The essayist Anais Nin once said, “we travel, some of us forever, to seek other places, other lives, [and] other souls”. Wanderlust drives us, some of us constantly, towards new horizons and adventures. We escape our problems and the monotony of our lives by jumping on planes, ordering cars, and trekking across the landscape.
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Travel, however, is not the only way to find yourself in a different world. On every page, in every book, and in every bookstore all around the world, there are new lives waiting to be lived and unknown adventures waiting to be had.
The world’s most famous bookstores have the incredible power to satisfy your wanderlust in all its forms, in your will to explore undiscovered worlds with your physical body and your desire to experience wonderous adventures with your imaginative mind.
1. Shakespeare and Company: Paris, France.
Shakespeare and Company is a world famous, independent bookstore on the banks of Le Champs-Élysées in Paris. It opened in 1951, making it one of the oldest English bookstores in this French-speaking city. Walking through the store feels like entering a dreamworld: low ceilings, wooden beams, and a rickety staircase make it seem almost hobbit-esque in nature. At checkout, be sure to ask for a stamp on the first page of your new book so that you will always remember where it came from.
2. The Strand: New York, USA.
The Strand is an iconic New York City institution. From leisure reading to required texts, the store has supported NYU students since 1927. Its high ceilings, towers of books, and page- scented air make it a must visit for any true bookworm who steps foot on the island of Manhattan.
3. Librarie Avant-Garde: Nanjing China
Le Librarie Avant-Garde is China’s most beautiful library. It is located underground in a transformed bombshelter leftover from days of war. In recent years, the store has gathered a cult-like following amongst Nanjing’s literary elite, and given the aesthetic nature of its checkout counter built entirely out of books and its vast collection of social sciences and humanities reads, it is not difficult to understand why.
4. The Last Bookstore: Los Angeles, USA
The Last Bookstore is the largest used bookstore in California. After its opening in 2005, it’s name has been becoming increasingly fitting, as bookstores all across the United States continue to lose the battle against our cold-hearted kindles. The store consists of two floors, 250,000 books, a yarn shop, and a number of spring arts collective shops.
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5. El Ateneo: Buenos Aires, Argentina
El Ateneo is meant for people with a flair for the dramatic. Originally a theater, the building houses thousands upon thousands of books behind its velvety red curtains and on its ornate balconies. Exploring this library is an adventure within itself.
6. Librarie des Colonnes: Tanger, Morocco
Smack in the middle of Tanger, this little bookstore is the epitome of French charm and architecture. It has become famous amongst locals and travelers alike for hosting world-renowned French and Moroccan writers. If you’re planning a trip to Morocco any time soon, be sure to check their website to see if they have any events planned.
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7. Corso Como: Milan, Italy
This Italian staple was founded in 1991 by none other than Carlo Sozzani, the editor-in-chief of Italian Vogue at the time. This amazing store blends right into the fashion capital of the world, combining literature and fashion to create a beautifully chic store to explore on your next trip to Italy.