The Best US Cities For Book Lovers In 2024

There's just something magical about exploring a city through its literary landscape — especially if you're a book lover. From browsing shelves in cozy independent bookstores to tracing the footsteps of famous authors to visiting locations immortalized by beloved characters, literary tourism offers a whole new way to experience a destination ... and pretend you're in the story world of your choice.

Nowadays, research shows that more travelers are actively seeking out bookish experiences. And with searches for "secondhand bookstores near me" up nearly 5,000% in the last 30 days, as well as searches for "best libraries in the US" up 80% in the past month — it's clear that today's readers are more eager than ever to play a part in their own book-inspired adventure. Best of all, they're doing so just in time to commemorate National Book Lovers Day. Celebrated annually on August 9th, National Book Lovers Day encourages people everywhere to pick up a book, visit a library, or support their local bookstore.

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With this in mind, and to help bookworms plan their next literary adventure, we compiled a list of the best U.S. cities for book lovers in 2024. Analyzing the "Top 100 Best American Cities" list and tallying factors like the number of bookstores, libraries, literary tours, and landmarks in each one, we curated a list that highlights a handful of literary-rich destinations to inspire bibliophiles who want to combine their love of reading with travel.

Kicking off our top 10, St. Louis, Missouri, might not immediately spring to mind as a prime literary destination. However, the city is embedded with its own rich history of literary heritage and bookish charm. The birthplace of renowned authors like Maya Angelou (whose home you can visit in Compton Hill), T.S. Eliot, and William S. Burroughs, St. Louis has long nurtured writers who have captured the essence of the American experience. Beyond that, with independent bookstores like Left Bank Books — established in 1969 — and Subterranean — woman-owned and operated since 2000 — the city's literary scene also encompasses a wide variety of tastes. Another can't miss attraction? A not-so-quick stop by the Greater St. Louis Book Fair, where you'll find everything from first-edition copies and comics to CDs and DVDs.

Coming in ninth, Cincinnati, Ohio, has its own set of literary treasurers and stories. For starters, rumor has it that F. Scott Fitzgerald's very own Gatsby was inspired by a Cincinnati local, George Remus. Part lawyer, part bootlegger, Remus is said to have shot his wife Imogene (who, of course, allegedly inspired Daisy Buchanan's character) at Eden Park's Spring House Gazebo — which you can visit today. In addition to this, Cincinnati is also home to a whopping 78 libraries — from the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library to the beloved Lloyd Library and Museum — both of which offer readers a wealth of resources, community events, and quiet spaces to explore (and get lost while nose-deep in another great read).

Landing at number eight, Birmingham, Alabama, boasts a vibrant literary scene that's deeply rooted in its civil rights past — ultimately giving rise to powerful voices like Angela Davis and Sonia Sanchez. Book lovers shouldn't skip a visit to the Alabama Booksmith, a unique shop that exclusively sells signed copies, which makes it a goldmine for collectors. Meanwhile, visitors who want to dig a little deeper into Southern literature should also head over to one of the city's 70 public libraries — like the Birmingham Public Library — for an in-depth look at some of the region's most influential voices and their work.

When it comes to literary destinations and book culture, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — one of the best cities to visit in the state that isn't Philadelphia — knows how to deliver. With more than 100 libraries in the city, readers are spoiled for choice. Specifically, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (pictured above) — which boasts 19 locations for the community to connect, learn, and fall in love with literature — stands out as a literary cornerstone of the city. Alternatively, for visitors looking to expand their collection, must-visit spots include: Beyond Bedtime Books, a great destination for both young and adult readers; White Whale Bookstore, which hosts events, workshops, and even sells beer on tap; and City of Asylum Bookstore, which bills itself as the "world's largest sanctuary for writers in exile".

Portland, Oregon, has long been a haven for coffee lovers and book lovers alike. With its reputation for quirkiness extending to its literary scene, the city's crown jewel is Powell's City of Books (pictured above), which is so expansive it covers an entire block. Considered to be the world's largest independent bookstore, Powell's houses roughly 1 million books, so needless to say, there's something for every kind of literature lover. Away from this landmark, Portland's bookish charm doesn't stop there. The city also boasts a thriving community of independent bookstores — 27 of them, to be exact. From Mother Foucault's Bookshop — which specializes in rare and vintage copies — to Annie Bloom's Books — one of the oldest in the city, and established in 1978 — there's a niche store for everyone. Plus, the city's rainy weather provides the perfect excuse to curl up with a good book, so go ahead and treat yourself.

