Finding Books in English in Portugal [Bonus Post]
Where English-speaking expats and travelers can browse, buy, and discover books.
Dear Readers,
One of the things I have missed since moving to Portugal is wandering through English-language bookshops or browsing titles from an online bookseller. Portugal is deeply literary and bookstores are woven into daily life, but finding books in English sometimes requires a bit of detective work.
When we moved to Portugal in 2021, I included a couple of boxes of books in English in our shipping pallet so that I could have a decent supply of reading material while living abroad, until I could find local sources. My preference has always been to read a physical book and not something on a tablet, so this was important to me. I suspect I’m not alone. Many of my readers have asked where they can buy books in English in Portugal, and those questions inspired this guide.
Over the past few years, Paul and I have discovered that English books are everywhere here, just not always where you expect them. They appear in historic Chiado bookshops, tucked into markets, or arriving weeks later from an online seller somewhere across Europe and beyond.
This guide gathers what I have learned and what readers often ask about where English-speaking folks can buy books in Portugal, both in person and online.
Quick Picks
Best English-focused shop (Lisbon): Good Company Books
Best Porto indie: Rosebud Bookshop
Best atmospheric browsing: Ler Devagar
Best coastal surprise: GB Store Cascais
Best budget online option: AwesomeBooks
Best VAT-included UK seller: Blackwell’s
Lisbon: English-Friendly Bookshops
Good Company Books - A welcoming English-language bookshop that feels built for readers living abroad. Expect curated fiction, thoughtful nonfiction, and a sense of community.
Bookshop Bivar - A long-standing second-hand favorite with shelves packed tightly with English titles. Perfect for browsing and building a library without breaking the budget.
Salted Books - A newer addition to Lisbon’s literary landscape, offering contemporary English-language titles alongside a strong community vibe.
Fable Lisbon - Part café, part cultural space, part bookshop and very much a gathering place for readers and writers. English books appear alongside events, workshops, and conversations.
Livraria Bertrand Chiado - The world’s oldest operating bookstore is primarily Portuguese, but it does carry a rotating English section. Worth visiting for its history alone. Any English books you find feel like a bonus. There are also several Bertrand bookstores throughout Portugal selling English books.
Ler Devagar — LX Factory - One of Lisbon’s most iconic bookshops. While multilingual, it maintains a solid English-language section including classics and contemporary titles. Come for the books, stay for the atmosphere.
Color Square - Not a traditional bookstore, but a wonderful place for English children’s books and family-friendly titles.
Poets & Dragons Bookshop - A small independent bookshop and publisher dedicated largely to English-language poetry and children’s literature. Located near the beach in Costa da Caparica, Poets & Dragons offers a thoughtfully curated selection of English titles alongside original illustrated works and literary events. It’s a quieter, more specialized space perfect for readers looking for something a little different from mainstream bookstores.
It’s a Book - A beautifully curated independent bookstore known for illustrated books, children’s literature, and art-focused titles. English-language selections appear throughout its collection, making it a lovely discovery for readers seeking something beyond mainstream paperbacks.
Porto: English-Language Finds in the North
Rosebud Bookshop - An independent English-language bookstore in Porto known for both new and used titles. A rare and welcome find for English readers.
Flâneur - A beautifully curated bookstore that includes English-language literature among its carefully selected titles.
Livraria Lello - Primarily a Portuguese literary landmark, but occasional English titles appear among its multilingual offerings. Expect crowds (a paid reservation to tour is required) and treat English books here as a serendipitous discovery rather than a guarantee.
Cascais, Parede & the Lisbon Coast
Tantos Livros Livreiros — Parede - A local independent bookstore that occasionally stocks international and English titles. Ideal for expats who want to support neighborhood bookshops while keeping an eye out for English editions.
Indie Not a Bookshop — Cascais - A curated cultural space where books are part of the experience rather than the primary focus. English titles may appear among design objects and independent publications.
RG Livreiros — Cascais - A well-known Cascais bookstore with foreign-language titles, including English.
GB Store — Cascais - A British goods shop that quietly keeps a small room with shelves of English books, sometimes even second-hand or free. A wonderful reminder that expat life often happens in unexpected places.
Beyond Lisbon & Porto
100ª Página - Braga - A highly regarded independent bookstore that includes a modest multilingual selection, with English titles appearing alongside Portuguese literature.
