The rise of literary tourism: Why readers are turning books into travel itineraries

For decades, travellers have visited Shakespeare's Birthplace, wandered through Jane Austen's House or queued outside Platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station. But today, a new generation of readers is taking literary travel in an entirely different direction.

Instead of simply ticking off famous landmarks, they're booking entire holidays inspired by novels, checking into reading retreats, attending literary festivals, exploring independent bookshops and retracing the footsteps of beloved fictional characters. Welcome to the world of literary tourism, one of the fastest-growing travel trends of 2026.

The trend reflects a broader shift in how people want to travel. Increasingly, holidays are less about seeing as many attractions as possible and more about immersing themselves in stories, culture and slower, more meaningful experiences.

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What exactly is literary tourism?

At its simplest, literary tourism means travelling because of books. That could involve visiting places associated with favourite authors, exploring locations where novels are set, staying in destinations that inspired famous stories or even planning a quiet "readaway" where the main agenda is simply to disconnect and read.

Think of fans walking the streets of Edinburgh after reading the Harry Potter novels, tracing James Joyce's Dublin through Ulysses, or travelling to Bath to experience the world of Jane Austen.

Others are choosing cosy mountain cabins, seaside cottages or countryside retreats simply because they offer uninterrupted time to read.

Why is it suddenly everywhere?

Books have inspired travel for centuries. So why does literary tourism suddenly feel like a buzzword? The answer lies partly in social media.

Communities like BookTok have transformed reading into a shared cultural experience, where novels don't end with the last page. Readers now want to visit the cafés, forests, castles and coastlines they've imagined while reading. Travel companies have even begun designing itineraries inspired by bestselling novels and popular BookTok recommendations.

The growing interest isn't anecdotal. According to Skyscanner's 'Bookbound' travel trend report, 73 per cent of travellers have booked, or would consider booking, a trip inspired by literature, while hotel bookings using the platform's 'library' filter have risen 70 per cent globally year-on-year, suggesting that readers are increasingly planning holidays around books, libraries and literary experiences.

Part of the slow travel movement

Literary tourism seems to be a part of the wider movement towards slower, more intentional holidays.

Instead of racing through packed itineraries, travellers are looking for experiences that encourage them to linger- whether that's reading beside a lake, joining a local book club, browsing independent bookstores or attending an author talk.

It's the opposite of "doing" a city in 48 hours. Instead, it's about understanding a place through its stories.

The many ways people are travelling through books

Literary tourism isn't limited to visiting an author's home. Today's book-inspired holidays can include:

-Exploring destinations featured in famous novels.

-Visiting writers' homes, museums and graves.

-Joining literary walking tours.

-Attending book festivals and author events.

-Planning reading retreats or "readaways".

-Discovering iconic independent bookshops and libraries.

-Travelling with book clubs or literary communities.

Some travellers even choose novels before choosing destinations, letting a compelling story determine where they'll holiday next.

India has always had its own literary trails

Although the trend is gaining global attention, India has long offered experiences that fit comfortably under the literary tourism umbrella.

Readers can explore Kolkata through the lives of Rabindranath Tagore and Satyajit Ray, walk through the colonial streets that inspired many of Ruskin Bond's stories in Mussoorie, or experience the landscapes associated with writers such as R.K. Narayan in Mysuru.

Events such as the Jaipur Literature Festival have also become destinations in themselves, attracting readers from around the world.