Bookshops often harbor architectural wonders that rival the literary treasures on their shelves. Among these hidden gems, staircases stand out as particularly enchanting features—functional pathways that transform into artistic statements, historical artifacts, and even destinations in themselves.
These vertical journeys between floors create moments of transition and discovery that enhance the already magical experience of browsing for books. Here is a list of 20 bookshops around the world where the staircases alone justify a visit, regardless of how many books you plan to purchase.
Livraria Lello in Porto, Portugal
The crimson staircase at this historic bookshop curves gracefully between floors in a sinuous double-helix formation that appears to defy structural logic. Carved wooden banisters with intricate Gothic details complement the deep red steps that seem to flow like literary lava between the shop levels.
The ambient lighting from stained glass ceilings creates an ethereal atmosphere as visitors ascend what many consider the most beautiful bookshop staircase in the world.
Shakespeare and Company in Paris, France
This legendary English-language bookshop features narrow wooden staircases worn smooth by generations of literary pilgrims, including Hemingway and Joyce. The creaking steps lead to hidden reading nooks and the famous residential quarters where aspiring writers have stayed since the 1950s.
Handwritten notes tucked between balusters from visitors across decades add a layer of literary archaeology to the climbing experience.
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El Ateneo Grand Splendid in Buenos Aires, Argentina
The majestic marble staircases of this converted theater bookshop curve elegantly from the main floor to the upper balcony levels, where bookshelves now occupy former theater boxes. Gold leaf detailing and original theatrical architectural elements frame the stairs, which now lead browsers between literary genres instead of seating sections.
The original 1920s architectural grandeur creates a cinematic ascent between floors that honors both the building’s theatrical past and literary present.
Daunt Books in Marylebone, London
The oak staircase in this Edwardian bookshop connects three levels of galleried bookshelves beneath a stunning arched skylight. Brass railings and worn wooden treads speak to decades of literary exploration by devoted readers ascending between carefully curated sections.
The warm wood tones and gentle creaking create an atmosphere of scholarly pursuit reminiscent of private libraries from another era.
Boekhandel Dominicanen in Maastricht, Netherlands
The floating modern staircase in this converted 13th-century Dominican church creates a striking contrast against the ancient stone columns and vaulted ceilings. The minimalist black metal structure spirals upward, allowing visitors to ascend toward the original ceiling frescoes while browsing contemporary titles.
The ingenious design allows modern functionality without compromising the breathtaking medieval architecture that houses this unique bookshop.
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Cărturești Carusel in Bucharest, Romania
This ‘carousel of light’ bookshop features sweeping white staircases that curve organically through six levels of a restored 19th-century building. The pristine white stairs create a dreamlike quality as they wind gracefully between floors filled with books, art, and music.
Ornate balustrades and generous proportions make the staircases as much sculptural installations as functional pathways.
Leakey’s Bookshop in Inverness, Scotland
The cast iron spiral staircase in this converted Gaelic church creates a Victorian industrial counterpoint to the spiritual surroundings of stained glass and wooden beams. The narrow, tightly coiled steps lead to a mezzanine overlooking thousands of secondhand books arranged around a central wood-burning stove.
The metalwork details and compact design reflect 19th-century Scottish practicality while adding vertical interest to the converted sacred space.
Livraria Bertrand Chiado in Lisbon, Portugal
The oldest operating bookshop in the world features an elegant 18th-century stone staircase that curves between floors with aristocratic restraint. Blue and white Portuguese tiles line the walls alongside the steps, telling visual stories that complement the literary works on display.
The worn marble treads bear three centuries of footsteps from literary figures, revolutionaries, and countless browsers seeking knowledge and escape.
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Cook & Book in Brussels, Belgium
This innovative bookshop-restaurant complex features a different staircase for each themed section, including one made entirely from stacked vintage suitcases leading to the travel book department. Another section showcases steps made from repurposed pianos leading to the music book collection, creating visual puns that delight visitors.
The playful approach to vertical movement reinforces each department’s theme while making the transition between floors an integral part of the browsing experience.
Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice, Italy
This famous ‘library of high water’ features unconventional staircases made entirely from damaged books stacked in solid formations that protect browsers from the frequent flooding. The outdoor courtyard showcases repurposed encyclopedia volumes arranged in a sweeping arc that allows visitors to climb for a view over the canal behind the shop.
