20+ Must-See Destinations for Book Lovers To Transport You to a Whole Different World

Bobbi Dempsey

May 17, 2023 at 6:45 AM·18 min read

Love books and seeing new places? Plan your travel itinerary around book-related hotspots. Visiting a destination that offers something for those who love to read is a win-win: you get to travel and explore someplace new while also nurturing your literary soul. It's not too good to be true: we've got 20+ of the best destinations for book lovers!

From gorgeous libraries to literary heroes' hometowns to unique bookstores and so much more (cemeteries, museums, hotels, walking tours!), these cities for book lovers are filled with meaningful stops and excitement. You'll definitely appreciate all of the history and significance of locations that range from all over the U.S. to Argentina, Scotland, England and more.

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20+ Best Destinations for Book Lovers

Here are some of the best destinations for book lovers.

New York City

It’s likely no surprise that the Big Apple is packed with book-related attractions—after all, this is where the publishing world was traditionally based (in the pre-internet days, at least). While there are more options than we can list, here are a few suggestions to get you started.

New York Public Library

If you love libraries, this famous landmark building in the heart of Manhattan is a can’t-miss destination that should be at the top of your New York City itinerary. Even people who don’t normally get excited about libraries have a hard time resisting a photo opp with the pair of stone lions guarding the main entrance. They’ve had a few different names through the years, but for many decades now, the lions have gone by the names Patience and Fortitude. The Library opened its doors in May 1911, and today actually consists of dozens of buildings, but its flagship location, officially known as the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, is the most well-known. It’s a researcher’s dream, with vast collections of all sorts of documents and written records. (Sex and the City fans also know it as the site where Carrie’s doomed wedding to Mr. Big was supposed to happen.)

The Morgan Library & Museum

Located in the Murray Hill neighborhood near midtown Manhattan, The Morgan Library & Museum was founded by J.P. Morgan in the early 1900s. Initially intended to house Morgan’s private collection of rare and valuable books, it was later shifted to a public library available to researchers and the general community. Aside from being beautiful, it is home to priceless collections of historical records, rare books, drawings, music and works of art.

The Strand Bookstore

You haven’t seen a truly amazing bookstore until you’ve checked out The Strand Bookstore, beloved by readers in New York City and those who visit the city from just about anywhere else. Originally opened nearly 100 years ago in a site around the corner from its present location, this store has roughly 2.5 million books. While you could spend hours just browsing the dollar carts on the sidewalk outside, be sure to leave plenty of time to explore what’s beyond the doors. Many visitors excitedly tell tales about the amazing treasure they found hidden among the shelves.

Library Hotel

Touting itself as a “book lover’s paradise,” Library Hotel has an elegant yet calming atmosphere. Each of its 60 rooms is stocked with a unique arrangement of art and books—with each floor assigned a designated topic based on the Dewey Decimal System.

Key West, Florida

Surprised? Key West has several book-related attractions—and don’t miss the chance to see one of the amazing sunsets while you’re there.

The Hemingway Home & Museum

Among the most popular attractions in Key West is The Hemingway Home & Museum. Ernest Hemingway and his second wife Pauline lived in this house—a gift from Pauline’s uncle—in the 1930s. One of the most distinctive features was (and still is) the beautiful inground pool, which was the first inground pool in Key West. The house is also famous for the dozens of six-toed cats—some of which are descendants of Hemingway’s cats—that roam the grounds. Hemingway’s office has been preserved and although you can’t step inside, you can peek at his workspace from the doorway.

Books & Books @ The Studios of Key West

Judy Blume is definitely having a moment, thanks to the release of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, along with the Judy Blume Forever documentary. Books & Books @ The Studios of Key West is owned by Blume and her husband, George Cooper, and Blume can often be found assisting customers. That’s not the only reason to support this nonprofit business, though—it’s also the perfect partnership between the Books & Books independent bookstore and The Studios of Key West, a non-profit arts center and cultural organization.

