I don’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t have a book on the go. And even when I’m travelling, I’m still a physical book kind of person, despite the extra weight in my luggage!
So it’s probably no surprise that whenever I visit a new city, I find myself drawn to its libraries and bookstores.
Sometimes it’s the incredible architecture that gets my attention. Other times it’s the old books, quirky little shops or the chance to browse shelves filled with titles I’ve never heard of.
And I’m always amused to see familiar books translated into dozens of languages. I’m convinced you can find The Da Vinci Code and Fifty Shades of Grey just about anywhere!
Over the years, I’ve visited some beautiful libraries and bookstores around the world. Some are famous tourist attractions, while others are places I’ve discovered while exploring.
Many are free to visit, making them a great addition to a sightseeing itinerary without adding much to the budget.
Here are some of my favourites, along with a few I haven’t quite made it to yet but still have firmly on my travel bucket list.
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Beautiful Libraries to Add to Your Bucket List
These are some of the most beautiful libraries I’ve visited during my travels.
The State Hall, Vienna, Austria
The State Hall of the Austrian National Library is easily one of the most beautiful libraries I’ve visited.
Built in the 18th century, this incredible room is almost 80 metres long, with towering wooden bookshelves, elaborate ceiling frescoes and around 200,000 historic books.
There’s plenty to admire beyond the books, including antique globes and the stunning domed ceiling.
When I visited, there was an exhibition about the Freemasons, but the exhibitions change regularly, so there’s often something different to see.
There’s an entry fee, but I think it’s well worth paying to see this beautiful space.
You can buy an individual ticket on the official website or it is included free with the Vienna Pass.
I’ve also written a separate guide to visiting the State Hall in Vienna if you’d like more information before you go.
Trinity College Library, Dublin, Ireland
The Long Room at Trinity College Dublin is one of the world’s most famous libraries, with towering wooden bookshelves, a barrel-vaulted ceiling and rows of marble busts.
When I visited, most of the books had been removed as part of a major restoration project. Four bays were still filled with books to give visitors an idea of how the library usually looks.
Even with the empty shelves, I wasn’t disappointed. The architecture is impressive enough on its own, and there are still artworks and historical displays to enjoy.
The Long Room is expected to remain open until late 2027, when the next stage of restoration is scheduled to begin.
Your ticket also includes the famous Book of Kells, a beautifully illustrated manuscript dating back around 1,200 years, displayed in a separate area of the Old Library.
I recommend booking directly through Trinity College in advance, as popular times can sell out.
We could only get late afternoon tickets when we visited, although they did let us in a little early when we arrived.
Mortlock Wing, State Library of South Australia, Adelaide
Right here in my hometown of Adelaide is one of Australia’s most beautiful libraries, and best of all, it’s completely free to visit.
The Mortlock Wing at the State Library of South Australia is a stunning 19th-century space, with dark timber balconies, rows of old books and natural light streaming through the glass roof.
It reminds many people of the library at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films, and I can see why!
The ground floor has fascinating displays about South Australian history, so there’s more to do than simply admire the architecture.
One of my favourite times to visit is Christmas, when a huge decorated tree stands in the middle of the library, with carols adding to the festive atmosphere.
Entry is free, and you can also join a free guided tour to learn more about the building.
Check the State Library of South Australia website for opening hours and tour information.
State Library of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
The State Library of Victoria is another beautiful Australian library worth adding to your Melbourne itinerary.
The highlight is the La Trobe Reading Room, a magnificent domed space with rows of wooden desks radiating out from the centre.
Head up to the upper galleries for the best view looking down over the room.
Opened in 1913, the reading room is six storeys high, and the architecture alone makes it worth visiting.
There’s plenty more to explore, including exhibitions and historical collections.
One of the highlights for me was seeing Ned Kelly’s famous armour on display. It’s an incredible piece of Australian history, and you can still find it in the Redmond Barry Reading Room.
Entry to the State Library of Victoria is free, and there are also free guided tours and paid experiences available.
Check the State Library Victoria website for current exhibitions and tour information.
Strahov Library, Prague, Czech Republic
Strahov Library is part of the historic Strahov Monastery in Prague and is home to two beautiful library halls.
The Theological Hall and Philosophical Hall are filled with old books, ornate wooden shelves and impressive painted ceilings. They’re exactly the sort of libraries you imagine when you think of centuries-old European buildings.
Unfortunately, you can’t walk into the halls themselves on a standard visit. To protect the historic books, visitors view them from the doorways.
There’s still plenty to see, including the Cabinet of Curiosities, with its collections of scientific instruments, natural history specimens and other unusual objects.
It’s not a particularly long visit, but I thought it was worth including in our Prague sightseeing.
You can buy tickets on the official Strahov Monastery website.
