National Book Lovers Day is August 9—today!—and there’s no better way to celebrate than to visit local bookstores, libraries and literary landmarks. Some bookworms may even plan travel around their love of books. There’s something magical about exploring a city through its literary heritage. Explore.com has released a ranking of the best cities for book lovers, and three cities in our fine state make the top 10.
In a stunning achievement for Pennsylvania bookworms, Lancaster is the number one city for book lovers. It may be a hub of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, known for its Amish communities, but it has emerged as an under-the-radar haven for book lovers. The city boasts an impressive number of independent bookstores with carefully curated selections like DogStar Books and Pocket Books. The culture is boosted by a number of literary events for readers and writers alike, including the annual Lititz Kid-Lit Festival, designed to spark young readers' imaginations.
Harrisburg made the list at number three, behind Lancaster and New York City. It’s a small city with a big literary heart. The robust library system is known for its many literary offerings throughout the year. The Midtown Scholar Bookstore, a beautiful shop housed in a renovated 1920s cinema, is a book-lovers dream with thousands of books—used, rare, signed, and new. Harrisburg's ties to Civil War-era literature make it a destination for history buffs as well.
Pittsburgh is the third Pennsylvania city to make the list. With more than 100 libraries, Pittsburgh has no shortage of opportunities to grab a good book. The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh alone has 19 locations. There are plenty of standout bookstores as well, including Beyond Bedtime Books, City of Asylum Bookstore, and White Whale Bookstore. The latter is a great spot that hosts events and workshops and even sells beer on tap.
Explore.com looked at factors like the number of bookstores and libraries per 10,000 residents, the availability of literary tours and landmarks, number of independent bookstores and literary landmarks. The result is a list that highlights cities with plenty of books to browse plus destinations with unique literary experiences history for book-loving visitors to enjoy. These three cities are in good company--find the full report here.
The best U.S. cities for book lovers for 2024
1. Lancaster, PA
2. New York, NY
3. Harrisburg, PA
4. Pensacola, FL
5. Poughkeepsie, NY
6. Portland, OR
7. Pittsburgh, PA
8. Birmingham, AL
9. Cincinnati, OH
10. St. Louis, MO