© Shutterstock

El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Argentina - Named in 2019 by National Geographic as "the world's most beautiful bookstore," this extraordinary bookshop is situated on Santa Fe Avenue in Buenos Aires.

© Shutterstock

El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Argentina - Previously a theater, the early 20th-century building features ornate ceiling frescoes by the Italian artist Nazareno Orlandi.

© Shutterstock

Livraria Lello, Portugal - Located in Porto in northern Portugal, Livraria Lello opened in 1818 and is regularly cited as one of the most decorative and ornate bookshops in the world.

© Shutterstock

Livraria Lello, Portugal -

'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling frequented the bookstore during her time as an English teacher in the city. She later drew inspiration from its architecture when dreaming up Hogwarts.

© Shutterstock

The Last Bookstore, USA - This independent bookstore is located in downtown Los Angeles and claims to be California's largest new and used bookshop.

© Shutterstock

The Last Bookstore, USA - The store is notable for its odd interior configuration of spiraling books and cut-through bookshelves.

© Shutterstock

Boekhandel Selexyz Dominicanen, Netherlands -

A 700-year-old former Catholic church is now the Boekhandel Selexyz Dominicanen, located in Maastricht.

© Shutterstock

Boekhandel Selexyz Dominicanen, Netherlands -

Dating back to the 13th century, the church houses a three-story island bookshelf.

© Shutterstock

Libreria Acqua Alta, Italy - Libreria Acqua Alta overflows with books, magazines, maps, and illustrations.

© Shutterstock

Libreria Acqua Alta, Italy - Located as it is in flood-prone Venice, the proprietors have opted to keep many of their titles in waterproof vessels, including a full-size gondola!

© Shutterstock

Shakespeare and Company, France - During the 1920s, this Paris bookshop was the haunt of then-aspiring writers James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway, among other soon-to-be literary giants.

© Shutterstock

Shakespeare and Company, France -

Situated at 37 rue de la Bûcherie, it continues to sell new and secondhand books and serves as a free reading library open to the public

© Shutterstock

House of Books, Russia - Also known as the Singer House, this impressive St. Petersburg landmark dates back to 1904.

© iStock

House of Books, Russia - A masterpiece of Art Nouveau architecture, the building, which used to belong to the Singer Sewing Machine Company, has included a bookstore—House of Books—since 1938.

© Shutterstock

Strand Book Store, USA - Founded in 1927 and located at 828 Broadway in New York City, the bookstore's slogan is "18 Miles of Books."

© Shutterstock

Strand Book Store, USA -

According to The New York Times, the Strand is "the undisputed king of the city’s independent bookstores."

© iStock

Atlantis Books, Greece - Known better as a top Aegean Sea tourist spot, the island of Santorini is also a magnet for bookworms.

© Shutterstock

Atlantis Books, Greece - Tucked away in the brilliant white marble streets of Oia is Atlantis Books, a quirky shop stocked full of literature in several languages.

© iStock

Foyles Bookshop, England - Situated on London's Charing Cross Road, this was once the world's largest bookshop before it relocated to new premises.

© Shutterstock

Foyles Bookshop, England -

Brothers William and Gilbert Foyle founded the business in 1903.

© Shutterstock

John K. King Books, USA -

An abandoned former factory in Detroit is home to a staggering one million books. One of the largest and weirdest collections of books in North America, many rarer and notable items are available for viewing by appointment only.

© Shutterstock

Ler Devagar, Portugal - Translated to English, this bookstore's name is "Read Slowly." The New York Times voted it one of the 10 most beautiful bookshops in the world.

© Shutterstock

Ler Devagar, Portugal - The bookshop is located west of Lisbon's city center, in the arty LxFactory quarter, near Alcântara.

© Shutterstock

Powell's City of Books, USA - Serving the Portland metropolitan area is Powell's Books, a chain of bookstores headquartered in the Oregon state capital.

© Shutterstock

Powell's City of Books, USA - The HQ, Powell's City of Books, is reputedly the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world.

© Shutterstock

Barter Books, England -

Located in the historic English market town of Alnwick in Northumberland, Barter Books is housed within a converted Victorian railway station.

© Shutterstock

Barter Books, England -

The shop operates a barter system whereby customers can exchange their books for credit against future purchases.

© Shutterstock

City Lights Books, USA - A San Francisco literary landmark, City Lights Books specializes in world literature, the arts, and progressive politics.

© Shutterstock

City Lights Books, USA -

The independent bookstore-publisher is located at 261 Columbus Avenue, in the city's Chinatown district.

See also: Thirty books that influenced the world.

© iStock