Table of Contents
- Introduction
- 1. Livraria Bertrand – Lisbon, Portugal (Founded 1732)
- 2. Moravian Book Shop – Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA (Founded 1745)
- 3. Hatchards – London, England (Founded 1797)
- 4. Librairie Galignani – Paris, France (Founded 1801)
- 5. Brattle Book Shop – Boston, Massachusetts, USA (Founded 1825)
- 6. Libreria Bozzi – Genoa, Italy (Founded 1810)
- 7. Wheeler’s Bookstore – Christchurch, New Zealand (Founded 1886)
- 8. Boekhandel Dominicanen – Maastricht, Netherlands (Founded 1294, bookstore since 2006)
- 9. Librairie Avant-Garde – Nanjing, China (Founded 1996, site history dating back to the 1930s)
- 10. John Smith & Son – Glasgow, Scotland (Founded 1751, retail closed in the 2000s)
- Conclusion
Introduction
Bookstores are more than just retail spaces. They are cultural institutions, literary sanctuaries, and, in many cases, silent witnesses to the turning pages of human history. The oldest bookstores in the world are not merely purveyors of printed words; they are monuments to intellectual persistence, architectural endurance, and the unyielding appetite for knowledge. They have survived revolutions, fires, wars, and the relentless creep of digitalization. In some cases, they have even outlived the countries where they were founded.
To walk into one of these aged establishments is to step into a different era, where paper smells of time and shelves creak with stories, not only of the books they hold but of the centuries they’ve endured. This write-up uncovers the ten oldest bookstores in the world that we can still visit today. Each of them has a story, some with peculiar beginnings, others with dramatic turning points, but all linked by an unwavering devotion to the written word.
This isn’t just a literary travelogue; it’s a celebration of cultural resilience. If walls could talk, these walls would probably quote Dante, chuckle in Chaucer, and sigh in Shakespeare. So let’s turn the page on history and meet the bookstores that have truly stood the test of time.
1. Livraria Bertrand – Lisbon, Portugal (Founded 1732)
Nestled in the charming Chiado district of Lisbon, Livraria Bertrand proudly holds the Guinness World Record as the oldest operating bookstore in the world. Established in 1732 by Pedro Faure, this bookstore has endured earthquakes, political upheavals, and dramatic changes in how we consume literature. Despite it all, the shop continues to serve both locals and curious travelers with the same bookish charm that began almost three centuries ago.
The devastating 1755 Lisbon earthquake destroyed the original location, which flattened most of the city. Unfazed, the founders relocated the shop to its current address in Rua Garrett, which continues to welcome readers. Over the years, Livraria Bertrand has been frequented by Portugal’s literary elite, including famed writer Fernando Pessoa. The interior, although updated, still radiates a classical atmosphere with wooden shelves, soft lighting, and a quiet reverence for books. It’s more than just a bookstore—it’s a heritage site in motion.
2. Moravian Book Shop – Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA (Founded 1745)
The Moravian Book Shop is a delightful contradiction: deeply rooted in tradition yet adaptable enough to still thrive in a modern commercial world. Founded in 1745 by the Moravian Church, this bookstore is the oldest continuously operating bookstore in the United States. It’s older than the country itself, a fact that somehow doesn’t surprise once you step inside and experience its timeless ambiance.
What sets Moravian apart isn’t just its age and sheer versatility. Over time, it’s expanded to include gifts, souvenirs, a café, and even a ghost tour program. But make no mistake: this is a book lover’s haven at its core. From theological texts to bestselling thrillers, its shelves reflect the diversity of its community. After a brief financial scare in recent years, the bookstore was saved and is now run by Moravian University, ensuring that its legacy will likely continue for generations.
3. Hatchards – London, England (Founded 1797)
If Livraria Bertrand is the grande dame of bookstores, then Hatchards is the royal cousin. Established in 1797 by John Hatchard, this Piccadilly-based gem is London’s oldest bookstore and boasts an enduring relationship with the British monarchy. Not just in terms of décor—think creaky staircases and a faint smell of pipe tobacco—but in actual patronage, as Hatchards holds three royal warrants.
Over the centuries, Hatchards has become a literary institution, hosting countless author events and readings. Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, and Lord Byron were all regular visitors, lending the store an almost mythic presence in British literary culture. It has retained its historic charm while aligning with Waterstones in a partnership that keeps it financially viable. The shop spans five floors and still stocks rare editions and contemporary bestsellers, all arranged with the kind of finesse you’d expect from a place that’s had over two centuries to perfect its craft.
4. Librairie Galignani – Paris, France (Founded 1801)
Librairie Galignani claims to be the oldest English-language bookstore on the European continent. Founded by Giovanni Antonio Galignani, an Italian publisher, the store began its journey in Paris in the early 19th century. While Paris has no shortage of literary destinations, Galignani holds a unique place in the city’s intellectual ecosystem.
Located on Rue de Rivoli near the Louvre, the bookstore caters to an international clientele and remains an elite address for bibliophiles. Over the years, it has served the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Simone de Beauvoir, and André Malraux. Galignani is not just a bookstore—it’s a cultural bridge between Anglophone and Francophone readers. The store combines its extensive English and French collections with old-school Parisian elegance: polished wood, velvet chairs, and a reverent hush that makes even the rustling of pages sound dignified.
