Livraria Bertrand - Chiado

Very nice bookstore listed in the Guinness Book of Records as being the World’s Oldest Bookstore. Extensive selection of books, extremely helpful and friendly staff and free of charge to enter. With the purchase of any book, you can have it stamped World’s Oldest Bookstore” in both English and Portuguese. Nice little Cafe in the back of the bookstore with excellent coffee and light food. Restroom may be used upon the purchase of any item purchased in bookstore or in the cafe. Definitely recommend a stop here!!! This bookstore is in Lisbon, Portugal.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to visit the oldest bookstore in the world. They had such a large variety of options in multiple languages and the staff was very knowledgeable and friendly. They all spoke multiple languages and were very helpful. The store also has a rewards program that you can tap into for free. All in all, a great experience.

I will never forget coming here, not only you set foot into the oldest bookshop in the world the team, even though they are young for the most part, are fantastic. The person at the till I interacted with seemed to have a real love for this shop and a passion for books, she was warm and helpful which is heartwarming to see in such a big city. I wished I remembered her name to give her the praise she deserves (Portuguese, long, straight brown hair, we talked about the latest book about the Lisbon earthquake). If you happen to purchase a book there you will also get a stamp proving you got it from the world oldest bookshop. It’s more than a service they provide, it’s an experience.

Livraria Bertrand is known as the oldest bookshop in the world, and walking inside really feels like stepping into history. I loved the wooden shelves, the quiet atmosphere, and the sense that so many people have passed through over the centuries.

Oldest operating bookshop in the world! I think it has some meaning buying books at this place because they stamp proof of purchase stamp in English and Portugese. This place is like a cave, it goes in sooo deep, with sooo much categories of books. I was DISAPPOINTED in this place because of their shocking prices on books. I bought a children’s book that had 12.90euro sticker on it and when i took the sticker out, the book itself was only 7euros. WOW!! Talk about outrageous profit margins on children’s books! My other book was 16euros.. i wonder how much the original price was.

The world’s oldest bookstore has been renovated so extensively that it now feels like any ordinary shop, lacking the historical charm one might expect. If you’re checking it off your bucket list, a quick visit in and out is enough. The space is overrun with tourists and tour guides who block the aisles, turning it into more of a tourist pitstop than a true bookstore. The selection consists mostly of mainstream titles, with a surprisingly large collection of Japanese and American comics. While the prices are reasonable, the store itself no longer feels like a place for book lovers but rather a commercialized attraction. The presence of a café at the back only adds to the sense that it’s more about capitalizing on its historic name than preserving its legacy. For serious book shopping, it’s best to find a store that actually caters to readers rather than tourists.

How often do you get to visit the oldest operating bookstore in the world?!? That alone was cool - but the experience was better than that. Diverse selection of books in a plethora of languages in a vast array of subjects. It was a delightful place to stumble upon.

Livraria Bertrand in Chiado is a must-visit for book lovers. It is officially recognized as the oldest operating bookstore in the world, and walking inside feels like stepping into history. The atmosphere is cozy and full of character, with long wooden shelves and quiet corners perfect for browsing. The selection of books is excellent. Most are in Portuguese, but there is also a section with English titles and other languages. The range of topics is wide, from literature and poetry to history and art. The staff are friendly and helpful if you need assistance finding something. They clearly care about the store and the experience of their visitors. What makes this place special is the sense of tradition. You can imagine the many writers and readers who have walked through the same doors over the centuries. The layout is charming, with small rooms that lead into each other like a maze. It feels very different from a modern chain bookstore. The location in Chiado is also ideal, close to cafés and other historic spots. Prices are fair, and the quality of the editions is high.

When I found out the world's oldest bookstore was here and I had 24 hours in the city, I knew I had to visit. It's in a busy part of Lisbon, which gives it an energy all its own. Loved getting to see all the books I knew in Portuguese and many more I never knew about. They do have an English book section for those looking. Be sure to go all the way to the back to check out the cafe. I had a delicious latte macchiato and banana cake. Staff were friendly.

Wow the oldest bookstore here! There are beautiful tiles outside. They have a good amount of popular books in English also. I was able to buy some cute bags for less than 5 euros each and a small magnet. When you buy any book here, you may request to have them out their store book stamp for you. There is a small Cafe and some limited seating. Staff are helpful. It's on a popular street. Highly recommended for any book lover!

World's oldest operating bookstore! Would recommend going here so you can say that you've been to it! If you speak Portuguese, I'm sure they have a great selection of books. However, for English speakers, they have a very small and limited section. What cool is that they have a stamp if you decide to buy a book or two to say that it was purchased from the world's oldest operating bookstore! There's a cute cafe at the end of the shop for you to enjoy your book with a nice cup of coffee :)

I heard this was the oldest bookstore in the world. I am more of an audiobook person, but I still wanted to check out what it was like. Despite it being known as the oldest in the world, the inside was completely remodeled and looked very contemporary. At the back end, they even have a small coffee shop. At the entrance, they displayed artful books of Portugal and Lisbon. Each room has a different category. I was happy to see they had a good selection of books in English. There was a section of games and puzzles. They had several shelves of planners, calendars, and random cute stationery. This is a fun spot to visit for maybe 10-15 minutes, depending on how much you like to browse. It's near city center, so it's pretty convenient. They do have restrooms in the middle room.

Unbelievably this is the world's oldest bookstore and what a great find. It's stunningly beautiful with arched doorways & beautiful ornate wood throughout each section , leading all the way to a very cute literary cafe at the back. The book store is located in the Chiado district of old town in Lisbon. It's hard to miss because it's on the corner and framed by beautiful blue tile. I could've spent hours in here browsing. Many of the books are in Portuguese but they do have an English section also. Once you buy a book they ask you if you want it, stamped by the store, confirming that indeed, it was bought in the oldest bookstore in the world. Pretty cool. When you are in Lisbon, don't miss this gem of a store.

Bertrand Bookstore - Absolutely Charming... Not. Popped into Bertrand Bookstore recently and had the pleasure of dealing with the world's most hostile cashier (purple/blue hair). Asked about getting my books stamped, and she barely explained it before ending up NOT stamping any of the four books I bought. Really top-notch customer service... if you enjoy being treated rudely and left confused. Management might want to reconsider their hiring choices. Safe to say, I won't be rushing back anytime soon. Cheers for the warm welcome, Bertrand!

I enjoyed browsing through the bookstore so much more than the ever-so-popular Livraria Lello. Libraria Bertrand is less crowded, and people actually buy books from here -- imagine that. There is a variety of classic and contemporary books, including those on local culture. I bought a colorful book on Portuguese tiles as a nice souvenir.

If you love books, you must stop here to visit the oldest functioning bookstore in the world! Small English section available. If you buy something they offer to stamp it for you with their personal stamp for you.

This nice bookstore has a longitudinal shape with several books till the back, where you can find a cafeteria. Each nook has a sofa or similar where you can sit and peruse any of the books. The cafeteria is narrow but with a lot of charm.