Literary & Reading Retreats

Prague Literary Retreat

Kafka, libraries, bookshops and a touch of the mysterious: explore Prague through its literary history, from the Franz Kafka Museum and Strahov Library to literary cafés, creative writing and an evening at the theatre.

Portugal Literary Retreat

From Lisbon to Porto, this itinerary is a book lover’s dream: a literary hotel stay in Óbidos, one of the world’s most beautiful libraries in Coimbra, bookshops galore, and even a little Harry Potter magic along the way.

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If you wished you could have joined our Edinburgh retreat, but circumstances prevented you, plan your own literary trip using our new DIY retreat PDF packs (interactive GoogleMaps included)!

Choose between the full literary guide, filled with all the information, research and planning from the Nomad Book Club retreat, or opt for just the bookshop guide with crawl routes.

More destinations coming soon…

A literary retreat is a book-themed travel experience and guided tour; a curated journey through the world’s most vibrant literary destinations. Expect museum visits, walking tours, bookshop crawls, and literary-themed group activities.

(For a sense of what this looks like in action, take a peek at our past retreats at the bottom of this page.)

A reading retreat, on the other hand, is all about slowing down. It’s a getaway to a beautiful, restful destination where you can unwind and finally make progress on your TBR, surrounded by fellow book lovers who are doing the same.

Bucharest Literary Retreat

Your Host

Hi! I’m Amy. the founder of Page Traveller and host of Nomad Book Club!

After 10+ years of running this literary travel blog, 3+ years of working in the travel industry, as well as 15+ years of full-time travelling and living overseas, I decided to set up these retreats to create the exact travel experience that I am always looking for.

Are bookshops the first thing you look for when you arrive in a city? Do you like to read novels set in the places you visit? Are you guilty of overpacking books? Me too!

Testimonials

“Lovely and Different and Very Interesting”

This is something that I don't think if the group was organised, I would have had the opportunity to go and experience. It was lovely and different and very interesting... Please keep organising the retreats, so we can go to more of them!

“Discovering the City in a Different Way”

The highlight was discovering a city in a different way, through literature... learning so much about Scotland and meeting a really nice group of people. It's hard to pick one!

“Everything's Been Fantastic”

Thank you very much for putting this together. I'm really glad I stumbled onto your website when I did and that I was able to incorporate it into my travels in Europe... Everything's been fantastic.

“Highly Recommended”

Exploring Madrid’s literary scene with the Nomad Book Club was a truly enriching experience, and it couldn’t have been curated better. The weekend was thoughtfully planned, with a wonderful mix of book launches, poetry workshops, visits to historic literary sites, exhibitions and relaxed moments like browsing bookshops. Amy created a welcoming and stress-free environment, giving us the freedom to join activities or choose to explore on our own. I left the weekend feeling inspired, fulfilled, and grateful for the conversations and connections formed along the way. Highly recommended for anyone who loves books, travel, and meaningful cultural experiences.

“Enriching Experiences”

I especially enjoyed the retreat in Madrid, as one of Amy's suggestions was to read a book that included the city we would be visiting. And I ended up wandering around Madrid, marveling at and recognizing places that appeared in the novel I was reading. Visiting amazing bookstores, participating in a poetry workshop, and spending quality time with other literature lovers—experiencing the city in this way—is one of the most enriching experiences I've ever had.

“The Itinerary Was Brilliant”

I went on the Madrid Literary Retreat and had a wonderful time. Before the retreat, Amy was super helpful in answering my questions. On arriving, Amy was very welcoming and the accommodation was lovely. The itinerary was brilliant with plenty of activities but also the option to branch off and do your own thing. Overall I had a fantastic time and loved meeting everyone and learning more about Madrid’s literary history.

“Fun and Welcoming”

I really enjoyed the Bansko Nomad Book Club with Amy! It was such a fun and welcoming space to connect with fellow nomads and book lovers from all over the world. The group felt comfortable and engaging, and I loved being able to share, connect, and hear different perspectives. It’s the perfect way to stay connected with other readers while traveling.

“Cozy Vibe”

Amy’s book club is a great way to think deeper about the destinations you visit. I really enjoyed sharing my findings with others and seeing how certain themes played out in each place. The discussions are fun and insightful, and amy does great creating a cozy vibe for the group! Check it out if you can!

“Meaningful Connections”

It’s wonderful to connect with others and see things from different perspectives. Sharing my own unique viewpoints has been such a valuable experience. Not only I could remember the book more deeply and longer thanks to that experience, I’ve also enjoyed forming meaningful connections and having deeper conversations that only books can facilitate. I highly recommend joining this nomad book club whenever you can!

Books

Reading Retreats vs. Book Club Retreats vs. Literary Travel

Amy Poulton October 2, 2025

read around the world - invisible cities by italo calvino

Books

Read Around the World Challenge: Books From Every Country

Amy Poulton May 23, 2025

nomad book club madrid literary retreat group at Parenthesis bookstore

Spain

Why I Chose Madrid For a Literary Retreat

Amy Poulton December 5, 2025

Edinburgh Literary Retreat

Explore Edinburgh’s literary magic with a bookshop crawl, a Sherlock Holmes–inspired mystery, Harry Potter sites, and a literary pub crawl that brings the city’s stories to life.

Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon

The birthplace of Shakespeare is filled with theatres performing the bard’s most famous works, museum sites and pretty tea rooms. To go or not to go to Stratford? I think we should!

Türkiye Literary & Reading Retreat

Join Nomad Book Club in Turkiye this spring for a literary tour from Istanbul’s vibrant streets to a serene reading retreat in Cappadocia, with the option to join one chapter or both.

Madrid Literary Retreat

From the legacy of Cervantes to the bookshop/cafés of the famed Barrio de las Letras, Madrid is a city steeped in literary history. Plus, churros. Lots of churros.