Beyond the Page: A Book Lover’s Guide to the World’s Most Beautiful Libraries

There’s a special kind of magic in getting lost in the pages of a good book, isn’t there? That feeling of traveling without ever leaving your chair is utterly addictive. But what if you could bring that magic into the real world? Welcome to the booming trend of literary tourism! Imagine walking the same floors as your favorite characters or finding inspiration in the places that gave birth to unforgettable stories. And when it comes to true havens for book lovers, libraries are the perfect starting point for these fiction-fueled adventures.

The desire to visit the corners of the world that connect us to our favorite books and authors is nothing new—it’s been happening for centuries! But in our fast-paced digital era, it seems we’ve rediscovered the peace and inspiration found in great stories to plan our next getaways. The rise of “BookTok” is revolutionizing how we travel, turning literary recommendations into plane tickets and dream vacations. Cultural anniversaries and new film adaptations provide the perfect excuse to pin literary destinations on our maps. Can you picture wandering through Bath’s honey-colored Georgian houses during Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary? Or exploring Monterey County in 2026 when Netflix’s adaptation of John Steinbeck’s East of Eden hits our screens? It’s a chance to live out the fiction firsthand.

This literary fever extends beyond landscapes. Libraries, those sacred temples of knowledge, have become pilgrimage destinations in their own right. Their sky-high shelves, breathtaking designs, and profound atmosphere of wisdom draw us in like a magnet. Any devoted reader knows there’s nothing quite like getting lost in their aisles and letting your imagination soar. That’s why we’ve chosen six of our favorites from around the globe for you to fall in love with.

An Unforgettable Journey Through the World’s Temples of Knowledge

1. Admont Abbey Library, Styria, Austria

Imagine a Baroque masterpiece that looks like it was plucked from a fairytale. Nestled in an ancient Benedictine monastery in Styria, about 200 km from Vienna, the Admont Abbey Library is so dazzlingly beautiful you might forget you’re in a temple of knowledge. With its gold accents, elegant curves, and touches of rose and sky blue, it feels like the perfect setting for a Disney princess! It’s no coincidence that it inspired the iconic library from Beauty and the Beast. The late 18th-century architect, Joseph Huber, designed it around the principles of “light and space,” believing these elements would illuminate the mind.

• Your Visit: Simply purchase your ticket at the entrance (from €19.50) to access the museum and library. Pro tip: the €4 audio guide is well worth the investment.
• Don’t Miss: Admire the stunning ceiling frescoes depicting the stages of human enlightenment and wander through the elegant 70-meter hall, lined with ancient texts. Look closely! Some book spines are fake, concealing secret passages to upper galleries.
• Important Note: Be sure to check opening hours online, as they often vary by season and capacity is limited!
• Website: stiftadmont.at

2. Royal Portuguese Reading Room, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

As you approach the Royal Portuguese Reading Room in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, its facade will leave you speechless. It’s constructed from stone brought directly from Lisbon, paying homage to the Neo-Manueline style of the Jerónimos Monastery. And if the exterior is spectacular, just wait until you see the inside. Stepping through its doors (entry is free, just bring your ID!), you’ll feel transported to another era. This place is a true treasure, housing the largest collection of Portuguese works outside of Portugal, with over 350,000 books and manuscripts soaring up richly carved wooden shelves. The library’s history is deeply rooted in national pride, founded by enthusiasts who wanted to keep Portuguese culture alive after Brazil’s independence. A massive stained-glass skylight and an epic chandelier command the Reading Room, while statues of Portuguese historical and literary figures watch over you from gilded arches.

