Cărturești Verona

Cărturești Carusel, often also called Cărturești Verona after the nearby street, is one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world, set in a carefully restored historic building in the Old Town of Bucharest. The bright, airy interior, with elegant white columns, winding stairs and fine balustrades climbing several levels beneath a generous skylight, has turned the simple act of buying a book into an aesthetic experience. The space holds thousands of books and albums, an art gallery on the top floor and a pleasant café-bistro, becoming a meeting point for locals and a magnet for tourists and photographers.

Its position in the heart of the historic area makes it easy to include in a city walk. It is a place worth lingering in, even if you buy nothing, just for the architecture and atmosphere. Check the schedule, which may run late into the evening, and go up to the top-floor gallery.