For many readers, books are more than simple objects: they are windows to other worlds. And although book lovers often dream of building a grand personal library, there is not always enough space to hold so many volumes.
Fortunately, in different corners of the planet there are bookstores that have become true literary temples, places where books coexist with architecture, art and history.
They are dreamlike sanctuaries that attract both avid readers and curious travelers who see them as must-visit destinations when exploring these cities.
El Ateneo Grand Splendid (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Stepping into El Ateneo Grand Splendid means entering an experience where literature, art and history merge. Located on the bustling Avenida Santa Fe in Buenos Aires, this bookstore spans more than 20,000 square feet and was originally a luxurious cinema-theater, inaugurated in 1919.
The dome was painted by Nazareno Orlandi, and the ornate balconies and the preserved frescoes leave many visitors breathless before they even open a book. On the stage where tango legend Carlos Gardel once performed, there is now a café that invites people to read at leisure while admiring the grandeur of the space.
Since 2000, the building has officially served as a bookstore, and it is now considered one of the cultural icons of Buenos Aires and of the world.
Shakespeare and Company (Paris, France)
On the banks of the Seine, across from Notre Dame Cathedral, stands Shakespeare and Company, perhaps the most legendary bookstore in Paris.
Originally founded in 1919, it was far more than a bookshop: it became a refuge for the so-called Lost Generation. Its narrow aisles were once walked by literary giants like Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound and James Joyce.
After closing during World War II, the bookstore was revived in 1951 thanks to George Whitman, who transformed it into a bohemian haven for writers and travelers. Staying true to that spirit, even today it offers makeshift lodging — known as the “Tumbleweeds” — to those who agree to work a few hours in exchange for a place to sleep. Beyond its shelves, the bookstore has a café and continues to host readings, talks and events that preserve its sense of community.
Boekhandel Dominicanen (Maastricht, Netherlands)
In Maastricht, the Netherlands, rises a bookstore that looks like something out of a dream: Boekhandel Dominicanen. Built inside a 13th-century Dominican church, this building, which is more than 700 years old, was at different times a warehouse, an event space and eventually an abandoned site. In 2006, however, it reopened as a bookstore, restoring the building’s grandeur.
Today, beneath its soaring Gothic arches, modern bookshelves rise toward the vaulted ceilings and walkways allow visitors to explore the collection on multiple levels. The former choir was transformed into a stage for concerts, readings and exhibitions, while the sanctuary now houses a café where the aroma of coffee mingles with the scent of printed pages.
Boekhandel Dominicanen offers more than literature: it gives the sensation of reading in a space where time seems to stand still.
Livraria Lello e Irmão (Porto, Portugal)
Considered one of the most beautiful bookstores on the planet, Livraria Lello e Irmão, in the heart of Porto, is an architectural gem that fuses literature with fantasy. Founded in 1906, this neo-Gothic building dazzles visitors with its striking façade, its carved wooden shelves, the busts of writers that line the interior and above all its famous red wooden staircase, which seems to float in a spiral toward the upper floors.
The stained glass skylight filters natural light into the room, creating an atmosphere that transports visitors to another era. The bookstore has long inspired artists and writers, but beyond the legends, visiting Lello means surrendering to the enchantment of a place where architecture seems to tell its own story.
Kid’s Republic (Beijing, China)
In sharp contrast to the solemnity of the previous examples, Kid’s Republic, opened in Beijing in 2005, is a burst of color and creativity dedicated to children. Its walls and passageways are designed as a playful visual maze that sparks curiosity and discovery.
Here, children find a world of literature created just for them, with reading areas that stimulate the imagination and themed corners that turn every visit into an adventure. The bookstore doesn’t just sell books: it also hosts book clubs, workshops and cultural activities that nurture a love of reading from an early age. Kid’s Republic proves that a bookstore can be a playful, inspiring and essential space for shaping the readers of the future.
A journey worth taking
Each of these bookstores transcends its original function and is far more than a simple place to buy books. They embody the union of literature with architecture, cultural memory and the social life of the cities they inhabit.
Visiting them means coming into contact with a living heritage that reminds us — in an age of screens and fleeting reads — that books remain beacons of knowledge and beauty.
Image: Galio
