What to do · Lisbon
Livraria Bertrand in Chiado, the world's oldest operating bookshop
Information
- From
- €0 the self-guided visit; guided tours by reservation
- Duration
- 30 min
- Season
- All year, daily
- Who it's for
- Readers and the curious
What it is
The Bertrand bookshop in Chiado is a bookshop on Rua Garrett, in the heart of Chiado, which Guinness World Records recognises as the oldest operating bookshop in the world. The founding date that Bertrand itself accepts is 1732, based on a medallion bearing the founder's name, although recent research points to bookselling activity from 1727 or earlier. After the 1755 earthquake it reopened on Rua Garrett in 1773, and it has not moved since.
It is not a museum: it is a working bookshop, and you walk in without a ticket at any opening time.
Opening hours and price
Entry is free. The bookshop opens every day, from 9:00 to 22:00 according to the chain's website. The café, at the same address, has its own hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 20:00 and Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 to 13:00. These details come from the bookshop's page; check them if you are going late, especially on public holidays.
Guided tours
Bertrand runs guided tours of the bookshop with advance booking. The website's pages give different schedules (Thursdays at 11:00 and 17:00 on one, the second Saturday of the month on another), so write to the bookshop or check its events listing before counting on them. For an ordinary visit you do not need one.
Getting there
It is at 73 to 75 Rua Garrett, a few steps from Camões square and Baixa-Chiado metro station. From the Baixa you walk up Rua Garrett; if you arrive on tram 28, the Chiado stop is a minute away. Combine it with a stroll around Chiado and down towards the Tagus, or with the Alfama viewpoints.
Photos and rules
You can photograph the interior without a problem, but it is a shop with customers: do not block the aisles or the tables. We have not seen a more specific photo rule on its website.
Tips
- Go first thing At 9:00 the rooms are almost empty and you can see the vaulted ceilings properly.
- Do not expect a museum It is a working bookshop. What you see is what is on sale.
- Ask about the guided tour If you are interested in the history of the place, write beforehand: it runs by reservation.
Frequently asked questions
Do you pay to go into Bertrand in Chiado?
No. Entry to the bookshop is free.
Why is it "the oldest in the world"?
Because Guinness World Records recognises it as the oldest operating bookshop in the world; Bertrand gives 1732 as its founding year.
What time does it open?
Every day from 9:00 to 22:00 according to the bookshop's website.
