A Book Lovers Guide To Chicago

As wonderful as the Kindle and iPad are for reading books on a plane or at the beach, there is something about wandering around a bookstore and flipping through the pages of a book and smelling that “bookstore” smell that can’t be beaten. Get ready to grab a warm cup of coffee, cozy up in the corner, and forget the world at the best literary spots in Chicago.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Myopic Bookstore

Park, Store
Myopic Bookstore is filled from floor to ceiling with used books. This is the perfect place to spend a rainy Saturday roaming around all three floors full of books including fiction, art, music, film, religion, sci-fi, and children’s sections. Between the old paper smell, the live music series, and the poetry readings, you’ll feel as though you died and went to literary heaven.

Bookstore

This independent bookstore is full of local charm with handwritten “staff favorite” notes and community events. The store has a wide array of sections from cookbooks to biographies, but it is best known for its large children’s section. With story time twice a week, book clubs, and Sunday Stories & Puppet Making, this is the perfect place to help turn your child into a book lover as well. They also sell unique local Chicago prints, cards, and literary gifts.

Ernest Hemingway’s Birthplace and Museum

Museum, Park

Any literary junkie will be thrilled at the chance to see the first home of literary genius Ernest Hemingway. Take a tour of the house and catch a glimpse of some of his first writings, original letters, items from his family, and photographs.

The Book Cellar

Bookstore, Store

Located in Lincoln Square, The Book Cellar is the perfect place for the classy literary sage. The store is small and has an intimate aura. There is a small café inside, and you can even sip on a glass of wine or a craft beer while perusing books.

Printer’s Row Lit Festival

Printing House Row used to be home to (you guessed it!) several of Chicago’s first printing houses. During the first week of June, be sure to catch the annual Printer’s Row Lit Festival. Booksellers line the streets and famous authors host readings. And the best part? It is all free! That is, if you can refrain from buying all the unique books and literary gifts.

Women and Children First

Bookstore

With the motto, “shop as independently as you think,” this forward-thinking bookstore is sure to get your heart and mind fired up. Located in Andersonville, Women and Children First definitely has a feminist vibe; however, the store contains over 30,000 books, so there is something for everyone.

After-Words

Bookstore

In this bright, two-floor bookstore, you can choose from over 70,000 new and used books. From fiction and poetry, to health and photography, After-Words has just about every book you could ever need. They also have a space available to be rented out for private parties.

57th Street Books

Bookstore

Located in Hyde Park near the University of Chicago, the art of history and knowledge is not lost at 57th Street Books. There are many academic and intellectual books as well as bibliographies throughout the store; however, it also includes a large children’s section. Be prepared to wander through the maze of floor-to-ceiling books, and before you know it, you’ll be lost in a literary trance.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.