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Hay-on-Wye, Wales -

Nestled near the England-Wales border, Hay-on-Wye is a charming market town rich in book culture. In the 1970s, Richard Booth opened a secondhand bookshop in his castle, sparking a movement that led him to market the town as the "Kingdom of Books."

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Hay-on-Wye, Wales -

Today, the town boasts over 20 bookshops and is famous for its annual Hay Festival, drawing global literary figures and inspiring similar festivals worldwide, celebrating books and culture.

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Óbidos, Portugal -

Óbidos, a picturesque hilltop town north of Lisbon, blends medieval charm with a love of literature. Transformed into a book town by José Pinho in 2013, Óbidos reimagined bookselling by encouraging local businesses to incorporate books into their offerings.

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Óbidos, Portugal -

Highlights include the Grande Livraria de Santiago inside a 13th-century church, and The Literary Man hotel with 50,000 books. Óbidos also hosts FOLIO, a major literary festival attracting global authors and creative talent.

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Redu, Belgium -

Nestled in the rolling hills of Belgium, the village of Redu became the world’s second book town in 1984. Famous for its annual book festival and nearly 30 bookshops, Redu charms visitors with its literary spirit, rich history, and scenic beauty.

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Redu, Belgium -

Redu was named, along with Lesse and Séchery, among Wallonia's "Most Beautiful Villages" in July 2024.

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Wigtown, Scotland -

Perched on a hill overlooking the sea, Wigtown is Scotland's National Book Town, known for its rugged coastline, woodlands, and rich literary culture. With over 250,000 books and 16 unique bookshops, many secondhand, it was part of the first International Book Town Festival in 1998.

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Wigtown, Scotland -

Annual events include a Spring Weekend in May, summer markets, and the 10-day Wigtown Book Festival, featuring over 200 events across literature, music, theater, food, and the arts.

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Featherston, New Zealand -

Featherston is a charming town in New Zealand's Wairarapa region, northeast of Wellington. Officially designated a book town in 2018, it's known for its annual May book festival and vibrant literary culture.

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Featherston, New Zealand -

Year-round initiatives promote reading, writing, and idea-sharing, fostering community engagement across the Wairarapa and throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand.

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Paju, South Korea -

Paju, near the DMZ in South Korea, is a one-of-a-kind book town where every building and person is devoted to creating, publishing, and promoting Korean books. It features book cafés, museums, and cultural spaces.

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Paju, South Korea -

With 250 publishers, annual festivals like Booksori, and the Forest of Wisdom library, it's a literary hub rooted in community and creativity.

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College Street, Kolkata, India -

By the late 18th century, Kolkata became a major printing hub, and today, it hosts the world's largest public book fair, the International Kolkata Book Fair. While not a town, College Street, or Boi Para ("Book Colony"), is a bustling one-mile (1.5-km) stretch known as the largest secondhand book market in the world.

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College Street, Kolkata, India -

It features street stalls, historic bookstores like Dasgupta & Co, and a vibrant mix of textbooks, fiction, and Indian language literature.

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Wünsdorf-Waldstadt, Germany -

The former garrison town of Wünsdorf, known as the "book and bunker city," is located about 12 miles (20 kilometers) south of Berlin. It offers a vibrant cultural life with bookshops, cafés, and year-round events, including readings, exhibitions, and military vehicle meetings.

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Wünsdorf-Waldstadt, Germany -

Established as a member of the International Organization of Book Towns in 1998, Wünsdorf is home to three large antiquarian shops filled with literary treasures on diverse topics like poetry and philosophy.

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Montolieu, France -

This charming French village, the only book town in southern France, is home to over a dozen delightful antique bookstores, each independently owned and specializing in secondhand books.

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Montolieu, France -

Dedicated to preserving book arts and crafts, it also hosts cultural events throughout the year, including the Pages de Jazz and Comic Book Festivals. The village offers a unique blend of literary culture and vibrant community life.

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Urueña, Spain -

Located just two hours from Madrid in Castilla y León, Urueña is a medieval town with 100 residents and 11 secondhand and antique bookshops. Known as Spain's first "Villa del Libro," it was transformed into a book village in 2007 by Jorge Manrique.

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Urueña, Spain -

The town attracts book lovers worldwide, especially with the E-LEA Center, a 12,917-square-foot (1,200-square-meter) space dedicated to reading, writing, and cultural events. Bookshops feature rare finds, including a bullfighting collection at El 7.

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Jimbocho, Tokyo, Japan -

Though not a town, Kanda-Jinbocho, nicknamed Jimbocho, is a must-mention for book lovers. Tucked in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, this bustling neighborhood is packed with hundreds of bookshops, book cafés, and even a book-themed hotel.

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Jimbocho, Tokyo, Japan -

Known as Tokyo's book district, Jimbocho hosts two annual book fairs and offers an energetic, literary atmosphere perfect for browsing rare finds, enjoying a coffee, or simply soaking in the love of the written word.

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Damme, Belgium -

Just a few miles from Bruges, the quaint Flemish town of Damme has more recently become known as a book town, with numerous bookshops and regular book fairs. Its peaceful canals, historic charm, and cobbled streets make it a perfect destination for literature lovers.

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Damme, Belgium -

Visitors can browse antique and secondhand books, explore medieval landmarks, and enjoy the town’s quiet beauty and cultural atmosphere year-round.

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Fjærland, Norway -

With only 300 residents, Fjærland is filled with books in unexpected places: waiting rooms, stables, banks, and even a former post office. Open to tourists from May through December, the town’s many outdoor bookshelves wouldn’t survive its harsh winters.

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Fjærland, Norway -

One charming feature is known as "the country’s most honest bookstore," an unmanned shelf where readers are trusted to leave payment in a box when taking a book.

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Bredevoort, Netherlands -

A charming medieval city in the Netherlands' Aalten municipality, Bredevoort has about 1,500 residents and a rich history dating back to 1188. Designated the National Book Town in 1993 to revive its historic center, it now features around 20 secondhand and antiquarian bookshops.

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Bredevoort, Netherlands -

Shops are open Tuesday to Saturday and Sunday afternoons, with monthly book markets offering Dutch, French, and English titles in a lively and literary atmosphere.

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Stillwater, Minnesota -

Nestled along the scenic St. Croix River, Stillwater is a charming literary destination known for its historic downtown and independent bookstores. Once a lumber boomtown, it now boasts cozy bookshops like Valley Bookseller and hosts book-related events year-round.

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Stillwater, Minnesota -

With its mix of small-town charm, vibrant arts scene, and scenic river views, Stillwater offers book lovers a peaceful retreat perfect for browsing, reading, and soaking in a rich cultural atmosphere.

Sources: (National Georgraphic) (The Guardian) (Smithsonian Magazine) (1000 Libraries Magazine) 

See also: The best destinations in America for book lovers

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