Bookstores in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, RJ has 53 bookstores on the map. That's 53 bookshops mapped around Rio de Janeiro, each with its own shelves and specialties. The used sections are where the real bargains hide. Give yourself an hour minimum — bookshops are the one errand that always takes longer than planned.
This guide covers every bookstore we could verify in and around Rio de Janeiro (within about 40 km), built from OpenStreetMap's community-maintained data. Names you'll run into include Prêmio Livraria Papelaria and Livraria RT, plus Livraria Noa. If a bookshop's missing from Rio de Janeiro's list, it probably just hasn't been mapped yet.
The Rio de Janeiro bookstore lineup
53 mapped within about 40 km:
Prêmio Livraria Papelaria
Bookstore
Prêmio Livraria Papelaria — Bookstore, found on 155 Rua General Pereira da Silva in Niterói.
155 Rua General Pereira da Silva, Niterói
Livraria RT
Bookstore
Livraria RT — Bookstore on 83 Rua da Assembléia.
83 Rua da Assembléia
Livraria Noa
Bookstore
Livraria Noa is Bookstore.
Cia. de Leitura
Bookstore
Cia. de Leitura is Bookstore.
Livraria Vozes
Bookstore
Livraria Vozes — Bookstore, found on 132A Rua Sete de Setembro in Rio de Janeiro.
132A Rua Sete de Setembro, Rio de Janeiro
Empório das Letras
Bookstore
Empório das Letras — Bookstore.
Rio de Janeiro
Beta de Aquarius
Bookstore
Beta de Aquarius — Bookstore, found on 72 Rua Buarque de Macedo in Rio de Janeiro. Also worth knowing about Beta de Aquarius: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
72 Rua Buarque de Macedo, Rio de Janeiro, 22220-030
Phone: +55 21 2556 1213
Galáxia
Bookstore
Galáxia — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Galáxia: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
Phone: +55 21 2240 0926
Paulus
Bookstore
Paulus — Bookstore.
Livraria Argumento
Bookstore
Livraria Argumento — Bookstore.
Folha Seca
Bookstore
Folha Seca is Bookstore.
Jornaleiro
Bookstore
Jornaleiro is Bookstore.
Jornaleiro
Bookstore
Jornaleiro is Bookstore.
Editora da UFF
Bookstore
Editora da UFF is Bookstore.
Mr. Book
Bookstore
Mr. Book is Bookstore on 260 Rua Voluntários da Pátria, Rio de Janeiro. Mr. Book also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
260 Rua Voluntários da Pátria, Rio de Janeiro, 22270-014
Phone: +55 21 2266 8100
Civilis
Bookstore
Civilis — Bookstore.
Livraria Leonardo da Vinci
Bookstore
Livraria Leonardo da Vinci is Bookstore. Livraria Leonardo da Vinci also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 09:30-18:30; Sa 10:00-13:30; Su off.
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-18:30; Sa 10:00-13:30; Su off
Livraria da Travessa
Bookstore
Livraria da Travessa — Bookstore, found on 44 Avenida Rio Branco in Rio de Janeiro. Also worth knowing about Livraria da Travessa: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 10:00-19:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
44 Avenida Rio Branco, Rio de Janeiro, 20090-004
Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-19:00
Phone: +55 21 2519-9000
Livraria FGV
Bookstore
Livraria FGV is Bookstore.
Livraria da Federação Espírita Brasileira (FEB)
Bookstore
Livraria da Federação Espírita Brasileira (FEB) — Bookstore, found on 28 Avenida Passos in Rio de Janeiro. Also worth knowing about Livraria da Federação Espírita Brasileira (FEB): the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 08:30-12:30.
28 Avenida Passos, Rio de Janeiro, 20051-040
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 08:30-12:30
Livraria da Travessa
Bookstore
Livraria da Travessa — Bookstore, found on Av. Afranio de Melo Franco in Rio de Janeiro.
Av. Afranio de Melo Franco, Rio de Janeiro
Livraria Galileu
Bookstore
Livraria Galileu is Bookstore on 116 Rua Major Ávila, Rio de Janeiro.
116 Rua Major Ávila, Rio de Janeiro, 20511-140
Academia do Saber (sebo)
Bookstore
Academia do Saber (sebo) — Bookstore, found on 23 Avenida Passos in Rio de Janeiro.
