10 Places That Prove Portugal is a Book Lover's Paradise

Around the world, books are losing ground to screens, but Portugal hasn’t received the memo. Lisbon is home to the oldest bookstore in the world and hosts the largest book fair in Portugal, which celebrates its 86th anniversary this year. Second-hand shops are springing up across the cities along with stores specialising in the sale of English-print books.
Ler Devagar
Shop

Livraria Lello & Irmão
Bookstore

Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art
Building, Museum

Café Candelabro
Cafe, Bar, European

In Portugal, coffee and wine pairs with everything, including books. The Café Candelabro in Porto is a bookstore, library, and café all in one, that attracts everyone from tourists to locals.
The Literary Man Hotel
Boutique Hotel
There is even a hotel that’s filled from the floor to ceiling with books! The Literary Man Hotel is located in Óbidos, a city known for well-preserved medieval infrastructure and cherry-flavored ginjinha liqueur, but which has also been labeled a ‘book lovers dream‘. Every spare inch of wall is covered, amounting to upwards of tens of thousands of titles. Hotels usually strive for that ‘home’ feel and the Literary Man has achieved that goal with this built-in library.
Oriente Station
Train Station

Walk along the streets and even through the metro, and there are more books! Fairs are common in Portugal, and tables appear all over the place. Mostly, they sell second-hand copies, many for a euro or less. The Oriente Station is one metro stop with daily book fairs.
Livraria Bivar
Bookstore
Don’t worry about not being able to read Portuguese because it’s possible to find titles in English too. The Bookshop Bivar, outside Lisbon’s historic centre, is one shop dedicated to selling second-hand books in English. It’s Lisbon’s own ‘Shop Around the Corner’ (remember You’ve Got Mail?), complete with the cozy setting and an owner who loves to chat with customers.
Chiado
Bookstore, Building

Bibliophiles in Lisbon should not miss the Chiado neighborhood, home to Livraria Bertrand, the oldest bookstore in the world. Having first opened in 1732, it was destroyed by the Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 and rebuilt a short time later in the spot where it can be found today. Across the street from Livraria Bertrand is a bronze Fernando Pessoa . Pessoa, the illustrious author of ‘The Book of Disquiet‘ was one of Portugal’s most celebrated writers and poets known worldwide. Visitors looking for a keepsake from any of these bookstores is in luck. Even Portugal’s history has inspired world-renowned literature, including ‘The Night Train to Lisbon‘. In this philosophical novel, the author takes readers on an adventure through Europe, language, and history. The book was so successful that it was adapted for the big screen nearly 10 years after being published.
Biblioteca Joanina, Portugal
Building, Library, University

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.


KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.