If you believe that a vacation isn't complete without a good book—or better yet, a town full of them—then this list is for you. Scattered across the globe are book towns—charming literary havens where second-hand bookstores, quirky book cafés, and literary festivals reign supreme. These aren't just places to buy books. They're destinations that live and breathe literature, where stories spill onto the streets and locals greet you with book recommendations instead of directions. From fjordside villages to medieval forts and Alpine hideaways, here are 10 dreamy book towns every book lover should visit in 2025. (Image: Canva)
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1. Hay-on-Wye, Wales – The OG Book Heaven Welcome to the town that started it all. Hay-on-Wye is a sleepy Welsh village that turned itself into a literary mecca with over 20 bookstores for just 1,500 residents. Each May, the world flocks here for the Hay Festival, dubbed by Bill Clinton as the “Woodstock of the mind.” (Image: Canva)
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2. Óbidos, Portugal – Books in a Castle, Anyone? Imagine strolling through a 12th-century walled town, where chapels, markets, and even wine cellars double as bookstores. That’s Óbidos. This Portuguese gem has transformed into a magical book town where literature seeps out of every medieval nook. (Image: Canva)
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3. Buenos Aires, Argentina – The Literary Soul of South America While not a “book town” in the traditional sense, Buenos Aires is too bookish to ignore. It has more bookstores per capita than any other city in the world, and its crown jewel is El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a theatre-turned-bookstore that’s practically a literary cathedral. (Image: Canva)
4. Fjærland, Norway – Books by the Fjords Tucked between glaciers and mirror-like waters, Fjærland is the most picturesque book town on Earth. Imagine browsing novels in old stables, boathouses, and wooden cabins with stunning fjord views as your backdrop. (Image: Visit Norway)
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5. Montereggio, Italy – Where the Book Peddlers Once Roamed This tiny Tuscan village gave birth to Italy’s book peddling tradition. Montereggio doesn’t have flashy festivals or Instagrammable book cafés—just quiet, cobbled charm and a soul steeped in literary history. (Image: Wikipedia)
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6. Lilleputthammer, Norway – A Mini Book Town for Mini Readers Ever dreamed of a tiny town built for children… filled with books? Welcome to Lilleputthammer. This Norwegian gem is a scaled-down replica of Lillehammer’s main street, built for kids to discover the magic of reading. (Image: Wikipedia)
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7. Bredevoort, Netherlands – Books Meet Dutch Countryside Bliss With canals, windmills, and books on every corner, Bredevoort is where storybook scenery meets real books. Second-hand bookstores spill out onto the streets, and open-air book fairs are a regular affair. (Image: Canva)
8. Wigtown, Scotland – A Scottish Storybook Town Wigtown is Scotland’s official book town, but it feels more like a chapter from a cozy mystery novel. Bookshops like The Bookshop (yes, that’s its name) house over 100,000 titles, and you can even rent one to run during your stay. (Image: Wigtown Book Festival)
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9. Redu, Belgium – The Village That Turned the Page In the 1980s, Redu reinvented itself with books—and never looked back. Today, it’s a vibrant village full of bookshops, artist studios, and a museum dedicated to printing and bookbinding. (Image: Ardennes Etape)
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10. Saint-Pierre-de-Clages, Switzerland – An Alpine Retreat for Readers Imagine a Swiss mountain town where literature is the main attraction. Saint-Pierre-de-Clages is known for its Romanesque church and its passion for the written word. Come August, its annual book festival brings the Alps to life with readers, writers, and rare finds. (Image: Canva)
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Why Book Towns Belong on Your Bucket List Book towns are more than tourist spots—they’re living, breathing love letters to the written word. They remind us to slow down, unplug, and dive into stories both fictional and real. So whether you're plotting your next solo escape or a whimsical literary honeymoon, these towns promise adventures that don’t end when the last page turns. (Image: Canva)
Priyanka Roshan With over eight years in multimedia journalism, is passionate about storytelling—both visual and textual—across travel, jobs, business, markets, politics, and daily news. From crafting engaging articles to producing compelling videos, she blends creativity with strategy to bring stories to life. With a strong foundation in SEO, and video production she ensures content not only informs but also resonates with audiences.
