Best Literary Cities in Europe
Looking for the perfect destination for a bookish getaway?
These are my favorite literary cities in Europe for book lovers! As a certified bookworm, I enjoy combining my love for reading with my travel obsession by visiting literary-inspired destinations.
And Europe is a part of the world that is full of amazing literary cities.
These are my favorite cities in Europe that are perfect for bibliophiles. What exactly makes a “literary city”, you might be wondering? I’m basing my recommendations on the following characteristics…
- There are great bookstores and libraries for book lovers to visit.
- You can find distinguished literary landmarks and other bookish things to do.
- The city has been home to famous writers throughout history.
- Iconic works of literature are set in or were inspired by this city.
I’ve personally traveled to all of the cities on this list (most of them more than once!), and some for an extended amount of time. So I’ve discovered all the best, bookish things to do in them.
For each of these destinations, I’ll share my recommendations on some of the best literary-inspired things to do for the perfect bookish trip. Without further ado, let’s take a look at these great literary cities:
Edinburgh, Scotland
First up, I have to talk about Edinburgh. This charming city is filled to the brim with things that will delight any book lover. It has even been named a UNESCO City of Literature because of that.
One of my favorite stops is the Writer’s Museum, a free museum dedicated to the three most famous Scottish writers: Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Robert Burns. You also can’t miss seeing the nearby Scott Monument, a massive Victorian Gothic monument to the Scottish writer that sits on Princes Street. Climbing to the top of the monument offers amazing views over the city.
And of course, I have to talk about Edinburgh’s Harry Potter connection. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you’ll absolutely love Edinburgh! J.K. Rowling wrote the series while living here, including a lot of writing time spent at the cozy cafe The Elephant House. It’s said that colorful Victoria Street inspired Diagon Alley, and several character names were actually taken from gravestones at Greyfriars Kirkyard.
If you want to fully explore all the Harry Potter landmarks in Edinburgh, I recommend a Harry Potter walking tour. There are also lots of fun, Harry Potter-inspired shops in Edinburgh to check out.
When it comes to bookstores in Edinburgh, there are loads to discover! My personal favorites that you shouldn’t miss are Topping & Company, Golden Hare Books, and Armchair Books.
Paris, France
There are few cities in the world as steeped in literary history as Paris. I’ve actually written a whole guide to Paris for book lovers, so I recommend checking that out for all my top recommendations on what to do. I used to live in Paris, and I can confidently say this is a bucket list destination for book lovers!
Some highlights include visiting the famous Shakespeare and Company bookstore. I also love Librairie Galignani, which is the oldest English language bookstore in Paris, dating back to 1801.
Paris is home to several literary museums, with my favorite being the free Victor Hugo Museum housed in the French writer’s former apartments on the Place des Vosges. If you want to see the final resting places of famous writers, French and international, head to Père Lachaise Cemetery and the Panthéon.
If you’re ready to eat, head to Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots, two neighboring cafes that have attracted writers and thinkers like Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir.
Dublin, Ireland
Another great city for bibliophiles is Dublin. The Irish capital was the birthplace of famous writers like James Joyce and Oscar Wilde, as well as the home of contemporary writers like Sally Rooney.
One thing you absolutely can’t miss in Dublin is the Trinity College Library. The Long Room here is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, and it houses rare books and manuscripts like the Book of Kells.
Dublin is another one of UNESCO’s Cities of Literature, but it’s also the birthplace of Guinness. Why not combine the two on the iconic Dublin Literary Pub Crawl? This is a fun activity that will allow you to follow in the footsteps of Dublin’s famous literary figures by visiting their favorite pubs.
Other great literary things to do in Dublin include visiting the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) and the Chester Beatty Library, a free museum located on the grounds of Dublin Castle.
London, England
London is arguably one of the premier literary capitals of the world. Countless famous writers have lived here and been inspired by the city over the centuries, making it a dream destination for book lovers.
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre (well, a reconstruction of the original, because it burned down in a fire in 1613) is in the heart of London, and I highly recommend taking a tour or even catching a performance here! Another fun literary landmark is the Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221b Baker Street.
Like Edinburgh, there are also several Harry Potter connections in London. You can visit Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station (get there right when it opens if you want a photo op!) and Leadenhall Market, which was a filming location for Diagon Alley. And although it’s more movie-related than book-related, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour just outside London is another must for Potterheads.
When it comes to London bookstores, my personal favorite is Daunt Books because it combines books with travel! Hatchards is another great bookstore to visit, and it’s the oldest in London, dating back to 1797.
Prague, Czech Republic
Finally, Prague is an amazing literary city that you need to visit. Aside from the fact that this beautiful city simply looks like something out of a fairytale, there are many other literary ties here. In fact, I’ve written a whole guide to the best things to do in Prague for book lovers you might want to check out!
You can’t miss checking out Prague’s gorgeous libraries, including the Strahov Library, the Klementium Baroque Library, and the Municipal Library of Prague (home of the famous Book Tunnel.)
The Strahov Library, housed at a historic monastery near Prague Castle, is actually two stunning library halls in one, while the Klementium Baroque Library is another incredible historic library in the Old Town. And the city’s main public library houses the Book Tunnel, a cool public art installation you can’t miss.
The most famous writer to come from Prague is Franz Kafka, famous for surrealist works like The Metamorphosis. You can visit the Franz Kafka Museum in Prague to learn more about the author’s life.
Prague is also a UNESCO City of Literature, and it’s home to one of the highest concentrations of bookstores in Europe — more than 200 bookstores! Many only sell books in Czech, but you will also find some English language bookstores here. My favorites are Shakespeare and Sons and the Globe Bookstore & Café.
Literary Destinations in Europe
This guide showed you some of the best literary cities in Europe.
If you want to combine destinations, you could easily plan a trip to either London and Paris, or London and Edinburgh. London to Paris is two hours by train, and London to Edinburgh is four hours by train.
All of these cities are some of my favorites in Europe for a bookish getaway, and if you’re a bibliophile like me, you will definitely want to add all of these destinations to your travel bucket list.
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