There’s a particular kind of magic in standing where a great writer once stood — seeing the streets that stirred their imagination, the same light slanting through old windows. Across Europe, the echoes of literature live on in the very places that inspired it. From Kafka’s shadowy Prague to the sun-drenched amphitheatres of Sicily, these destinations aren’t just beautiful—they’re steeped in stories. Whether you’re a poetry devotee or a fiction fanatic, these literary getaways are an invitation to read between the lines.
Bergen – Between Sea, Sky and Sentence
We begin in the north, where Norway’s literary tradition is as elemental as its landscape. Ringed by fjords and draped in weather that veers from cinematic mist to diamond-clear skies, Bergen shaped the work of two of its most complex literary figures: Amalie Skram and Knut Hamsun. Skram, a fierce realist and early feminist, drew on her Bergen childhood in novels like Constance Ring, while Hamsun, who briefly lived here, found inspiration in the surrounding wilds. His Hunger, with its unsettling psychological depth, mirrors the brooding energy of the region. From the waterfront to Mount Fløyen, Bergen’s contours offer more than a scenic backdrop—they’re a character in the narrative.
Where to stay: Hotel Park Bergen
Kraków – Poland’s City of Poets
Kraków wears its poetic legacy proudly. Once home to Nobel Prize-winners Wisława Szymborska and Czesław Miłosz, the city remains a fertile ground for reflection and resistance. Declared a UNESCO City of Literature in 2013, its cobbled lanes, smoky cafés and student bars still hum with creative energy. The Planty park wraps the Old Town like a soft green sentence, while the walls of the Jagiellonian Library cradle centuries of verse. Szymborska’s wry, wondrous perspective feels embedded in the atmosphere: curious, observant, unsentimental. Whether you’re browsing bookshops in Kazimierz or reading beside the Wisła, Kraków doesn’t just honour its literary past—it invites you to live it.
Where to stay: Hotel Polski Pod Białym Orłem
Prague – Kafka’s Labyrinth
In Prague, the uncanny isn’t a literary device — it’s the architecture of the everyday. Few writers have captured this so precisely as Franz Kafka, whose shadow still flickers through the city’s twisted alleys and looming façades. His birthplace near Old Town Square and the tiny house he once occupied on Golden Lane remain intact, steeped in quiet disquiet. In The Trial and The Castle, Prague’s gothic beauty becomes a theatre of dread — a city of closed doors, unspoken rules and shifting identities. The Kafka Museum, tucked beside the Vltava, offers a descent into his fractured psyche. But in truth, Prague needs no exhibit to evoke him. The city itself is a text: dark, ornate, unknowable. Here, you don’t just visit Kafka — you inhabit his dream.
Where to stay: Villa Lanna
Taormina, Sicily – Pages Among Ruins
Perched on a cliff above the Ionian Sea, Taormina is a town that seems written into existence. Its blend of myth, ruins and radiant beauty has long drawn writers—from Goethe and D.H. Lawrence to Truman Capote. Since 2013, it has also been home to the Taobuk Literary Festival, a celebration of books, ideas and performance that unfolds across ancient theatres and ornate palazzi. The 2025 edition (18–23 June) will once again turn the town into a living library, with readings, exhibitions and dialogues echoing through the Greek Theatre and central piazzas. Sicily’s literary legacy runs deep, from Nobel Laureates to eight literary parks, and Andrea Camilleri—the island’s most widely read modern voice. In Taormina, literature isn’t a theme—it’s the landscape. The past speaks in poetry, and the view alone reads like prose.
Where to stay: Hotel Villa Schuler
Florence – Dante’s Roots and Renaissance Reverie
In Tuscany, literature seeps from the stones. Florence, birthplace of Dante Alighieri, gave the world its first steps toward the Italian language—and then turned its back on him. In the political chaos of the early 1300s, Dante was exiled, his home destroyed, his allies scattered. He spent years wandering, writing, remembering. One of the places he sought refuge was Castello di Gargonza, a medieval hilltop village that once offered him sanctuary—and now welcomes guests as a member of Historic Hotels of Europe. Visitors, like Dante once did, can still find peace here—wandering the same quiet lanes beneath lengthening cypress shadows. Back in Florence, Dante’s presence remains unmistakable: his supposed birthplace still stands near the cathedral, and the Laurentian Library holds manuscripts that helped reshape European thought. This is a city of words and revolutions—home not just to Dante, but to Boccaccio, Petrarch and Machiavelli. In Florence, every piazza holds a stanza.
Where to stay: Castello di Gargonza
Dingle – Ireland´s Literary Festival
Escape to the enchanting Dingle Peninsula for the Dingle Literary Festival! Held annually, this vibrant celebration of literature immerses you in the beauty of Ireland’s west coast while engaging with renowned authors and captivating storytelling. Nestled in the charming town of Dingle, the festival offers a diverse program of readings, workshops, and discussions, showcasing both established and emerging writers. Immerse yourself in the magic of the Irish language and culture, as the festival celebrates the rich literary heritage of the region. Whether you’re a seasoned bookworm or a curious explorer, the Dingle Literary Festival promises an unforgettable experience, blending literary excellence with the breathtaking scenery of the Dingle Peninsula.
Where to stay: Dingle Benners Hotel
Across Europe, these places remind us that literature doesn’t just belong on shelves—it lives in cities, landscapes and lives. Sometimes, all it takes to find it is a quiet room, a good book, and the right window view.
Ready to explore where literary magic lives beyond the festival stages? Discover Europe’s most magnificent libraries—architectural masterpieces where centuries of stories await between ornate shelves and gilded reading rooms.