Livraria Lello

Beautifully ornate wooden staircase and library. Worth the queue and 10€ entrance fee. The building is narrow so good that the crowd is restricted and managed in groups entering every 15 minutes. As most people only coming to look and not buy, the entrance fee is understandable. Great range of classic literature in pretty editions available to be bought in numerous languages. Even Harry Potter books which have no litterary connection it seems to the place!!

this library is incredibly beautiful, i went on a week day at 2pm, i bought the tickets online and was the best decision, it was not as crowded as i expected. the book variety is good, and they have special editions of some classics.

The library itself is absolutely beautiful. It feels like a magical library. Some people think it inspired Harry Potter but these are just rumours. But the library is beautiful anyway and is worth the visit if you’re into architecture and books. However the visit isn’t really pleasant. You have to book a ticket in advance with an entry time. We arrived a bit late but they let us in and we didn’t have to wait which was great. But the worst is inside… It is so crowded! You can’t walk properly and climbing the stairs is a bit dangerous because people don’t look around and only care about taking pictures on the stairs. It was stressful so we visited quickly. You also have a voucher when you order online that you can use in the shop. We decided to buy two books because it was a special edition engraved with the name of the library. But also because we wanted to read these books anyway so it was a good occasion. The books are in several languages like French or English. They don’t have much references just some classics of the littérature like Romeo & Juliet, Jungle Book, The Phantom of the Opera, Peter Pan and more. I don’t think it’s a must do for everyone so if you’re not into books or architecture then you can skip this and keep your money/time.

It’s a beautiful library and has a real timeless feel to it. I was avoiding it after reading about wait times but my son was keen on visiting so we did. Despite time slots mentioned on tickets, the queues can be long (we went in Oct, which is low season) and the wait quite a bit. It is very busy inside and so it takes away from the pleasure of browsing at leisure or comfort. Whilst I loved the interiors, the overall experience feels very rushed and cramped unfortunately.

The interior of the book shop is beautiful but the place is a BIG tourist trap. 1. You have to buy a ticket to access the library 2. The library is fully crowded with tourist so you can barely take good photos and you cannot walk freely thoughtout the shop 3. The book shop assortment is poor. It only has touristic book you can buy at a souvenir shop and lots of classic literature that you can buy only. Barnes and Nobles is way better than this place 4. The credit you get when you buy the ticket is good for a selection of pocket books not worth a penny. 5. If you are only curious about the shop this is not the place for you. If you still want to enjoy the beauty and take some photos go pretty early when there is less crowd.

We arrived at 11:30am appointment and found a long line. The book store isn’t too big so people were packed in. Thankfully, the crowd thinned out before the 12pm appointments came in so we got some good photos. We bought a couple of small books and used the entry fee credit towards the purchase. Overall, it was a nice visit and memorable, especially the unique staircase.

It’s a beautiful bookstore no doubt about that but please don’t lure Harry Potter fans for no reason. I think the entry should be free. Not worth the money but they let you buy a book and deduct some money I am not sure may be 8 euros which is the price of the ticket. Yea yes we get the staircase might’ve been inspired from this store but that’s just it. I asked them to make sure I wasn’t missing on anything, they said ya they had a Harry Potter section which was basically the Harry Potter books in English and Portuguese.

I bought the platinum ticket (50 euro) which gave me access to the Gemma room. This is the "jewel" room where they store rare, first editions and signed copies of special books. First edition of Alice in Wonderland, signed first edition of The Picture of Dorian Gray, signed edition of The Little Prince and so on. An expert gives you a tour of the place and narrates the history of the bookstore and highlights the importance of rare books stored here. I was so happy our tour guide was Beatriz Marinho, who wasn't just knowledgeable about the bookstore, but shared the passion for books. I really enjoyed her peppering her narrations with her own perspective on books and authors. The visit to the Gemma room was totally worth the 50euro I paid, but I could also buy books worth this amount against the ticket. They have special pocket sized editions of many classics like Pride and Prejudice, Romeo and Juliet, The Little Prince, The Picture of Dorian Gray and so on. These are really stunning editions with pages having golden edges. They are collectibles for sure. I spent close to two hours in the Gemma room and wasn't satisfied. I see many people complaining about the bookstore charging an entry fee (10 euros) as they expect entry to a bookstore to be free. In the same breath, they also complain that despite buying a timed ticket, they need to wait in the queue to be let inside. Can you imagine how overcrowded the bookstore would be if the entry was free? And how does the bookstore do business if people walk in for free, just take pictures and leave without buying a book? Moreover the 10euro is redeemable. You buy a book worth that much and your entry is practically free. The bookstore is very transparent about the fee and how one can redeem this voucher. If you are still bitter about paying an entry fee, please do us book lovers a favor and don't visit. This bookstore claims to be the most beautiful bookstore in the world. I wouldn't question that claim but argue that while the building and the interiors are stunning, the real beauty lies in the treasure of books it holds. Beatriz, thank you for a memorable visit. This will stay with me for a long time.