23 Avenida Passos, Rio de Janeiro, 20051-040
Banca Corredor Cultural
Bookstore
Banca Corredor Cultural is Bookstore.
Livraria Bolívar
Bookstore
Livraria Bolívar — Bookstore.
Livraria Blooks
Bookstore
Livraria Blooks is Bookstore on 48 Praça Quinze de Novembro, Rio de Janeiro. Livraria Blooks also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00; Sa 10:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
48 Praça Quinze de Novembro, Rio de Janeiro, 20010-010
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00; Sa 10:00-18:00
Phone: +55 21 2220-8471;2524-7242
Beco das Letras
Bookstore
Beco das Letras — Bookstore, found on 40, 3. andar Praça da Cruz Vermelha in Rio de Janeiro.
40, 3. andar Praça da Cruz Vermelha, Rio de Janeiro, 20230-130
Sábias Palavras
Bookstore
Sábias Palavras — Bookstore, found on 256 - Sobreloja Avenida Gomes Freire in Rio de Janeiro. Also worth knowing about Sábias Palavras: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 12:00-19:00.
256 - Sobreloja Avenida Gomes Freire, Rio de Janeiro, 20231-013
Hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-19:00
Livraria do Wilsinho
Bookstore
Livraria do Wilsinho is Bookstore on 18 Rua do Rezende, Rio de Janeiro.
18 Rua do Rezende, Rio de Janeiro, 20231-094
Academia do Saber (sebo) unidade 2
Bookstore
Academia do Saber (sebo) unidade 2 is Bookstore on 25 Avenida Passos, Rio de Janeiro.
25 Avenida Passos, Rio de Janeiro, 20051-040
Livraria Universo
Bookstore
Livraria Universo is Bookstore.
Sebo Lima Barreto
Bookstore
Sebo Lima Barreto is Bookstore on 50 Rua Enes de Souza, Rio de Janeiro. Sebo Lima Barreto also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00.
50 Rua Enes de Souza, Rio de Janeiro, 20521-210
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00
Livraria Apollo
Bookstore
Livraria Apollo — Bookstore, found on 686 Rua Almirante Teffe in Niterói.
686 Rua Almirante Teffe, Niterói, 24030085
Livraria Republicana e Sebo
Bookstore
Livraria Republicana e Sebo — Bookstore, found on 681 Rua Almirante Teffe in Niterói.
681 Rua Almirante Teffe, Niterói, 24030085
Livraria Entretexto
Bookstore
Livraria Entretexto is Bookstore.
22240-004
Leitura
Bookstore
Leitura — Bookstore.
Blooks
Bookstore
Blooks is Bookstore. Blooks also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 12:30-21:30; Sa 12:30-21:30; Su 14:00-21:00; PH 14:00-21:00.
Hours: Mo-Fr 12:30-21:30; Sa 12:30-21:30; Su 14:00-21:00; PH 14:00-21:00
Livraria Ouvidor
Bookstore
Livraria Ouvidor is Bookstore on 98 Rua do Ouvidor.
98 Rua do Ouvidor
Livraria da Travessa Ipanema
Bookstore
Livraria da Travessa Ipanema is Bookstore on 572 Rua Visconde de Pirajá.
572 Rua Visconde de Pirajá
Livraria da Travessa
Bookstore
Livraria da Travessa — Bookstore, found on 296 Avenida Graça Aranha in Rio de Janeiro. Also worth knowing about Livraria da Travessa: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
296 Avenida Graça Aranha, Rio de Janeiro, 20030-003
Phone: +55 21 3231-8015
Livraria FGV
Bookstore
Livraria FGV is Bookstore on 190 - térreo Praia de Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro.
190 - térreo Praia de Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, 22250-900
Livraria da Travessa
Bookstore
Livraria da Travessa — Bookstore.
Rio de Janeiro
Leitura
Bookstore
Leitura — Bookstore on 445 Avenida Lauro Sodré. Also worth knowing about Leitura: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
445 Avenida Lauro Sodré
Phone: +55 21 3398 2621
Leitura
Bookstore
Leitura — Bookstore, found on 8 Rua Quinze de Novembro in Niterói.
