33 of the world's most beautiful libraries

Read the room

There is something captivating about a library, whether you like reading or not. Quiet and orderly, and often home to millions of tomes, they're a peaceful refuge where you can truly indulge your imagination.

We've rounded up some of the world's most incredible libraries for you to add to your TBR list ('to be read' for the less bookish). Peruse the shelves, hunker down in a reading room, or just marvel at the breathtaking architecture.

Are you sitting comfortably? Click through the gallery to discover the most beautiful libraries to visit around the world...

Tianjin Binhai Library, China

China’s ultra-modern Tianjin Binhai Library turned the heads of bibliophiles the world over when it opened in 2017. Its futuristic design is complete with undulating shelves, a giant spherical atrium and space for more than 1.2 million books. The beady-eyed among you will notice in photographs that some of the books in the atrium don't look real. That's because the library was completed quickly and in conflict with an officially approved design.

The main atrium's upper shelves can't be used for book storage and the rooms providing access to the upper tiers of shelving were never built, so perforated aluminium plates printed to represent books were placed onto the backs of the shelf space to create the effect of it being full.

Old Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, England, UK

The Bodleian Libraries are a group of 26 libraries across Oxford. However, the Old Bodleian Library, dating back to 1602, is one of the oldest in Europe and Oxford University's main library for Classics and Ancient History, English, History, History of Science, Local History, Philosophy, Reference, Theology and Patristics (books written by Christians before the 8th century). 

Its shelves hold more than 13 million volumes and it is second in size only to London’s sprawling British Library. Visitors can explore the building on guided tours, while regular exhibitions showcase its most fascinating materials.

National Library of Latvia, Riga

The triangular National Library of Latvia sits on the banks of the River Daugava, in stark contrast with Riga’s quaint old town, just across the water. Dreamt up by American-Latvian architect Gunnar Birkert in 2014, the library has earned the moniker 'The Castle of Light', both for its innovative design and huge roster of cultural events.

You can take a guided tour of the library for a small fee, bookable via its website.

New York Public Library, USA

A beautiful Beaux-Arts building in the heart of Manhattan, the current New York Public Library was dedicated in 1911. Since then, it has spent a fair amount of time on the silver screen.

The Rose Main Reading Room, with its neat wooden benches and frescoed ceilings, has appeared in the likes of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and cult hit Ghostbusters. There's no admission fee, and many of the events and exhibitions here are free too. 

Stuttgart City Library, Germany

Modern and minimalist, the Stuttgart City Library opened in 2011 to much applause. Characterised by its clean lines, white-washed walls and zigzagging staircases, it is the brainchild of German-based firm Yi. 

The eighth level houses a literature café, an art collection and, if you can put down your book, you can access the roof terrace offering a 360-degree view of the Stuttgart Valley. It’s also free to enter.

Strahov Monastery Library, Prague, Czechia

This beautiful monastic library is perched atop Prague’s Petrin Hill. It is dominated by two halls, the Philosophical Hall and the Baroque Theological Hall, each with intricate frescoes, antique globes and thousands of tomes apiece. The latter is the oldest, dating back to the 1670s.

Unfortunately, due to preservation efforts, you can’t wander freely within the halls, you must join a special tour, or view them from the doorway. But the masterful Baroque architecture here means the library is still well worth a visit.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt

A saucer-shaped marvel in Egypt’s second city, today’s Bibliotheca Alexandrina owes its sci-fi design to a Norwegian firm named Snohetta. The modern version is built to honour the original, ancient Library of Alexandria, one of the most important libraries in the classical world.

Aside from the striking main reading room, the complex also supports several fascinating museums and a varied programme of events.

Boston Public Library, USA

Finished in 1895, the Boston Public Library lays claim to a few 'firsts': The first large free municipal library in the United States, the first public library to lend books, the first to have a branch library and the first to have a children’s room. Today, it holds over 23 million items, from manuscripts to musicians’ scores.

Cavernous Bates Hall (pictured) is perhaps the most famous reading room and its vivid green lamps and bronze and marble busts make it the most impressive too. Visitors can wander through the library independently, or take advantage of a free guided tour.

National Library of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro

Considered by UNESCO as the largest library in Latin America and the seventh largest in the world, Biblioteca Nacional do Brasil (in Portuguese) is Brazil’s most important library, a Neoclassical treasure trove chronicling the country’s history in more than nine million items.

A highlight is the Teresa Cristina Maria collection: a 22,000-strong photo series, depicting key Brazilian events and notables. Entry and guided tours are free.

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Old Library, Trinity College, Dublin

The Old Library is home to the famous Book of Kells, an adorned medieval manuscript containing the four gospels and dating back to AD 800.

