The Most Remote Island Libraries and Reading Nooks in the World

For those of us who love a good book and crave a little adventure, how about taking your reading to the next level by heading to some of the most remote island libraries and reading spots on the planet? Just imagine the bliss that you would feel – just you, your book, and the nature surrounding you. If that sounds like the perfect vacation for you, here are some places that you should add to your bucket list.

The Arid Island Library (Santorini, Greece)

Santorini may be known for whitewashed houses and sunset views, but it’s also home to Atlantis Books, a quaint bookstore on an island clifftop. It’s small, rustic, and stacked with books from floor to ceiling. Think winding wooden shelves packed with literary treasures, rare finds, and paperbacks left by travelers from all over. Established by a group of friends who were passionate about bringing more literature to this part of the world, Atlantis Books is a spot where you can grab a book and find a little reading nook with an unmatched Aegean view. While Santorini itself isn’t exactly hidden, this indie bookstore feels like its own world within the island.

The One-Building Library (Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic Ocean)

The world’s most remote inhabited island, Tristan da Cunha, sits over 1,500 miles from the nearest human settlement in the South Atlantic Ocean. The local library, housed in a small, nondescript building, serves the island’s tiny population of around 250 people. Filled with a variety of books (donated over the years), this library gives islanders a cozy place to read, learn, and connect to the rest of the world without ever leaving their little patch of paradise. This is about as far away from it all as you can get—perfect for escaping into a good story.

Svalbard’s Frozen Library (Longyearbyen, Norway)

If cold, barren landscapes feel like the perfect reading vibe, then head up to the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Circle. This icy spot is home to the Svalbard Library. This is a place where readers can cozy up inside and look out over the icy wilderness. Though not on an island exactly, the area is remote enough to count! Svalbard Library provides everything from Nordic literature to scientific journals. Also, locals here appreciate the warmth and quiet it offers amid the frigid, stark surroundings. Grab a hot drink, settle into a chair, and lose yourself in a book. During your breaks, you’ll even be able to see polar bears roam outside—if that’s not surreal, what is?

The Floating Library (Pulao Bidong, Malaysia)

Now, how about a floating library? Off the coast of Malaysia, Pulao Bidong is a secluded island once home to Vietnamese refugees, and now hosts the Floating Library of Pulao Bidong. With books literally bobbing along the water, it’s a bit of an adventure just getting there! Book lovers can find some fascinating reads—mostly stories of migration, cultural history, and travel tales. It’s part library, part community project, and entirely unique. Finally, grab a book, find a shady spot on the sand, and get to reading.