 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!
 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.
 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?
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 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. 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!
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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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. Leave a Reply. |
3/6/2023
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