5. Brattle Book Shop – Boston, Massachusetts, USA (Founded 1825)
The Brattle Book Shop doesn’t just sell books—it curates the aura of a city rich in revolutionary and literary history. Founded in 1825, it is one of the oldest antiquarian bookstores in the United States. Located in downtown Boston, the store has moved several times before settling into its current location on West Street.
Run by the Gloss family since 1949, Brattle is best known for its open-air sale lot—a delightful outdoor extension filled with bargain books. The main store houses rare editions, collectibles, and signed works, catering to both everyday readers and serious collectors. Boston’s icy winters and humid summers haven’t dampened the charm of this literary outpost. If anything, the store seems to wear the seasons like a well-read jacket: a little worn, wonderfully warm, and full of character.
6. Libreria Bozzi – Genoa, Italy (Founded 1810)
Italians are passionate about their heritage, and Libreria Bozzi is a vivid example of that passion made tangible. Founded in 1810, this bookstore stands as the oldest in Italy and is still run by descendants of the original founder, Antonio Beuf. Located near the ancient University of Genoa, the store has long catered to intellectuals, students, and the occasional visiting literary celebrity.
Walking into Libreria Bozzi is like walking into a time capsule. The original wooden shelves still hold sway, and faded manuscripts sit beside contemporary bestsellers in an oddly harmonious way. The store has survived Napoleonic invasions, fascist regimes, and the rise and fall of multiple currencies. Through it all, it has remained steadfast in its mission: to promote the joy of reading, in Italian and beyond.
7. Wheeler’s Bookstore – Christchurch, New Zealand (Founded 1886)
At the edge of the world, Wheeler’s Bookstore has been quietly making history. Established in 1886, it is one of the oldest bookstores in the Southern Hemisphere. Initially a family-run operation, Wheeler’s has grown into a prominent distributor and library supplier, but its flagship retail space remains a nostalgic nod to its roots.
The original store was damaged in the devastating Christchurch earthquake of 2011, but the company adapted swiftly, channeling efforts into online services while maintaining a physical presence. Wheeler’s longevity is due not just to its inventory but to its adaptability. It symbolizes how the book trade can evolve without losing its soul—melding tradition with innovation in true Kiwi fashion.
8. Boekhandel Dominicanen – Maastricht, Netherlands (Founded 1294, bookstore since 2006)
Technically speaking, Boekhandel Dominicanen hasn’t been a bookstore since 1294. But its claim to this list is unique—and irresistible. The building, a 13th-century Dominican church, is over 700 years old. The books arrived much later, when a local bookseller transformed the gothic interior into arguably the most beautiful bookstore in the world.
While not the oldest bookstore in continuous operation, its setting makes it a strong contender for the most atmospheric. Arched ceilings, frescoes, and stained glass provide a cathedral-like reverence to the act of browsing. Academic titles, rare editions, and Dutch bestsellers share shelf space with tourists’ gasps and Instagram snaps. The irony of turning a house of God into a temple of books isn’t lost on anyone—it’s just very well executed.
9. Librairie Avant-Garde – Nanjing, China (Founded 1996, site history dating back to the 1930s)
This entry bends the rules, but not without good reason. Librairie Avant-Garde may have opened as a bookstore only in 1996, but its home—a repurposed underground parking garage beneath a 1930s government building—tells a richer story. What makes it qualify here isn’t age alone, but its unique reinterpretation of historical space to foster intellectual continuity.
China’s bookstore culture has witnessed rapid modernization, and Avant-Garde blends the modern with the mystical. Quotes from Camus and Tolstoy adorn the walls, while the store frequently hosts art exhibitions, philosophical readings, and cultural forums. It’s a dynamic bookstore that, while technically young, embodies the same spirit of resilience and reverence as its older cousins in Europe and America.
10. John Smith & Son – Glasgow, Scotland (Founded 1751, retail closed in the 2000s)
Founded in 1751, John Smith & Son was Scotland’s oldest bookstore and among the oldest in the world. Its brick-and-mortar retail store closed in the early 2000s, but the brand lives on as a specialist academic supplier serving universities worldwide. This unusual post-retail longevity is what earns it a place on this list—a bookstore that has outlived its storefront and reinvented itself without abandoning its roots.
For decades, the store served Glasgow’s intellectual community, becoming a staple for students, professors, and casual readers alike. Although no longer a public-facing shop, its legacy continues through digital and institutional channels. In a way, John Smith & Son has simply evolved with the times, proving that old bookstores don’t die—they just change formats.
Conclusion
The ten bookstores profiled here are more than just retail establishments; they are physical embodiments of literary continuity. Each has weathered wars, disasters, cultural shifts, and digital disruption—not through stagnation but through reinvention. They remind us that bookstores, far from being obsolete, are elastic spaces that adapt while remaining grounded in a love for language, learning, and community.
In a world increasingly addicted to screens, these old bookstores offer a tactile antidote. They are the keepers of stories, not just the ones on the page, but the lived ones—of founders with dreams, communities with needs, and cultures in transition. Visiting them is more than a bucket-list item; it’s a pilgrimage for the literate soul.
So next time you find yourself in Lisbon, London, or even Nanjing, consider stepping into one of these time-tested bookstores. You may just find a rare book—or a piece of yourself.