short adventure
Books, Burgers, and an Iowa City Walk
Downtown Iowa City is a designated UNESCO City of Literature, making it the perfect backdrop for a relaxed, book-filled afternoon. This four-hour walking itinerary is ideal for readers, students, teenagers, and solo travelers who want to explore two legendary independent bookstores, take a self-guided literary stroll, and finish with a classic burger and shake. Since all the stops are located in a highly walkable area, you can easily leave your car in a downtown parking ramp and explore on foot.
Downtown Iowa City is a designated UNESCO City of Literature, making it the perfect backdrop for a relaxed, book-filled afternoon. This four-hour walking itinerary is ideal for readers, students, teenagers, and solo travelers who want to explore two legendary independent bookstores, take a self-guided literary stroll, and finish with a classic burger and shake. Since all the stops are located in a highly walkable area, you can easily leave your car in a downtown parking ramp and explore on foot.
At a glance
- Trip type: Short Adventure
- Best for: Readers, students, teenagers, and solo travelers
- Area or route: Downtown Iowa City
- Time needed: 4 hours
- Best season: Year-round
- Estimated budget: $15–$30 per person for lunch, coffee, or snacks
- Total driving: None (entirely walkable once parked downtown)
- Accessibility notes: The route follows paved city sidewalks with curb cuts. Prairie Lights Books has elevator access to its upper floors. The Haunted Bookshop has a ramped entryway but contains narrow aisles inside. Hamburg Inn No. 2 has street-level access and booth seating.
- Reservations: None required
- Last verified: July 17, 2026
The itinerary
| Time | Stop | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 11:30 a.m. | Prairie Lights Books | Browse three floors of books and grab a coffee in the historic cafe |
| 1:00 p.m. | Literary Walk to the Haunted Bookshop | Walk past Iowa Avenue Literary Walk plaques and North Linn historic blocks |
| 1:30 p.m. | The Haunted Bookshop | Discover used and out-of-print treasures and meet the resident bookstore cats |
| 2:30 p.m. | Hamburg Inn No. 2 | Finish with a classic diner burger and a legendary pie shake |
Stop 1: Prairie Lights Books
Begin your afternoon at Prairie Lights Books, located at 15 S. Dubuque Street. Open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 a.m., this internationally renowned independent bookstore is a cornerstone of the local writing community.
Browse the extensive selection of fiction, poetry, and local interest titles spread across three spacious floors. On the second floor, you will find the Prairie Lights Cafe, which serves locally roasted coffee, specialty teas, and fresh pastries. Grab a drink and find a seat in the cafe space, which once hosted society meetings attended by writers like Robert Frost and Carl Sandburg.
- Address: 15 S. Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52240
- What to do: Browse new releases, check out staff recommendations, and enjoy a coffee in the historic second-floor cafe.
- How long to allow: 1.5 hours
- Practical advice: Check their events calendar before visiting, as the bookstore regularly hosts free evening readings by prominent authors.
Stop 2: Literary Walk to the Haunted Bookshop
From Prairie Lights, head north on Dubuque Street toward Iowa Avenue. Turn left onto Iowa Avenue to walk along the Iowa Avenue Literary Walk. The sidewalk is embedded with bronze relief plaques featuring quotes from famous writers who have lived, studied, or taught in Iowa City, including Flannery O'Connor, Kurt Vonnegut, and Wallace Stegner.
After reading a few plaques, head east toward Linn Street, then turn left and walk north through the historic North Side neighborhood. Turn right on Market Street and left on Gilbert Street to reach the Haunted Bookshop. The total walk is about a half-mile and takes roughly 15 minutes.
- Route: Dubuque St → Iowa Ave → Linn St → Market St → Gilbert St
- What to do: Read the bronze plaques on the sidewalk and enjoy the historic architecture of the North Side neighborhood.
- How long to allow: 30 minutes
- Practical advice: The walk is flat and fully paved. Keep an eye out for local public art murals along the side streets.
Stop 3: The Haunted Bookshop
Arrive at The Haunted Bookshop at 219 N. Gilbert Street. Open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., this is Iowa City's oldest secondhand bookshop, housing over 50,000 used, out-of-print, and rare books across several cozy rooms in a historic 1847 home.
Spend an hour wandering through the labyrinth of shelves, searching for hidden gems in categories ranging from poetry and science fiction to history and children's literature. Don't forget to look down; you will likely spot one of the shop's friendly resident bookstore cats lounging in the aisles.
- Address: 219 N Gilbert St, Iowa City, IA 52245
- What to do: Search the cozy rooms for vintage paperbacks and hardcovers, and pet the resident bookstore cats.
- How long to allow: 1 hour
- Practical advice: Ramps are available for entry, but inside aisles are narrow and packed with book stacks, so navigate carefully.
Stop 4: Hamburg Inn No. 2
Finish your afternoon just around the corner at Hamburg Inn No. 2, located at 214 N. Linn Street. Open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., this legendary neighborhood diner has been serving Iowa City residents, students, and visiting politicians since 1948.
Grab a booth and order one of their classic thin-patty flat-top burgers, served on a toasted bun with fries. For dessert, you must order a "Pie Shake"—a unique Iowa City specialty made by blending an entire slice of fresh pie (such as apple, cherry, or chocolate) with vanilla ice cream and milk.
- Address: 214 N Linn St, Iowa City, IA 52245
- What to do: Enjoy a classic diner burger and order a signature blended pie shake.
- How long to allow: 1 hour
- Practical advice: The diner is highly popular during peak lunch and dinner hours, so arriving at 2:30 p.m. is ideal to beat the crowd.
Map and driving order
The walking route starts at Prairie Lights Books (15 S. Dubuque St), heads north along the Iowa Avenue Literary Walk, continues north to The Haunted Bookshop (219 N. Gilbert St), and ends around the corner at Hamburg Inn No. 2 (214 N. Linn St). The entire walking distance is under 0.8 miles. The closest public parking is the Dubuque Street Parking Ramp or the Tower Place Parking Ramp.
Before you go
- Check Prairie Lights and Haunted Bookshop hours online before departing.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes, as the entire trip is pedestrian-based.
- Bring a bag or backpack to carry the books you purchase along the route.
- If Hamburg Inn No. 2 is full, Short's Burger & Shine (18 S. Clinton St) is a great alternative for locally sourced burgers.
Plan another walk
Find more local itineraries, weekend ideas, and dining maps in our Iowa travel guides.
Make it your own
If you have extra time, add a stop at the University of Iowa Pentacrest to sit on the grass and read, or grab a craft beer at the Sanctuary Pub next to the Haunted Bookshop. Families with younger kids can skip the longer walk to Gilbert Street and stay closer to the Pedestrian Mall, choosing from a variety of kid-friendly cafes and bookstores.