There’s something magical about stepping into a truly exceptional bookstore. The scent of paper and ink, the whisper of turning pages, and that unmistakable feeling that you’ve discovered a treasure trove of stories waiting to be explored. While digital books have their place, nothing quite compares to wandering through aisles lined with carefully curated collections, stumbling upon unexpected gems, and feeling the weight of a physical book in your hands.
Some bookshops transcend their basic function of selling books—they become destinations in their own right, architectural marvels, cultural landmarks, and gathering places for bibliophiles from around the globe. Here are 20 extraordinary bookshops worth the detour on any travel itinerary.
Shakespeare and Company, Paris
This legendary Left Bank institution has been a pilgrimage site for book lovers since 1951. Owner George Whitman created more than just a bookstore—he built a literary sanctuary where aspiring writers could sleep among the stacks in exchange for helping out around the shop.
The narrow, creaking floors and floor-to-ceiling shelves create an atmosphere so authentically Parisian that you’ll half expect to bump into Hemingway browsing the poetry section.
El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires
A former theater transformed into what might be the world’s most beautiful bookstore, El Ateneo retains its original crimson curtains, ornate ceiling, and stage where customers now sip coffee while surrounded by books. The theater boxes have been converted into cozy reading nooks, and the former stage serves as a café where you can grab a cortado and contemplate your next literary purchase. It’s like stepping into a fairy tale where books are the main characters.
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Powell’s City of Books, Portland
Covering an entire city block with over a million books, Powell’s is less a bookstore and more a literary metropolis. The color-coded rooms help navigate this bibliophile’s maze, but getting lost here is half the fun—you might enter looking for a cookbook and emerge three hours later with a stack of graphic novels and a rare first edition.
The staff recommendations scattered throughout the store feel like getting book advice from your most well-read friend.
Livraria Lello, Porto
Often cited as one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, Livraria Lello features a stunning red staircase that curves like a piece of architectural poetry. The neo-Gothic façade and art nouveau interior create an almost cathedral-like atmosphere for book browsing.
While it’s become quite touristy (they now charge admission), the sheer beauty of the space makes it worth the crowds and entrance fee.
Strand Book Store, New York
With ’18 miles of books’ crammed into multiple floors near Union Square, the Strand is a New York institution that embodies the city’s organized chaos. The towering stacks require a bit of neck-craning to reach the top shelves, and the famous dollar carts outside offer literary treasures at bargain prices.
Finding exactly what you’re looking for here is nearly impossible, but discovering something you didn’t know you needed is practically guaranteed.
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Atlantis Books, Santorini
Perched on the edge of a cliff in Oia, this tiny bookstore offers stunning views of the Aegean Sea alongside its carefully curated selection of literature. The shop was founded by a group of friends who fell in love with the island, and their passion shows in every hand-picked title and thoughtful recommendation.
Reading a book while watching the sunset from their terrace is the perfect vacation moment.
Daunt Books, London
The original Marylebone location, housed in a former Edwardian bookshop, features oak galleries and a spectacular skylight that bathes everything in natural light. What sets Daunt apart is their travel-focused organization—books are arranged by country rather than genre, so you’ll find novels, cookbooks, and guidebooks about each destination all nestled together.
It’s like planning a trip through literature before you even pack your bags.
Zhongshuge, Shanghai
This bookstore looks like something from a science fiction movie, with mirrored ceilings that create infinite reflections of books stretching into eternity. The futuristic design includes reading areas that curve and flow like abstract art installations, making the act of browsing feel like exploring an alien library.
Children especially love the section designed like a miniature city where they can crawl through book-lined tunnels.
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Boekhandel Dominicanen, Maastricht
A 13th-century Dominican church transformed into a bookstore, Dominicanen retains its soaring Gothic arches and stained-glass windows while housing thousands of books on custom-built shelves. The altar area now serves as a café, creating an almost surreal experience of sipping coffee in a sacred space dedicated to literature.
The blend of medieval architecture and modern retail creates an atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else.
The Last Bookstore, Los Angeles
Housed in a former bank building downtown, this massive two-story space embraces a deliberately chaotic aesthetic that feels authentically Los Angeles. Book tunnels constructed from stacked volumes create Instagram-worthy photo ops, while the rare book section upstairs maintains a more refined atmosphere.