8 Rua Quinze de Novembro, Niterói, 24020-125
Leitura
Bookstore
Leitura — Bookstore.
Alento
Bookstore
Alento — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Alento: the map lists its hours as Tu-Su 11:00-19:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
Hours: Tu-Su 11:00-19:00
Phone: +55 21 98259 2234
Livraria Ceci
Bookstore
Livraria Ceci — Bookstore on 102 Rua Marechal Cantuária.
102 Rua Marechal Cantuária, 22291-060
igreja Paraíso São Gonçalo
Bookstore
igreja Paraíso São Gonçalo — Bookstore on SÃO GONÇALO. Also worth knowing about igreja Paraíso São Gonçalo: the map lists its hours as Mo-Su 09:00-18:00.
SÃO GONÇALO
Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-18:00
Casa Marx
Bookstore
Casa Marx is Bookstore on 206 Avenida Mem de Sá, Rio de Janeiro. Casa Marx also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-Th 12:00-16:00, Sa 12:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
206 Avenida Mem de Sá, Rio de Janeiro, 20230-150
Hours: Tu-Th 12:00-16:00, Sa 12:00-18:00
Phone: +55 21 97354 1233
Blooks Livraria
BookstoreRun by Universisdade Federal Fluminense - Reitoria
Blooks Livraria is Bookstore run by Universisdade Federal Fluminense - Reitoria on Rua Miguel de Frias, Niterói. Blooks Livraria also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00.
Rua Miguel de Frias, Niterói
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00
Livraria da Travessa
Bookstore
Livraria da Travessa — Bookstore, found on 97 Rua Voluntários da Pátria in Rio de Janeiro. Also worth knowing about Livraria da Travessa: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
97 Rua Voluntários da Pátria, Rio de Janeiro, 22270-000
Phone: +55213195-0200
Livraria Bele Époque
Bookstore
Livraria Bele Époque is Bookstore on 50 Rua Soares, Rio de Janeiro.
50 Rua Soares, Rio de Janeiro
Livraria Janela
Bookstore
Livraria Janela is Bookstore.
What the map tells us about bookstores in Rio de Janeiro
11 of the 53 list their opening hours on the map, which is genuinely useful — bookshops keep civilised hours, so the listed ones are usually reliable.
The Rio de Janeiro bookstore crawl
Making a day of it in Rio de Janeiro? Work this order: Prêmio Livraria Papelaria on 155 Rua General Pereira da Silva, Livraria RT on 83 Rua da Assembléia, Livraria Noa, Cia. de Leitura, Livraria Vozes on 132A Rua Sete de Setembro, Empório das Letras, Beta de Aquarius on 72 Rua Buarque de Macedo, and Galáxia. That's the bookstore crawl in one sensible loop, no backtracking. 45 more are listed below.
Bookstore tips for Rio de Janeiro
A few things worth knowing before you work through Rio de Janeiro's bookstores:
- The used section is underpriced everywhere at Prêmio Livraria Papelaria. Books are heavy and slow to sell, so used shelves price to move. First editions hide here regularly.
- Visit during author events at Livraria RT. Readings and signings are usually free and turn a bookshop into the best evening out in town.
- Come back seasonally. Stock turns over with the publishing seasons. The shop you browsed in spring is a different shop by autumn.
- Check the bargain carts outside. Sidewalk carts are the shop's clearance rack. A dollar a book, and the turnover is fast.
Good to know
We searched about 40 km around Rio de Janeiro — that covers the town itself plus the surrounding communities you'd reasonably drive to. Listings come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by local volunteers, so a brand-new bookstore in Rio de Janeiro can take a while to appear. If you spot one of the 53 that's closed, or a great bookstore we missed, the fix is to update the map itself — that's where this guide reads from.
We don't list prices — they change constantly and vary by edition. What we list is the where: real shops, verified by real mappers, in alphabetical order with no favourites.
If you run one of the 53 listed here and something's wrong — a closure, a move, new hours — the fix is the same: update the shop on OpenStreetMap and the correction flows through to this page on the next daily refresh.
Bookstore listings for Rio de Janeiro: 53 mapped from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Photos from Wikimedia Commons contributors; individual photo credits appear in captions. Listing data was last refreshed automatically — verify hours before visiting.