If you want to combine your love of traveling with your love of writing and literature, here are some destinations you NEED to visit. You can walk the streets where some of your favorite writers found inspiration, and become inspired to write a best-selling novel of your own!
1: London, United Kingdom
It might seem obvious, but this is a must-see city for any book lovers and aspiring writers! From Shakespeare to the wonderful JK Rowling, many writers have lived or set their stories in London, leaving a strong literary presence in the city. Filled with history, culture, and a unique atmosphere, London is sure to inspire anyone!
Plan your trip to London properly and check out our list of London’s top literary attractions. Or, even better, if you were hoping for a traditional London pub crawl, check out our article on the best literary pubs in London!
2: Paris, France
Another obvious example, but one you should consider nonetheless. Paris is known for being a rich cultural center for all the arts, and literature is no exception! This city has inspired numerous writers from all over the world: Hemingway, Victor Hugo, Ivan Turgenev, and more! There’s just something about Paris that tickles the imagination, that brings out the artist in us, letting our creativity fly!
3: Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto is Japan’s former imperial capital, and it is now known as one of the country’s cultural centres. That fact led America to remove it from the atomic bomb target list because the Secretary of War wanted to preserve said culture. It’s a place filled with temples, shrines, gardens, and a delicious cuisine. If that doesn’t inspire you, I’m not sure what will.
Plenty of poets have sat in the beautiful gardens of Kyoto and found inspiration, and it’s the perfect place to sit and write or read your favourite novel.
4: Prague, Czech Republic
Prague is filled with magical and yet mysterious sights. The Prague Castle, the Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, the Astronomical Clock… It’s no wonder that the historical capital of Bohemia is the fifth most visited city in Europe! Its past as one of the cities behind the Iron Curtain also adds a layer of intrigue to an already marvellous destination. From fantasy to mystery, this city is sure to inspire any writer, and intrigue any fan of the Gothic.
5: Alexandria, Egypt
Founded by Alexander the Great, Alexandria has been around for millennia, becoming an international cultural centre. Museums, Opera houses, gardens, universities… You name it! This is the place to go if you want a mix of ancient history and modern innovation, with centuries of human ideals gathered in just one location. Be it for a story set in a futuristic landscape or centuries in the past, you’re bound to find something to stimulate your creativity.
6: Hamelin, Germany
Hamelin is a German town known for being the setting of the story Pied Piper. The fairy tale is said to be inspired by a historic event that starts the town’s records detailing how the children of the town had left a century before. While historians have long debated what exactly might have happened, the truth remains a mystery. To this day, the town still holds performances of the tale to this day, and the memory of that mysterious tragedy lives on.
7: Colmar, France
Colmar is situated in the northeastern region of Alsace, very near the French and German border. In fact, it belonged to the German Empire from 1871 to 1919 before it was returned to France after World War I. As a result its architecture mixes French and German influences, making it seem like a town straight out of a fairy tale. This is a must for anyone who loves stories that mix the historical and the fantastical.
8: Hallstatt, Austria
Historically wealthy due to its salt production, Hallstatt is a small town nestled between the Hallstatt Lake and the Dachstein Mountains. It is so small that it can be toured in just about 10 minutes! This is what perhaps makes it an ideal location for writers: the small town atmosphere, the isolation, and yet the beautiful architecture and contact with nature means that not only will you have inspiration all around, but you’ll have a peaceful environment to write.
9: Helsingør, Denmark
“To be, or not to be: that is the question.” Though those words were written by our good English friend Shakespeare, the setting of Hamlet is Kronborg castle, located in the Danish city of Helsingør. The play is performed annually at the castle’s courtyard. But if you’re not a fan of the Bard’s work, fear not, for Helsingør has plenty to offer for all sorts of writers. During the Industrial era the city was known for its shipyard and has since worked to redefine itself as a center of culture. Its many sights are sure to inspire writers of any genres!
10: Sighisoara, Romania
This city should be well familiar to vampire lovers. That’s right, the last – but by no means least – destination on our list is Sighisoara, home to the infamous Vlad the Impaler! While some might argue that this fact alone already makes Sighisoara a perfect destination for aspiring writers, there’s also a lot more to it than vampires. The walled Old Town, for example, is so well preserved that it has become an UNESCO world heritage site. Its nine towers make for an imposing and awe-inspiring sight, creating an atmosphere that is filled with something so unique that it’d be amazing to replicate in a story.
I live in the UK, in the country’s most uneventful city, where the most interesting story in the local paper is about banning dressing gowns in supermarkets.
I travel and I write, because surely there are more interesting stories than that to write about and share.