Beautiful bookstore in library famous for its appearance in the Harry Potter movies. Purchase tickets in advance online and it came with a free book. There was a really long line that stretched probably about 60 to 80 people. The Long line took a while, but it was expected with how popular this place is. The inside is very small for the amount of people in line, but it was beautiful. The art in the ceilings and on the walls transform you back into the past. These staircase is very unique and a great place to take pictures although hard to get a picture with all the people in the background. The employees were really nice and helpful even though they were very busy. But definitely recommend this place if you are in the area

I would say that this is a must see is you are able to! We did go online and secure our time slot and paid the admission fee (you can apply the 8 euro to your purchase). The say that this inspired JK Rowlings of her description in the Happy Potter books. This place is small but it will not disappoint and we did pick up a few books to take home (stamped with Livraria lello stamp). The architecture is amazing and well worth the wait and the price of admission. I wish I had more space in my suitcase and I would have purchased more so I guess I will have to come back and get what I had missed.

You have to book a time to come into this book store. It is beautiful inside, but super chaotic. It was so busy when I went. You can use the ticket voucher to purchase a book.

Beautiful bookstore in Porto with wonderful architecture and designs. The staff there is very rude and there is no organization whatsoever , you have people running into you every few seconds and the place is very small. It's definitely a tourist trap and not worth 10 euros but you can use the money you paid for the ticket towards your book purchase, of course most books are much more expensive than expected. The staff being rude and not organizing the entrance and the movement inside ruins the experience entirely. The place was not worth it unless you enjoy architecture , there is no other significance to Harry Potter since the author said she has never been there when in Porto. I would skip this spot

This place felt like a total tourist trap. We booked our tickets online, with me purchasing a regular ticket and an upgraded one that included a handheld book. The space was extremely crowded, and while the bookcase was interesting, it definitely wasn't worth the €30 total for the two of us. Upon exiting, I discovered the handheld book I chose cost €2 more than the one included with the ticket, so I had to pay the difference. It wasn't a huge issue, but it felt a bit misleading. On the bright side, the staff were very friendly, and the checkout process was quick. Overall, we spent less than 10 minutes in the store.

Sadly, I was heavily disappointed by this bookstore experience. It is advertised as a beautiful bookstore, with Harry Potter like elements, but all I felt was overcrowded and pushed to purchase something. This is 100% a tourist trap by the bookstore, which saddens me given that were it to remain a historic bookstore, I could see the architectural charm inside. There is a winding staircase, which is probably the only thing that may resemble Harry Potter.

Very crowded but beautiful library and tourist location! The workers were extremely nice and explained everything. People will start lining up outside an hour before! Also, you have to book tickets in advance!! The selection of books is wide! The value of the visit for the price was great!!

This over hyped book story was a disappointment and you have to pay 8€ per person to get in. They claimed the author (JK Rowling) of Harry Porter used to write her book series there. I don't see how. The place was much smaller than their photos indicated. There was practically no room to sit and their book collection is limited. The only thing that I give them is the design and architecture are unique but not worth paying 8€ to be cramped in with similar people looking for more. They also give you 8€ off per party if you buy a book. This is a tourist trap.

