Booked! How Literature Is Shaping the Way We Travel

By Jamie Edwards, award-winning travel writer who’s visited 70+ countries on all 7 continents

Some of my earliest childhood memories are tied to the Nancy Drew Mysteries. I can even trace my love of reading to a specific Carolyn Keene book, The Hidden Staircase. For those who don’t know, Carolyn Keene is the pseudonym of Mildred Augustine Wirt Benson, an American journalist and author of the Nancy Drew series. Benson wrote under this pen name for 23 of the first 30 Nancy Drew books, from 1929 to 1953.

These treasured mysteries, told from the perspective of a teenage sleuth, kept me awake at night. I would crack my bedroom door open wide enough so the hall light would spill onto the pages. Then, I could continue reading past my bedtime. I just couldn’t sleep until I knew the secret of the old clock or the password to Larkspur Lane. If I could have traveled to River Heights, Illinois, Nancy’s sleepy midwestern hometown, I’d have done so in a heartbeat.

Years later, my love of reading hasn’t waned. But the irony is that although I can now stay up as late as I want, I usually fall asleep by 9 pm.

Books are transportive, whether a Scandi-thriller set in Stockholm or historical fiction set in France. Books take us out of our everyday lives and into new worlds, whether real or imagined. They rocket us into outer space. They draw us deep into the Amazonian jungle. Books expand our imagination, vocabulary, and minds.

These days, books are also taking us to places physically. Book tourism, also known as literary tourism, is emerging as a distinct travel trend. In an era where travelers follow hashtags more often than traditional guidebooks, some of the most engaging travel inspiration now begins with a novel, not a map.

Ready to take your love of plot, character development, and setting into your travel life? Read along to discover the newest trend that has given bookworms a reason to get off the couch.

What is Literary Tourism?

Literary tourism refers to the practice of traveling to places associated with literary works. This can mean following a beloved author like Anne Rice to her brick-and-mortar bookstore in New Orleans, or wandering the hometown of a favorite hero or heroine. Literary tourism can involve visiting a famous library, attending a literary festival, or visiting the real-life location that inspired a fictitious novel.

Literary tourism is where place and page intersect. It’s where travelers go not just to see, but to experience the places authors have so thoughtfully described for us. These cultural pilgrimages can take readers to places like Stephen King’s Maine or Paddington’s deepest darkest Peru. It’s a way for readers to step inside the minds of both authors and characters and to immerse themselves in the settings of books they adore.

Novel Destinations

I often enjoy reading books set in remote, faraway locations. I call it escape reading—when books take me light-years away from my everyday life. One recent favorite is Nathaniel Ian Miller’s Memoirs of Stockholm Sven, which takes place in Arctic Norway. Miller’s book prompted my expedition to the Arctic Circle last year, where I walked in Sven’s snowy footsteps while circumnavigating the Svalbard archipelago.

During my years in Tokyo, I lived above a writer. I hardly ever saw her; from what I could tell, she rarely left her apartment. Min Jin Lee embodied the quintessentially reclusive writer. Years later, after I’d moved back to the US, I was in a local bookstore. The beautifully illustrated cover of a novel called Pachinko caught my eye. It was written by none other than my old neighbor. Min Jin’s book not only became an instant bestseller and TV miniseries, but also inspired readers to visit Jeju, South Korea, and Osaka, Japan—the two countries where the book was set.

While the setting of George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones books was fictional, the TV series was filmed mainly in Croatia. This blockbuster hit was directly responsible for a surge in tourism to the walled city of Dubrovnik. When we visited Croatia a few years ago, we couldn’t walk ten feet without coming upon a Game of Thrones guided tour group, complete with White Walkers and Sansa Stark lookalikes. If someone wants to immerse themselves in the Seven Kingdoms, Croatia is the place to do it.

Guided Getaways

Chances are, if you love a particular book or series, you aren’t alone. Enamored with Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, or Beatrix Potter? Take a literary journey through England’s Lake District with Smithsonian Journeys. No country has as rich a literary tradition as our neighbor across the pond. Uncover historic sights, amble through fairy tale villages, tour Beatrix Potter’s cottage, and even dine on the same cuisine as your literary heroes.

