The Best of Breathtakingly Beautiful Bookstores in Europe

Last Updated on 19th January 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

This post may contain affiliate links. Please check out my privacy policy and disclosure for more information.

There’s something so enticing about Europe that makes you want to visit again and again. Perhaps it’s the food, maybe it’s the centuries worth of history to be found in each destination. Whatever the case, one thing is for certain: there are some truly breathtakingly beautiful bookstores in Europe.

So whether you enjoy perusing shelves served with a side of coffee or are simply looking to soak up some history, here’s the crème de la crème of bookshops in Europe.

While some stores are pretty well known and have existed for decades, others are a little more off the beaten path and require the perseverance of a true bibliophile to visit…

#1 Atlantis Books, Oia, Santorini, Greece

If you’ve ever searched for images online of sunset in Greece, then you’ll likely have spied the beautiful blue domes of Oia and the cobbled lanes and charming blue and white houses of the rest of the town.

But what you may not know is that one of the most beautiful bookstores in Europe can be found in the heart of the village, close to the Red Bicycle restaurant. Atlantis Books was founded in the mid-2000s when two Americans visiting Santorini became inspired by the picturesque location.

They soon discovered that there was no good Anglophone bookstore on the island and soon set about opening one. Now, the store welcomes tens of thousands of visitors, if not more, on a yearly basis. Please note that the hours seem quite sporadic as to when the shop will actually be open!

#2 Carturesti Carusel, Bucharest, Romania

Best seen earlier in the day (and midweek if possible) so as to snap photos without the crowds, the beautiful bookstore of Carturesti Carusel is housed within a former warehouse.

Located in the very heart of ‘old town Bucharest,’ which happens to be the oldest new town in Europe, the spiral staircases and coffee shop on the top floor make for a nice touch!

#3 Word on the Water, London, England

One of the quirkiest vendors of books in England, if not all of Europe, is that of Word on the Water. Self-proclaimed to be the only bookbarge in London, music blares out onto the quayside all day long (the shop is open in all weather, seven days a week) while the interior is absolutely filled with books, easily making it one of the best bookshops in Europe.

Situated close to Granary Square and not far from King’s Cross, a visit to the bookstore of Word on the Water can easily be combined with a trip to the British Library (where two of the only four existing copies of the Magna Carta area located) as well as the unusual Persephone Books of Bloomsbury.

#4 The Abbey Bookshop, Paris, France

Books spill out onto the streets in a small and little-traversed lane close to the ‘forest of columns’ church of St Severin in the Latin Quarter of Paris. Upon arrival at the Abbey Bookshop, you’ll soon be greeted by freshly brewed coffee and Brian the Canadian owner.

Set over two floors, the store is packed with novels and tomes quite literally stacked from floor to ceiling. While in the area be sure to check out the French capital’s most famous anglophone bookstore, Shakespeare and Co.

This incarnation of the original Sylvia Beach bookshop is an ode to the great writers and authors who lived, gathered, and worked in the 1920s (including Ernest Hemingway, author of A Moveable Feast).

#5 Booth Books, Hay-on-Wye, Wales

For those who are looking for a literary-focused destination, there is perhaps no place better to visit than Hay-on-Wye. For, the town is quite literally filled with bookshops and shelves full of tomes can be found around pretty much every corner. Even the ruins of the castle are now home to an honesty bookshop!

One of the best stores in town for bibliophiles is Booth Books. All vintage vibe and wood panelled interior, this literary lover’s haven can be found in the very middle of the town. Founded thirty-something years ago, there’s also a café and cinema on site.

#6 Goussainlivres, Goussainville, France

In an abandoned ghost town on the fringes of Paris, in the place where you’d least expect, you’ll find the hauntingly beautiful bookshop of Goussainlivres.

Though a little better known now than just a few years ago, Goussainville is a largely crumbling town which was mostly abandoned by its residents following the construction of Charles de Gaulle airport

Today, the church is closed, the mansion is crumbling, while many of the houses remain shuttered. Though residents are slowly but steadily returning, the main attraction of the town (well, quite literally the only attraction!) is Goussainlivres.

The store was first opened with the view to expanding floor space and creating a town similar to that of Hay-on-Wye in England. Of course, that never happened! However, Goussainlivres is open to the public and is well worth a wander around, if only to check out the miles worth of bookshelves.

#7 Winding Stair Bookshop, Dublin

I was first acquainted with the Winding Stair Bookshop thanks to a reader recommendation. And, ever since visiting for the first time earlier this year, I’ve been raving about this quaint little store!

Located alongside the River Liffey which wends its way through the city, the Winding Stair Bookshop has an adjacent café where you can sip on a tea post book browsing and is easily one of my favourite hidden gems of Dublin.

#8 Boekhandel Dominicanen, Maastricht, The Netherlands

Housed within a former Dominican Church, Boekhandel Dominicanen has it all: shelves stacked full of books, history in abundance, and a little coffee shop in the corner where you can grab a coffee while you peruse the works for sale. Look up and you’ll even spy a beautiful centuries-old fresco which depicts the life and times of Thomas of Aquinas.

#9 The Sanctuary Bookshop, Lyme Regis, England

Deep in the depths of Dorset, somewhere along the millions-of-years-old Jurassic Coast of England, the pretty town of Lyme Regis has been a tourist hotspot for centuries.

Today, the town is best-known for its fossil stores and stunning beaches. While in Lyme Regis, be sure to pay a visit to the Sanctuary Bookshop. Featuring ten rooms set across four floors, you never quite know what you’ll stumble on next!