The "most beautiful bookstore in the world"...well...that marketing phrase should have already been a red flag, but I was blinded by the supposed inspiration for the creation of Hogwarts. It is safe to say that this bookstore is truly a tourist trap, and they know and play well into that. TIMED TICKETS. My bf and I were in Porto, and I had planned for us to visit Livraria Lello since he loves books and I love Harry Potter. The line was SUPER long but that was expected. I knew that entry was €8 a person which could be used towards a discount on a book if you decide to buy one. What I didn't know was that there are actually TIMED TICKETS for you to get in. Unfortunately the worker told me it was sold out that day so we bought tickets for the following day at 1:00pm. LATE ENTRY. Following day, we get there around 12:45pm and again, lines were super long. There was a point where it became two lines, and we were very confused as were a lot of people. I asked the person in front of me what the difference was, and she said one was for 12:30pm, and the other was for 1:00pm. I knew we were into trouble when I saw how long the 12:30pm line was at 1:00pm. They didn't start letting 1:00pm ticket holders in until 1:15pm, and we didn't get into the bookstore until 1:30pm. CROWD. We get into the bookstore and realize how they have packed us in like sardines...how very fitting for Portugal. This crowd was equivalent to being on a crowded bus and trying to fight your way through stand-still people to get to the doors before they leave your stop. We moved very slowly in there for such a small bookstore. My bf was hoping to buy a book here, but a lot of them were in Portuguese, but even if we had gotten a book, I couldn't even tell you where the line was and where you paid. It was that chaotic in there. It was even hard to stop and look at the books, especially upstairs where everyone was going to. INTERIOR. I was expecting it to be big, grand, and fantastical, but the interior wasn't anything noteworthy enough. They had a nice staircase and ceiling...idk...that was about it. I literally paid less to see a whole medieval castle in Spain 2 days prior. We left the store after 10 minutes. This was an epic disappointment all around: long wait times, late entry, crowdedness, and a just ok interior. They really play into the tourism bit. They even have a section and a glass case display of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Another sign of them playing into that marketing of a SUPPOSED inspiration for the series. I'm assuming that they make more money from entry fees than from actually selling books. Don't fall into this tourist trap like I did. It's not worth it!

Livraria Lello is one of the spots in Portugal that goes into the lore of Harry Potter. If you're a fan of the books or movies, this may be a good stop for you. The intertwining stairs of Livraria Lello are said to have inspired the vision for the moving stairs within Hogwarts. When you see the stairs in the bookshop, you can definitely see why they were the inspiration. The stairs go up, have a landing in the middle, and then go up and out in different directions. So if you're standing in the middle, you have stairwells on every side of you, which can make for a really cool photo. And because of that, it is VERY busy with people taking that exact photo. If you are there to just purchase a book, I would avoid the stairs, if you're able and just take a photo from afar. It's definitely a pretty bookshop in its own right, without the Harry Potter background, so if you're in Porto, I would give it a visit, but be prepared for a crowd doing the same thing!

A bit crowded but that's expected. It's gorgeous inside... it's worth the 8€ because they apply the ticket price to any purchase. Employees seemed pleasant considering the running around and crowdedness. The selection of books seemed to be consistent throughout in different languages. They had the book I came for! My only gripe would be that they only had one cheaply made bookmark... for being a bookstore you'd think they'd have a good selection!

A building simply full of books.Looks like some of harry Potter movie scenes was made in here. Anotherplace that is over tourism,literally inside people were like ants,For me healthwise this is not safe,hot inside plus crowded area not really good combination: For the good side it was really amazing place to visit,you can find any books or articles that crosses your mind,the problem is the lineup. Some books I touched and interest me -the price is reasonable,i didnt explore the whole place for I cant breath imside,so so many people inside. Well the place is clean not sure if they have a washroom inside,attendants were polite but you can hardly find them. If your adventurous and love books well gez this is the place for you,but old folks and those with medical condition i dont thinks so. I visited this place for the sake of seeing it but if I will be back in here this will not be included in my to do and see places. Sad but true..

