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3/6/2023

10 Comments

Exploring the World’s Best Travel Book Stores

 
Bookstore with wall of books and sun shining in
​We think there isn’t all that much better in life than getting lost in a good book. For all the travel book lovers out there, what could be more inspirational than finding a great travel bookstore? As such, we are happy to share our opinions on some of the best travel bookstores around the world. From charming boutiques to sprawling megastores, these travel bookstores are definitely worth a visit!
​Strand Book Store (New York, USA) – This legendary bookstore has been in operation since 1927 and contains over 18 miles of books. Walking in can be overwhelming, but in a good way.  Strand specializes in art and photography books but also has an impressive selection of travel literature. It's a great place to find unique souvenirs that will last longer than a t-shirt or trinket. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable, and the atmosphere is cozy yet bustling. It's the perfect spot for an afternoon spent browsing through bookshelves full of titles from all over the world.
Strand Book Store, New York City
Daunt Books, London
​Daunt Books (London, England) - Daunt Books in London is a travel lover's dream! This bookstore was founded in 1990 to specialize in travel books, although they now offer a broader selection.  Not only is there a large travel book selection with books about every corner of the globe, but they also have maps from around the world, albums of travel photos, and even famous travel journals.  The Marylebone High Street location is probably the most famous of their locations, with an amazing internal gallery that just begs for a photo.  

No list of great travel bookstores is complete without Stanfords.  Also located in London, this is a must visit for travel lovers.  The knowledgeable staff is of course passionate about travel, and they have a generous selection of vintage travel books, maps and travel accessories.  Visitors can even special order hard-to-find titles or specific items they'd like to take home as a remembrance of their trip.
Shakespeare & Company (Paris, France) – This small iconic bookshop opened its doors in 1951 as a tribute to its namesake store from 1922 that was frequented by Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, and other literary luminaries. Located in the Left Bank, its walls are lined with books in several languages, including a remarkable selection of English-language literature about Paris and France itself. The shop’s interior is absolutely divine and makes it one of the most romantic places to browse through piles of gorgeous books. 
Shakespeare and Company bookstore, Paris
Livraria Lello bookstore, Porto
​Livraria Lello (Porto, Portugal) – This one-of-a-kind bookstore opened in 1906 and is widely considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. Its stunning art nouveau facade features two large stained-glass windows depicting Portuguese literature figures Camoes and Bocage while its interior showcases intricate woodwork ceilings with carved angels holding up ornate lamps that light up rows upon rows of shelves filled with books from across Europe.  Absolutely a must-see in our opinion for those lucky of enough to be visiting Porto.  We actually have not yet gotten to go, has anyone reading this actually been there?

Our other favorite bookstores include the famous Powell’s Books in Portland, City Lights in San Francisco, Moon Palace Books in Minneapolis, Black Pearl Books in Austin, Changing Hands in Phoenix, and the quirky not-to-be-missed The Last Book Store in Los Angeles.  No matter where your travels take you, there is almost certainly a great bookstore waiting to be discovered.  Whether your tastes lean towards classic travel literature, local insights or funny travel books, these stores have something for everyone looking to explore new places through reading.

Help us - what great bookstores did we miss?

Happy traveling!
​Alan
​
Powells Books, Portland
Photo Credits:
Strand Book Store, NYC:  Postdlf, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons
Daunts, London: CVB, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Livraria Lello, Porto:  A_nostalgia_na_Lello.jpg: Alegna13A_Livraria_Lello_e_Irmão.jpg: Alegna13A_ponte_de_encanto.jpg: Alegna13derivative work: Morray, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Powells, Portland: 
Adam Jones, Ph.D., CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The Last Book Store, Los Angeles: vagueonthehow from Tadcaster, York, England, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons


10 Comments
Sally Jane Smith link
3/19/2023 01:24:11 pm

This is a great list - but I do have a fabulous bookstore to add: Atlantis Books on Santorini.