Another highlight is the Long Room, the library's main chamber. Stretching for more than 200 feet (61m), it's a passage of carved wood and vaulted ceilings, holding around 200,000 books. It's free to access to the library itself, however the Book of Kells experience requires a fee.

Liyuan Library, Jiaojiehe, China

Blink and you’ll miss this little library on the outskirts of Beijing, a book sanctuary surrounded by chestnut, walnut and peach trees whose branches were used to decorate the building. Chinese architect Li Xiaodong designed it to blend seamlessly with its natural surroundings. The glass roof and walls are lined with firewood, arranged in neat rows so just enough light feeds into the interior.

The inside is filled with rows of Chinese classics and day-trippers escaping the bustle of Beijing. The library only opens on weekends and has limited space, so be prepared to queue.

Admont Abbey Library, Austria

Tucked in the Benedictine abbey of Admont, this is the largest monastic library on Earth, holding around 70,000 volumes of the monastery's entire 200,000 volumes. It sprawls for 230 feet (70m), gilded with gold and dotted with Baroque statues.

Most impressive is the detailed, domed cupola which soars to more than 40 feet (12m). Be aware that the library is only open from mid-March to December, with out-of-season tours available on request.

Royal Library, Copenhagen, Denmark

In 1999, Copenhagen’s library had a sleek upgrade known as the “Black Diamond” extension. Bold and brilliant, it dominates the riverside, mirroring the water in its glassy façade.

Inside you'll find 450 rooms and 800 doors, all requiring a key, distributed over eight floors. The Royal Library holds all the works printed on Danish soil since the 1600s; you can peruse them for free or take part in a guided tour for added context.

George Peabody Library, Baltimore, USA

Intricate balconies and the airiest of atriums characterise this Baltimore library. Built in 1878, it’s a beautiful piece of the Johns Hopkins University and is affectionately nicknamed the 'Cathedral of Books'. 

Today, it functions mainly as an events space, but the extensive collection of over 300,000 books is still open to the visiting public. 

Library of Birmingham, England, UK

Resembling a large blue and gold layer cake, Birmingham’s futuristic library opened in 2013. The modern theme continues on the inside, with 10 sleek, book-laden storeys.

The Shakespeare Memorial Room is a highlight, occupying the ninth floor – it holds more than 43,000 Bard-related books, including a copy of the revered First Folio. It’s the largest public library in Europe and, even better, it's free to explore.

El Escorial Monastery Library, Spain

This ornate library is housed in the monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, not far from the sun-baked streets of Madrid. Gilded and golden, it swells with wooden bookshelves and works by old masters. Phillip II of Spain commissioned the library, establishing a pension so that it could continue to have a budget for acquiring books after his death.

A fire in 1671 destroyed some notable works, but today some 40,000 books survive. Tourists can visit the library on a tour of the mountain monastery.

Library of Parliament, Ottawa, Canada

Opened in 1876, Ottawa’s Gothic parliamentary library is a repository for more than 650,000 items. A large marble statue of Queen Victoria dominates the main reading room, which is carefully decorated with carved wood.

Millions of dollars were spent on the library in the early 2000s to spruce up this important Canadian landmark. Visitors can explore the renovated building as part of a full parliamentary tour.

Geisel Library, San Diego, USA

This spaceship-like building could be straight out of a sci-fi movie. It’s actually the principal research library for the University of California, and is open to the public too. Designed by American architect William Pereira, the glass structure appears almost as if it's floating, held firm by the cradle-like concrete at its base.

More than seven million academic materials live inside. Visitors are welcome to explore the first and second floors of this iconic building, but not floors 4-8, as they are designated for quiet or silent study.

Nakajima Library, Akita, Japan

This sleek library belongs to Akita International University and is proudly known as the 'library that never sleeps'. Its design is based on Rome’s Colosseum, brought to life with fan-like beams and a bold, semi-circular atrium.

Tucked within the university's woody campus, Nakajima is open day and night, all year round, catering to students and book-loving members of the general public.

State Library of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia

This state library dates back to the 1800s, situated on what's now known as 'Adelaide’s cultural boulevard'. In fact, the idea for this library predates European settlement here: English pilgrims conceived of Adelaide’s library before they left British soil in 1836.

You can’t take materials away from the library, but you can enjoy them on one of the free themed tours.

Bibliothèque Mazarine, Paris, France

This is the oldest public library in France, a magnificent building boasting some 600,000 volumes. The institution prides itself on its rare manuscripts. Some of the most treasured are held in the Incunabula Collection, a store of early French, Italian and Flemish works dating as far back as the 1400s.

Visitors can wander the library independently on weekdays or join one of the free guided tours.