Yelpers Warning! This well-known library has become a TOURIST TRAP, and in my mind a rip-off for €8 per person. They unfortunately cram around 250 visitors in what is a very small library. I understand that this is not a public museum but the process is remarkably poorly managed. The library on its own is quaint with some beautiful faux-wood marqueterie work (it is actually plaster painted). And it is rumored to have been inspired J.K. Rowling's depiction of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series. Probably a good marketing ploy that is working too well as hundreds of Harry Potter fans are invading the store and doing selfies in a crammed staircase. Yes, the owner has problem. This thing is working too well. Sorry folks but this is not my cup of tea. You have so many old libraries in Europe where you don't have to pay any access fees. In addition, the staff guarding and processing the access to the library is rude and unhelpful. It was an excruciating painful process to get in. They want you to use a payment app that does not work. The service staff could not care less and had us waiting for more than 20 minutes at the door. This was unfortunate and not typical for the well established Porto's hospitality. In my mind, this deserves a fair warning as it is not worth your time nor your dime!

U need to get the tics online so u can get ur spot.the library is unique , the stairway is pretty in red with the above with the gothic style ceilings.considered one of the most stunning bookshops in the world.

It's a beautiful bookstore; however, a complete tourist trap in the sense you aren't enjoying the ambience of browsing books or marveling at the architecture. You get up early to get in a ridiculous line that starts entry at 9am to be shuffled through like cattle to join hordes of strangers who are trying to get that shot for the gram. Btw If you get there at 9am you are already late. 8€ for the silver ticket and 18€ for the gold ticket to just got look at the staircase in the bookstore. Absolutely, wouldn't recommend. Instead go check out the library at Coimbra university or Ler Devager bookstore /coffee shop in Lisbon.

For tourists only - crowded and expensive. Cost at the time of writing this was 8 Euro per person just to get inside. You will spend more time in the queue than in the store. The in store experience is crowds of people pushing each other to take pictures. Books are mostly hardback and appear to be priced high enough to cover the admission price credit. I'd skip it.

This place is so cool! I just wish it wasn't so crowded and they wouldn't let so many people in at the same time. You have to schedule a time to go in, but even so the line to get in was so long. It's like thousands of people had the same time. So to get a picture on to the staircase, was basically impossible without having people in your background. It's a cool place to see since J. K. Rowling got inspiration from there but it's just way too overcrowded. If you were buying something, the line goes pretty quickly though. And some of the money that you used for the ticket can go towards a book....

I've been wanting to come to this bookstore for so long, and I finally made it! I was so excited to be here! I purchased an advance ticket to skip the line for 15 Euros, and with that, you got to select a book, which worked magically - I went right in, and the 15 euros was worth the selection of small books that say - the most beautiful bookstore in the world on the front, what a nice souvenir! I got a picture on the staircase alone, which was wonderful, people were taking turns for that picture, and were very polite about it! The bookstore itself was beautiful, I loved browsing, and there were sections for books in every language! I loved the books that had covers made just for Livraria Lello - this month it was "1984". The staff were very friendly and helpful, and there were a lot of them. If you want a nice Livraria Lello bag for your purchases, there is a charge for that. The storefront was different than I expected it to look. I thought it was a church at first! I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here!

Rumor has it, JK Rowling became inspired by the stairs in this famous bookstore and also frequented it as well. You pay for tickets ahead of time to visit this library and are able to enter at your allocated time. It is packed as it's a very touristy spot. Super cool though!

One of the most beautiful libraries in the world! We visited Livraria Lello in December of 2022 during our trip to Portugal. It is a popular spot with tourists, but I heard Portuguese-speaking visitors while we were in line. Perhaps they were Brazilian tourists; who knows! Livraria Lello is a bookstore and has been one since 1906. I read somewhere that Lonely Planet considers it the third most beautiful library in the world! I do not know where the first two are, but I can assure you that once you visit Livraria Lello, you will be impressed with its architectural beauty and the bookish knowledge that it carries. It is arguably the most famous bookstore in Portugal and a very popular place to visit in Porto. The building was inaugurated on January 13th, 1906. Apparently, that was an important social event for Portuguese and Brazilian societies, and famous people attended the ceremonies. There is a loose tie between Livraria Lello and Harry Potter! JK Rowling, the author, lived in Porto as an English teacher from 1991 to 1993 and visited the bookstore often. Many suggest that the bookstore is the inspiration behind some of the famous Hogwarts scenery in the movie. The staircase in the store looks like one in a fairytale castle. The bookstore began charging a visitors entrance fee starting in July 2015. But if you buy a book, the entrance fee will be discounted.

