Book Vibes Only. If you like to travel and if you like reading, check out what comes now. Books are like friends. I find non-readers highly suspicious. Why would one want to miss out on all these stories?
Book Vibes Only
There is not a day in my life when I wouldn’t read. From an early age, I would answer “reading” when asked for my hobby. Reading is not my hobby; it is as important to me as breathing and eating. I remember one afternoon in Australia. An English friend told me that her boss would visit bookshops on weekends for hours on end. I was waiting for the punchline of the story, but nothing. That was it, that was the story.
She was confused and shocked that her boss voluntary visits bookshops in his pastime. That was probably the first time I heard that there was a person who wouldn't hang out at bookshops in her spare time. I told her I search for and visit bookshops when I travel. The silence between us. She tried to control the serious look of doubt on her face. If you are like her, please leave the article now, otherwise, you will end up utterly bored.
Visit bookshops in: New York City in the USA, Berlin in Germany, Frankfurt Main in Germany, Bogota in Colombia, Cartagena in Colombia, Krakow in Poland, Paris in France, Lisbon in Portugal, Stellenbosch in South Africa, Venice in Italy, Helsinki in Finland, London in England, Brussels in Belgium.
USA - Strand in New York City
More New York City. 15 inspiring books to read before you visit New York City.
Germany - Taschen in Berlin
Germany - Dussmann in Berlin
Germany - Hugendubel in Frankfurt Main
Germany – Korn & Berg in Nuremberg
Korn & Berg The oldest bookshop in Germany opened its doors in the autumn of 1531. In the Middle Ages, markets were commonly excessively regulated. Rigid access rules were used to regulate competition. Johann Ott from the nearby town of Regensburg wanted to open a bookshop in Nuremberg. The town's magistrate granted permission to do so and wished him good luck for his endeavors at the central market square.
Over the centuries, the bookshop had several different book-loving owners. Together they withstand fires and flooding. After the bookshop burned to its grounds during WW2, in 1945, the house was rebuilt, and the shop reopened seven years later in 1952.
Don't forget to look up while browsing the shelves. Somebody's watching you. On the ceilings, you find prints by Nuremberg's most famous son, Albrecht Dürer. The bookshop sits right at the central market square, only a few steps from the iconic 14th-century Beautiful Fountain.
Korn & Berg. Hauptmarkt 9, 90403 Nuremberg, Germany. Hours: Monday to Sunday 9.30am to 6.30pm. Saturday 9am to 6pm. Sunday: closed.
Colombia - Librería Ibañez in Bogota
Colombia - Abaco Libros y Café in Cartagena
Poland - Jewish Bookshop in Krakow
France - Shakespeare and Company in Paris
France – Halle Saint-Pierre
The incredibly beautiful building in Baltard-style architecture is worth a visit by itself. Only a skip and a jump from Butte Montmartre, the selection of books is a promise for great discoveries to be had. There is also a café. Do not miss to visit the museum and gallery where modern art meets pop culture.
Information: Halle Saint-Pierre, 2, rue Ronsard - 75018 Paris. Hours Museum, coffee shop, bookshop: Monday to Friday: 11am to 6pm, Saturday: 11am to 7pm, Sunday; 12am to 6pm, August: weekdays from 12pm to 6pm. Ticket counters and the coffee shop close 60 minutes before cob. Closed 25 December, 1 January, 1 May, 14 July, 15 August, Saturdays and Sundays in August. Museum tickets: EUR 10.
Portugal - Bertrand in Lisbon
South Africa - The Book Lounge in Cape Town
The
Book Lounge comes closest to a bookshop how one imagines it to be. Literally.
It is intimate but gives you enough space to browse the great selection of books,
be it fiction and non-fiction. There are also author events, like for example
talks and readings.
Information: The Book Lounge. 71 Roeland Street, Cnr Buitenkant & Roeland Street, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa. Hours: Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm. Sunday 10am to 4pm.
Italy - Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice
Finland - Academic Bookshop in Helsinki
England - Libreria in London
Once you finish looking at street art around Brick Lane pop into this book shop and read your heart out. It is a small bookshop big on design. Shelves snake their all through the shop seemingly endlessly. Mirrors make the whole space look rather large. Leave your phone in your jacket pocket (or handbag). This is a no phone space. Exciting, here it is all about books. What more do we need from a bookshop?
