Livraria Bertrand - Chiado

We just stumbled upon this oldest book store in the world, recognized by the Guinness world records and absolutely loved walking through it. They had tons of well-curated books with stunning interior that respected the original architecture with tasteful renovations. Even if we didn’t buy anything, it was still amazing to walk around and be surrounded by the history and knowledge. It’s in heart of Lisbon so I would recommend you pay a visit if you like books.

Visited this memorable library in July 2025 during my trip to Portugal. Loved walking into this historical store! The shop was recommended by a tour guide from Lisbon. Although the store was crowded, the staff was patiently assisting clients, including myself. Obrigado!

If you ever need proof that Lisbon is a city designed specifically for people who read like they’re plotting a small revolution, just walk into Bertrand—the oldest operating bookstore in the world, allegedly, and absolutely the most subtly dramatic. I walked in for “a quick browse” (the three most dangerous words in my vocabulary) and walked out with the usual: a book I didn’t plan to buy, a print I didn’t need, and the quiet suspicion that someone in this city has been reading my mind again. In today’s haul: Saramago’s Historia del cerco de Lisboa, because if you’re going to be confused, you might as well be confused by a Nobel Prize winner. Bertrand has this dangerous charm. The kind that whispers: “Buy another book, you sophisticated disaster. You deserve it.” And, of course, I obeyed. The aisles are narrow enough to make you feel like you’re discovering secrets, but wide enough that no one breathes on your neck (a rare luxury in European bookstores). The staff behave like gentle librarians who’ve sworn an oath never to interrupt your existential spiral. And the books—they arrange themselves politely on the shelves as if waiting for you to pick the one that will ruin your next three nights of sleep. What I love most is the energy: Bertrand doesn’t make you feel like a customer. It makes you feel like you accidentally wandered into your own intellectual origin story. Even if you’re just buying a book because of its cover design. Lisbon has many tourist traps, but Bertrand isn’t one of them. It’s a sanctuary for those of us who read to stay alive, and shop for books like we’re stocking an underground resistance library. 10/10. Would fall into another literary rabbit hole here again.

Livraria Bertrand in Chiado holds the title of the world’s oldest operating bookstore, founded in 1732 — and it’s still a beloved cultural gem today. Nestled in the elegant Chiado district, the shop blends centuries of literary history with a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Inside, you’ll find cozy wooden rooms lined with books in Portuguese and English, along with portraits of famous writers who once gathered here. It’s the perfect place to browse, read quietly, or pick up a meaningful souvenir from Lisbon. More than a bookstore, Bertrand is a living piece of Portugal’s literary soul.

Amazing book store with lot of history. Spent around an hour walking around. They have books in different languages (Portuguese, English, Spanish, French...). Also they were having plenty of discounts from 20% to 50%. As a book lover, I have to buy a book in this place. I chose a classic in a nice edition. At the till, you can ask them to add a free stamp on your book (English or Portuguese) as proof that you bought a book in the oldest bookstore in the world. A pretty cool touch. They also wrap it for free if it's a gift for Xmas. Totally recommend to stop in here and advise to do it early in the morning, so it isn't busy.

This is the oldest bookstore in Portugal — and possibly one of the oldest in the world. It offers an excellent selection of books, and the staff are always polite, knowledgeable, and eager to help. I highly recommend it to all book lovers and travelers alike.

The oldest bookstore still in operation in the world. They stamped my books with the record proving stamped. So cool, so many books, very friendly staff. Highly recommend you go there!

Definitely this bookshop is as beautiful as you’ve heard but even with timed tickets it is unbelievably crowded. We bought the Gold ticket which meant we waited in the shortest line to enter. Otherwise, the queue snaked down the block. Inside we could only move a few steps in either direction before stopping with the crowd. Our ticket gave us a credit to spend in the store but it only applied to a handful of books in English. Our visit was midday in early October supposedly not the busy season. The early morning tickets were sold out Perhaps that’s a better time. I love to see bookshops thrive but this one has become a somewhat a victim of its own success.

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.