it is money grab, impossibly crowded, not that amazing, dangerous and disappointing. I can't believe the fire marshall lets them operate

I think Livraria Lello makes more money off of its sale of tickets than from that of actual books. Aside from the cool staircase, this bookstore does not have much to be excited about. They claim to be "the most beautiful bookstore in the world", but I don't think it's beautiful. They just have a unique staircase for a bookstore. You have to buy online tickets ahead of time, and many people line up way before the actual entry time. The lines are very hectic even with timed tickets (1 star off), and when inside, the crowd is worse than Disneyland on a holiday (1 star off). There are always a few people who spend an incessantly long time taking selfies on the staircase, blocking everyone else's mobility. Fortunately, the staff monitors this situation and will tell these youngsters to move on. There are some interesting unique editions of books made specifically for LIvraria Lello, but why would you want to buy books here when you just want to get out of that crowded place as quickly as possible?

Step one, pay €8 online to get a timed ticket. It was beautiful bookstore, but it gets very crowded. If you want pictures on the stairs, be very patient. I collect The Little Prince books in each country I visit in the country's language. To me the coolest thing about this bookstore is that they have their own Livraria Lello Little Prince Book, I bought the book and a matching book bag.

Beautiful bookstore made famous in Harry Potter. Wide selection from classics such as Shakespeare, William Blake etc to current such as Solomon Rushdie. One must reserve in advance for a timed ticket.. yes.. it's that popular. The ticket will cost five euros. Books come in different languages. There are three separate floors: surrounded by the most beautiful things: books! There is a winding staircase that is well worth the climb to peruse books or just view the beautiful stained glass ceiling or watch in wonder as hordes of curious book lovers file in. Located near Belem Tower.. definitely worth checking out.

This is a tourist attraction because of JKR. It is the worlds most beautiful bookshop that is why it cost 5 euros per person to enter via online. It is very busy, too crowded with people. Stairs are tight but the views are good for the IG post but again, too many people!!! There's a little section for The Little Prince in the back with English, Portuguese, Spanish and French.

It is beautiful but full of people at 8 euros per person. But the store and architecture is amazing.

Don't bother. It's a pretty bookshop but not worth pre-booking, queuing and paying €8 to enter. I can understand why the owners charge etc to deter people from crowding the place only to take photos but as a tourist attraction it's a little lacking, even with the tenuous Harry Potter connection.

One of the more popular places to see in Porto. Voted as one of the most beautiful bookstore in the world. Visited during the peak of tourist season. Line is incredibly long even for the tickets if you both tickets ahead of time that you get a credit of purchase a book later. I advise to buy a preselected book online for store pick up. It will ask you for a time slot. It's 14 or so euro. I advise if you can get time slot when they open or near closing- less people and you can get your instagramable picture. The inside has amazing architecture. It does remind me of Hogswart in Harry Potter. But JK Rowling will deny stepping foot in the bookstore even though it's on her way home to her pad from Majestic Cafe. It's worth stopping by. Our books we got had the bookstore prints in it. Definitely a collectible.

While this may be considered a 'tourist trap' I'm glad we got timed tickets and experienced it once. We went early thinking we'll avoid the crowd at 9am, but I guess everyone felt the same. A store keeper told us they didn't have these crowds in the past and there was no entry fee. As Harry Potter popularity and social media grew, they had to add this fee and timed tickets to control the crowd. Yet once we got inside it was still very busy. So, don't expect to get any photos without crowds of people around you. Trying to get a photo on the famed staircase required some patience. The books are expensive as you'd imagine, but I guess nice to have a keepsake. Even with timed tickets, I think they let too many people in at the same time. Also, there is no time limit once inside so that makes it a bit harder to control crowds. While there is no guarantee, an employee mentioned to consider a weekday around lunch or afternoon and you may get lucky with less folks. Overall, very cool bookstore/library, but more enjoyable when there isn't a swarm of tourists with selfie sticks. They accept credit card payment. Across from the store is a small to-go cafe with coffee if you need a snack while waiting to enter.