Is Shakespeare or Wordsworth more your cup of tea? Attend a performance at the Royal Shakespeare Theater in Stratford-upon-Avon or wander the cemetery at St Oswald’s Church in Grasmere, where Wordsworth is buried. The villages of the Lake District are transporting and timeless.

Even hotels have jumped on the literary bandwagon, with some offering tours that take clients through Italy in honor of Elena Ferrante’s “My Brilliant Friend” series. These four fictional books have become a literary phenomenon, inspiring travelers to experience the working-class neighborhoods where Lila and Elena meet and come of age. Fans of this epic series will revel in old-world Italy, wandering the streets and passing by fruit carts and cobblers that bring back the stories of these ill-fated friends.

For the Littlest Literaries

Perhaps you grew up enjoying Michael Bond’s A Bear Called Paddington? Or maybe your kids are bear obsessed? Some travel companies have replicated this loveable character’s journey from Peru to London, taking guests through the misty and mystical Andes in the paw prints of Paddington. Hike part of the Inca Trail and shop in Lima’s bustling markets. I’ll bet you find a jar of marmalade to take home as a sweet memory.

Speaking of kids, I’ll bet some of the little women in your life would love to live like Eloise, from the famous book series in her name. One of New York City’s most famous and sassy six-year-old residents, Eloise has been sipping Afternoon Tea at The Palm Court for years. Be sure to make a reservation at The Plaza Hotel, and don’t miss her bountiful boutique off the lobby, where your little ones can play dress up til their heart’s content.

Book Festivals: The New Cultural Pilgrimage

Odds are, you’ve found yourself at a music or food festival at least once. But what about a literary festival? Lit-fests aren’t only for high-brow, grammar-correcting intellectuals. Literary festivals are for all book lovers, and are taking center stage, with dazzling festival locations from Buenos Aires to Berlin. With author readings, panel discussions, and rows of illustrated tomes to peruse, bookworms will not only meet like-minded readers but also have the opportunity to craft an entire adventure to the festival’s destination.

Some popular upcoming lit-fests include the Tucson Festival of Books (March 14 and 15, 2026), the Hay Festival in Wales (May 21-31, 2026), and the Jaipur Literature Festival in India (January 15-19, 2026). These festivals are true causes for celebration, set in destinations where one can easily explore beyond the page. In India, tack on a trip to Ranthambore National Park to spot Bengal tigers. Meander through Dolbadarn Castle in Wales, or walk among the massive saguaro in Arizona. Book festivals—go for the festivities, but stay for the adventure.

Lit-Fest at Sea

As far as literary festivals go, Cunard’s just may be the most unusual, not to mention decadent. Each year, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 offers the literary-minded a chance to sail from New York to Southampton, England, aboard a ship filled with self-described bookworms.

The website proudly invites guests to “find themselves in literary heaven, surrounded by authors, journalists, historians, and fellow book lovers, on a seven-night sail dedicated to the power of the pen.”

For those who are truly and deeply transfixed by books, this special event is a dream. It’s curated by the programming teams of The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, encouraging thought-provoking conversations, Q&As, and celebrating writing in all its forms and genres. And with intimate workshops and a few special guests on board, you may find yourself enjoying high tea on the high seas with your favorite author.

Destination Bookstores

Over the years, I’ve noticed book lovers often seek out bookstores when they travel. And they don’t seem to mind that the titles are in Japanese, Spanish, or Swahili. I love getting lost in the shelves of a bookstore, admiring the beautifully designed covers, smelling the scent of paper and ink. I especially love it when, in a foreign country, I have the opportunity to focus on other parts of the bookshop that have nothing to do with printed pages.

Bookstores have become travel destinations as much as hotels or museums. But even if you aren’t willing to travel for a bookstore, should you find yourself in one of the following places, take a detour. Many of them are architecturally noteworthy in their own right—not to mention Insta-worthy.

New York City: The Strand needs no introduction, being one of the most renowned bookstores this side of Mars. In the business of books since 1927, the Strand’s slogan is ‘18 Miles of Books.’ Having been there, I don’t doubt it! The store is known for its vast, seemingly endless shelves, which have everything from new releases to rare finds.

