Books have the power to transport us. With just a few pages we can visit faraway lands live different lives and explore the deepest corners of human imagination. But what if you could go one step further and visit the real places that inspired those stories? Literary travel offers a way to connect stories on the page to places you can walk feel and see with your own eyes.
Many famous novels are set in locations you can visit today. Some of these places look just as they are described in the book. Others offer tours museums and landmarks to celebrate their connection to the story. For readers and travelers alike this kind of trip brings fiction to life in a personal unforgettable way.
Here are some of the most iconic places you can visit that are tied to famous books.
Prince Edward Island and Anne of Green Gables
The story of Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables has captured hearts for more than a century. Set in the fictional village of Avonlea the book draws heavily from the real landscapes of Prince Edward Island in Canada. Author Lucy Maud Montgomery grew up there and based many of her settings on actual places she knew.
Today visitors can walk through Green Gables Heritage Place in Cavendish a preserved farmhouse and surrounding woods that inspired the book. Trails such as Lovers Lane and Haunted Wood bring the pages to life. You can also visit the Anne of Green Gables Museum the author’s birthplace and various other Anne-themed sites across the island.
Oxford and His Dark Materials
Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy takes readers through parallel worlds but it all begins in Oxford England. The city’s spires cobbled streets and ancient colleges provide the backdrop for much of the first book The Golden Compass.
You can stroll through the grounds of Exeter College where the character Lyra Belacqua lives in Jordan College. While Jordan is fictional its look and feel are based on real Oxford colleges. The Pitt Rivers Museum and the Bodleian Library also play a role in the story and are open to visitors. Exploring Oxford gives fans a deeper connection to the world Pullman created.
Transylvania and Dracula
Count Dracula’s legend was born in the pages of Bram Stoker’s Dracula but the setting of Transylvania in Romania adds a real sense of mystery. Though the character of Dracula is fictional he was inspired in part by the real historical figure Vlad the Impaler.
You can visit Bran Castle often called Dracula’s Castle perched high in the Carpathian Mountains. While the castle is not directly linked to Vlad or the novel it fits the mood perfectly. Exploring the region’s dark forests and medieval towns adds a layer of gothic beauty to the experience.
Paris and Les Misérables
Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables is as much a portrait of Paris as it is a story of revolution redemption and love. Walking through modern Paris you can find many of the streets buildings and neighborhoods that Hugo described in rich detail.
Visit the Marais the Latin Quarter and the historic sewers beneath the city which are a key part of Jean Valjean’s journey. The author’s home is now the Maison de Victor Hugo a museum that gives insight into his life and work. Reading the novel and then walking those same streets gives a powerful sense of time and place.
Dublin and Ulysses
James Joyce’s Ulysses follows Leopold Bloom through one day in Dublin. The novel is dense complex and celebrated for its style but also for its detailed mapping of the city. Almost every location in the book is a real place you can still visit.
Every year fans gather for Bloomsday on June 16 to retrace Bloom’s steps and celebrate the book. You can visit Sweny’s Pharmacy Davy Byrne’s pub and many of the other landmarks. Dublin embraces its literary legacy with walking tours statues and plaques marking key spots.
The Lake District and Wordsworth’s Poetry
Although not a novel the poetry of William Wordsworth is deeply tied to place. The English Lake District inspired much of his work and remains one of the most beautiful regions in the country. Fans of his writing can visit Dove Cottage where he lived and wrote some of his most famous poems.
Walking the same hills and lakes that shaped his ideas lets readers understand the link between nature and creativity. The area also inspired other writers like Beatrix Potter and Samuel Taylor Coleridge making it a rich stop for any literary traveler.
Why Literary Travel Matters
Visiting places from literature brings stories to life in a way that deepens both the reading and the travel experience. You are no longer just imagining a scene you are standing in it. You can look up at the same buildings feel the same weather and hear the same sounds the characters would have known.
Literary travel also adds meaning to your trips. Instead of just checking off tourist sites you are connecting with a piece of art and history. It brings depth to your journey and gives you a personal connection to the place.
Many of these destinations have gone out of their way to preserve the literary past. Whether it is a museum a statue or just a street with a plaque these places honor the power of story and the joy of reading.
Books allow us to explore new worlds. Travel lets us step into them. When combined they offer an experience that is emotional immersive and unforgettable. So next time you plan a trip consider asking not just where to go but what to read before you get there.
