There’s something magical about wandering into a bookstore on a perfect weather day. While the sunshine or gentle snowfall might initially attract you to a city, the hidden literary havens often make you extend your stay. These sanctuaries of stories become unexpected highlights, offering locals and travelers a glimpse into the soul of a place.
Here is a list of 20 cities around the world where the climate draws you in, but the bookstores make you want to put down roots.
Powell’s City of Books in Portland, Oregon
Portland’s mild, verdant springs and comfortably warm summers make it a nature lover’s paradise in the Pacific Northwest. But once you discover Powell’s, the largest independent bookstore in the world covering an entire city block, you might forget about the outdoors entirely. The color-coded rooms house over a million books, mixing new and used copies on the same shelves in a bibliophile’s dream layout.
Shakespeare and Company in Paris, France
Paris boasts perfect mild summers and romantically moody winters that have inspired artists for centuries. The real literary magic happens at Shakespeare and Company, across from Notre Dame Cathedral. This English-language bookstore, opened in 1951, has hosted countless wandering writers who work in exchange for a place to sleep among the books—a tradition that continues to this day.
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Atlantis Books in Santorini, Greece
The Mediterranean climate of Santorini offers sun-drenched days and cool evenings tailored for outdoor reading. Atlantis Books, a cave-like shop dug into the cliffside of Oia, was founded by friends who ran out of reading material on vacation. The whitewashed walls and handpicked collection make it feel like discovering treasure in a literary grotto.
Livraria Lello in Porto, Portugal
Porto’s moderate Atlantic climate creates perfect conditions for year-round sipping port wine on outdoor terraces. But the real gem is Livraria Lello, often cited as one of the world’s most beautiful bookstores. Its neo-Gothic façade and stunning red staircase reportedly inspired elements of the Harry Potter series during J.K. Rowling’s time living in the city.
Strand Bookstore in New York City, New York
New York experiences all four seasons distinctly, from snowy winters to hot, vibrant summers. The Strand’s famous claim of ’18 Miles of Books’ isn’t far from the truth. This East Village institution houses new, used, and rare books across multiple floors, complete with the quintessential rolling ladders and knowledgeable staff who can find almost anything in the endless stacks.
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Barter Books in Alnwick, United Kingdom
Northumberland’s dramatic scenery and surprisingly mild weather make it an unexpected haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Barter Books transforms a Victorian railway station into a cozy literary retreat, complete with open fires in winter and a model railway running above the bookshelves. It’s also famous for rediscovering the ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ poster, which became a global phenomenon.
El Ateneo Grand Splendid in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires enjoys a temperate climate year-round, keeping the café culture thriving outdoors. El Ateneo takes this indoor-outdoor vibe to the next level by housing books in a converted 1920s theater.
The former balconies serve as browsing nooks, while the stage has been transformed into a café where you can read with a cappuccino under ornate ceiling frescoes.
Booked Up in Archer City, Texas
The wide-open Texas skies and dramatic sunsets create a backdrop for this unlikely literary destination. Founded by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Larry McMurtry, Booked Up once housed nearly 400,000 books across multiple buildings in this tiny town.
Though smaller now, the remaining collection still draws literary pilgrims to the middle of nowhere for the pure joy of discovery.
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Cafebrería El Péndulo in Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City’s eternal spring-like weather at its high elevation makes it pleasant to explore year-round. El Péndulo combines lush indoor gardens with well-stocked bookshelves, creating six locations that feel like urban oases. Plants cascade from the balconies while patrons enjoy fresh pastries, live music, and curated book selections in a uniquely Mexican literary experience.
Acqua Alta in Venice, Italy
Venice’s maritime climate creates misty, mysterious winters and gloriously sunny summers. Libreria Acqua Alta (‘Library of High Water’) prepares for the city’s famous flooding by storing books in waterproof bathtubs, gondolas, and boats. The shop’s courtyard features a staircase of damaged books, offering a unique view over a neighboring canal.
