Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Evergreens

The most beautiful libraries in the world: Reading nooks worth traveling to

These libraries are worth the trip

By
Admont Library
Yuri Turkov / Shutterstock

In a world where technology rules, there’s an undeniable allure to stepping into a calm, quiet library. Libraries beckon us with the promise of knowledge, adventure, and a glimpse into the past, all in one serene space. Beyond the incredible books, some libraries stand out as architectural marvels, captivating travelers all over the world with their breathtaking beauty. Here are just a few of the most beautiful libraries in the world that are worth planning a trip around.

Library of Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

Dublin, Ireland - August 2019: Inside the Long Room of The Old Library at Trinity College Dublin during opening hours before tourists fill the room
Salvador Maniquiz / Shutterstock

Situated within the historic walls of Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, the Library of Trinity College dates all the way back to the 16th century. This iconic library is known for its stunning Long Room, which is a spacious hall lined with towering oak bookshelves that stretch from the floor to the ceiling. The library contains over six million printed volumes, making it the largest research library in Ireland.

Recommended Videos

George Peabody Library, Baltimore, Maryland

BALTIMORE, USA - JUNE 23, 2016 Bookshelf inside Peabody Library a research library for John Hopkins University
Andrea Izzotti / Shutterstock

The George Peabody Library is located on Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute campus and is one of the most famous libraries in the United States. This gorgeous library has a collection of over 300,000 books and is available for use by the general public, aligning with George Peabody’s goal to create a library “for the free use of all persons who desire to consult it.”

Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil 

Rio De Janeiro
Nido Huebl / Shutterstock

Located in the heart of Rio De Janeiro, the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading is beautiful both inside and out. The library’s exterior contains beautiful stained-glass windows, detailed wood carvings, and neo-Manueline facades, while the interior boasts floor-to-ceiling bookshelves containing some of the world’s most precious pieces of literature. Housing one of the most extensive collections of Portuguese literature outside of Portugal itself, the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading is a sight to be seen.

The Royal Library, Copenhagen, Denmark

Royal Library

The Royal Library in Copenhagen, Denmark, also known as the “Black Diamond” for its striking modern architecture, is easily one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Founded in 1648 by King Frederik III, The Royal Library is one of the largest libraries in the world and the largest in the Nordic countries. It is the national library of Denmark and contains nearly all known Danish printed works, some dating all the way back to 1482. 

Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at the New York Public Library, New York, New York

NEW YORK CITY - DEC 1: people study in the New York Public Library on DEC 1, 2016 in Manhattan, New York City.
Paper Cat / Shutterstock

Located in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is the flagship building in the New York Public Library system. When you step into the library’s beautiful Astor Hall, you will be greeted by soaring ceilings and grand marble staircases leading into the library’s expansive reading rooms and galleries. With over 2.5 million items in the library, you can surely spend an entire afternoon in this gorgeous building.

Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico City, Mexico

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - may 2023 inside the Biblioteca Vasconcelos in Mexico City, Mexico. High quality photo
Brester Irina / Shutterstock

Mexico City’s Biblioteca Vasconcelos is situated in downtown Mexico City and takes up 409,000 square feet of space. Designed by Mexican architect Alberto Kalach, this library truly embodies contemporary design. With its transparent walls, steel structures, and lush greenery, Biblioteca Vasconcelos is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. The interior of the library is a labyrinth of walkways and bridges, and you’ll find rows and rows of bookshelves extending across several floors.

Central Library of Vancouver, Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver Library
Jeff Whyte / Shutterstock

Designed by architect Moshe Safdie and opened to the public in 1995, the Central Library of Vancouver houses over 2.6 million items within the circular building. The library’s interior spaces are thoughtfully designed, featuring cozy reading nooks, spacious study areas, and high-quality technology labs, making it a great place for students, children, and businessmen alike.