Portland, Oregon: Powell’s City of Books lives up to its name. Occupying four stories on a full city block, you will need a map to get around! Open since 1971, Powell’s is not only a famous landmark, but it’s also the world’s largest independent bookstore. Its mission is to be ‘the world’s best destination for readers, a place that fosters a culture of reading and connects people with books they’ll love.’ Mission accomplished, Powell!

Buenos Aires, Argentina: El Ateno Grand Splendid is one of the most spectacular book stores on the planet. It first opened as a theater in 1919 and was famous for its tango performances. After several incarnations, it was eventually converted into a bookstore in 2000. Today, over one million visitors pass through its opulent doors, readers and non-readers alike, as the red velvet curtains and ornate balustrades remain, making it a worthy stop on any Buenos Aires itinerary.

Santorini, Greece: There may not be another book shop with views that compare to Atlantis Books. Overlooking the Aegean Sea, the store was inspired by two American undergrads who visited Santorini in 2002 and discovered, when they ran out of reading material, that the island had no bookshops. With its iconic white-washed exterior with stone accents, this bookstore is worth seeking out for more than its array of literature.

Book-Themed Hotels

Literature festivals at sea, an Eloise boutique at The Plaza, following Stephen King to Maine? With books as a theme, anything is possible. And for travelers who want to sleep inside a story—quite literally—there are hotels around the world designed with readers in mind.

Two of the best-known examples are right here in the good old USA:

The Library Hotel in New York City: Just steps from the New York Public Library, this boutique hotel is a love letter to the Dewey Decimal System. Each of its ten floors represents a major Dewey category, and every room is curated with 50–150 books tied to its theme—everything from poetry and linguistics to astronomy and mythology. It feels like staying in a privately curated library, with literary surprises at every turn.

The Heathman Hotel in Portland, Oregon: At the Heathman, the library is the heart of the hotel. Thousands of signed volumes line the shelves, donated by authors who have stayed there over the years. Guests can browse the collection, curl up by the fire with a book, or soak in the atmosphere of being surrounded by stories.

Book-themed hotels blur the line between lodging and imagination, letting you inhabit the worlds that usually live on your nightstand. For the book-obsessed traveler, they’re not just a place to stay—they’re a destination.

Book-themed hotels ignite our imaginations, allowing us to inhabit the worlds that typically reside on our nightstands. But it isn’t just hotels. Podcasts have carved out their own space in the literary travel universe, too. One example is The Daily Stoic, which is hosted by Ryan Holiday.Holiday opened his own bookstore, The Painted Porch, just outside Austin, and it’s filled with the very books he discusses on his show. Books that take us places, from Paulo Coelho’s tropical oasis to Anthony Bourdain’s kitchen. This intersection of books, podcasts, hotels, and literary curiosity exemplifies how book tourism is thriving in real time.

A New Chapter in Experiential Travel

I think back to my Nancy Drew years. Reading was a decidedly solitary endeavor. But with the rise of literary tourism, readers like me can extend a love of books well beyond those final riveting pages. Whether that emerges as a trip to Jane Austen’s England, a soulful retreat to Bali in the vein of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love, or experiencing magical realism in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s native Colombia, is your choice.

Traveling with novels as our guides enriches our experiences, deepens our connections to place, and makes our journeys even more immersive. Stories have always taken us places in our minds. Now they can take us places physically. Long live literary tourism.

What are you reading now? And where will that book take you? As always, the team at CIRE is standing by.

Jamie Edwards is an avid traveler, travel writer, and photographer. After 25 years of living and traveling around the globe, she launched I am Lost and Found, her adventure/luxury travel website. Jamie’s goal is simple: to inspire travel.

CIRE Travel is a full-service travel agency headquartered in New York, NY with offices in Kennebunkport, ME, Washington DC, Boston, MA, Miami, FL, Los Angeles, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Toronto, ON, Bogota, Colombia, Madrid, Spain, London, UK, Mexico City, Mexico, and Vancouver, BC.  Our expert corporate travel planners, honeymoon travel agents, and luxury travel planners support clients across the country and around the world.