The mix of new and used books, vinyl records, and local art makes it feel more like a cultural center than a traditional bookstore.
Libreria Acqua Alta, Venice
Books stacked in gondolas, bathtubs, and even a full-size boat create one of the most whimsical bookstores you’ll ever encounter. The name means ‘high water,’ a nod to Venice’s frequent floods, and the creative storage solutions help protect the books while creating an utterly unique browsing experience.
Cats roam freely among the stacks, adding to the charming chaos that perfectly captures Venice’s eccentric spirit.
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City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco
This Beat Generation landmark in North Beach continues to champion independent publishers and progressive voices more than six decades after its founding. The basement poetry section feels like a literary speakeasy, while the upstairs maintains the radical spirit that once made it a gathering place for Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac.
Simply being here connects you to San Francisco’s rebellious literary heritage.
Cook & Book, Brussels
Part bookstore, part restaurant, Cook & Book spans nine themed rooms where you can browse cookbooks while sampling the recipes, or read travel guides while enjoying cuisine from those destinations. The English-style library room serves afternoon tea, while the American diner section pairs mystery novels with comfort food.
It’s a concept so perfect you’ll wonder why more bookstores don’t combine reading with eating.
Tsutaya Books, Tokyo
The flagship Daikanyama location represents the pinnacle of Japanese retail design, with pristine white shelves displaying books like precious artifacts. The integration of books, magazines, music, and lifestyle products creates a holistic cultural experience rather than just a shopping trip.
The late-night hours and café seating encourage lingering, making it a perfect refuge from Tokyo’s bustling streets.
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Munro’s Books, Victoria
Housed in a restored 1909 bank building, Munro’s combines old-world charm with contemporary book curation in Canada’s most British city. The original architectural details, including ornate ceiling work and marble columns, create an elegant backdrop for browsing.
Local authors feature prominently, giving visitors a taste of Canadian Pacific coast literature while surrounded by heritage architecture.
Cafebrería El Péndulo, Mexico City
Multiple locations throughout Mexico City offer different themes, but all combine a bookstore and café in spaces designed like indoor gardens. Live music performances and cultural events make each visit feel like attending a literary salon rather than just buying books.
The abundance of plants and natural light creates an oasis-like atmosphere that encourages spending entire afternoons reading and people-watching.
Foyles, London
The flagship store on Charing Cross Road underwent a complete renovation that transformed a famously chaotic maze into a sleek, navigable space without losing its literary soul. The events program brings in major authors regularly, and the staff recommendations feel genuinely enthusiastic rather than corporate-mandated.
The jazz café upstairs provides the perfect soundtrack for contemplating your literary purchases.
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Kinokuniya, Sydney
The main store offers one of the most comprehensive selections of books in multiple languages outside of major publishing centers. The manga and graphic novel sections are particularly impressive, reflecting Sydney’s multicultural character and Australia’s growing appreciation for diverse storytelling formats.
The knowledgeable staff can guide you through unfamiliar genres or help you discover Australian authors you might have overlooked.
Blackwell’s, Oxford
The original Broad Street location tunnels deep underground, creating a subterranean book city that perfectly complements Oxford’s academic atmosphere. The academic focus means you’ll find specialized titles nowhere else, while the general sections maintain the scholarly yet accessible feel that defines this university town.
Browsing here feels like conducting research for the pure joy of learning.
Polare, Stockholm
This independent bookstore champions Scandinavian literature while maintaining an impressively international selection in multiple languages. The minimalist Nordic design aesthetic creates clean, uncluttered spaces that let the books themselves take center stage.
Regular author readings and literary discussions foster a genuine community feeling that makes locals and visitors alike feel welcome to linger and explore.
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Where Stories Continue to Live
These remarkable bookstores prove that physical books and the spaces that house them remain irreplaceable in our digital age. Each represents not just commerce but culture—places where communities gather, ideas spread, and the ancient human tradition of storytelling continues to thrive.
They remind us that some experiences simply cannot be replicated online: the serendipity of discovering an unexpected title, the tactile pleasure of browsing physical shelves, and the social joy of sharing literary recommendations with fellow book lovers. In an increasingly connected yet isolated world, these bookshops serve as essential gathering places where strangers bond over shared stories, and the simple pleasure of holding a good book remains one of life’s most accessible luxuries.
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