Owl Story Books - Lagos - A long-standing Western Algarve favorite offering one of the region’s largest selections of English-language books, alongside German and Portuguese titles. Expect everything from holiday reads to nonfiction, travel guides, and children’s books plus a buy-back system that keeps books circulating.
Faz de Conto Livraria - Coimbra - A specialty bookstore known for illustrated and children’s titles, with a small but thoughtful selection of English-language books available both online and in-store.
Community Book Sources
Silver Coast Volunteers Book Exchange — Óbidos - This volunteer-run book exchange is one of the most community-driven places in Portugal to find English-language books. Shelves are largely filled with donated English titles, and visitors are encouraged to take a book, leave one behind, or make a small donation supporting local projects. It feels less like a shop and more like a shared library. A reminder that the expat reading community here often grows through generosity rather than retail.
Unexpected Places to Find English Books
Portugal rewards curiosity. English titles can appear in:
Apolónia Supermercados with locations in the Algarve (small but reliable selections)
Museum and cultural center shops
Airport bookstores
Charity shops or swap shelves
Community cafés
Public libraries
These discoveries rarely replace a dedicated English language bookstore, but they add a sense of adventure to the search.
Online English-Language Booksellers That Ship to Portugal
Portugal-Based & EU Options
Amazon Spain - Often the easiest ordering experience for Portugal. I have used this company personally. Delivery is quick, especially for Prime users.
FNAC - Reliable for mainstream English titles. I have personally used this company and delivery is quick. There is also a pick-up in store option.
Wook - A Portuguese online bookseller with a growing English section.
Kennys - Ireland-based, meaning fewer customs complications for EU readers, although shipping can be expensive and delivery can take between 8 and 20 business days.
Libristo - An online bookseller based in the Czech Republic boasting 23 million titles in over 150 languages including English. Ships only within the European Union, so no additional VAT or customs fees apply. Flat rate shipping.
UK & International Sellers
Blackwell’s - Often includes delivery and VAT in the price. One of the smoother UK options post-Brexit.
AwesomeBooks - A favorite among budget readers. Huge catalog of new and used English titles, frequently with free delivery to Portugal. Delivery times can vary depending on where the book ships from.
Bookdelivery.com - Portugal-specific pricing and ships directly with VAT included at checkout. I have personally used this company and have been satisfied with the service. Shipping times can vary from a few days to a few weeks.
ThriftBooks - U.S. based. Sometimes ships internationally, though availability depends on the individual listing. New and used books.
A Note on Customs & VAT
Since Brexit, ordering from UK sellers can be unpredictable. Some companies include taxes and customs fees in advance, while others may result in delays or additional charges upon arrival.
As a general rule:
EU-based sellers tend to be simpler.
UK sellers that advertise VAT-included pricing offer more predictable deliveries.
Tips for Book Browsing in Portugal
English sections are often smaller. Ask staff if you don’t see one immediately.
Independent bookshops may order English titles upon request.
Weekday mornings tend to be quieter for browsing in Lisbon and Porto.
Combine visits with nearby cafés. Many Portuguese bookstores are designed for lingering.
Accessibility Notes
Many historic bookstores are located in older buildings with narrow aisles or stairs. Larger modern stores such as FNAC or Bertrand branches may offer easier access, while smaller independents vary widely.
Disclosure
The links above are provided for reader reference and convenience only. Our Portugal Journey is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or compensated by any of the bookstores or online sellers listed, and no affiliate links are used in this article.
A Quiet Companion to Life in Portugal
Books have always been a form of continuity for me holding language, memory, and a sense of home, even as our lives take root somewhere new.
Living in Portugal has taught me that finding English books isn’t about replicating what I left behind. It’s about discovering new rhythms of reading - mixing Portuguese and English shelves, local cafés and online orders, historic bookstores and unexpected supermarket finds.
And perhaps that’s the real gift: learning that a good story, like a good journey, rarely stays confined to one place.
Have a favorite English-language book spot in Portugal that I should know about? Share it in the comments so fellow readers can discover it too.
Note: My annual Summer Reading List - Books that Travel Through Portugal publishes on June 18th. Included in this expanded list are recommendations from Our Portugal Journey readers. Stay tuned…
Thanks for being on this journey with me.
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Until next time,
Obrigada!
Carol