![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-for-book-lovers-@leti389.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBooks are a backpacker\u2019s best friend. How would we cope on those 30-hour bus journeys and mind-numbing airport stopovers without them? Sure, we see your smart phones, but what about flat batteries, rubbish connections and roaming charges \u2013 would our beloved books ever do this to us? Plus, every bookworm traveller knows that they\u2019re best way to escape when you haven\u2019t got an adventure on the cards! To take our obsession to the next level, we\u2019ve put together the best destinations for book lovers where we can explore our favourite stories in real life.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udccd\u00a0Santiago, Chile<\/em> \ud83d\udcf7 @leti389<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n There\u2019s no doubt that London is one of the best destinations for book lovers, having been the home of the likes of Virginia Woolf, Charles Dickens and George Orwell. But no address is as famous as 221B Baker Street, the apartment shared by the world\u2019s best loved detective and his trusty sidekick Watson. Created way back in the 1880s, the popularity of Sherlock Holmes has stood the test of time, with international fans heading to London on the trail of the legendary sleuth.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd\u00a0London\u00a0<\/em>\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@diariodeunapseudoviajera<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The first place you should look for clues is Sherlock\u2019s real life address<\/a>, that\u2019s now been turned in to a museum with interiors that exactly match Doyle\u2019s description. Take a stroll by the nearby Langham Hotel, a place that hosted dinners between Doyle and Oscar Wilde which resulted in the creation of Dorian Gray. Then, nip across to The Sherlock Holmes Pub<\/a> in Charing Cross, a traditional British boozer that\u2019s got a recreation of Holmes and Watson\u2019s study upstairs, filled with objects and photographs that the landlord has been collecting since the 50s. The British Library<\/a> is a bibliophile\u2019s dream and is also where Holmes carried out his detective research, so you can follow in his footsteps while swooning over a beautifully organised book collection. If you\u2019re after a more low-key bookstore, Word on the Water<\/a> is an adorable little shop on a river barge with a resident dog. And although they\u2019re not Sherlock related, no true book nerd should go to London without visiting the Charles Dickens Museum<\/a> or King\u2019s Cross\u2019 Platform 9\u00be!<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd\u00a0Word on the Water\u00a0<\/em>\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@astaclivo<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t Say the word Transylvania and most people immediately think of vampires, thanks to one of the most iconic baddies of all time: Bram Stoker\u2019s Dracula. That\u2019s because this mystical region of Romania provides the setting of the novel\u2019s opening, when Count Dracula lures poor unassuming Jonathan Harker to his castle and precedes to keep him prisoner, feast on his blood and just be downright creepy before sailing across the sea to wreak havoc in England.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd\u00a0Bran Castle<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@nomadicjulien<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Of course, that\u2019s all just a story \u2013 right? But then what made the Irish author choose the peaceful Romanian countryside as the setting of one of the most terrifying tales ever told? Well, the Count was loosely based on the bloodthirsty 15th<\/sup> century Romanian ruler Vlad The Impaler, named after the fact that impalement was his favourite method of execution (*shudders*). He was born in the town of Sighi\u0219oara, which is anything but scary with its rainbow-coloured buildings, old-fashioned walled town and cobbled streets. You can visit the bright yellow house where the real Vlad was born, which now doubles up as a museum and kitschy vampire restaurant. The nearby city of Bra\u0219ov is where you\u2019ll find Bran Castle, the towering monument that\u2019s thought by some to be the inspiration for Drac\u2019s castle, as it\u2019s the only one in Romania to fit Stoker\u2019s description. Whether you\u2019re a believer or not, visiting Bran Castle, getting creeped out in its dark hallways and imagining you\u2019re Jonathan trapped in its turrets is a must in Transylvania.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@caveheart65<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t The Alchemist is a Brazilian novel turned international classic that follows a Spanish shepherd named Santiago on a spiritual journey. He travels from his home in Andalusia across Morocco via the city of Tangier, through the Sahara Desert into Egypt and on to his final destination, The Pyramids of Giza. Erm, hello to our dream backpacking<\/a> route! Much like us on our first round the world trip, Santiago discovers truths about himself, learns from the people he meets and returns home with his mind and soul enriched. Hands up who can relate!