Some people will never understand this, but for many of us travelers, visiting a magnificent bookstore while traveling can make or break a trip. Here are 5 stores that are definitely worth a visit—and if you weren’t planning on traveling to these cities, well, you should.
Powell’s City of Books, Portland, Oregon, US
Powell’s is claimed to be the largest independent chain of bookstores in the world! This flagship branch in Portland takes up a city block and customers are provided with a map to find their way around the huge collection. And of course, there’s also a café on site.
Librarie Avant-Garde, Nanjing, China
Known as China’s most beautiful bookstore, it’s surprisingly located in an underground parking lot. The store was opened to serve as a public library and is constantly expanding to other cities in China.
Atlantis Books, Santorini, Greece
This store was opened by a group of friends over a decade ago and prides itself on its community events and classes, and on its amazing view of the Aegean sea.
El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires, Argentina
This incredible space is actually a theater-turned-bookstore. It still features frescoed ceilings and balconies that are now filled with bookshelves, reading booths, and of course, an in-house café.
Gertrude & Alice, Sydney Australia
Inspired by Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas’ relationship, two friends decided to open this bookstore and café on Bondi beach. With walls filled with books, it is the perfect spot for working, chatting, or quietly reading.
