Some bookshops are worth travelling for — not just for the titles they stock, but for the views they offer. From oceanfront terraces to churches-turned-libraries, these literary gems invite you to slow down, soak it all in, and maybe stay for just one more chapter.
Atlantis Books – Oia, Santorini, Greece
Picture/Friends of Friends/Yannis Drakoulidis
On a sun-bleached cliff in Santorini’s postcard-perfect village of Oia, Atlantis Books has carved out a literary sanctuary overlooking the Aegean. The shop is built into the cliffside, with hand-lettered signs, books stacked to the rafters, and a terrace where you can read while watching the sun dip below the sea. It’s not just one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world — it’s one of the most soulful spots in the Cyclades.
El Ateneo Grand Splendid – Buenos Aires, Argentina
Picture/Arch Daily/Magnus Manske
Few bookshops are as dramatic as El Ateneo. Housed in a former theatre with gilded balconies, painted ceilings and a stage-turned-café, this bookshop combines grandeur with quiet charm. Grab a novel and take a seat in one of the theatre boxes, where you can admire the sweeping views of the chandeliers and the shelves below. It’s a place where the performance is literary, and the architecture steals the show.
Munro’s Books – Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Picture/Mike McArthur/CBC
Situated just a few blocks from Victoria’s Inner Harbour, Munro’s occupies a former bank building with soaring ceilings and neoclassical columns. Beyond its oak shelves and stained glass, the shop looks out onto Government Street, a walkable stretch of boutique-lined blocks and passing horse-drawn carriages. With its old-world ambience and curated Canadian literature section, it’s the perfect place to get lost in a book — or a view.
Boekhandel Dominicanen – Maastricht, Netherlands
Picture/Solo Sophie
This awe-inspiring bookstore is set inside a 13th-century Dominican church. Beneath the rib-vaulted ceilings and faded frescoes, modern black bookshelves curve through the nave like a sculptural installation. A walk through the upper gallery offers both literary treasures and panoramic glimpses of this celestial space. Outside, the quiet streets of Maastricht’s old town whisper stories of their own.
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Cook & Book – Brussels, Belgium
Picture/Bookstore Guide
Part concept bookstore, part culinary playground, Cook & Book is divided into themed rooms that spill out onto garden terraces and leafy courtyards. The Travel section has a converted Airstream trailer in the middle of the room, while the Music room feels like a record store-meets-library. The relaxed outdoor seating makes this a rare find: a place where you can sip wine, eat well, read widely, and take in the eclectic buzz of Brussels’ Woluwe-Saint-Lambert suburb.
Leakey’s Bookshop – Inverness, Scotland
Picture/Leakey’s/Facebook
If you’ve ever dreamed of reading beside a roaring fireplace in a church surrounded by ancient books, Leakey’s is your place. Housed in a converted 18th-century Gaelic church, the shop’s winding staircases and wooden balconies overlook tables groaning with second-hand tomes. Through the tall windows, glimpses of the misty Scottish Highlands complete the scene. It’s part antiquarian archive, part Highland hideaway.
The Book Lounge – Cape Town
Picture/Cape Town Etc
Tucked away in the heart of Cape Town CBD, The Book Lounge is a beloved independent bookshop with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame Table Mountain and the city skyline. It’s a welcoming space for readers, writers, and families, especially during the weekly story time in the kids’ corner. Locally focused and community-driven, the view from here is both outward and inward: onto the mountains, and into South African literature.
Cărturești Carusel – Bucharest, Romania
Picture/Reddit
Nicknamed the “Carousel of Light,” this dreamlike bookshop is set inside a 19th-century building in Bucharest’s Old Town. Spread across six levels with spiral staircases, white balconies, and a domed skylight, it offers a visual feast. The best view is from the upper floors, looking down at the elegant book-filled atrium — a whirl of shelves, chandeliers and curves that feels more like an art installation than a shop.
Livraria Lello – Porto, Portugal
Picture/Ulysses Travel
Stepping into Livraria Lello feels like entering a fantastical novel. With its neo-Gothic architecture, crimson staircase, and stained-glass skylight, this Portuguese institution has become a pilgrimage site for book lovers, especially fans of Harry Potter, who may recognise echoes of Hogwarts. From the upper balconies, you can take in the swirling staircase below and peek out at the tiled facades of Rua das Carmelitas.
Wild Rumpus – Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Picture/Ackerman Gruber/Mpls St.Paul
In a quiet Minneapolis neighbourhood, this quirky bookshop blurs the lines between reality and storybook. Designed with kids in mind (but delightful for adults too), Wild Rumpus has miniature doors, free-roaming cats, and a live chicken or two. The large windows look out onto Linden Hills — a leafy enclave near Lake Harriet — making it a gentle, whimsical spot for a read and a wander.
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