The Ultimate Travel Bucket List for Book Lovers

When we read books, it is very easy to find escape in the different worlds that authors write about. We fully immerse ourselves in the characters, storyline, and locations- and often would give anything to be a part of these stories ourselves. While recreating the exact stories in real life can be nearly impossible, we can replicate some of the feelings we get while reading our favorite books. To fulfill these bookish desires, I have compiled the ultimate travel bucket list for book lovers.

Travel Destinations in the United States

• Savannah, Georgia. Savannah is one of the most popular historic hotspots in the southern US, and for good reason; the original brick roads, the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, and all of the old cemeteries make an excellent history lesson when you go to visit. My favorite piece of Savannah is E. Shaver Booksellers, though. The historic building that holds the bookstore was built in the mid-1800’s and converted to a bookstore in the 1970’s. Now, you can shop for books in the heart of historic Savannah while surrounded by E. Shaver’s famed kitties, Bartleby, Mr. Eliot, Skimbleshanks, and Morticia! Need I say more?
• Key West, Florida. Key West isn’t just a party destination (though it is good for that, too). The island is home to Ernest Hemingway’s personal home that he lived in the 1930’s. It is a walk-in museum today in which you can see original fixtures of the home, giving insight into Hemingway’s life. The shop attached to the home allows you to buy a multitude of Hemingway’s books and other souvenirs. And… the Hemingway Home is famous for its large assortment of six-toed cats. I’m starting to see a pattern here.
• New York City, New York. With the city’s extensive history, New York is full of literary travel destinations. The Chelsea Hotel is one destination, which housed many writers in their prime, such as Jack Kerouac and Mark Twain. Edgar Allan Poe’s cottage is up for tours in the Bronx, and Manhattan and Brooklyn have a few Literary Pub Crawls to offer for some entertainment as well. Not to mention the endless famous bookstores New York has to offer, such as Strand and McNally Jackson.

Travel Destinations in South America

• Puebla, Mexico. Home to Biblioteca Palafoxiana, the oldest known public library in the Americas. The Biblioteca was built in 1646, and still exhibits stunning architecture in its archways, buttresses, doors, and bookshelves. After paying the entry fee, you can explore the 40-something-thousand collection of texts and manuscripts, some of which date back to the 15th century.
• Cartagena, Colombia. Cartagena is well known for its Hay Festival Cartagena de Indias, influenced by the original Hay Festival in Hay-on-Wye, Wales. This festival is based on literature, visual art, music, and more, with the main goal being to promote social and cultural education and responsibility. Important topics such as the environment and politics are also woven into the celebration.

Travel Destinations in the UK & Europe

• Hay-on-Wye, Wales. Hay-on-Wye is a tiny, historic town that packs a big punch. Not only does the history and architecture of the town provide a fairytale-like setting, but Hay is well-known across the world for its mass of secondhand bookstores. And not just any bookstores- there are stores for every particular genre you could think of, some of which are open-air, in castle ruins, or have an “honesty” system where you can help yourself to books as long as you pay in the cash box before you leave. Hay-on-Wye is a book lover’s paradise, and also influences the Hay Festivals (as mentioned in Cartagena, Colombia) that happen yearly worldwide.
• Prague, Czech Republic. The Czech Republic is a hotspot for history and beautiful architecture. In fact, one of the most beautiful libraries in the world is located in Prague: the Klementinum Library. The library was built in the 1700s and showcases stunning Baroque architecture, ceiling frescoes, and an observation tower with an astronomical room. You can do guided group tours, or the library even has romantic evening packages for two in which you can propose to your partner.
• Oxford, England. Oxford is another one of those beautiful, storybook towns that can make you feel like you are in a fairytale. In fact, Oxford gave way to some pretty famous fantasy writers such as C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Diana Wynne Jones. With a multitude of historic landmarks and educational settings, Oxford is perfect for any literary lover looking to learn more about the roots of modern fantasy. 

What’s on your bucket list?

While this list doesn’t touch nearly every literary dream destination in the whole world, it gives a good starting point of some places to check out. It’s important to recognize the history and culture behind each and every one of these destinations, and how different literary culture may be across the globe. I hope to make it to these destinations and more one day, and I hope you can too. What are some of the literary travel destinations on your own bucket list?

Check out some of my recent posts:

• January Reading Wrap Up
• The Best Mulled Wine Recipe for the Holiday Season
• How to Start a Blog (and Get Over Your Fears)
• 15 Travel Essentials That You Can’t Live Without
• Book Review: Verity by Colleen Hoover
• How to Read More Books in a Year

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