Admont Abbey Library, Admont, Austria

Admont Library
Yuri Turkov / Shutterstock

Located in Admont, Austria, the Admont Abbey Library is the largest monastic library in the world. This beautiful building is known for its Baroque architecture and stunning marble interior. Within the library, there are seven vaulted domes, each showcasing artwork painted by Bartolomeo Altomonte.

Rampur Raza Library, Rampur, India

Rampur library
PradeepGaurs / Shutterstock

Housed in the magnificent Rampur Palace complex, the Rampur Raza library is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Rampur Raza Library also contains some of the world’s most historical pieces of literature, including the original manuscript of the first translation of the Quran written on parchment paper in Kufic script. 

These beautiful libraries are worth planning a trip around

Beautiful library
Pexels / Pixabay

From the historic halls of Trinity College in Dublin to the modern masterpieces like Biblioteca Vasconcelos in Mexico City, each one of these beautiful libraries offers a wonderful blend of beauty, history, and culture that is truly inspiring. So why not make your next trip an unforgettable literary adventure? Whether you are a book lover, an architecture enthusiast, or are simply seeking inspiration, these libraries are worth traveling for.

Amanda Teague
Amanda Teague
Contributor
Amanda, an accomplished freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio, is a dedicated explorer of both the world and the written word… Read Full Bio
Topics
Travel
5 Tips If You’re Traveling With Cigars: I Learned No. 2 the Hard Way
Wood, Hardwood, Accessories

Traveling with cigars can be challenging if you’re not prepared. The lack of preparation can lead to your favorite cigars getting smashed from inadequate storage, or they can peel because they weren’t kept at the proper temperature, among other issues. Sometimes you do all the right things, and still come away shaking your head.

I’ve been smoking cigars for two decades now, and it’s not beneath me to admit that I’ve made plenty of cigar travel mistakes in that span, and as recently as two weeks ago. You live, you learn, and hope you don’t waste a stogie on the next trip. My most recent cigar travel mistake is what inspired me to share these tips. Sure, there are plenty of articles out there offering similar advice. But this list comes from a cigar smoker and writer who has visited six countries and about a dozen states in the last year alone. And in that time, mistakes were made, and lessons were learned.

Read more
Travel
The art of adventure packing: packing light but effective
Clothing, Coat, Jacket

If you are like me, you grew up with stories of adventure. Whether you were fans of fictional adventure like Indiana Jones and Alan Quartermain, or you loved the true-life accounts of Ernest Shackleton and David Livingstone, there is a deep pull to venture into the unknown. The desire to abandon the Mon-Fri 9-5 in search of something deeper. You could spend your time thinking about hopping a boat and sailing the seven seas like the pirates of old. You could look up at the elusive peak of a mountain and believe it begs to be summited. You could stare into the depths of a jungle and wonder what treasures it hides beneath its canopy. No matter what kind of adventurer you are, you need to be prepared for whatever the world throws at you. I have climbed Salkantay Peak and explored the jungles of Peru. I have scanned the plains of Africa in search of a giant cat (the prospect of which was much more comforting than the actual sighting and wondering if I was far enough away). And I have disappeared into the secluded areas of Svalbard. One thing that remained constant was the need for the right pack.

Here is what I learned when packing for my adventures.

Read more
Travel
Savannah Beyond the Postcard
Architecture, Building, Spire

Savannah is one of those cities that seems almost too easy to like. The live oaks are dramatic. The Spanish moss does exactly what it is supposed to do. The brick sidewalks buckle in all the right places. The houses look like they were designed by people who understood proportion, shade, and the value of a proper front step. Even the light seems to arrive with better manners than it does in most places.

I have a built-in advantage when it comes to Savannah. We have family there, so we have been back several times, not just once for the checklist version of the city. I have also done a photography workshop there, which is a terrific way to learn any city. You get up early, stay out late, and pay attention to alleys, doorways, ironwork, reflections, and the way a city changes when the tourists are still asleep.

Read more