<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd\u00a0Luxor, Egypt<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@micaellcgorge<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The Pyramids of Giza aren\u2019t just one of the best destinations for book lovers, these ancient wonders are a must-see for every traveller. You could even follow the trail of Santiago himself! If you want to start in Andalusia, Seville is a quintessentially Spanish city that\u2019s all about tradition, with tiled lanes, architecture straight out of Game of Thrones (literally) and a whole lot of tapas and sangria on the menu. Tangier will be your gateway to Africa, a coastal city of white buildings, surfing spots and wicked hostels<\/a>, like hippy haven The Melting Pot Rooftop Hostel<\/a> that\u2019s got killer views of the medina and the bay. Then it\u2019s on to the Sahara Desert, and seriously, if camping out here under the stars isn\u2019t on your travel wishlist<\/a> then it needs to be updated immediately! The last remaining ancient wonder of the world is a fitting finale to such an epic adventure. Magnificent and mysterious, seeing these icons for the first time is a moment you\u2019ll never forget.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd\u00a0Pyramids of Giza\u00a0<\/em>\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@protonomous\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t Les Mis\u00e9rables is one of the greatest stories ever told, a 1200 page beast of a book that follows the life of heroic Jean Valjean and a cast of other characters in 19th century France, against a backdrop of poverty, rebellion and revolution – do you hear the people sing? Prepare to shed some tears and workout your biceps lifting this whopper (we won\u2019t tell anyone if you take a shortcut and watch the film…)<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd\u00a0Paris<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7 @anafcastro<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Paris<\/a> has changed a lot since Hugo\u2019s days – it\u2019s more fashion and macarons than barricades and cannon fire – but thankfully there are some parts of the city where you can still channel your inner revolutionary. The bistros of the Latin Quarter have always been a favourite student hangout and it\u2019s not hard to imagine Marius and co. plotting to bring down the upper classes here. Le Marais is a cool neighbourhood, today packed with vintage boutiques and coffee shops, that held a special place in the writer\u2019s heart. You\u2019ll find the church of Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis, which is not only where Marius and Cosette tied the knot, but where Hugo\u2019s own daughter was married too – cuteness overload! Just around the corner, Maison de Victor Hugo<\/a> is the writer\u2019s old home that\u2019s now a museum showcasing his life\u2019s works and passions. The Mus\u00e9e des \u00c9gouts<\/a> (sewer museum) might not sound glamorous, but it offers a fascinating walking tour through the underground tunnel system. You know the scene where Valjean drags Marius through the sewers to safety? That, but with less ick.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd Shakespeare and Company bookshop, Paris<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7 @suitcaseonmysleeve<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t If you\u2019ve been to Vegas, chances are you remember more of it than Raoul and Gonzo did in Fear and Loathing\u2026 or maybe not! This bizarre novel pieces together the hazy memories of a drug-fuelled adventure that involves car crashes, wrecked hotel rooms and insane hallucinations in no particular order. Like most trips to the City of Sin, it\u2019s a wild ride that doesn\u2019t make too much sense. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas \u2013 especially if you can\u2019t remember it!<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd Las Vegas<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7 @daniilvnoutchkov<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n You\u2019re bound to have seen a million pictures of Las Vegas, but there\u2019s no comparison to the real deal. LSD isn\u2019t required to feel psychedelic underneath the dazzling lights of the strip or amid the neon jungle that is Fremont Street. You might even think you\u2019re on another continent when you spot Vegas\u2019 very own Eiffel Tower, or the gondolas cruising along the \u2018canals\u2019 of the Venetian hotel (super touristy, yes, but at $16 a ride they\u2019re a lot cheaper than the real thing!) To explore the locals\u2019 favourite side of Vegas<\/a> away from the glitzy casinos, head to the Arts District and discover pop-up galleries, cute independent boutiques and an eclectic mix of bars. Speaking of art, make sure you check out the Seven Magic Mountains. No you\u2019re not tripping, those really are seven fluorescent boulder towers in the middle of the desert!<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd Seven Magic Mountains<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7 @jannaonajaunt<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t Many people call Kerala India\u2019s most beautiful state, and it jumps right off the pages in this enchanting story. Arundhati Roy\u2019s descriptive writing can transport you across the globe – the bright colours of saris swooshing past, the smells of coconut and banana frying, the taste of red-hot curries and the sound of waves hitting the river\u2019s banks. The God of Small things is stunning and tragic at the same time, as it tackles tough issues like poverty and the Indian caste system. We won\u2019t give anything away, but if you\u2019re planning a trip to India<\/a> this is recommended reading!<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd Allepey backwaters<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7 @kyranlow<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Although it\u2019s set in a fictionalised version of a village the writer grew up in, there are some real-life places you can visit from the book. The real home of character Kari Saipu is guarded by parrots, kingfishers and cormorants in the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, and the all-important History House is a colonial bungalow now tucked away in a swanky retreat that\u2019s not exactly budget-friendly – damn! However, so many other awesome things to do in Kerala are cheap as chips. Cruising on a rice boat along the Alleppey backwaters or hiking the hills of Munnar are our top picks for wildlife spotting and incredible views. Kovalam is a tiny town with a hippy vibe that\u2019s full of surfers and has the best beach in the entire state, which is saying something. Don\u2019t leave without visiting a spice farm, or you\u2019ll never be able to recreate that fish curry you ate watching the sun set over the ocean…<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd Munnar<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7 @thelosthostels<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t Persepolis is a set of graphic novels that tell the story of creator Marjane Satrapi\u2019s childhood growing up in Iran through the Islamic revolution in the 1980s. She and her family suffer under the rise of extremism and are devastated to see their city and country destroyed by war. As a teenager, Marjane discovers philosophy and feminism, rebels by skipping school and visiting the black market, before moving to Vienna and eventually returning to Iran in the series\u2019 second novel.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd Tehran Public Library<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7 @omidarmin<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Today\u2019s Tehran is thriving and resembles the vibrant, exciting city that Marjane\u2019s parents remember. It\u2019s the most progressive and secular part of the country that\u2019s home to world-class universities, museums and cultural sites. Young Marji would have been thrilled to seen Iran\u2019s first female-owned hostel, HI Tehran Hostel,<\/a> opening in her city! As Tehran has become more liberal its caf\u00e9 culture has boomed, with the city full of cosy coffee shops perfect for an afternoon reading. Bookworms have <\/em>to visit Tehran Book Garden, one of the world\u2019s largest bookstores that stocks texts of all genres, languages and eras. It\u2019s even got a leafy reading garden on the roof and a food truck zone! If you want to learn about the Tehran that Persepolis depicts, the Islamic Revolution and Holy Defense Museum provides an immersive and creative lesson in Iranian history. Of course, no visit to Tehran is complete without getting lost in the Grand Bazaar, a sprawling maze of market stalls selling everything from Persian carpets to lamb kebabs. Even if you don\u2019t plan on buying anything, it\u2019s a must just to check out the colourful tiles and people-watch from a tea house.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd<\/span>\u00a0Tehran<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>Grand Bazaar<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0<\/span>@omidarmin<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t A list of the best destinations for book lovers that didn\u2019t feature Russia would be outrageous. It\u2019s the homeland of literary greats: Dostoyevsky, Pushkin, Gorky and of course Tolstoy, author of War and Peace (we promise we\u2019ll read it one day!) and the masterpiece that is Anna Karenina. Anna Karenina is a huge novel that follows its title character between Moscow and St. Petersburg as she navigates Russian aristocracy in the 1870s.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd<\/span>\u00a0St. Basil’s Cathedral<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0<\/span>@nikolayv<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n 150 years on, Moscow isn\u2019t abit less majestic than Tolstoy described it. At the heart of the city the Red Square feels frozen in time, and it isn\u2019t hard to imagine Anna sashaying past the magical domes of St. Basil\u2019s Cathedral. For an encounter with Tolstoy, bookworms should visit the Tolstoy Estate-Museum<\/a>, the writer\u2019s home where he penned several novels, as well as the Tolstoy Literary Museum,<\/a> which has a whole exhibit dedicated to Anna Karenina as well as manuscripts, letters and family photographs from Tolstoy\u2019s life. If you want to follow in the footsteps of Anna herself, there are several places from the novel that you can visit in today\u2019s Moscow. There\u2019s the ice rink outside the Moscow Planetarium where Lenin and Kitty skate together, the train between Moscow-St. Petersburg where Anna often travels deep in thought, and of course, Moscow\u2019s train station, where the story meets its heartbreaking end (don\u2019t worry, no spoilers). There\u2019s even a ballet adaptation<\/a> of the novel that you can watch at Moscow\u2019s world-famous Bolshoi Theatre – life made.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd<\/span>\u00a0Moscow Izmailovo Market<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0<\/span>@okhairani<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t Paris might be known as the most romantic city in the world<\/a>, but Cartagena gives it a run for its money. Colourful colonial houses with floral draped balconies fill the walled city, where horse drawn carts trot down narrow lanes. The sounds of salsa music and bells chiming drift through the air, and if you\u2019re in town on a Saturday you might spot a white wedding spilling out of one of the churches. Seriously, it\u2019s impossible not to fall in love with this city. It\u2019s no wonder Cartagena inspired Colombian writer Gabriel Garc\u00eda M\u00e1rquez to pen his romantic epic!<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd<\/span>\u00a0Walled City<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0<\/span>@luisvidal_18<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Cartagena\u2019s historic walled city is beyond beautiful, but you should expect big crowds and big prices. To explore the real Cartagena, hang out in Garc\u00eda M\u00e1rquez\u2019s beloved Getsemani neighbourhood, the part of the city where he lived as a young writer. It has a bohemian feel with street art everywhere, musicians playing and locals drinking outside in the plaza and the city\u2019s coolest hostels. Check out Caf\u00e9 Havana<\/a>, a legendary nightlife spot with Cuban beats and some of the best mojitos you\u2019ll ever taste. The nearby Plaza Bol\u00edvar is somewhere Garc\u00eda M\u00e1rquez spent a lot of time thinking and writing, as Venezuelan revolutionary Sim\u00f3n Bol\u00edvar was one of his heroes. This is where you can find the novel\u2019s \u2018Arcade of Scribes\u2019, the spot where Florentina wrote love letters for people who couldn\u2019t write! And if you head to Plaza Fern\u00e1ndez de Madrid, AKA Park of the Evangels, you can spot Fermina\u2019s home \u2013 the vine-covered white house with a leafy balcony and parrot door knocker.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd<\/span>\u00a0Getsemani<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7 @gardnerjorge<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n Has our rundown of the best destinations for book lovers got you headed for the library, or browsing for flights? If you need us, we\u2019ll be doing both. If you\u2019ve ever taken a literary inspired adventure, we want to hear about it in the comments!<\/p>\n \ud83c\udf1f\u00a025 of the best travel books for when you’re stuck at home<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf1f\u00a010 of the best travel podcasts<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n1. London, England \u2013 The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle <\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-for-book-lovers-@diariodeunapseudoviajera-London.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-for-book-lovers-@astaclivo-London.jpg\")
<\/p>\n2. Transylvania, Romania \u2013 Dracula by Bram Stoker<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-for-book-lovers-@nomadicjulien.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-for-book-lovers-@caveheart65.jpg\")
<\/p>\n3. The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt \u2013 The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho <\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-ofr-book-lovers-@micaellcjorge-Egypt.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-for-book-lovers-@protonomous.jpg\")
<\/p>\n4. Paris, France \u2013 Les Mis\u00e9rables by Victor Hugo <\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-for-book-lovers-@anafcastro.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-for-book-lovers-@suitcaseonmysleeve.jpg\")
<\/p>\n5. Las Vegas, USA \u2013 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-for-book-lovers-@daniilvnoutchkov.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-for-book-lovers-@jannarizzy-Vegas.jpg\")
<\/p>\n6. Kerala, India – The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy <\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-for-book-lovers-@kyranlow-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-for-book-lovers-@thelosthostels.jpg\")
<\/p>\n7. Tehran, Iran \u2013 Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi <\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-for-book-lovers-@omidarmin-Tehran.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-for-book-lovers-@omiddarmin.jpg\")
<\/p>\n8. Moscow, Russia \u2013 Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-for-book-lovers-@nikolayv.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-for-book-lovers-@okhairani.jpg\")
<\/p>\n9. Cartagena, Colombia \u2013 Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garc\u00eda M\u00e1rquez<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-for-book-lovers-@luisvidal_18.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"best](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Best-destinations-for-book-lovers-@gardnerjorge.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTo find the best hostels in all of these cities, don\u2019t forget to download the Hostelworld app \u2b07\ufe0f<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/App-IOS-1.png\")
\u00a0<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/App-google-1.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nKeep reading:\u00a0\u2b07\ufe0f<\/h2>\n