Flamboyant on the outside and the perfect warren of shelves and stacks on the inside, It's so good that it ended up featuring in the pages of my own manuscript.

For gorgeous pictures and descriptions, I can't do better than to direct you to the website of Strong Sense of Place (which, incidentally, is my favourite podcast for matching books to destinations): https://strongsenseofplace.com/2022/02/08/add-atlantis-books-in-santorini-greece-to-your-must-visit-bookshop-list/

Reply
Mila Osman link
4/27/2023 08:21:04 pm

Ohhhhhh the bookstore in Portugal made me gasp out loud! How beautiful.... Porto is on my travel bucket list so I'm pinning this for later. Thank you!

Mila Osman
Chasing the Muse Blog

Reply
Nicole
4/29/2023 03:33:41 pm

Livrario Lello is my favourite here. I love the art nouveau style and love how cosey it feels. There are some wonderful book stores in northern England and Scotland that this reminds me of. So stunning with the woodwork.

Reply
Ambica Gulati link
4/29/2023 08:42:19 pm

I would love to explore these bookstores. Your post reminded me that I havent' been to a library or a bookstore since decades. I mostly read on the laptop now or get books for reviews. But your post brought back the fragrance of books, the ambience, it's so awesome to feel that.

Reply
Joanna
4/30/2023 05:39:32 am

I haven't visited any of these bookshops, but I have seen some pretty amazing ones during my travels as well. One of the most iconic ones was in Venice, Libreria Aqua Alta. They have an entire gondola inside, filled with books. Carturesti, in Bucharest, is another fantastic bookstore, with an impressive architecture that attracts not just readers but photographers as well. I live near London so next time I'm in town I will check out the Daunt Bookstore.

Reply
Puloma Bhattacharya
4/30/2023 02:06:28 pm

These book stores are truly amazing not only because of their unique collection but also because of their location and interesting facade and interiors. It would be so exciting to read and browse through travelogues and album on travel. The Livraria Lello is one of my favorites because it's fairy tale feel and decor. I think one of the Harry Potter films was shot here if I'm not wrong. Also nice to know that the Stanford's in London carries vintage travel books and accessories and the Daunt has everything travel related and more. These book stores are a blessing for book lovers.I would love to visit the Strand book store since it's closer to where I live and would love to explore it's remarkable collection and definitely buy one of the unique souvenirs.

Reply
Lisa
4/30/2023 11:25:12 pm

As a bookworm I totally approve this list! I’d most like to see the bookshop in Paris, it's so charming. I used to live in London but never saw Daunt bookshop, I'll make a note to revisit when I next return. Liveria Lello is absolutely beautiful.

Reply
Antoine link
5/1/2023 02:05:08 am

Wow reading about these unique bookstores was an adventure in itself! I've always been a fan of the charm of old-fashioned bookstores and the smell of books. From the quaint Shakespeare and Company in Paris to the labyrinth-like El Ateneo Grand Splendid in Buenos Aires, these bookstores are not only a bookworm's paradise but also a great way to immerse oneself in the local culture :) Thank you for sharing these amazing gems with us! Since we live in France, we'll definitely be checking out one in Paris the next time we're there.




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Cosette link
5/3/2023 01:59:24 am

Love this list, although I haven't visited any of the bookstores mentioned. The one in Porto, Portugal had such a long waiting line, that we skipped it for next time. In Maastricht, the Netherlands there's a bookstore in a former church, which is beautiful.

Reply
Clarice link
5/3/2023 06:36:07 am

Visiting bookstores all over the world is one of the my travel goals. We had a chance to visit Strand a few years a good and their selection is impressive. Honestly, a full day wouldn't be enough for me to browse through their bookshelves. They also have activities for kids and recently, I saw that they hold a literary drag show too.

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    the A5 TRAVEL BOOKS blog

    Alan Josephs is the founder of A5 Travel Books and a huge fan of all things travel.  We occasionally will invite other travel writers to guest post. 

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