Beautiful Bookstores Worth Travelling For
Libraries aren’t the only bookish places worth seeking out. These are some of the bookstores that have stayed with me long after I’ve left.
El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires, Argentina
El Ateneo Grand Splendid is regularly named among the most beautiful bookstores in the world, and after visiting, I can understand why.
Located in the Recoleta neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, this incredible bookstore was originally a theatre that opened in 1919. It later became a cinema before being converted into a bookstore in 2000.
Thankfully, many of the original features have been preserved, including the ornate balconies, painted dome, red velvet curtains and even the stage, which is now home to a café.
Instead of theatre seats, you’ll find thousands of books spread across several levels, including the former theatre boxes.
Most of the books are in Spanish, so there wasn’t much I could actually read, but that didn’t stop me enjoying a wander around.
It’s worth visiting just to admire the building, even if you don’t plan to buy anything.
Entry is free, and you’ll find the bookstore at Avenida Santa Fe 1860, making it an easy stop while exploring Recoleta.
Cărturești Carusel, Bucharest, Romania
Cărturești Carusel, often called the Carousel of Light, is one of the most beautiful bookstores I’ve visited.
Located in Bucharest’s Old Town, it spreads across six levels, with sweeping white balconies, curved staircases and an open central atrium filled with natural light.
The historic building was restored before opening as a bookstore in 2015.
We visited during our adult gap year, and I loved how bright and open everything felt. There were books everywhere, along with gifts and other interesting things to browse.
They even had a section of English-language books, which is always a welcome discovery when you’re travelling!
There’s also a café on the upper level if you want to stop for a break.
Entry is free, and you’ll find Cărturești Carusel at 55 Lipscani Street in Bucharest’s Old Town.
Check the Cărturești website for opening hours.
Libreria Acqua Alta, Venice, Italy
Libreria Acqua Alta is one of the quirkiest bookstores I’ve visited, and it could only really exist in Venice!
The name translates to High Water Bookstore, which makes sense when you see how they’ve dealt with Venice’s occasional flooding.
Instead of traditional shelves, you’ll find books stacked in gondolas, bathtubs, boats and just about anything else that might keep them out of the water.
It’s a wonderfully chaotic little shop, packed with new and second-hand books, old prints and plenty of unusual things to browse.
But the books aren’t the only attraction.
Out the back is a staircase made entirely from old books, which has become a popular photo spot. Climb to the top for a view over the canal.
There’s also a gondola inside the shop, and you might spot one of the resident cats wandering between the shelves.
It’s busy, a little cramped and definitely not your typical bookstore, but that’s all part of the fun.
Entry is free, and you’ll find it near Campo Santa Maria Formosa, a short walk from St Mark’s Square.
Check the Libreria Acqua Alta website for opening hours. Be aware that access to the book staircase and gondola closes earlier than the bookstore itself.
Shakespeare and Company, Paris, France
Shakespeare and Company is one of Paris’s most famous bookstores, and it’s a must-visit for anyone who loves books.
Located just across the Seine from Notre-Dame Cathedral, this English-language bookstore is packed with bookshelves, narrow staircases and little corners where you could easily spend ages browsing.
The current bookstore opened in 1951, although its name comes from an earlier Paris bookstore founded by Sylvia Beach in 1919. That original shop was a gathering place for writers including Ernest Hemingway and James Joyce.
Over the years, the current Shakespeare and Company has continued that literary tradition, even allowing aspiring writers to stay overnight among the bookshelves in exchange for helping around the shop.
I love that you can walk into a bookstore in the middle of Paris and find shelves filled with English-language books. It’s especially handy when you’ve finished everything you brought with you and need something new to read!
There’s also a café next door if you’d like to stop for a break.
Entry is free, although you may need to queue during busy periods. Photography isn’t permitted inside the shop.
You’ll find it at 37 Rue de la Bûcherie in the Latin Quarter.
Check the Shakespeare and Company website for opening hours.
More Beautiful Libraries and Bookstores on My Bucket List
Of course, there are still plenty of bookish places around the world I haven’t managed to visit.
These four are firmly on my bucket list, and I’ll be keeping them in mind whenever my travels take me nearby.
Livraria Lello, Porto, Portugal
Livraria Lello is one of the world’s most famous bookstores, known for its beautiful red staircase, stained-glass ceiling and elaborate wooden bookshelves.
It’s often linked to the Harry Potter books, with stories suggesting it inspired J.K. Rowling while she was living in Porto. However, Rowling has since said she never visited the bookstore, so that connection is more myth than fact.
This is one bookstore I came very close to visiting, but didn’t quite make it inside!
I stood right outside during my visit to Porto, but the queues were enormous. At the time, there were two separate lines – one to buy a ticket and another to enter the bookstore.
