A Guide to the Most Beautiful LibrariesFrom the famed, traditional U.S. Library of Congress all the way to China's futuristic Tianjin Binhai Library, here are the top libraries for book-lovers around the world. Grab your bookmark, some sticky notes, a pen, and get to exploring (in real life or by diving into a book)! Authorscaptainandclark
DestinationsUnited StatesItinerary

The Americas

Boston Public Library - Central Library
If you love books, art, history, architecture, cool vibes, and unique spaces…then the Central Boston Public Library is for you. With sky-high ceilings, plenty of free, public seating, and museum-like exhibitions, a day here is well spent exploring all there is to offer. The McKim building is renowned for its grandeur, featuring wide staircases, arched and vaulted ceilings, and beautiful murals by artists such as Abbey and Sargent.
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Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago Public Library
Located in the loop in downtown Chicago, the Harold Washington Library is home to a hidden gem, "Winter Garden," with a glass rooftop, places to sit and admire Chicago architecture, or chat about recent reads, all without the crowds.
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The Original Capitol Hill Small Group Tour w/ Reserved Passes
Take a guided tour, including reserved entry to the US Capitol and the Library of Congress, on this small-group tour at one of the most famous libraries in the U.S. Home to one of the largest collections of books in the world, the Library of Congress has been featured in shows, movies, and across the media landscape. This tour comes with thorough guides, but note that you may be waiting outside for entry, so maybe pack a snack and a game.
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Library of Parliament
Just across the border, the Library of Parliament in Ottawa, Canada, is a royal example of a library. It is renowned for its wooden details and deep blue-shaded interior walls and trims. You can see the library by taking a free tour of the Parliament House... Plus, the tour is a way to learn more about Canadian history, specifically the functions of the government and legislative branches.
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Seattle Public Library - Central Library
The Seattle Public Library is an architectural masterpiece, showcasing relationships between light, space, and design! Some even say it's poetic to read and work here. Their kids' section is off the charts; you'll need a bag to carry all the books your kids love, too!
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Hearst Castle
Home to the Gothic Study, the Hearst Castle in the winding hills of southern California was once an opulent mansion that has now been turned into a museum. Soak up the glitz and glamour during your visit. The Gothic Study was William Hearst's private, church-like library and executive boardroom located on the third floor of Casa Grande... It is now part of the "Upstairs Tour" option.
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Real Gabinete Português de Leitura
Located in Rio de Janeiro, the Real Gabinete Português de Leitura (Portuguese Royal Library) is a neo-Manueline style library that houses over 350,000 books, some from the 16th to 18th centuries. Its intricate detailing and array of titles make it a must-visit for book and library lovers; it is truly spectacular! You'll feel like you've stepped into one of the books on the shelves or even a historical film upon arrival. Note that getting here early to avoid the crowds makes for a better experience, and that it is only open on weekdays.
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National Theater & National Library Guided Tour, Admission & Transfer
Make it easy with this National Theater and Library tour in one go! With a knowledgeable guide, you are sure to leave satisfied, having learned and walked through history together.
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Biblioteca Vasconcelos
A masterpiece of modern library architecture, the Vasconcelos Library in Mexico City is a bookworm's paradise. Take a free guided tour with staff for a comprehensive visit, covering history to its uses today. People come to admire the architecture, get some work done in the quiet spaces, and read (of course) in this city escape. This library even inspired a scene in the movie "Interstellar!"
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Biblioteca Nacional Mariano Moreno
A visit to the National Library of Mariano Moreno means panoramic views, access to an on-site café, and an introduction to Argentinian history. Note that many of the floors are restricted to foreigners, as this is a working library, not inherently a museum. Visit the third floor for a taste of Argentina's storied history from their exhibit! Make sure to bring your passport, or at least a photo of it, for entry into the building.
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Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
On the Yale University Campus, the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library safeguards some of the most treasured works written down... Such as the Gutenberg Bible and the Voynich Manuscript, both of which you can see up close. While you are here, you can't miss the "Pyramid of Books" guarding this treasure trove of knowledge! If you are a bibliophile, this is the spot for you!
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Europe

