The World's Most Beautiful Bookstore: Livraria Lello

You might find it a bit odd to book a ticket just to visit a bookstore during your trip to Porto. However, the moment you step inside Livraria Lello, you'll quickly understand why. Towering wooden shelves reach the ceiling, adorned with ornate decorations, and a striking red staircase gracefully curves through the center of the space. Look up, and light streams through a magnificent stained-glass window, illuminating the entire bookstore. Opened in 1906, this bookstore has stood for over a century, still selling books and now serving as a must-visit landmark in Porto. If you're traveling to Porto, consider stepping into this bookstore, perhaps more to admire the space than the books themselves.

A Bookstore Opened in Porto in 1906

The history of Livraria Lello began with the Lello brothers. Passionate about books and literature, they collaborated with architect Francisco Xavier Esteves to create a unique bookstore, which opened its doors in 1906. Even back then, the goal wasn't just to sell books. They aimed to create a space where lovers of literature and art could meet and share new ideas, and traces of this vision remain throughout the store over 100 years later. Therefore, at Livraria Lello, taking time to slowly admire the architecture is as important as choosing a book.


The Red Staircase Everyone Photographs

Upon entering Livraria Lello, your gaze is naturally drawn to the center, captivated by the iconic red staircase that splits into two before rejoining. Its unique curved form and opulent decorations create a signature scene for the bookstore. Ascending to the second floor along the stairs offers a different perspective, and looking at the staircase from between the bookshelves can make you feel like you've stepped into an old movie set. If you find a moment with fewer people, it’s worth pausing to appreciate the space itself, rather than just taking photos. Imagine the people who walked these same stairs to pick out books a century ago.


Famous as the 'Harry Potter Bookstore,' But...

When you search for Livraria Lello, one story consistently appears: Harry Potter.

Because J.K. Rowling lived in Porto for a period, the story that the bookstore's staircase and interior inspired the Harry Potter series has long circulated. However, Rowling herself has stated that she never visited Livraria Lello and that the claim of inspiration is untrue. Knowing this fact beforehand allows you to focus more on Livraria Lello itself upon visiting. It's a bookstore with enough historical significance and unique architecture, spanning over 100 years, to be worth visiting in its own right, independent of any fictional inspiration.


A Bookstore Requiring Ticket Reservations

There's one more aspect that sets Livraria Lello apart from typical bookstores: due to its immense popularity, you need to purchase a ticket to enter. Especially during peak travel seasons, it's advisable to decide on your visit date and time in advance and secure your ticket rather than visiting spontaneously on the day. Ticket types may vary in benefits, such as being redeemable for book purchases, so be sure to check the inclusions when booking.

While purchasing a ticket to enter a bookstore might seem unusual at first, once you visit, you'll realize Livraria Lello feels more like a small museum or an architectural landmark than a conventional bookstore.

You can book your Livraria Lello tickets in advance through WAUG.

Feel free to visit without even considering its title as 'the world's most beautiful bookstore.' The moment you step inside, you'll understand why this modest bookstore has remained a special place in Porto for over a century.