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is an area with plenty of literary history and popular book-related attractions. There’s an area called the Boston Literary District, where you can stroll past the homes of Robert Frost and Henry James, attend author readings and other literary events, and visit Edgar Allan Poe Square, near the (now gone) home where the author was born. You can also see two homes where Louisa May Alcott lived at various points in her life. (If you venture about a half-hour from Boston to the charming town of Concord, you can visit Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House—this is where the author lived when she wrote Little Women, and is also the town in which the novel is set.)

The Old Corner Bookstore is the oldest commercial bookstore in Boston, and has a literary claim to fame because it was a popular hangout spot for authors including Charles Dickens and Mark Twain. You also have many bookstore options here, including Brattle Book Shop (one of the oldest bookstores in the United States) and Raven Used Books, where you never know what you might find. Plus, there’s the Boston Public Library—dating back to 1848, it was the first large free municipal library in the United States, and the first to have a room designated just for children.

Nantucket, Massachusetts

This small island near Cape Cod is home to the Nantucket Book Festival, which features appearances by famous authors, and the Nantucket Historical Association Research Library. Popular author Elin Hilderbrand has written numerous novels set in this area. If you need a place to stay, the Regatta Inn by Nantucket Resort Collection is a charming boutique that was recently totally renovated and is very close to downtown.

Minnesota

When you think about literary locations, Minnesota might not be the first destination that springs to mind. But true book lovers know this state is actually home to many book-related hotspots.

Twin Cities

The Minnesota Historical Society offers walking tours of the neighborhood where F. Scott Fitzgerald lived.

Southern Minnesota

Little House on the Prairie fans flock to this area from all over the globe to see the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum. Located in the real-life town of Walnut Grove, this is where Wilder and her family lived in the 1870s when she was a girl. If you love the TV show, you’ll enjoy seeing the memorabilia on display here.

Central Minnesota

The small town of Sauk Centre is where you can visit the childhood home of Sinclair Lewis, famous playwright and novelist and the first American to win a Nobel Prize in Literature.

Austin, Texas

Austin is known for its rich cultural scene and has become a mecca for artists and creative people of all types, so it’s not surprising that this city has many great sites and events for book lovers. The Texas Book Festival is held here every year. William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry, lived here and you can visit the O. Henry Museum, a historic home where the author lived during the late 1800s.

Support local independent bookstores like Vintage Bookstore & Wine Bar and the Black-owned Black Pearl Books. You'll also want to plan to visit Austin’s stunning Central Library, named by TIME Magazine as one of the World’s 100 Greatest Places in 2108.

Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis may be most well-known for its music (and music-related attractions) and incredible food, but it also has plenty to appeal to book lovers. Burke's Book Store is the oldest independent bookstore in the city and offers an exciting assortment of both old and new titles. And here’s an unusual type of literary site—the historic Elmwood Cemetery, one of the oldest rural cemeteries in the South. Scenes from several movies were filmed here, and it’s the final resting place of novelist and Civil War historian Shelby Foote.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

The capital of Argentina has many qualities that should make it a go-to destination for any book lover. One study found that it has the most bookstores on a per capita basis than any other city in the world. Avenida Corrientes, one of the city’s main streets, has more than 100 bookstores – or librerías, as they are known there. The country has a fixed-price law for books, meaning a specific book must be sold at the same price everywhere in the country for 18 months after its publication.

That’s one reason why independent bookstores are flourishing in Buenos Aires. Many of these stores have been around for decades. One great example: El Ateneo Grand Splendid. Located in a former theater, it was named “the most beautiful bookstore in the world” by National Geographic in 2019.

Buenos Aires is also home to the largest library in the country, Biblioteca Nacional Mariano Moreno, known as much for its distinctive architectural styles as for the roughly million items housed within its walls, including some rare and valuable items that date back several centuries.

Newport, Rhode Island

The Redwood Library and Athenaeum is the oldest continuously operating lending library in the U.S. Founded in 1747, it celebrated its 275^th birthday last year. The city also has numerous terrific independent bookstores, including Charter Books, which specializes in signed books and materials that spotlight the area’s rich history and cultural significance.