150 Deansgate
Housing over 4 million books, manuscripts, and rare treasures, the collection at John Rylands Library in Manchester is impressive, but nothing beats its beautiful, traditional Gothic architecture. Stepping into this library to admire the collections feels like a real-life fairytale!
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Trinity College Library
Home to the famed Book of Kells, the Trinity College Library feels like it came straight out of Hogwarts from Harry Potter. Walk down the Long Room, filled to the brim with titles, and snap photos as you do. Remember that in order to enter the library, you will need to make a reservation ahead of time.
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Belfast Titanic Experience & Black Taxi Political Conflict Tour
Keep it simple with this guided tour through Dublin that includes a visit to the Trinity College Library and Book of Kells (admission included). In addition, your tour will explore the GPO Museum and Ireland's turbulent past and present with the British along the way.
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Stift Admont - Bibliothek und Museum
Stift Admont, both a library and a museum, is a jaw-dropping example of Baroque architecture in Steiermark, Austria. With towering shelves of books, a checkered marble floor, and opulent frescoes coating the ceilings, you'll want to snap photos in every corner. It feels straight out of a fairy tale book! Note that the museum is all housed in the old Abbey and has a few different exhibitions covering contemporary art, multimedia displays, natural history, and more!
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Rijksmuseum Research Library
Artists, art-lovers, and bookworms love the collection of about 35,000 art books housed in the Rijksmuseum Research Library! Inspiring students, longtimers, and enthusiasts alike, this library has towering walls filled with books and reading nooks to admire each page. Located in the heart of Amsterdam, Netherlands, this research library is also a museum that is highly visited... We aren't sure about the studying environment, but if you do go, be sure to act respectfully & be quiet (it is a library after all!)
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Strahov Library
Housing over 200,000 books, with some older than one thousand years old, the Strahov Library in Prague is a literary gem! It offers a glimpse into centuries of literary history! Note that you cannot fully enter the library without tours and guides, due to the fragile nature of some of the books. Bonus: Head to the terrace for panoramic views of downtown, as well as an unobstructed view of Prague Castle.
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Private Custom Tour of Strahov Library and Prague
Take a private and customized tour through the Stahov Library in the heart of Prague. Filled with beautiful ceiling frescoes and rooms of precious antiques, some more than a millennium old, your intrigue will be piqued! Plus, you'll explore the Philosophical and Theological halls, which are not available during regular tours through the space.
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City Library at the Mailänder Platz
Opened in 2011, the Stuttgart City Library is a modern architectural marvel and a must-visit for design lovers. Designed by Korean architect Eun Young Yi, the building is a sleek, monolithic cube of light grey concrete and frosted glass, with a perfectly geometrical white atrium at its center that fills the space with natural light. Step inside, and you’ll find the “heart” of the library, a four-story open space surrounded by galleries of books that create a calm, airy atmosphere perfect for wandering or reading. The façade is made of 9x9 glass-brick panels, and the word Bibliothek is etched in four languages on each corner, a nod to the library’s international spirit.
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Wiblingen Abbey
Step into a fairytale (almost literally at this library)! Located in the picturesque Upper Swabian region, Wiblingen Abbey Library is a hidden gem of Baroque and Rococo architecture. Completed in 1744, the library's design features colorful marble columns, intricate frescoes, and a winding gallery supported by columns. A fascinating aspect of the library is its trompe-l'œil design, where painted wood sculptures and architectural elements create the illusion of opulence, showcasing the artistic ingenuity of the era. Originally housing approximately 15,000 volumes, the library's collection was significantly reduced during the secularization in the early 19th century. Today, the remaining volumes are part of a museum that allows visitors to explore the space.
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Klementinum
The Klementinum Library, established in 1722 as part of the Jesuit university, stands as a magnificent example of Baroque architecture. The library's hall is adorned with stunning frescoes by Jan Hiebl, depicting the allegory of human knowledge. The collection boasts over 20,000 volumes, including rare works such as Kepler's writings with his handwritten dedication to the Prague university professors. It houses the Vyšehrad Codex, one of the most valuable manuscripts, and the Lobkovický Gradual, the heaviest book in the collection, weighing over seventy kilograms.
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Abbey Library of Saint Gall
Established in the 8th century, the Abbey Library of Saint Gall is one of the oldest and most significant monastic libraries in Europe. Its Rococo-style hall, designed between 1758 and 1767, is best known for its elaborate woodwork, frescoes depicting early church councils, and vaulted ceilings. The library houses the "Plan of Saint Gall," the only surviving major architectural drawing from the Early Middle Ages, offering a glimpse into monastic life and architecture at the time. Plus, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves medieval scholarship.
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Oceania & Asia

