Google Maps Says This Is the Most Searched Bookstore—and It’s Known as the Most Beautiful in the World, Too

Google Maps is an essential travel tool—whether you’re a foodie, sightseer, or obsessed with finding spots off the beaten path, it’s highly likely you’re inputting your next destination into that search bar to find the best route. For book lovers, this will mean seeking out the best bookstore on your trip. A great bookstore on vacation is hard to beat—the smell of paper, the stacks of tomes in languages you don’t speak (yet), the access to an entirely new literary culture. It’s supremely romantic, even if you don’t have the luggage space for a few extra novels. 

This year, Google Maps analyzed the search data of which bookstores were the most searched for by users in 2025, creating a list of 10 that are the most sought-after in the world. The list includes shops in Buenos Aires, Tokyo, London, and New York City. But the most searched bookstore in the world in 2025 is actually Livraria Lello in Porto, Portugal. 

Called the “most beautiful bookstore in the world,” this shop in the heart of Porto sits nestled between a stunning garden and a natural sciences museum. With the neo-Gothic building being the home for the shop since 1906, there’s not only plenty of visual interest in Lello, but ample history to take in as well. In the nearly 120 years the bookstore has been open, it has served as a meeting place for reading enthusiasts, authors, poets, intellectuals, and creative thinkers. 

The most notable feature of the space is its central spiral staircase, which is a deep crimson color. The staircase sits under a stained-glass ceiling created by the Dutch master Samuel Van Krieken. Beyond the aesthetics, the bookstore is also home to a spectacular rare books and objects collection that is available by appointment only.

Even if you don’t plan on purchasing any books during your visit to Lello, adding it as a stop on your next trip to Porto will be well worth it. In addition to window showcases and the stunning architecture, Lello also has an exciting rotation of temporary exhibits in the space.

Because the bookstore is so popular, you will need to do a bit of coordination before your visit. The shop has ticketed entry, with tickets starting at 10 euros. Any money spent on the tickets for entry can be used towards book purchases made in the store—for access to the rare books collection, you can purchase a guided tour of the shop, which is 50 euros per person. 

If you’re looking for even more book travel inspiration, here is the complete list of the most searched for bookstores in the world, according to Google Maps. 

1. Livraria Lello, Porto District, Portugal
2. Animate Ikebukuro main store, Tokyo, Japan
3. El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires, Argentina
4. Shakespeare and Company, Île-de-France, France
5. Libreria Acqua Alta, Veneto, Italy
6. Animate Osaka Nipponbashi, Osaka, Japan
7. Tsutaya Books Daikanyama, Tokyo, Japan
8. Forbidden Planet London Megastore, United Kingdom
9. Powell’s City of Books, Oregon, United States
10. Strand Book Store, New York, United States