We’ve all been compelled to get lost in an interesting book while waiting by the gate at the airport or on a long flight.  But the story doesn’t have to end once we’ve reached our desired destinations, because many of the world’s locations have transformed into unforgettable tales due to their obsession with literature. 

From delving into a world-class book fair or discovering a gigantic book, flipping through the pages of these five international booklover cities are enchanting ways to uncover the depths of their souls.

London, England

Looking for a great escape from London’s bustling streets?  Well a good book in Europe’s biggest bookstore may do the trick.  Established in 1999, Waterstones Piccadilly has grown into a sanctuary for booklovers with six floors dominated by charming stories. 

With aisles stacked from top to bottom in classic literature, there’s rarely a moment when one of its visitors isn’t hypnotized by a compelling plot.  And if the story seems too intense, a bit of liquid courage might help from the bookshop’s bar. Just don’t get locked in.

Mandalay, Myanmar

What do you do when you want to express your infatuation for literature and the social impact books have when exploring the essence of a destination?  You build the largest book in the world.  But not any book with easily ripped pages would suffice, but a beautifully constructed marble masterpiece with over 730 leaves and 1,640 pages.

This is what King Mindon of Burma had in mind when he commissioned for the world’s largest book to be built in his honor.  The Buddhist landmark can be found at the bottom of the Mandalay Hill amid the Kuthodaw pagoda. 

Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Frankfurt am Main maintains a high repute with bookworms every October; that’s because the Frankfurt Trade Fair is in full swing.  With roughly 275,000 visitors in attendance, this literature-infused festival quickly takes first place as the largest book fair of its kind and makes no apologies. 

Although it doors are closed off from the public for the first couple of days, it’s the last leg of the Frankfurt Trade Fair (usually the weekend) that keeps the world entranced by the fascination of titles that occurs here.

Maastricht, Holland

When a 13th century cathedral has been converted into a contemporary church, its majesty speaks volumes.  Selexyz came to life after the Selexyz Dominicanen Maastricht was completed, and has been an instant attraction since then. 

Staying true to its roots as a church with huge domes and grand arches, colossal bookcases were added to the décor that makes this a unique location to keep one’s nose in a book.  Along with the numerous books decorating its spaces, just about every detail of Selexyz tells an historic story.  Even eating at the cross-shaped table of the cafe transports guest through the pages of the library’s religious history.

Toronto, Canada

Not only was Toronto once the home of the world’s largest bookstore, which officially closed its doors in March, the city also houses Book City, a handful of independent bookshops that are charmingly speckled throughout the city. 

And the chain’s name speaks for itself, especially since each store represents a historic love for books by devoting its spaces to gripping fictions and nonfictions. In addition, Book City offers discounted prices for hardcover copies and treats it VIP customers like royalty with the exclusive loyalty card.