Live Like Langdon
A Travel Guide inspired by Robert Langdon
A Paris Travel Guide
Where to Go:
THE LOUVRE (of course!) – aside from the crucial role it plays in The Da Vinci Code, The Louvre is largely considered the finest museum in the world. Schedule a full day to check out the Mona Lisa and countless other masterpieces housed there.
Where to Stay:
THE RITZ, where Robert Langdon stays in Paris, is in Place Vendome – its location only rivaled by the martini served at its Bar Hemingway!
Where to Eat:
Le Grand Vefour, located in the Palais-Royal near the Louvre, is one of the oldest restaurants in Paris. Langdon would find himself in good company here – the classic French dining room has hosted Victor Hugo, Simone de Beauvoir, and Jean-Paul Sartre
Where to Drink:
Le Deux Magots is an iconic Parisian café with a literary legacy – in fact, a group of writers and intellectuals who frequented the café founded the Prix des Deux Magots, a literary prize awarded annually to the best French novel.
Where to Run (or Walk):
Rue de Rivoli is a scenic place to run – Langdon certainly thinks so, whether he's being chased or not!
A Washington DC Travel Guide
Where to Go:
The Smithsonian is home to many scenes in The Lost Symbol, as Robert Langdon's mentor, Peter Solomon, is the head of the DC institution.
Where to Stay:
The Ritz-Carlton is centrally located for easy access to city landmarks visited by Langdon, including the U.S. Capitol Building and the Library of Congress.
Where to Eat:
Old Ebbitt Grill holds the distinction of being the oldest restaurant in DC and is best known for serving fresh Chesapeake Bay oysters (washed down with a Nolet's martini of course!).
Where to Drink:
Off-the-Record at the Hay-Adams Hotel is the place to be seen (but not heard) for many recognizable faces in politics. Located within walking distance to the White House, it's a place Langdon would find himself!
Where to Run (or Walk):
A stroll through The National Mall is the best way to see many DC government landmarks and Smithsonian museums; it is particularly beautiful during Cherry Blossom season in the spring.
A Florence Travel Guide
Where to Go:
Ufizzi Gallery, home to one of the most significant collections of Renaissance art in the world, is located next to Palazzo Vecchio, where Robert Langdon discovers clues important to his investigation.
Where to Stay:
Built around a medieval tower and the ancient architecture of the city, Hotel Brunelleschi offers a "Dan Brown Experience!"
Where to Eat:
Ristorante Buca Lapi is known for its seppie al nero (squid in its own ink) a local delicacy appreciated by Langdon.
Where to Drink:
Founded by the chocolatier to the Italian Royal Family, Caffe Rivoire is famous for its hot chocolate, best sipped while enjoying the view of Palazzo Vecchio.
Where to Run (or Walk):
A stroll through The Boboli Gardens were originally designed for the Medici Family, and their maze-like layout serves as an escape route for Robert Langdon in Inferno.
A Barcelona Travel Guide
Where to Go:
Designed by Gaudi, the famed Sagrada Família is not only a key location in Origin and stunning centerpiece of Barcelona, but it also embodies the book's themes of faith, art, and science.
Where to Stay:
Robert Langdon stays at the Gran Hotel Princesa Sofia, since renamed the Grand Hyatt Barcelona, a modern setting for the opening scene of Origin when juxtaposed against more traditional historical locations throughout the novel.
Where to Eat:
Café de L'Opera is a historic La Rambla café frequented by artists and intellectuals—and a fitting place for Langdon to discuss revelations that unfold in Origin.
Where to Drink:
Founded by the chocolatier to the Italian Royal Family, Els Quatre Gats (The Four Cats) is a place Langdon would certainly find himself. Inspired by Paris's Le Chat Noir, it's known as a hub for writers, artists, and intellectuals.
Where to Run (or Walk):
A stroll through Parc Guell is another Gaudi masterpiece where Langdon strolled as a student and later found inspiration in Origin.
A Prague Travel Guide
Where to Go:
As the Czech National Library, The Baroque Library at the Klementinum is home to priceless ancient books, manuscripts, and maps…as well as a secret architectural feature that saves Langdon's life.
Where to Stay:
The Four Seasons "Royal Suite" is Robert Langdon's preferred hotel room in the city…and he may not be staying there alone!
Where to Eat:
Langdon loves the breathtaking rooftop terrace at CODA, but what he loves most is the name itself, which, in Czech, means "code."
Where to Drink:
Black Angel's Bar is a speakeasy-inspired bar serving cocktails made with Czech liqueur Becherovka. It is also the spot where Langdon's antagonist gathers a dangerous piece of information.
Where to Run (or Walk):
The Charles Bridge is one of Prague's most iconic landmarks spanning the Vltava River, which reaches frigid temperatures in the winter (as Langdon learns through personal experience!).
