Whether you’re a voracious reader or looking for a unique vacation theme to enjoy, a reading retreat may be perfect for your next adventure.
Reading retreats have been all the rage this year, with many dubbing them one of 2025’s top travel trends. There is an increasing number of book clubs and organizations solely focused on planning and hosting these types of getaways for their members. While at their destination, the trip usually revolves around enriching a community of book lovers, spending time unplugged from devices, and of course, reading. Guests may bond and discuss the same book, or enjoy flipping through the pages of their latest personal read solo dolo.
However, while there are a multitude of book clubs offering pre-planned reading retreats that you can take advantage of, organizing your own solo trip or one with friends can be just as rewarding.
Where Are The Top Destinations For A Reading Retreat?
Planning a reading retreat requires considering the following: Will you take the trip alone or with friends? How can you best pick your accommodations to align with the type of reading retreat experience you want to have? Do you want your destination to mirror the setting(s) in your book? Or would you like your destination to be somewhere secluded where you can solely focus on flipping pages? Is it important that the location be a place with a vibrant history and culture of celebrating the literary arts?
Those interested in balancing quiet reading with beautiful views and nature-bathing should consider destinations such as the Catskills, Big Sur, the Shenandoah Valley, and Puerto Vallarta. If you’re interested in a city with lots of literary heritage, consider New York City (check out the Library Hotel in Midtown!), London, Paris, Rome, or Dublin.
For U.S.-based travelers who want to explore top destinations for a reading retreat on an even more widespread scale, they should take inspiration from UNESCO’s City of Literature network. The latter includes 53 cities across 39 countries and six continents. The locations celebrate, contribute to, and preserve the literary world – including publishing, libraries, bookstores, languages, and relevant media and cultural centers. Cities currently on that list are Gothenburg, Jakarta, Rio de Janeiro, and Taif, to name a few.
Domestically, the American Library Association provides a list of Literary Landmarks by State that travelers can use to also drum up reading retreat inspiration.
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