Beitou Library, Taipei, Taiwan

A stone’s throw from this region’s famous hot springs, Beitou is touted as Taiwan's first eco library. It has impressive green credentials thanks to a solar-panelled roof, eco-friendly paint and rainwater-powered facilities.

The wooden building peeks out from the green surroundings of Beitou Park and is free to explore. Its roughly 63,000-strong book collection includes a large section dedicated to ecological conservation.

Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venice, Italy

This beautiful library has a prime location on Venice's St Mark’s Square, right next to the Doge’s Palace. The ongoing vision for a state library in the city was finally set in motion in 1468, when Cardinal Bessarion of Byzantium donated a selection of books.

But the current building wasn’t completed until the 1600s, to an intricate design by master Italian architect Jacopo Sansovino. Tickets to the Doge’s Palace include entry to the library.

Mexico City's Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico

A shrine to books in Mexico City, Biblioteca Vasconcelos is often described as a megalibrary. Unassuming from the outside, it’s a vast maze of suspended bookshelves and balconies inside.

In fact, the library stretches across more than 400,000 square feet (37,161sqm) and holds over 106,000 titles. There isn’t an English-language section here, but it’s worth a visit for the curious architecture alone.

Biblioteca Joanina, University of Coimbra, Portugal

A Baroque masterpiece and university library, Biblioteca Joanina holds around 60,000 volumes. Dating back to 1717, it is unashamedly lavish, with frescoes and fine art at every turn. Entry is timed and ticketed, and the whole university complex is worth exploring.

Close to the library is the Academic Prison, a basement where rule-breaking students were held.

Sir Duncan Rice Library, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

This is the University of Aberdeen's library and it's as impressive a feat inside as it is outside. The exterior is a huge, glass cube formed from 760 panels of glass, while its interior is dominated by swirling white staircases and row upon row of academic texts.

Members of the public can obtain a free access pass so long as they present identification, although the gallery on the ground floor for exhibitions and displays is open for all to visit. There's also the cleverly named Hardback Cafe to enjoy.

Seattle Central Library, Seattle, USA

This glossy library in downtown Seattle is certainly a head turner. A haphazard-looking stack of glass blocks, it appears almost ready to topple. Inside, the vast, light-filled atrium is the perfect spot for a long afternoon’s reading and there are more than 1.5 million titles to choose from.

You can explore the library independently or by guided tour, and you shouldn’t miss the regular art displays that pop up across the venue. 

David Sassoon Library, Mumbai, India

David Sassoon was a successful Mumbai banker whose donations allowed for an institute of mechanics to be opened. That institute became the David Sassoon Library, which has been in its current location in the heart of Mumbai since 1870.

A 16-month restoration initiative for the library began in February 2022 and it is now a UNESCO Heritage Site housing 30,000 books across five languages. Today, students still use the library as a place of study and tourists come here to escape the rush of the city.

Philological Library, Berlin, Germany

Dreamt up by English architect Norman Foster, the shape of this contemporary library was inspired by the human skull – in fact, it’s earned itself a fitting nickname: the Berlin Brain.

The library belongs to the Free University of Berlin and its modern atrium is filled with as many swotting students as architecture buffs. Entry is free. 

De Krook, Ghent, Belgium

Characterised by its protruding top level, De Krook is a library and community space in the charming city of Ghent. It’s a jarring sight next to its medieval surrounds, but its design has been praised enthusiastically by those in the know.

Visitors are able to enter for free and enjoy the winning combination of curious collections, great exhibitions and city panoramas.

The Richelieu Library, Paris

The Richelieu Library in Paris plays host to the Bibliotheque nationale de France (BnF) reading rooms, the Library of the National Institute for Art History (INHA) and the Library of the Ecole nationale des Chartes (ENC).

A valid research pass is mandatory to access the reading rooms, but a visit to the Salle Ovale (Oval Room), home to over 20,000 books and pictured here, is free.

State Library Victoria, Melbourne, Australia

Established in 1854 as the Melbourne Public Library, State Library Victoria is Australia's oldest public library and one of the first free public libraries in the world. Its founders created the library to be 'the people’s university' intent on preserving Victoria's heritage by collecting items of historical and cultural significance for future generations.

To that end, each year around 70,000 heritage items are added to the library’s rich collection.

Library of Congress, Washington DC, USA

Founded in 1800 as a research library for the US Congress, the largest library in the world is as spectacular inside as it is outside.
The Library of Congress in Washington DC first opened to the public on 1 November 1897 and over the centuries it has grown to occupy three main buildings on Capitol Hill.

Millions of books, audio recordings, films, photographs, newspapers, maps and manuscripts are used as part of the research arm of the US Congress, and the building is also home to the US Copyright Office. It's free to access (you must book a pre-timed ticket), but you can't take books off the premises. Guided tours are the best way to experience this behemoth of libraries. 

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