The one thing bookworms love more than visiting bookshops is attending book festivals. If ever in doubt of how popular books are, all you need to do is attend one of the many annual book festivals held across the globe. They are an opportunity for book lovers to mingle with each other, listen to authors, buy the latest novels, get them signed, and just revel in an atmosphere that oozes bookish brilliance.

As a UNESCO “City of Literature,” Dublin attracts thousands of book-loving tourists every year. Home to many a great writer over the decades, it continues to inspire up-and-coming authors with its dreamlike appeal and vintage aura. For those who want to get in the shoes of geniuses like WB Yeats and Oscar Wilde, there is nothing more exciting than a Dublin pub crawl.

The Big Apple has everything a book-loving traveler desires from a destination. The city promises some of the most fascinating literary sights, from the massive New York Public Library to the charm of stepping inside Edgar Allan Poe's house. Then there are the bookstores in NYC; quaint, personal, and in many cases, institutions making New York the hottest literary destination in the world. 

A city drenched in literary greatness, Dublin welcomes book lovers with open arms. Along the city’s winding streets, there are museums to explore, pubs to visit, and bookstores to discover.

The best bookstores in Sydney are distinct in their disposition, highlighting and promoting the joy of reading in their unique ways. At the helm of these establishments are passionate booksellers, people who have taken their love for books to new heights, often working against economic hardships to keep alive these much-needed institutions that provide comfort and an escape to thousands of bibliophiles every day. A city with an avid book culture, Sydney bookstores will leave you in awe of their charming personas. 

Toronto, a bustling metropolitan Canadian city, attracts book lovers with its modern and natural charm. The city's skyscrapers give it a dramatic feel while its waterside location and green spaces provide readers with perfect spots to stop and indulge in a book. However, the love for books comes across most prominently through the bookstores in Toronto. Hotspots for bibliophiles, there are several niche and independent booksellers in Toronto downtown, but also a few nearby that deserve a special mention.

A city with an exceptionally high student population, you are more than likely to come across people carrying books everywhere in Melbourne. Add to that the amalgamation of distinct cultures through its diverse residents, and it’s no wonder that Melbourne is a world-renowned literary destination worth exploring.

A UNESCO City of Literature and the location for the world-famous Edinburgh International Book Festival, the Scottish capital is a destination that needs to be on every book lovers bucket list. Home to noted authors such as Ian Rankin, Alexander McCall Smith, Alanna Knight, and many more, the city is a cultural melting pot that attracts readers and writers wanting to bask in Edinburgh's literary heritage. Adding to the allure of the town are the many bookstores in Edinburgh that promise a magical escape packed with unusual finds in enchanting surroundings.

If you are on the lookout for the best place to read in Sydney, while several bookstores provide comfort to readers, there exist distinct destinations that double up as perfect spots for bookworms to escape this world for a few moments and dive straight into a treasured novel.

A vibrant and exciting city, Melbourne is the epicenter of all things cultural in Australia. Adding to Melbourne's literary charm are its bookstores that are a haven for bibliophiles in search of a second-hand book or the latest bestseller. No wonder then that Melbourne was awarded Australia's first and only City of Literature by UNESCO in 2008.