Books Actually in Singapore
Singapore’s consistent tropical climate might drive you indoors to air conditioning, where Books offers the perfect literary retreat. This independent bookstore specializes in Singaporean literature and obscure titles you won’t find elsewhere.
Their book vending machine outside the store provides 24-hour literary gratification even when the shop is closed.
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Prairie Lights in Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City experiences dramatic seasonal changes, from snowy winters to humid summers, but maintains a consistent literary culture as a UNESCO City of Literature. Prairie Lights serves as the heart of this community, hosting readings by world-famous authors and up-and-coming writers from the renowned Iowa Writers’ Workshop.
The café upstairs provides the perfect spot to read while watching the seasons change outside.
Strand Book Stall in Mumbai, India
Mumbai’s tropical climate brings monsoon rains and sunny days in equal measure throughout the year. Strand Book Stall began as a small kiosk and grew into a cultural institution where Bollywood stars, politicians, and everyday readers sought recommendations from the founder, who reportedly remembered every book he ever sold. The shop offers substantial discounts that make building a personal library attainable for everyone.
Daunt Books in London, United Kingdom
London’s changeable weather means you’ll always need a cozy indoor option. Daunt’s Marylebone location occupies an Edwardian building with long oak galleries, stained glass, and an arched ceiling. The store organizes books by country rather than genre, making it particularly beloved by travelers planning their next adventure while sheltering from typical British drizzle.
Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville offers mild winters and warm summers that support its outdoor music scene, but Parnassus provides literary refuge year-round. Co-owned by novelist Ann Patchett, this independent bookstore feels like the living room of a well-read friend.
Shop dogs wander the aisles, and staff recommendations never disappoint in this community-focused literary hub.
Munro’s Books in Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria boasts the mildest climate in Canada, with flowers blooming while the rest of the country remains snow-covered. Munro’s occupies a former bank building with soaring neo-classical architecture.
Founded by Nobel Prize winner Alice Munro and her then-husband, the store features handmade textile banners that soften the grand space into something more intimate and inviting.
Baldwin’s Book Barn in West Chester, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s vivid seasonal changes showcase nature’s full palette throughout the year. Baldwin’s five-story stone barn from 1822 houses a labyrinth of used and rare books.
The creaky floors, winding staircases, and cozy reading nooks with fireplaces create an atmosphere that feels unchanged by time—a perfect complement to the rolling countryside outside.
Bart’s Books in Ojai, California
Ojai’s Mediterranean climate with abundant sunshine makes it a natural escape from nearby Los Angeles. Bart’s Books claims to be the largest outdoor bookstore in the world, with shelves lining the exterior walls and honor-system book sales when the store is closed.
The open-air layout under a canopy of trees creates a uniquely Californian take on the bookstore experience.
Dominicanen Bookstore in Maastricht, Netherlands
Maastricht’s temperate climate allows for enjoyable outdoor café culture much of the year. Dominicanen transforms a 13th-century Gothic Dominican church into a temple to literature, with books displayed in the nave and a coffee shop where the altar once stood.
The three-story black steel bookshelf structure creates a striking contrast with the ancient stone columns and vaulted ceilings.
Readings in Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne’s reputation for ‘four seasons in one day’ weather patterns makes having indoor options essential. Readings has expanded from its original Carlton location to a beloved local chain known for supporting Australian authors.
Their annual literary prizes help discover new voices, while their carefully curated stock reflects Melbourne’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature.
Literary Landscapes: Where Books and Weather Create Perfect Harmony
These cities demonstrate how literary culture and climate often evolve to create distinctive experiences for travelers and locals alike. From sun-drenched outdoor bookshelves to cozy reading nooks for snowy days, these bookstores don’t just sell stories—they create them.
The next time a weather forecast lures you to a new destination, remember that the most memorable experience might be waiting inside, between the pages of a book you didn’t know you needed until you found it.
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