It's a beautiful bookstore. Buy your ticket ahead of time, probably earlier or later is best. The cost of your ticket goes towards a book. Let go of trying to get any pictures without people in them-- it's a cluster fcuk. Prepare yourself, and just the beauty of it, special livraria lello edition books, the historial literary items.

I'll echo some of the negative reviews here and say that yes, this is 100% a tourist trap and not a very fun one at that. Sure, it's a beautiful and memorable bookstore inside, and if there wasn't an annoyingly expensive and cumbersome timed ticket entry, I would absolutely recommend stopping by for a short visit. As it were, we left feeling like we were a little ripped off, even in the off season when the crowds were much smaller. Once you get inside, you quickly realize there's not much to actually do or see inside the bookstore besides the architecture. Everyone is trying to take the perfect picture of the interior, so you feel like there's hardly any space to actually stand and browse the books. The books themselves are all overpriced Lello-published editions of classic books that you could find for a fraction of the price at any other bookstore, even with the discount they give you from the entry fee. It's just not worth it. If you have plenty of time on your hands and you really want to see this place, temper your expectations and come towards the end of the day when the crowds are smaller.

I loved this place! Absolutely beautiful and inspiring. It's no wonder it's referred to as the most beautiful bookstore in the world.

If you love literature, AVOID THIS BOOKSTORE. They are a clear marketing trap. There are very few actual books inside, aside from mainstream titles and classics (not that there's anything wrong with classics, I just expected a wider spread of titles to choose from). Limited English selection (which again, fine, but make this clear before people pay to enter), overpriced, and it definitely isn't beautiful inside--there is a fake wood staircase painted red, this is the main attraction. Worst part of my stay in Portugal so far. Check out literally any other bookstore instead.

It's probably the most popular tourist attraction in Porto. The location or Harry Potter film and an amazing building that is so intricate on the inside. One of the most interesting book stores I have ever seen in my life. Beautiful wooden carvings and decorative pieces, high ceilings and tall book shelves and loads of interesting things to see in here. Be warned, it's packed usually so not easy to get around. Buy tickets online and get there on time.

Quaint little bookstore. Caters to tourists with the book selection. $5 entry fee but you get to use that as your credit if you buy books with them. This bookstore has detailed designs in their staircases and ceilings. The only downside is that it is flooded with tourists wanting to take pictures. Nice to visit location if you are in Porto.

Livaria Lello described itself as "the most beautiful bookstore in the world" and I would not challenge them on that. The interior is quite honestly spectacular! However, they're mostly known as a place where JK Rowling got some inspiration for Hogwarts - and so it's mobbed with fans and especially with tiresome Insta-girls looking for a perfect selfie. In response, they've quite rightly instituted an entrance fee of €5 which is then applied to any purchase you make. Come early as the line gets longer as the day progresses. Unfortunately the crowds do make it hard to enjoy the beautiful interiors and you have a real risk of falling down the gorgeous staircase because fools are blocking it trying to get their next thirst-trap photo. In terms of books? Great! Lots of options in several languages and a helpful staff happy to help you discover something new. I left with a beautiful edition of a Portuguese classic that's completely new to me. There's a large Harry Potter section too, if that's your thing. Overall, definitely worth a visit AND a purchase.

Given the history, one must venture inside if in Porto. Versions of books available in various languages. Receive discount off book with ticket purchase. Very quick line when you schedule a time in advance

Very interesting place to visit. The ticket process was a tad confusing , but well worth the trip!

I came to this bookstore because it apparently inspired J.K. Rowling for Harry Potter. It was fairly crowded with a line out the door since they limit the amount of people inside at a time. The ticket was 5 euros a person to enter but if you purchased a book, it would count towards the purchase. The line moved quickly so I didn't wait long to get in and even with a limit to the amount of people inside, it was pretty busy inside. You're allowed to take pictures but not allowed to bring a bag in. Not to worry, there are lockers to store your things. I thought this bookstore was pretty cute inside. The inside decor gave a classic feel and the spiral staircase added a nice touch. It's not that big inside but there are two floors, covered in tons of different books ranging from classics to cook books and more. It's a nice spot to visit in the area and you wouldn't be spending too much time here.