• Your Visit: Open Monday to Friday. You can join a guided tour for just 10 BRL (approximately £1.40).
• Highlights: The largest collection of Portuguese works outside of Portugal, a jaw-dropping facade, and an interior design that will transport you through time.
• Website: realgabinete.com.br

3. Trinity College Library, Dublin, Ireland

Prepare to feel wonderfully insignificant as you enter the Old Library at Trinity College. A majestic vaulted oak ceiling soars above you as you walk down a seemingly infinite corridor, flanked by centuries-old shelves that reach for the sky. A gallery balcony offers another perspective, while marble busts of great thinkers observe you with silent wisdom from ground level. About 200,000 of the library’s oldest books rest here, protected behind velvet ropes. But don’t worry, daily tours (from €21.50) allow you to soak in this unparalleled view from long benches strategically placed in the center of the aisle. The real treasure here—among a collection of over six million items, including maps and manuscripts—is the mythical Book of Kells, the world’s most sublime example of a medieval illuminated manuscript.

• Your Visit: Daily tours are available to explore this marvel.
• Cost: From €21.50.
• Don’t Miss: The legendary Book of Kells, the breathtaking vaulted oak ceilings, the 200,000 ancient books, and the overall collection of over six million items.
• Website: tcd.ie/library

4. The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, USA

Tucked away on Madison Avenue is a secret that will transport you: the former private library of financier J. Pierpont Morgan. Expanded in 2006 by the brilliant Renzo Piano, The Morgan Library & Museum is far more than a library; it’s a cultural complex that includes a performance hall and four reading spaces, creating an atmosphere that is both intimate and reverential. And for good reason! Its collection includes the original manuscript of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, the only surviving manuscript of Milton’s Paradise Lost, a document signed by Napoleon Bonaparte himself, and handwritten scores by geniuses like Beethoven and Mozart. A true feast for the soul!

• Your Visit: Open daily from 10:30 a.m. Entry is by timed ticket, so be sure to plan ahead!
• Cost: $25 for adults.
• Don’t Miss: Original manuscripts by Dickens, Milton, Beethoven, and Mozart; a document bearing Napoleon’s signature; and a stunning vaulted ceiling inspired by Raphael’s Stanza della Segnatura.
• Website: themorgan.org

5. State Library of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia

In Adelaide, the beautiful Mortlock Wing of the State Library of South Australia awaits. Opened in 1884 and designed by Edward John Woods, this Victorian gem has been a cultural hub from its inception. Did you know its creation was considered so vital that settlers planned for it even before South Australia was officially established as a British outpost? The initial collection comprised some 23,000 books, many donated and others shipped directly from England. Rich, gleaming wood, a paneled and arched ceiling, and elaborate wrought-iron gallery balconies are the hallmarks of this space, which attracts around 500,000 visitors each year.

• Your Visit: Entry is completely free! Open from 9 a.m. on weekdays and from noon on weekends.
• Don’t Miss: Its stunning Victorian architecture, the design by Edward John Woods, and its rich wood and wrought-iron interiors that will transport you back in time.
• Website: slsa.sa.gov.au

6. Tianjin Binhai Library, China

Now for a leap into the future: the Tianjin Binhai Library in China. Designed by Dutch architect Winy Maas, it is a modern work of art that defies all expectations—a bold project that demands attention, especially considering the country’s information control. As you enter (admission is free, but have your ID ready), you’ll step into a predominantly white space with undulating shelves that flow like waves across the cavernous interior. At its heart, a massive spherical auditorium rises like an “all-seeing eye,” an evocative image in a country known for its discretion.

• A Curious Detail (and one to note): While the goal is to house over a million books, many of the volumes currently adorning the shelves are… fake! So, visitors come here less to browse books and more to marvel at the futuristic architecture.
• Your Visit: Free entry. Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Don’t Miss: Its modern architecture that looks straight out of a sci-fi film, the iconic “Eye of Binhai,” and the wave-like shelves that shape the entire interior.
• Address: 347 Xusheng Road, Binhai New Area, Tianjin 300457, China

From the baroque halls of Austria to the futuristic curves of China, these libraries are more than just buildings; they are destinations in their own right. They are testaments to our timeless love for stories, knowledge, and breathtaking design. So, the next time you plan a trip, why not let a library be your guide? Your next great adventure could be waiting between the shelves.