Livraria Lello is a stunning bookstore in Porto, Portugal. “Livraria” is Portuguese for “bookstore” and Lello is the last name of one of the original founders of David Pereira & Lello. The bookstore was inaugurated in 1906 and now boasts over 4,000 visitors per day. It is a major attraction in Porto, and grew in popularity when fans theorized that the bookstore was inspiration for J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books. Here’s everything you need to know to visit this bookstore in Porto!
Was Livraria Lello Inspiration for Harry Potter?
It’s well known that J.K. Rowling lived in Porto and started writing the Harry Potter books in Porto. The cloaks that Hogwart’s students wore were inspired by the Porto University students’ uniforms. António de Oliveira Salazar was a notorious ruler of Portugal and his last name may look familiar. Harry Potter fans have theorized that Livraria Lello was inspiration for Flourish and Blotts and that the staircase was inspiration for Hogwarts’ moving staircase.
Unfortunately, J.K. Rowling has debunked that theory, saying she had never visited the bookstore while she was in Porto! So, if your sole reason for wanting to visit this bookstore is based on the Harry Potter books, it won’t be worth it. However, if you read on, you’ll find that it might still be worth it.
How to Visit the Livraria Lello
Livraria Lello is located on R. das Carmelitas in Porto, Portugal. To get inside, you must purchase a ticket online in advance. There is a ticket counter next door to the bookstore, but more often than not the tickets are sold out for the day. Tickets cost €5, and can be used as a discount voucher when you purchase a book. Tickets are timed entry, and people wait in line for up to an hour before their timed entry slot.
Tip: If you purchase a priority ticket, you do not need to wait in line and the priority ticket can be exchanged for a book. The priority ticket costs €15.90. When you buy your ticket online, choose the “Romeo and Juliet” book option, but you will be able to exchange the ticket for another book. I believe if the cost of the book is over €15.90 you pay the difference. I’ll admit, it’s a bit awkward to walk up to the front of the line, but you did pay for priority!
Tips for Photos and Videos with No People
With 4,000 visitors per day, and opening hours for 9.5 hours per day, over 400 people are in the bookstore in an hour. While most people are in and out in 10-15 minutes, the store is packed with people. The photos you see with no people, like the ones above, are almost impossible to get. But, they aren’t totally impossible!
- Tip 1: Tripods are not allowed, so you’ll need to make sure to have someone else take a photo for you. I asked the woman who was in line beside me and she was nice enough to say yes!
- Tip 2: If you book a priority ticket, you can make sure to be the first person in the bookstore at opening! If you’re quick, you can snap photos of the staircase from the bottom, the top and of the bridge.
- Tip 3: Get creative with angles!
Is it worth it to visit Livraria Lello?
The most asked question when visiting places that are busy: is it worth it? Even thought the wait is long and the bookstore is crowded, it’s still a beautiful building. The staircase is one-of-a-kind and it’s a charming bookstore none-the-less. If you want photos without people, you can be the first one in with a priority ticket to get those shots.
Read more: Porto City Card Review | Find Out if it’s Worth It
2 replies on “Livraria Lello | Tips for Visiting the Most Beautiful Bookstore”
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I have really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!
Thank you so much! I have a ton of posts coming up for Portugal – stay tuned! 🙂