I told myself I’d come back later, but of course, that never happened.
These days, you can buy a ticket online in advance, which makes things a little easier, although it’s still a very popular attraction.
There’s an entry fee, with ticket options that allow some or all of the cost to be redeemed towards eligible book purchases.
You can book tickets directly through Livraria Lello.
It’s still firmly on my bucket list, and next time I’m in Porto, I’ll be booking ahead rather than taking my chances with the queues.
Starfield Library, Seoul, South Korea
Starfield Library in Seoul is one of those places I’ve been wanting to visit for years.
Located in the middle of COEX Mall in the Gangnam district, this modern library is famous for its enormous bookshelves that stretch 13 metres high.
Unlike the historic libraries I’ve visited in Europe, Starfield Library is a bright, open space spread across two levels, with thousands of books, magazines and places to sit and read.
It’s not just a library, either. There are regular cultural events, including author talks, lectures and occasional performances.
Best of all, it’s completely free to visit.
I almost made it here on a trip to South Korea that ended up being cancelled. It’s been on my list ever since, and I know that when I finally get there, I’ll be looking straight up at those incredible shelves!
You’ll find Starfield Library inside COEX Mall, easily reached by Seoul’s subway system. It’s generally open daily from 10.30 am to 10 pm.
You can find more information on the official Starfield COEX Mall website.
The Library of Congress, Washington DC, USA
The Library of Congress in Washington DC is the world’s largest library, and its Main Reading Room looks absolutely incredible.
Located in the historic Thomas Jefferson Building on Capitol Hill, it’s famous for its enormous domed ceiling, beautiful architecture and rows of wooden reading desks.
There’s much more to see than just the reading room, including exhibitions, historic maps, rare books and documents covering American history.
Visitors can admire the Main Reading Room from an overlook, and there are also limited opportunities to step inside during short visitor walkthroughs.
Best of all, visiting is free, although you’ll need a timed-entry ticket.
You can reserve your free ticket on the Library of Congress website, with bookings opening 30 days ahead. A limited number of same-day tickets are also released.
The Thomas Jefferson Building is generally open Tuesday to Saturday, with extended hours on Thursday evenings.
This is one I’m definitely keeping on my bucket list. I think I could happily spend a couple of hours admiring the architecture and exploring the exhibitions.
El Péndulo, Mexico City, Mexico
El Péndulo is a bookstore, café and cultural space all rolled into one, and it looks like the perfect place to spend a few hours.
There are several El Péndulo bookstores around Mexico City, but the Polanco location is particularly well known for its beautiful interior, with books spread across different levels and plenty of greenery.
The bookstores stock a wide range of titles, including literature, art and history, with some English-language books too.
There’s more going on than just browsing. Depending on the location, you might find author talks, live music or other cultural events.
The Roma branch even has its own performance space, Foro del Tejedor, which hosts concerts and other entertainment.
I’ve had El Péndulo on my bucket list for ages. I can easily imagine spending a morning here browsing the shelves, enjoying breakfast and watching the world go by.
You can find the different locations, opening hours and upcoming events on the El Péndulo website.
Final Thoughts on These Beautiful Libraries and Bookstores
For me, visiting libraries and bookstores is one of those simple travel pleasures that never gets old.
Whether it’s a grand historic library, a beautiful modern space or a tiny second-hand bookstore tucked down a side street, I always enjoy having a browse.
Many are free to visit, and even those with an entry fee can be worth including in your itinerary, especially if you’re a book lover like me.
I’ve been lucky enough to visit some incredible bookish places around the world, but there are still plenty more on my bucket list!
Books have become part of my travels in another way, too, through BookCrossing.
If you haven’t heard of it, BookCrossing is all about sharing books by releasing them for someone else to find and read. Each book has a unique identification number, so its journey can be followed as it passes from reader to reader.
I love the idea that it’s not just me travelling around the world, but the books are travelling too!
Some travel across cities, others cross international borders, and you never quite know where a book might end up next.
Through BookCrossing, I’ve met fellow book lovers and discovered another way to combine two of my favourite things – books and travel.
If you’re a book lover too, you might enjoy reading more about my experiences with BookCrossing and how travelling books have become part of my adventures.world.
TRAVEL PLANNING ESSENTIALS
Flights – Book direct with the airline, always.
Book accommodation – My go to is Booking.com
Hire a rental car – DiscoverCars.com is where I search many car rental companies in one place
Get travel insurance – I use CoverMore for my insurance.
Pick up an eSIM – My eSIM of choice is Airalo
Book activities, tours & attractions – I use a few different websites for this. Viator, Get Your Guide and Klook are my first options.
Stay safe with a VPN – I use NordVPN to keep me safe online
Manage your money – I use Wise and ING (Australia) for my travel accounts.
