As an English major, one of my favorite places in the world is a good bookstore, and Dublin has an abundance of beautiful bookstores to peruse on a lazy Sunday while studying abroad here. There are, of course, bigger name bookstores like Dubray Books and Hodges Figgis but there are so many other indie bookstores that are too cozy to pass up.  

Nothing beats a day out at a bookshop. 

The Gutter Bookshop is a sweet little bookstore that’s located just inside the Temple Bar district. With lots of different books and a central location, this bookstore is definitely worth stopping in while you’re in Dublin. Plus, they have €5 tote bags and you can’t really go wrong with that.  

Found in the Temple Bar district, The Gutter Bookshop is a cozy little spot inspired by Oscar Wilde. 

Perusing the Irish display. 

There’s also a lovely bookstore called the Winding Stair Bookshop that makes you feel like you’re walking into a fairy forest. Located on the north side of the River Liffey and right next to the Ha’penny Bridge, it’s almost dead city center but it still has the cozy feeling of a small-town bookstore.  

The Winding Stair is one of the coziest bookshops in Dublin. 

Fairy lights always take bookshelves to the next level. 

I loved exploring around in this space and looking at all the different books that they have. It also has lots of comfy seats to sit and relax in while you sample a book or two. 

Located right next to the Ha’Penny Bridge, this little shop is the perfect stop on a day out. 

Finally, my favorite bookstore in Dublin is Books Upstairs, Dublin’s oldest independent bookstore. This adorable bookstore has new books on the ground level and in the sublevel but it also has used books upstairs (hence the name). Not only that, but there is also a coffee shop that has some of the best lattes in the city.  

One of my favorite bookstores, Books Upstairs, is Dublin’s oldest independent bookstore. 

Ireland has some wonderful nature books to explore. 

There is also an extensive Irish culture section that I have spent far too much time exploring, and a separate fiction section dedicated to Irish authors and Irish stories which is a huge plus because it has let me explore more modern Irish literature like the works of James Joyce and Samuel Beckett. Joyce’s “Dubliners” and “Ulysses” are two of the most iconic works of modern Irish literature and both are really good books to read before coming to Dublin because they are so quintessentially Irish and you will see references to them as you walk around the city! 

So many books, so little time. 

Like the name suggests, there is a variety of books upstairs at Books Upstairs 

Dublin is definitely a literary city and there are so many more bookstores to explore around the city and I can’t wait to discover more before I leave.