These literary steps serve both practical and philosophical purposes in a city where water levels constantly threaten cultural treasures.
Baldwin’s Book Barn in West Chester, Pennsylvania
This five-story converted 1822 dairy barn features original wooden staircases that creak and angle between rooms stuffed with over 300,000 used books. The rustic steps retain their agricultural heritage with wide-plank treads worn into subtle concave shapes from two centuries of use.
The raw wooden banisters, polished by countless hands, create a tactile connection to the American rural history that houses this literary landmark.
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Cafebrería El Péndulo in Mexico City, Mexico
The spiral wooden staircase in this bookshop-café rises through a central atrium surrounded by greenery, creating the impression of ascending through a literary jungle. Wrought iron balusters with leafy designs complement the hanging plants that drape around the stairwell’s edges.
The central positioning creates a theatrical element as climbers become visible to all patrons, momentarily starring in their literary journey.
Komaneko Books in Tokyo, Japan
This contemporary Japanese bookshop features a minimalist staircase crafted from a single piece of bent steel plate that appears to float between floors without visible supports. The razor-thin profile maximizes space in the compact shop while creating a stunning visual statement about simplicity and engineering precision.
The smooth matte black finish creates a calming transition between the carefully curated book collections on each level.
Atlantis Books in Santorini, Greece
The whitewashed stone staircase in this cave-like bookshop follows the natural contours of the Santorini cliffside dwelling it occupies. Hand-painted literary quotes adorn each riser, creating a narrative ascent as browsers climb between levels.
The organic curves and irregular dimensions speak to the shop’s adaptation to the traditional Cycladic architecture while offering surprising reading nooks at each landing.
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Barter Books in Alnwick, United Kingdom
This converted Victorian railway station features the original station staircases that once led to different platforms but now connect sections of one of England’s largest used bookshops. Iron railings with decorative elements typical of 19th-century public architecture frame steps that have welcomed travelers and now guide readers.
The preserved historical features create a transportation-themed journey between literary destinations.
Livraria da Vila in São Paulo, Brazil
The ingenious pivoting bookshelf doors concealing staircases between floors in this contemporary Brazilian bookshop create moments of architectural surprise. The seemingly solid walls of books swing open to reveal hidden passages upward, embodying the idea of books as portals to new worlds.
The clean, modern lines and clever engineering transform utilitarian staircases into magical experiences of revelation and transition.
Selexyz Dominicanen in Utrecht, Netherlands
The three-story freestanding metal bookcase with integrated staircases stands within a 13th-century cathedral like a modern installation artwork. The black industrial structure creates vertical circulation through contemporary literature while allowing uninterrupted views of the ancient vaulted ceilings and religious artwork.
This architectural intervention demonstrates how thoughtful modern design can respectfully activate historical spaces for new cultural purposes.
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The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles, California
The tunnel of books staircase in this repurposed bank building creates an immersive literary experience as visitors ascend through a pathway literally carved from stacked volumes. Overhead, the steps continue the theme with book sculptures and flying page installations that transform the transition between floors into an artistic statement about imagination.
The surreal qualities of this literary portal make it among the most photographed bookshop features in America.
Bart’s Books in Ojai, California
The outdoor garden staircases of America’s largest outdoor bookshop connect terraced areas of specialties beneath vine-covered trellises and between citrus trees. Stone steps with integrated planters create a gentle ascent through genres organized in the California sunshine.
The garden design approach to vertical movement reinforces the shop’s unique indoor-outdoor browsing experience where nature and literature coexist.
El Pendulo Polanco in Mexico City, Mexico
The floating wooden staircase in this lush bookshop-café appears to be suspended by nothing more than book-lovers’ collective imagination. The open-tread design allows glimpses between steps to the café below, creating a sense of lightness despite the solid wood construction.
The central mezzanine position turns the ascent into a theatrical experience visible to diners and browsers throughout the shop.
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The Vertical Journey
These remarkable staircases transform the simple act of moving between floors into memorable experiences that complement the literary journeys found on the shelves. In an era when many bookshops struggle against digital competition, these architectural features offer something no e-reader can replicate—physical pathways through knowledge that engage all senses.
The most magical bookshops understand that the journey between books can be as important as the destinations they contain, creating spaces where vertical movement becomes part of the unfolding narrative of discovery. These staircases remind us that bookshops at their best are not merely retail spaces but three-dimensional experiences designed to elevate both body and mind.
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