Livraria Lello is a Neo-Gothic bookstore in central Porto, opened by the Lello brothers in 1906 on the site of an earlier shop they purchased in 1894. Designed by Francisco Xavier Esteves, it’s known for a dramatic curved staircase, the first built in reinforced concrete in Portugal, along with floor-to-ceiling wooden bookshelves and a stained-glass skylight.
The bookstore has become one of Portugal’s most visited cultural attractions, in part due to a persistent rumor that its interior inspired J.K. Rowling’s vision of Hogwarts while she lived in Porto in the early 1990s, a connection Rowling herself has publicly denied. Regardless, the ornate interior draws steady crowds year-round, and it remains a fully functioning bookshop.
Entry requires an €8 ticket, which is refunded against any book purchase inside. Because of high demand, buying a timed slot online in advance and visiting early or late in the day helps avoid the longest queues.