Harry Potter nerds, rejoice! What a stunningly beautiful location full of extraordinary architecture! Just be aware, you will likely find a long line awaiting entry - arrive early and buy your tickets (€5) online ahead of time. If you chose to buy a book inside, €5 ticket price is applied against total price of what is bought!

Awesome beautiful book store and publishing company! They do charge a 5€ entrance fee but it is reimbursed if you buy anything. Worth a trip but get there early bc there is generally a long line. Prices are kind of high but I loved the experience and the books they publish are especially beautiful.

Gorgeous...I mean absolutely breathtaking library. One of the most beautiful I have ever been to in the world... I decided to solo travel to Porto and of course I had to step inside this infamous establishment. To get inside you have to pay a small fee but it is worth it, especially if you are a book nerd like myself and actually plan to buy a book. I went during the day around 11am to avoid the HUGE crowds of people who attend this place. Thats actually the only annoying this about the place...too many people are inside solely for the pictures and not to buy books. Anyway, it was a great experience.

JK Rowling derived a lot of her ideas for the Harry Potter series from her time teaching English in Porto. For fans of the series, a visit to Livraria Lello is a must. The staircase is the main attraction. It's simply beautiful and looks like something out of the Harry Potter books. If you come here, though, be prepared for a long lineup. I lined up before the store opened and it was still fairly long. Before you line up, you have to purchase an entrance ticket inside the corner store, called Armazens do Castelo. It costs €5. They'll inform you that selfie sticks are not allowed and neither are large backpacks. You can store your backpacks in the lockers at Armazens do Castelo. It took me about 20 minutes to purchase a ticket. Pro-tip: You can purchase tickets ahead of time online. There are ton of tourists inside, so you're not going to be able to get a good photo. Just enjoy the sights and the beauty of the bookstore. The €5 entrance fee can be applied to a book purchase at this store. There are both Portuguese books as well as English books. There are cool souvenir cards here, but the entrance fee isn't applicable to the purchase price.

Tourist trap with the selection and prices of an airport bookstore. They sell tickets to get in, but exercise no crowd control and just let about 200 people in at a time so they can walk in a circle, not looking at books, poking each other's eyes out with selfie sticks. It's not that cool. It's small and kinda fake looking. The proprietors are greedy and it could be a neat experience if they weren't so intent on cramming as many tourists as possible into what is basically a museum gift shop/fire trap.

Counting my blessings! Work hard, travel and keep writing! It's your foundation and voice! JK Rowling HP inspired staircase! It's golden and I was in awe for a good couple of hours here! Adorned and HP limited edition and items here! Happy!

This touristy and charming bookshop is worth a stop during your stay in Lisbon. It's ornately decorated and claims to have inspired J. K. Rowling when she visited while writing "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone". It's probably the only bookstore you'll ever visit which (1) has a queue to enter and (2) requires a €5 ticket! You can order tickets from your phone easily, though, and the wait will likely only be 5-10 minutes.

During our trip to Porto on 10/22/2019, we visited this bookstore which is heavily trafficked by tourists due to its affiliation with J.K. Rowling (the Harry Potter author). Apparently, she frequented this book store, and the stairwell used inside was where she drew her inspiration for some of the scenes in the book and the movie. We paid $5 per person (children are free) to venture inside and explore the bookstore, and walk up the staircase. It was super crowded, barely any walking room, and we got out as soon as possible after snapping some photos. It's hard to get any decent photos with the masses of tourists! There are lockers for you to stow your large luggage too. Bring 1 euro in coin in order to use the locker, but you'll get the euro back after you retrieve your baggage.

As I'm not a huge Harry Potter fan, I decided that it was not worth paying €5 for a ticket and waiting in a queue to walk into a very busy bookshop. Sure, there's some of what inspired JK Rowling here and if you're into that, then you're going to enjoy it. Otherwise? Come back late after the shop closes and you can look through the windows and not have a queue. [Review 9847 overall, number 1425 of 2018.]

The world's most beautiful bookstore. Yes, you have to pay to get in, but you can use that money towards a book. I have no idea when off peak time is, but if you want to take a picture you're going to have to have good timing as there are loads of tourists just walking around taking pictures of everything. The Harry Potter section in the back is pretty cool. As for myself, I picked up a few bilingual books.