Asheville, North Carolina

The Asheville area has served as the setting for numerous popular books, and this region has also been the home of well-known authors. F. Scott Fitzgerald reportedly spent two summers staying at the Omni Grove Park Inn while his wife Zelda was at a local sanitarium.

Thomas Wolfe was born and raised in Asheville, so you can visit the Thomas Wolfe Memorial and tour the author’s childhood home—a 29-room residence that his mother originally operated as a boardinghouse. Wolfe and fellow author O. Henry are buried in Riverside Cemetery.

Bookstores in the area include Malaprop’s Bookstore and the Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar.

Tucson, Arizona

Mentioned in works by numerous great authors including Jack Kerouac and Barbara Kingsolver, Tucson is also the location of one of the largest book fairs in the country. Tucson Festival of Books is a free event held each March that attracts hundreds of thousands of book lovers.

While you’re in town, you’ll want to head to Antigone Books. Located on Historic Fourth Avenue, it has been woman-owned and operated for 50 years.

Scotland

Scotland offers many things for book lovers to see and do.

Troon, Scotland

Scottish poet Robert Burns was born here, so this is where you’ll find the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.

Wigtown, Scotland

Wigtown was officially designated as Scotland’s National Book Town in 1998 and is home to an annual book festival. This is where you can also live out an experience straight out of a rom-com flick. The Open Book, which can be booked via Airbnb, is a bookstore with an apartment—and guests get the chance to run the shop during their stay.

Dumfries, Scotland

J.M. Barrie (the creator of Peter Pan) moved to the town of Dumfries when he was 13, and it is said that his adventures there inspired him to create the fictional world of Neverland. Moat Brae House and the Neverland Discovery Garden are dedicated to supporting children’s literature and the magic of storytelling. Visitors can tour the trails and gardens that nurtured Barrie’s imagination.

Stratford-upon-Avon

Shakespeare’s Birthplace

This attraction actually encompasses several buildings, including Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, and Shakespeare’s New Place. Not only can you learn a lot about Shakespeare and his work, but you can also see some of his actual belongings, tour the properties, and attend exhibits and events related to Shakespeare and literature.

Shakespeare's Schoolroom & Guildhall

You’ll be able to imagine what it was like to be a young Shakespeare learning about literature in the 16^th century when you take in the surroundings where the famous playwright studied. Costumed guides take you through interesting tours—and you can even try on some authentic Tudor clothes yourself!

Shakespeare’s Grave at Holy Trinity Church

The beautiful Holy Trinity Church is the oldest building in the town, making it an interesting place to visit purely for historical value. But it’s also the final resting place of Shakespeare and several of his family members.

England

Shakespeare's Globe

Although the original Globe Theatre where Shakespeare’s plays were performed was sadly destroyed by fire in the early 1600s, this magnificent theater was carefully designed and built to be a respectable reconstruction. Browse the exhibits, attend a play, and soak up the rich sense of culture and history.

The Bodleian Library - Oxford, England

The original Bodleian Library at Oxford University (known as “the Old Library”) is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. Today, the Bodleian Libraries consist of 28 libraries that serve the University and the reading/research community and house many rare and valuable literary works. The Old Library and two of the other libraries are open to visitors through guided tours only. You don’t want to miss the chance to see the beautiful architecture and learn about literary and scholarly history.

Ireland

In addition to offering gorgeous landscapes and captivating historical sites, Ireland also has many sites for book lovers—including some that spotlight great Irish writers.

Dublin

Two of the literary attractions in Dublin:

Museum of Literature Ireland. This relatively new museum – it just opened in 2019 – is located in University College Dublin’s historic Newman House. It has a vast, impressive collection of Irish literature, and also features a writer’s room and literature-related exhibitions.
James Joyce Centre. As you can probably guess from the name, this museum and cultural center celebrates the life and writing of Irish poet and novelist James Joyce, whose most famous work is Ulysses. Located in a captivating 18th-century townhouse, this property has many original details and a stunning courtyard adorned with an extensive series of Ulysses murals painted by Paul Joyce, the great-grandnephew of James.