In fifth place, Poughkeepsie, New York, might come as a surprise. But the city is host to the Vassar College Libraries, all of which are open to the public, and house extensive collections including rare books and manuscripts. Beyond the campus, the Hudson Valley's literary scene continues to thrive in places like Rough Draft Bar & Books (located in Kingston) — a unique combination of bookstore, bar, and cafe that hosts regular author events and book clubs.

Sure, Pensacola, Florida, might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of literary destinations. However, this coastal city has a surprisingly rich book culture — thanks, primarily, to its vast public library system and annual events like Books By the Bay, Pensacola's first-ever outdoor book festival. Along with this, there's also Open Books, a volunteer-run shop that donates its proceeds to prison literacy programs statewide.

Landing in third place, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, proves that you don't need to be a big city to have a buzzing literary scene. For starters, Harrisburg's public library system is robust, with institutions like the Dauphin County Library System spreading across eight branches and hosting a wide array of programs for readers of all ages. Then, there's also the Midtown Scholar Bookstore (pictured above). Housed in a beautifully renovated 1920s cinema, the shop is a book lover's paradise with over 200,000 used, rare, signed, and new books. Lastly, for readers interested in literary history, Harrisburg's connections to the Civil War era also offer keen insights into the period's influence on American literature and art. 

As a global cultural hub, New York City offers a literary landscape that's constantly evolving, expanding, and adapting to meet readers' interests. From the iconic New York Public Library — with its famous lion statues — to big names like Strand Books — home to "18 miles of books" — and smaller independent bookstores scattered across the boroughs, the city is a bibliophile's dream. Not only that, but New York City is also home to 20 literary landmarks — including iconic spots like the Plaza Hotel from "The Great Gatsby", Holden Caulfield's duck pond in Central Park from "The Catcher in the Rye", and ​​the Greenwich Village streets from "The Bell Jar" (all of which make for great budget-friendly adventures in New York). Beyond that, the city's rich literary history is also evident in its many writer's haunts — with places the White Horse Tavern and Chelsea Hotel, where literary giants like Dylan Thomas, James Baldwin, Henry Miller, Allen Ginsberg, and Jack Kerouac (just to name a few) once gathered.

Coming in at the top, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has quietly become a haven for book lovers. For starters, the city boasts an impressive number of independent bookstores, from shops like DogStar Books, which went from online-only to brick and mortar in 2006, to Pocket Books, which offers a carefully curated selection. In terms of activities, the region's literary culture is further fueled by the likes of its annual Lititz Kid-Lit Festival (hosted by Aaron's Books in nearby Lititz, PA), which is designed to inspire and entertain even the youngest readers, as well as smaller year-round events for writers and readers alike.

In order to narrow down our pick of the best cities for book lovers in 2024, we dove into data from the "Top 100 Best American Cities" list by the World's Best Cities. To start, we looked at everything from the number of bookstores and libraries per 10,000 residents to the availability of literary tours and landmarks.

From there, we collected relevant data using a variety of sources and databases — from Yellow Pages for bookstore and library counts to specialized resources like IndieBound for independent bookstores, Tripadvisor for literary tours, and the American Library Association for literary landmarks. We then went ahead and scored each city based on these factors, giving extra weight to things like independent bookstores and literary landmarks.

Finally, to keep things fair, we normalized all our scores on a scale of 1 to 10 and then combined them for a total score out of 100. Once we had done all this, the city with the highest score took the top spot on our list. Ultimately, our goal was to highlight cities that not only have a lot of bookstores and libraries, but that also offer unique literary experiences and have a rich bookish history for visitors to enjoy.

Other notable mentions that scored highly include destinations like Washington, D.C., Ann Arbor (MI), Portland (ME), Minneapolis (MN), and St. Paul (MN).