There’s nothing quite like diving into the pages of a book and travelling to a faraway place. Even in this digital era, book lovers will always adore getting lost in a magical bookstore. If you’re dreaming of cozy reading nooks, miles of bookshelves, and dreamy designs, look no further. From the oldest bookstore in Porto, a whimsical gondola in Venice, and the old Parisian haunt of Hemingway, here are some of the best bookstores in the world you can experience on a Trafalgar Tour.
Livraria Lello
Porto, Portugal
The self-proclaimed ‘most beautiful bookstore in the world’ certainly lives up to the hype. Livraria Lello in Porto is the city’s oldest bookstore and is absolutely dripping in old-world splendour. Opened in 1906, the striking red double helix staircase is the main centrepiece, otherwise known as the ‘stairway to heaven’ for book lovers.
This neo-gothic bookstore also features a breathtaking stained glass skylight and bronze reliefs of literary figures, carved into the wooden bookshelves lined with leather-bound books. The bookstore is even rumoured to have inspired J.K. Rowling’s Hogwarts in Harry Potter! So grab a book and settle in with a coffee or wine at the cozy cafe, and see what you dream up in this magical bookstore.
GET INSPIRED BY: Best of Portugal
Shakespeare and Company
Paris, France
As one of the most historical bookstores in the world, Shakespeare and Co. is an oasis for literary lovers. Set in the heart of Paris, the bookstore was opened in 1919 by American expat Sylvia Beach. She lent books to famous author Ernest Hemingway when he couldn’t afford to buy them.
The bookstore became a popular hangout for writers in the 1920s, including James Joyce, Gertrude Stein and Ezra Pound, but was forced to close in 1941 during the German occupation of Paris. It never opened again in the original location, but in 1951, George Whitman opened the bookstore in a second location overlooking the Seine. The current bookstore pays homage to the original Shakespeare and Co.
Today the shop is active as ever and holds regular readings, workshops and an annual festival with some of the world’s best contemporary writers.
GET INSPIRED BY: Paris Explorer
Libreria Acqua Alta
Venice, Italy
A wonderland of books in Venice, this unique bookstore may be the only one in the world to use bathtubs and gondolas as bookshelves. Libreria Acqua Alta is famed for its old stonewalls and charming hodgepodge rooms filled with books, along with gorgeous views of the centuries-old Venetian canals.
It’s also home to many adorable cats, so you can kick back with a novel and watch the gondolas pass by, with friendly cats curled up at your feet.
GET INSPIRED BY: Italy Bellissimo
Atlantis Books
Santorini, Greece
This dreamy bookstore is set in a white-washed home in Santorini beside the glittering ocean. Atlantis Books is owned by American Craig Walzer, who set up the bookstore with his friend, Oliver Wise, when they were holidaying in Santorini and couldn’t find good books in English in the local bookshops.
They built the bookshelves and handpicked all the books that line the shop, and you can find rare treasures like the first edition of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood. There’s also poetry, biographies, short-story collections and philosophical volumes, and the shop hosts many events from dance parties to book readings. Don’t forget to head up to the terrace for beautiful views over the sea.
GET INSPIRED BY: Best of Greece
Cook & Book
Brussels, Belgium
You’ll be blown away by this whimsical red and black bookstore. But don’t forget to look up – you’ll find 800 books suspended on the ceiling! The magic doesn’t stop there in Cook & Book in Brussels, with eight rooms, each with its own unique vintage design.
There’s a caravan in the travel section and model railway tracks winding through the children’s section. You’ll find a Fiat 500 in the cooking section, vinyl records lining the music section, and a large comic book section. There’s also the luxurious literature space, with champagne bottles, Acqua Di Parma fragrances, pocket lamps, book holders, customised motorcycle helmets, lavish chocolate and all the literary classics.
Don’t forget the café, which features lights made of Campbell’s soup cans. It’s got a lovely atmosphere and it’s a great spot to delve into a book as you enjoy a delicious lunch.
GET INSPIRED BY: Best of Holland Belgium and Luxembourg end Brussels
