News India Live, Digital Desk: Literary Travel 2026: A true travel is one where you are reminded of your favorite author or the smell of an old library mesmerizes you. There are some cities around the world which have been declared ‘City of Literature’ by UNESCO. If you’re planning your next ‘reading retreat’ in 2026, nothing could be better than these cities.1. Edinburgh, Scotland (UNESCO City of Literature) The world’s first UNESCO City of Literature, Edinburgh is also known as the birthplace of ‘Harry Potter’. Highlights: The Scottish Storytelling Center and the Writers’ Museum. Experience: Walk down Victoria Street, where J.K. Rowling came up with the idea of ​​’Diagon Alley’.2. Paris, France: The second home of writers. The relationship between Paris and literature is centuries old. Everyone from Ernest Hemingway to James Joyce has spent time here.Highlight: Shakespeare & Company Bookstore, which is a pilgrimage site for book lovers from all over the world.Experience: The book stalls (Bouquinistes) and literary cafés of the Latin Quarter.3. Dublin, Ireland: There is literature in the air of Oscar Wilde’s city of Dublin. The city has been home to great writers like James Joyce and Samuel Beckett. Highlights: Trinity College’s Old Library and the ‘Book of Kells’. Experience: ‘Dublin Literary Pub Crawl’ where you can enjoy history and drinks together.4. Kolkata, India: City of Happiness and Books Asia’s largest book market and the world’s most attended book fair is the soul of Kolkata. Specialty: College Street (Boipara), where one can find the world’s oldest and rarest books. Experience: Sitting in the ‘Coffee House’ of College Street and being a part of the literary discussion (Adda). List of 7 favorite cities for book lovers Why is the city famous? Main attractions Edinburgh 1st UNESCO Literary CityJ.K. Rowling’s favorite cafésParisWriters’ hangoutShakespeare & Company BookstoreDublinRich literary historyTrinity College’s Old LibraryKolkataCollege Street and Book FairThe world’s largest non-trade book fairBuenos AiresMost bookshops per capitaEl Ateneo Grand Splendid (Theatre Bookshop)Hay-on-Wye’City of Books’ (Vail with over 20 second-hand books ShopsLondonShakespeare and Dickens’ HeritageBritish Library and Charles Dickens Museum5. Buenos Aires, Argentina: The Argentine capital has more bookshops per capita than any other city in the world.Features: El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a bookstore that looks like a palace.6. Hay-on-Wye (Hay-on-Wye): This is a small town famous only for books. The population here is small but the bookshops are beyond counting. The Hay Festival, which Bill Clinton called the ‘Woodstock of the brain’. 7. London, United Kingdom: From Charles Dickens to Virginia Woolf, London has given many great names to literature. Specialty: The British Library, which houses the world’s rarest manuscripts. Experience: Finding books on the banks of the River Thames at Southbank’s ‘Open-Air Book Market’.