#10 Livraria Lello, Porto, Portugal

For those who love their European bookshops served with a side of magic, Livraria Lello is well worth checking out. Officially opened to the public at the turn of the twentieth century, this bookstore is a sumptuous Neo-Gothic masterpiece featuring a central spiralling staircase, stained glass skylight, and an art-nouveau façade.

However, you should note before you go that unlike pretty much every bookshop in Europe, you’ll have to pay to enter Livraria Lello!

This is because the independent shop has increased in popularity dramatically since it was alleged that JK Rowling drew inspiration for a Harry Potter staircase as a direct result of the bookshop (spoiler alert: she didn’t and has come out with a statement saying that she had never heard of the bookshop before).

Now, the Livraria Lello bookshop sees up to 5000 visitors a day, and as many of these people weren’t buying books, they decided to charge an entrance fee of €5. If you want to learn more, then here’s how to visit Liv

#11 Laie Librería Café, Barcelona, Spain

Hands down, my favourite bookshop in Barcelona handily doubles up as a coffee shop. Set over two levels, the European bookstore café offers all manner of books; from lengthy tomes to thrillers to historical fiction, this Barcelona bookstore has you covered!

While the lower floor is dedicated to all things book, head upstairs and asides from a brief section filled with books about Barcelona, you’ll soon discover that there’s an expansive café serving delicious cakes and piping hot coffees.

What’s more is that there’s a secret terrace out the back where you can curl up with your new reads, away from the hustle and bustle of the busy Barcelona streets. For even more inspiration, be sure to check out our guide to the best bookshops in Barcelona.

#12 San Ginés Book Shop, Madrid, Spain

Those in search of one of the most ‘Instagrammable’ places to visit in Madrid would do well to head to Librería San Ginés, which can be found on a little pedestrian alleyway of the same name and is easily one of the most beautiful bookshops in Europe.

Picture perfect, the used bookshop is characterised by its many stalls spilling out onto the street offering books at a reasonable price. San Ginés also sells small souvenirs such as artistic prints and postcards. All in all, San Ginés is one of my favourite hidden gems of Madrid.

#13 Au Facteur Cheval, Versailles, France

Though not strictly solely a bookstore, visitors to Au Facteur Cheval will be delighted to discover an array of wonderful antiques, brocante finds (everything from gold gilt mirrors to chipped ceramics are to be found in this treasure trove). Of all the Versailles bookshops, this may well have been my favourite to peruse.

Structured in a similar way to how I imagine Narnia would be if it were to be reimagined as an antique shop, Au Facteur Cheval is set across a wide array of rooms, each offering their own flavour and unique collection of wares for sale.

Best of yet, several rooms are completely stuffed full of books and I was particularly happy to stumble upon a large selection of vintage and pre-loved France and Paris travel guides.

#14 Second-hand book market, Vieille Bourse, Lille, France

One of the most unusual book markets in Europe is located in the Northern French city of Lille. One unique place that visitors should most certainly not miss during their time in Lille is the Vieille Bourse Book Market.

The building is constructed in the Flemish Renaissance style and comprises of 24 houses built in an identical style and there are four wooden doorways leading into the inner courtyard. The market is open from Tuesdays through to Sundays, meaning that it’s a must-see while in the city.

#15 Oudemanhuispoort, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Once frequented by Van Gogh, the covered walkway of Oudemanhuispoort is now home to a large selection of stalls selling second-hand books (a Boekenmarkt as it is so-called in Dutch). During the mid-18th-century, the passageway that once led to the almshouses was repurposed for selling goods.

Sellers would then vend their wares like jewels and goods, right up until the point where the City of Amsterdam relocated the daily book market from Rembrandtplein to Oudemanhuispoort. Today, the covered passage is the perfect place to shelter from the rain and is easily one of the best-kept secrets of Amsterdam.

#16 Used Book Market Georges Brassens, Paris, France

One of the most magical destinations you can visit in the French capital of France when it comes to books is the Georges Brassens book market. The Market is held every Saturday and Sunday, when up to 60 vendors tout their wares of everything from old maps to antiquarian books.

#17 Livraria Bertrand, Lisbon, Portugal

The oldest bookstore in the world is a beautifully appointed store in the Chiado district of Lisbon, Portugal. A stone’s throw away from world-famous attractions such as Lisbon Cathedral and the Carmo Convent, the Livraia Bertrand is a must-see while in Lisbon.

This Lisboa bookstore dates all the way back to the first half of the 18th-century, firmly placing it in the Guinness Book of World Records as the ‘Oldest Operating Bookshop’, as a plaque proudly indicates at the entrance to the shop.

#18 Waterstones London, England

Though Waterstones is something of a household name when it comes to buying books in the UK as it’s one of the biggest chains of bookstores, the Waterstones’ flagship location boasts a unique claim to fame when it comes to bookstores in Europe on account of the fact that it’s Europe’s largest bookshop.

#19 Libreria Acqua Alta, Venice, Italy

For one of the best hidden gems of bookshops in Europe, you simply need to visit Venice. World-famous thanks to its meandering canals, a wealth of bridges, and stunning architecture, the Libreria Acqua Alta is unusual in that it stores its books in bathtubs and boats!

Often touted to be ‘the most beautiful bookstore in the World,’ the shop features stacks of books both outside and in.

Enjoyed reading about the best bookstores in Europe? Pin it now, read it again later: