October days bring a crisp chill, cities and villages glow golden, and evenings are perfect for cozying up in your favorite warm sweater with a good book. But reading doesn’t have to stay homebound.
BBC reporter Lizzie Enfield highlighted a special travel trend catching on globally among travelers—literary journeys where books, locations, and community unite to create unique experiences.
Literary Retreats – More Than Just a Book and a Setting
Reading is becoming the centerpiece of travel. Enfield shared how in Florence, at the trattoria “I'Brindellone,” a dozen people gathered to discuss Sarah Winman’s novel Still Life. The walls are adorned with photos from the 1966 flood that inspired the author. Participants didn’t just talk about the book—they immersed themselves in the story’s setting, feeling the spirit of the place.
This group took part in a Books in Places reading tour, part of a new wave of travel where vacations focus on the meeting point of books and locations—not just sunbathing or sightseeing. Enfield explains, “This kind of trip is a hybrid: part vacation, part book club, part cultural deep dive.”
Inspired by a Facebook Ad
Lyn Margerison, who’s joined several of these retreats, spotted a Facebook ad featuring one of her favorite books alongside a Florence piazza and a glass of wine. The ad asked, “Do you love reading where the stories take place?” Lyn found the idea instantly exciting and has since traveled to multiple countries on reader-focused vacations.
She says, “For me, these trips perfectly blend books and travel. I’ve always loved reading books set where I’m vacationing. These journeys let me meet fellow book lovers and always leave me refreshed, with new books and memories.”
The Books in Places Movement
Paul Wright launched the Books in Places program in 2023, quickly gaining popularity. What started as British weekend trips now includes Portugal, Crete, Egypt, Italy, and other literary hotspots. Wright emphasizes, “The location is key: feeling the streets, landscape, and atmosphere deepens the reading experience.”
Bucket List for Globe-Trotting Book Lovers
Enfield highlights five special literary destinations:
- Paju Book City & Forest of Wisdom, South Korea: publishers, book cafés, and the stunning Forest of Wisdom library.
- Reykjavík, Iceland: a UNESCO City of Literature hosting the Reykjavík International Literary Festival.
- Buenos Aires, Argentina: the El Ateneo Grand Splendid bookstore, transformed from a former theater.
- Tokyo, Japan: the Book and Bed hostel, where guests relax among bookshelves.
- Dublin, Ireland: the June Bloomsday Festival brings James Joyce’s Ulysses to life on the streets.
“Living the story”
Margerison puts it simply: “Reading becomes a richer experience in the places where novels unfold. It’s like stepping into the story for a few days.”
On his trips, Paul Wright offers readers the chance to visit Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird setting in Monroeville, Alabama, or Ian Fleming’s Jamaican home where he wrote Dr. No. On Crete, Spinalonga Island inspired Victoria Hislop’s novel The Island.
Literary Tourism Is on the Rise
This fresh travel trend goes far beyond a niche: a 2025 KAYAK survey found nearly half of English travelers choose destinations where they can read and learn. Among millennials, that jumps to 60%. An impressive 89% say travel is a time to invest in themselves, not just relax. Future Market Insights reports literary tourism was a $2.4 billion market last year, expected to grow to $3.3 billion by 2034.
Dive into a Wonderful Literary Adventure!
As autumn days grow shorter and cooler, it might be the perfect time to read not just on your couch but to explore the places behind the stories—and maybe start planning an exciting trip.
When literature and travel merge, your experiences gain new depth: you can soak up the atmosphere of stories, step into characters’ worlds, and connect with new communities.
This fall could be your season for bold adventures and deep discoveries, with books opening doors to magical corners of the world—even ones close to home. If you get the chance, embark on a literary journey and let the stories come alive!
