Turning Pages Into Plane Tickets
Some people read to escape reality. Others read to plan their next trip. For those who prefer their travel with a dash of literary magic, the world offers countless destinations that seem plucked straight from the pages of our favorite books. From Agatha Christie’s mysterious landscapes to Hemingway’s tropical haunts, here are 22 must-visit destinations for readers who want to walk where their favorite characters once lived.
Torquay, England
Known as the “Queen of Crime’s” hometown, Torquay on England’s Riviera is where Agatha Christie’s story begins. Visit her childhood home, stroll the Agatha Christie Mile, and enjoy seaside views that inspired her timeless mysteries. It’s the perfect place to imagine Hercule Poirot carefully deducing over afternoon tea.
Istanbul, Turkey
Mystery lovers can’t skip Istanbul—one of the key backdrops in Murder on the Orient Express. Sip Turkish coffee, watch the trains roll through, and feel that thrilling sense of suspense as if Christie herself were about to board.
Prince Edward Island, Canada
The idyllic landscapes of Anne of Green Gables come alive on Prince Edward Island. Fans of L. M. Montgomery can explore Green Gables Heritage Place, stroll Lover’s Lane, and rediscover that sense of innocent wonder that made Anne such a timeless heroine.
Hayden Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons
Notre Dame, Paris, France
It’s hard not to feel Victor Hugo’s presence at the iconic cathedral. Stand beneath its gothic spires, gaze up at the gargoyles, and imagine Quasimodo watching from above. This is one literary landmark that practically rings with history.
Ali Sabbagh, Wikimedia Commons
London, England
Few cities rival London’s literary depth. It’s home to Dickens, Shakespeare, Conan Doyle, and Oscar Wilde. Visit The Globe Theatre, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, or the Charles Dickens Museum—and don’t forget to stop at a cozy bookshop along Charing Cross Road. Every corner hides a story waiting to be told.
Great Neck, New York
For fans of The Great Gatsby, Great Neck is as close as you’ll get to Fitzgerald’s East Egg. Cruise along the Gold Coast’s grand estates, and picture Jay Gatsby staring across the bay at that elusive green light.
LINYperson615, Wikimedia Commons
Bath, England
Jane Austen once called Bath home, and the city still feels like it belongs in one of her novels. Visit the Jane Austen Centre, stroll the elegant Georgian streets, and attend the annual Jane Austen Festival if you’re feeling particularly genteel.
Key West, Florida
Few authors lived as boldly as Ernest Hemingway. Visit his former home—now a museum filled with six-toed cats—and toast his memory with a mojito at Sloppy Joe’s Bar. Hemingway’s Key West is every bit as spirited as his prose.
Andreas Lamecker, Wikimedia Commons
Boston and Concord, Massachusetts
Walk in the footsteps of literary giants like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Louisa May Alcott. Explore Concord’s Walden Pond, Emerson’s home, and Boston’s cobblestone streets where transcendentalism took root.
Jeju, South Korea
Lisa See’s The Island of Sea Women immortalized the powerful female divers of Jeju. Visit the island to learn about the haenyeo, whose courage and endurance rival any epic tale. Their real-life story is one of resilience and sisterhood.
Bernard Gagnon, Wikimedia Commons
Florence, Italy
E M Forster’s A Room with a View captures the romantic spirit of Florence perfectly. From the Arno River to the Duomo, this Italian gem feels tailor-made for dreamers, artists, and anyone who still believes in transformative travel.
Gary Ashley, Wikimedia Commons
Paris, France
Paris and literature go together like croissants and café crème. From The Hunchback of Notre Dame to the Aimee Leduc Investigations, the City of Light shines through every genre. Visit Shakespeare and Company bookstore and lose yourself among the shelves where Hemingway and Joyce once lingered.
Corentin villemeur, Wikimedia Commons
Guernsey, England
Step into The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by exploring the real island that inspired the beloved novel. With its cliffside views and old-world charm, Guernsey feels like stepping into a handwritten love letter to literature itself.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Though George R R Martin’s Game of Thrones series is fantasy, Dubrovnik brought Westeros to life on screen. Wander the medieval streets that doubled as King’s Landing and imagine the clash of swords and schemes echoing off ancient stone walls.
Edwardwexler at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
Cobh, Ireland
This quaint seaside town was the last stop of the Titanic and the starting point for Annie Moore, the first immigrant processed at Ellis Island. Read Annie Moore: First in Line for America before your visit—it makes Cobh’s harbor feel even more poignant. It’s history, heartbreak, and hope all rolled into one.
psyberartist, Wikimedia Commons
Corfu, Greece
Gerald Durrell’s My Family and Other Animals painted Corfu as a paradise of humor and natural beauty. The island’s blue waters and olive groves still hold that same whimsical charm. You’ll leave feeling smarter, happier, and just a bit more sunburned.
Ian Pitchford at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
Sweden
Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy put Stockholm on the mystery map. Visit the neighborhoods that inspired Lisbeth Salander’s adventures, or take a Millennium walking tour to trace the thrilling trails of fiction-meets-reality.
Jonatan Svensson Glad, Wikimedia Commons
Vienna, Austria
Set the mood with A Death in Vienna before exploring the Austrian capital’s haunting beauty. Between the grand opera houses and elegant coffeehouses, Vienna feels straight out of a European novel—refined, mysterious, and slightly tragic.
Dennis G. Jarvis, Wikimedia Commons
Namibia
Katie Crouch’s The Embassy Wife captures Namibia’s wild beauty and quiet tension. From the deserts of Sossusvlei to Windhoek’s colonial architecture, the setting alone reads like an adventure novel—only this one’s real.
Luca Galuzzi (Lucag), Wikimedia Commons
New York City, New York
The Big Apple is practically the world’s biggest library come to life. From The Catcher in the Rye to A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, literature breathes through its boroughs. Stop by the Morgan Library & Museum or relax with a book in Bryant Park—there’s no wrong page to turn here.
Kenny Louie, Wikimedia Commons
Llandudno, Wales
Follow Alice down the rabbit hole—literally. This seaside town celebrates Alice in Wonderland with sculptures, trails, and whimsical tributes scattered throughout. It’s the perfect mix of childhood nostalgia and British charm.
Nigel Swales, Wikimedia Commons
Edinburgh, Scotland
And finally, the wizarding world itself. J K Rowling penned much of Harry Potter in Edinburgh cafés like The Elephant House. Visit Greyfriars Kirkyard, Victoria Street (a real-life Diagon Alley), and the Museum Context shop for a magical end to your literary pilgrimage. Bring your imagination—and maybe a wand.
Gary Campbell-Hall from Edinburgh, UK, Wikimedia Commons
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