique theater built in 1919, this unique bookstore draws more than one million visitors each year.
Imagine taking a gondola ride to a bookstore. That’s exactly what you can do to get to Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice, Italy. It actually has a back door that opens right onto a canal. And the bookstore is filled to the brim with books! There’s even a gondola right in the middle of the store filled with books so that when the canal rises and the store floods, the books stay dry. Creative, no?
What better than a bookstore with history? Shakespeare and Company in Paris, France, has history in spades. After closing its store during World War II, George Whitman reopened in 1951 and created a meeting place for writers like Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, Richard Wright, Henry Miller, James Jones and James Baldwin. The store is an absolute literary hub!
Sometimes reading can be a religious experience and Selexyz took that seriously. Boekhandel Dominicanen in Maastricht, Netherlands, is located in a beautifully restored Dominican church originally constructed in 1294. With vaulted ceilings and tons of natural light, this abandoned church is now a gorgeous bookstore you have to see to believe.
We’ve seen bookstores in restored churches and theaters, but this will be the first underground bomb shelter/parking lot used as a bookstore. Librairie Avant Garde in Nanjing, China, is a popular haven for students from Nanjing University and hosts a cafe, concerts, and art exhibitions. The bookstore is a true cultural institution in China.
Rumored to have inspired J.K. Rowling’s depiction of Hogwarts, Libraria Lello was built in 1906 and has beautiful staircases, top to bottom bookshelves, and gorgeous stained glass windows. If you’re a fan of Harry Potter or you’re a fan of incredible art deco architecture, majestic ceilings, and iconic staircases, add this bookstore to your bucket list!
Palm trees aren’t generally grown in bookstores but the Caferería El Pendúlo in Mexico City makes an exception, planting a three-story tall palm tree in the middle of its store. With hanging plants, three stories of books, and a pendulum swinging from the ceiling, this unique bookstore is a mentally restorative space.
If you want to wander book aisles to find the perfect book, curl up in a corner, and read to your heart’s content, then The Strand Bookstore in New York City is the place to be. Famous for its 18 miles of books, The Strand is filled with giant stacks of books, including an impressive collection of old and rare works.
Alyssa Flores
Alyssa reads hundreds of books a year and is on a never-ending quest to find the perfect book.
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