Welcome to another TTT! This week’s topic isn’t about books, but it’s still bookish! I love visiting unique bookstores, especially when I travel, so I thought it would be fun to do a little armchair traveling and share my list of bookstores I’d love to visit someday! Links take you to the Google Images page, where you can see pictures of the stores I’m sharing. I’m too scared of accidentally committing copyright infringement or I’d just post my favorite pics here! Sorry not sorry about all the items you’ll be adding to your bucket list with this topic!

1. Livraria Lello in Porto, Portugal
This self-proclaimed “most beautiful bookstore in the world” is stunning! There’s stained glass windows, carvings of literary figures, and a beautiful staircase.

2. Boekhandel Selexyz Dominicanen in Maastricht, Netherlands
This bookstore is located inside a 700-year-old Dominican church!

3. Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice, Italy
Instead of bookshelves, this store uses bathtubs and gondolas so when the city floods the books are safe! There’s views of the beautiful canals, and lots of friendly cats love hanging out there. Venice, books, and cats. A dream.

4. Atlantis Books in Santorini, Greece
Nobody is really sure what’s going on with this store. Sometimes it’s open, sometimes it’s not. It’s been reported that it looks abandoned but then people say they have gone inside very recently. Apparently they closed during the pandemic and hours have been spotty ever since. Hopefully someday this stunning store is fully operational again! The outside is adorable, the inside haphazardly stuffed full of books, and they are known for having very unique and rare books. Oh, and the terrace provides stunning ocean views!

5. Cook & Book in Brussels, Belgium
This place looks so cool. If the 800 books suspended from the ceiling don’t suck you in, there’s 8 different rooms filled with books and themed decor. Oh, and there’s a restaurant inside, too. Each room has a themed eating space. So you never have to leave.

6. Book and Bed in Tokyo, Japan
A book-themed hostel with thousands of books that lets you sleep in a bookshelf. IN a bookshelf. Some of the rooms have stunning views, too.

7. The Abbey Bookshop in Paris, France
I’ve been to Shakespeare & Company, but didn’t know about this place until I got home. Crap! It looks like such a cute little shop!

8. Cafebreria El Pendulo in Mexico City, Mexico
Books and plants and a cafe! It looks so pretty!

9. The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles, California
More books hanging from the ceiling, and this one has a tunnel of books, too!

10. The Bookworm in Beijing, China
So this is a library and a bookstore AND a cafe (they serve three-course meals)! There’s this cool red-draped ceiling situation with hanging lights that looks pretty magical.

Have you been to any of these?
Which bookstores would you love to visit?