Starfield Library
Located in the heart of COEX Mall in Gangnam, the Starfield Library is a fusion of architecture and literature. Opened in 2017, this expansive library houses over 50,000 books and magazines. It's known for the towering 13-meter-high bookshelves that encircle the space. The library's layout is inspired by the Takeo City Library in Japan, aiming to provide an open space for dreams and knowledge! While many of the books on the upper shelves are decorative, the lower levels offer a wide selection of reading materials, including e-books accessible via tablet devices, too. This is a bookworm's escape in the bustling city of Seoul.
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Beyond Seoul: Starfield Library, Hwaseong Fortress & Cave Quest
This tour has a little bit of everything with a stop at Starfield Library, the Hwaseong Fortress, and the Gwangmyeong Cave. It is truly where modern and historical Korea meet in one day!
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Binhai Library
Nicknamed The Eye of Binhai, this futuristic library looks like something out of a sci-fi film with floor-to-ceiling terraced bookshelves curving around a luminous sphere. Even if some of the “books” are actually printed panels, the real collection is tucked away in back rooms! The main hall is a visual experience all book-lovers have to experience at least once in their lifetime.
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Raza Library
Established in 1774 by Nawab Faizullah Khan, the Raza Library is a treasure of Indo-Islamic heritage. Housed in the opulent Hamid Manzil, designed by French architect W.C. Wright, the library boasts over 17,000 manuscripts, 83,000 printed books, 5,000 miniature paintings, and 3,000 specimens of Islamic calligraphy. Celebrating its 250th anniversary, Rampur has adorned its walls with handcrafted sketches illustrating life in bygone eras, highlighting its rich legacy. Plus, the library’s rare collections include some of the earliest handwritten copies of the Quran in India!
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Australia

State Library of South Australia
Established in 1836, the State Library of South Australia is a cornerstone of Adelaide. Its Mortlock Wing, completed in 1884, is renowned for its French Renaissance architecture, featuring a grand glass dome and intricate ironwork that bathes the space in natural light. In 2025, it was ranked the second most beautiful library in the world by the "1000 Libraries" initiative! The original collection of the library was brought to South Australia by early settlers in 1836, arriving in an iron trunk that, despite falling into the Port River during unloading, remarkably survived the ordeal.
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Green Square Library
Hidden beneath the streets of Sydney's Green Square precinct, Green Square is an award-winning library that reimagines the traditional library experience. Housed mostly underground, only its glass entry pyramid, a six-story tower, and a circular sunken garden are visible above ground. The library's innovative design earned it the title of "World's Best Library" in 2018! Its sustainable features include a 5-Star Green Star rating, rainwater harvesting systems, and passive ventilation through the bookshelves. A standout feature is the "Cloud Nation" art installation, made up of a suspended airplane that doubles as a storytelling space for children!
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Africa

خزانة القرويين bibliothèque karaouine
Founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri, the Karaouine Library is one of the oldest libraries still in operation in the world. Located in the historic city of Fez, it houses over 30,000 volumes, including rare manuscripts like early copies of the Quran and Ibn Khaldun’s Muqaddimah. After a major restoration completed in 2017, the library blends its rich historical character with modern preservation techniques. The library’s interior features intricate Islamic calligraphy and carved wooden ceilings to admire!
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Alexandria Bibliotheca
Opened in 2002, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a modern tribute to the ancient Library of Alexandria. Designed by a Norwegian architecture firm, the library features a circular structure with a 32-meter-high glass roof that tilts toward the Mediterranean, symbolizing a sundial. The building's granite walls are engraved with characters from over 120 scripts, representing the diversity of human knowledge. The library's main reading room is one of the largest in the world, with space for up to 8 million books.
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