Kilkea Castle in the County of Kildare

Located in the Irish countryside on 180 acres in Kildare, an hour from Dublin, Kilkea Castle has a rich and intriguing history that has all the drama of a terrific novel. The castle dates back to the 12^th century and is one of the oldest inhabited castles in Ireland. Through the centuries, it has been connected to warriors, dukes, and other prominent figures in Irish history including one nicknamed the Wizard Earl who was rumored to practice the “dark arts” at Kilkea Castle. The property has housed many authors in its history, including current owner, author Christy Cashman, who frequently hosts other authors for weekend symposiums, mentorship programs and readings. Today, the property is a luxury golf resort that offers a high-end spa, while also offering the chance to immerse themselves in history and explore the beautiful environment.

Portland, Oregon

Powell’s Books

Staking a claim as the largest independent bookstore in the world, Powell’s Books is famous and revered among those who love to read, and it’s likely that some book lovers travel great distances just for the chance to shop at the flagship store (there are also two other smaller locations in the area). If you go, prepare to spend a long time there—you’ll want to check out the seemingly endless selection of new and used books.

Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden

Fans of Beverly Cleary’s beloved children’s books will want to visit the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden, where you can see bronze statues of three of her characters (Ramona, Henry & Ribsy the dog). Cleary grew up in the area, and the Garden is located in Grant Park, which is featured in her books.

Newport, Oregon

Sylvia Beach Hotel

Offering breathtaking views from its vantage point perched above the Pacific Ocean, the Sylvia Beach Hotel is an amazing getaway destination just for the views alone. But this quaint and cozy bed-and-breakfast (which is more than 100 years old) is also a book lover’s dream. It has 21 literary-themed rooms, each of which honors a different famous author—from Virginia Woolf to Dr. Seuss—with memorabilia and décor. Note that this hotel has no TVs or WiFi, so this is truly a place for those who want to disconnect, relax, and enjoy a good book (or several) – or perhaps even focus on writing the next great novel.

Prince Edward Island, Canada

Anne of Green Gables, the beloved children’s novel written by L. M. Montgomery, was set in Prince Edward Island, so it makes sense that you’ll find many sites related to the book and its author here. The island’s tourism website has an “All Things Anne” section that provides interesting information about the book, its author, and the local landmarks that fans of the book won’t want to miss.

Green Gables Heritage Place

Part of L.M. Montgomery's Cavendish National Historic Site, Green Gables Heritage Place lets visitors explore the original house, stroll through 19th-century gardens and Lovers Lane, and engage in fun book-related activities.

Lucy Maud Montgomery's Birthplace

See the small but charming home where the author was born, and check out the wonderful items on exhibit, including her wedding dress and personal scrapbooks.

Anne of Green Gables Museum

This museum has many of L.M. Montgomery's works and belongings on display.

Amherst, Massachusetts

Emily Dickinson Museum

You can visit many homes of authors and other notable people, but one thing that’s distinctive about Emily Dickinson’s home is the fact that she apparently rarely left it (at least, in the last few decades of her life). She was notoriously reclusive and wrote about how she didn’t feel the need to wander beyond the boundaries of her family’s property. The Emily Dickinson Museum consists of two houses—the Homestead, where Dickinson lived, and the Evergreens, where her brother and his family lived. The museum’s collection consists of thousands of artifacts, including many items owned by Dickinson and her family.

Savannah, Georgia

John Berendt‘s famous novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (and the movie version of it) was set in Savannah, and there are plenty of sights and scenes in the city to make you feel like you’re living the real-life story.

Mercer-Williams House Museum and Carriage Shop

Construction on The Mercer-Williams House began in 1860 but was put on hold due to the Civil War. It was finally completed several years later, and is known for its eye-catching architecture and the valuable artwork and antiques found throughout the home.

Telfair Academy

The oldest public art museum in the South—and the first art museum in America founded by a woman—the Telfair Academy is where you’ll find the Bird Girl statue that appears on the book’s cover (along with many other distinctive pieces of art).

Forsyth Park

Featured prominently as the setting for several scenes in the movie, Forsyth Park is known for its famous fountain. It’s also a great place to relax and enjoy the gorgeous Savannah weather.

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