Traveling has always been one of my favorite ways to reconnect with inspiration, and Switzerland remains one of my favorite destinations in the world. I’ve visited the country several times already, and every trip leaves me with new memories. Between breathtaking landscapes, quiet streets, and beautiful cities, Switzerland offers the kind of atmosphere that makes even ordinary moments feel cinematic. Still, there is one small and slightly unusual tradition I’ve developed whenever I travel there: buying books in English.

During my last trip to Switzerland in 2023, I often walked from the apartment where I was staying to a nearby shopping mall. Inside the mall was Bücher Lüthy, a bookstore that quickly became one of my favorite places to visit. What drew me in the most was its English-language section, where I spent hours browsing shelves, reading blurbs, and discovering titles I had never seen before.

I searched specifically for books in English for two simple reasons. The first is obvious: I do not speak German. The second is more personal. I enjoy finding English-language books that are difficult — or sometimes impossible — to find back home in Chile, where most bookstores naturally focus on Spanish-language titles. There is something exciting about discovering a novel or essay collection that feels tied to the place you are visiting.

What surprised me most, however, was how romantic the experience of visiting bookstores while traveling can feel. After spending an entire day walking through a city, sightseeing, or taking trains between destinations, stepping into a quiet bookstore feels calming in a very specific way. Looking through covers, flipping through pages, and wandering between shelves creates a sense of stillness that contrasts beautifully with the movement of travel.

I also realized that bookstores can introduce you to writers and perspectives that are unique to a region. Visiting independent or local bookstores in places like the United States or Canada, for example, could help you discover authors from a particular province, state, or city — voices you may never encounter otherwise.

At this point, I genuinely recommend this habit to anyone who travels, whether within their own country or abroad. Spending time in bookstores during a trip adds a sense of calm and intimacy that makes traveling feel less rushed and far more memorable.