Information: Libreria, 65 Hanbury Street, London E1 5JP, UK. Temporary opening hours: Thursday 10am to 6pm, Friday and Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 12pm to 6pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday - closed.
England - Brick Lane Bookshop in London
A wee bookshop with a considerable range of fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, poetry, essays, cards, and tote bags. And, they have a wonderful section with books on London, particularly covering East London. Also, ask for THAP Publications, exclusive to Brick Lane Bookshop.
Fun fact: In 2019, The Brick Lane Bookshop launched the Short Story Prize open to all UK residents and "seeks to discover, publish and promote new, exciting and diverse voices in fiction".
Information: Brick Lane Bookshop, 166 Brick Lane,
London E1 6RU, United Kingdom. Hours: 10am to 6pm.
England – Hatchards in London
As Mrs. Dalloway walks the streets of London, she walks down Piccadilly and looks in Hatchards front window. If this bookshop is good enough for Mrs Dalloway, even if it is in Virginia Woolf’s imagination, it's good enough for us.
Hatchards is London’s oldest bookshop, founded in 1797 by publisher and bookseller John Hatchard. Over 200 years later Hatchards is still selling books, and the booksellers are just as passionate about their ware as ever. Noteworthy: Hatchards Library. Hatchards republishes out-of-print titles. Visit their website for more info.
Information: Hatchards - Piccadilly, 187 Piccadilly, London W1J 9LE, United Kingdom. Hours: Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 8pm, Sunday 10.30am to 6pm.
England – Daunt Books in London
Would you love to browse books in a bookshop housed in a red brick Edwardian-style property? Roam in style over the creaky oak galleries under beautiful skylights at Daunt Books in Marylebone. This bookshop, founded in 1990, is the place for all readers and book lovers. Books are arranged by country, and that makes it so easy to go on a Verbatim Journey. This shop is busy, with a constant stream of shoppers, all the time, but booksellers are happy to chat and give recommendations with a smile. What are you waiting for?
Information: Daunt Books Marylebone, 84 Marylebone High St, London W1U 4QW, United Kingdom. Hours: Sunday 11am to 6pm. Monday to Saturday 9am to 7.30pm.
Belgium - Tropismes Libraires in Brussels
In the heart of Brussels, only metres from the Grand-Place, you find the Galerie Royales Saint-Hubert. Locals and tourists love to stroll through these three shopping arcades. Crowds gather to window shop, buy chocolate, eat cake and meet lovers and friends, and buy books. The bookshop Tropismes Libraires gloriously hidden in one of the three glass-ceilinged arcades, the Galerie des Princes, offers French and English-language titles on three levels.
The high-ceilinged mirrored walled space, built in 1847, started as a ballroom before it turned jazz club in the 1960s and the Tropismes bookshop in 1984.
Information: Tropismes Libraires, 11 Galerie des Princes, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium. Hours: Monday to Friday 10am to 6.30pm. Saturday 10.30am to 7pm. Sunday 1.30pm to 6.30pm.
Canada – Munro’s in Victoria, British Columbia
Munro's feels light and airy. The expansive bookshop is decorated with flamboyant artworks showcasing the four seasons. On entering the landmark heritage building I instantly knew this independent bookshop needed to be included in: Travel the World - A few most beautiful bookshops. It is a bookshop where you can easily spend a large amount of time, it is a space for everyone who loves and reads books.
Canadian writer Alice Munro and her husband opened Munro’s Books more than 50 years ago. The shop in the neo-classical building designed for the Royal Bank of Canada in 1909 stands on the territories of the Lkwungen, known as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. When owner Jim Munro retired, four staff members took over the bookshop.
Information: Munro's Books, 1108 Government Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1Y2 Canada. Hours: Monday to Sunday 9.30am to 6pm. Please visit the website for more details.
Canada – Indigo in Vancouver, British Columbia
Indigo is many things in one, a traditional bookshop it is not. It is a bookstore chain that sells books, gifts, candles, toys, and home decor, and is a publicly traded Canadian company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (IDG).
The store on Robson Street is a truly wonderful space to visit, be it for book browsing, enjoying a hot drink at the onsite café on the upper floor, or simply looking at the giant photo of ancient forests in Avatar Grove, Pacheedaht First Nation Territory, near Port Renfrew in British Columbia.
Information: Indigo, 1033 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1A9, Canada. Hours: Sunday to Wednesday 10am to 7pm. Thursday to Saturday 10am to 8pm. Please visit the website for more information.
++++++++++