7 Coolest Bookstores In The World

Ask an avid reader where their summer travels take them, and you’ll get the same response, “the bookstore!” Print is still very much alive, and with elaborate history-packed bookstores around the world, it will be a long time before the internet or large chains put these retailers out of business. Independent bookstores give you a feel for what the city you’re in is like. In some cases, on purpose because of how unique and elaborate the store is. Keep reading, and you’ll see why some bookworms go out of their way to visit these seven coolest bookstores in the world.

Dominicanen Bookstore, Maastricht, Holland

Once a church, now a bookstore, the Dominicanen Bookstore in Holland is a must-see. Setup with reading nooks and a cafe where the choir used to sing, you could spend hours here! The medieval frescoes on the ceiling are as distracting as the rest of this heavenly bookshop.

Shakespeare and Co., Paris, France

If you are like many readers trying their own hand at writing, the Shakespeare and Co. bookstore in Paris is where you need to visit for inspiration. Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, and other literary contemporaries are said to have once spent many hours at this Left Bank bookstore. Plan ahead, and you can attend book readings and writer meetings during your visit.

Zhongshuge bookstore, Yangzhou, China 

Zhongshuge is a bookstore chain located in China. Despite it being a chain and not an independent shop, it is one where you need to watch this video to believe!  

Livraria Lello, Porto, Portugal

J.K. Rowling spent a lot of her time writing the Harry Potter Series while living in Portugal teaching English. The architecture and decoration are very reminiscent of what you’d imagine Hogwarts to be. The red staircase and stained-glass atrium are screaming with history that makes it a must-see while visiting the country.

Barter Books, Alnwick, England

You’ll want to enjoy Barter Books in the colder months as it is bookstore plus living room rolled up into one. It is kid-friendly too! They have toys for kids, various spaces for families to gather and enjoy books, and even a crackling fire. Barter Books has something all bookstore should have, a used book section. 

El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires, Argentina

How would you like to search for books in an old theater? You can at the El Ateneo bookstore in Buenos Aires. The theater once hosted tango shows and then became a cinema. Now over a century old, the building still has its original rounded balconies, frescoed ceiling, and a stage (now a café) with plush red curtains.

Libreria Acqua Alta, Venice, Italy

Known for its canals to tour via a gondola, Venice also has a fantastic bookstore that is perfect for touring readers. Libreria Acqua Alta maintains the “theme” of the city, keeping its books in gondola boats. It may seem strange, but they store other books in bathtubs. This is to protect them should the canals flood the city.

Visiting these interesting bookstores means you need to make room in your suitcase to bring home lots of new reads! Don’t let them sit on the shelf forever and instead fly through them in addition to your other must-reads of 2020 by learning how to speed read. Iris Reading has a speed reading class that you can take from the comfort of your home. In this video course, you’ll learn the basics of speed reading and how you can remember and comprehend everything you read at 500-words per minute. Click the link to find out more today.