Headout is an authorized and trusted partner of the venue, offering curated experiences to enjoy this attraction.
Leticia
Joy
Naomi
Lynn
Step into what’s often dubbed “the most beautiful bookstore in the world”—a neo-Gothic marvel that feels more like a cathedral of literature than a shop. Whether you're a booklover, a design enthusiast, or a curious traveler, Livraria Lello is an unforgettable stop in Porto. Its legendary staircase, stained glass skylight, and whispered connections to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter universe make it a global icon.
This dreamy, curved red staircase is one of the most photographed in the world, once you see it, you’ll know why. Its flowing design and bold color make you feel like you’ve stepped into a magical world. While it’s often linked to Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling has said it wasn’t her inspiration, but that doesn’t stop fans from falling in love with it.
Book lovers, you’re in for a treat! Livraria Lello is home to over 100,000 books, including rare first editions and timeless classics like The Little Prince. There’s also a strong focus on Portuguese literature, including works by Nobel Prize-winning author José Saramago. Be sure to check out the Gemma Room, it’s packed with special editions and rare finds that feel like hidden gems.
Opened in 1906 by engineer Xavier Esteves, Livraria Lello is one of the world’s oldest and most beautiful bookstores. Walk through its neo-Gothic doors and feel history wrap around you like a well-worn novel.
Ever wondered where the magic of Hogwarts began? Many believe Livraria Lello inspired J.K. Rowling while she lived in Porto. Its majestic staircase, with its red velvet curves and fairy-tale elegance, is often seen as a muse for Flourish & Blotts or even Hogwarts itself. Whether you're a wizard at heart or a curious Muggle, you'll feel the enchantment in every step.
This bookstore has been called one of the most beautiful in the world—and it’s easy to see why. From the incredible staircase to the soaring bookshelves and colorful stained glass ceiling, every inch is camera-ready. Whether you're a bookworm, an architecture fan, or just love a good photo op, Livraria Lello is full of moments you’ll want to remember.
Before entering, take a moment to admire the gorgeous Neo-Gothic facade of the bookstore. The detailed carvings and the frescoes are designed to look like a grand chapel, celebrating art and science. Built by engineer Francisco Xavier Esteves, it mixes Gothic and Art Nouveau styles, giving the building a timeless beauty.
Look up to see the breathtaking stained-glass ceiling! Designed by Dutch artist Samuel Van Krieken, the colorful glass fills the room with golden light. It features the phrase “Decus in Labore” (Dignity in Work) and even has a hidden smiley face—can you spot it?
This grand staircase connects the two floors of the bookstore and is a true work of art. Originally brown, it was accidentally painted red during a renovation in the 1990s—and now it’s the bookstore’s signature color, loved by visitors from around the world.
Fans of The Little Prince will love this special room dedicated to the beloved story. It celebrates the book’s 80th anniversary with unique editions, beautiful merchandise, and a magical atmosphere that will transport you into the world of the little prince.
Livraria Lello is full of hidden treasures waiting to be discovered:
Train tracks: Check out the train tracks in the middle of the store—this clever system helped librarians move books around!
Lottery tickets: Look for mirrors under the bookshelves that show lottery tickets, a nod to the bookstore’s founding through a lottery win.
Busts of writers: Above the bookshelves, you’ll spot mini busts of famous Portuguese writers, like Eça de Queirós.
Old cash registers: On the top floor, you can see vintage cash registers that were once used in the store.
Gemma room: This locked room holds the oldest and rarest books, including a law book from 1476!
Livraria Lello has a fantastic selection of books in many languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese. They sell beautifully designed editions with gold-edged pages—perfect for collectors. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you can find the books in different languages, and plenty of other classics!
Not officially, but it’s said to have inspired J.K. Rowling when she lived in Porto! The magical staircase and gothic vibes feel straight out of Hogwarts.
Yes! You’ll find books in multiple languages, including Portuguese, English, French, and Spanish. Some are stunning collector’s editions you won’t find anywhere else.
Yes! Children are welcome. Entry is free for kids under 3 years old, and there’s even a magical Little Prince room that young readers will love.
There’s no strict time limit, so take your time! Most people spend around 30–45 minutes exploring and taking photos.
Partially. The ground floor is accessible, but due to the historic design, the upper floor and famous staircase can be tricky. Staff are helpful and can assist where possible.
Yes! You can take photos, but no tripods or drones. The red staircase is a selfie hotspot, so get your camera ready.
Not with the basic entry. But the Silver Voucher gives you a book discount, and the Gold Voucher includes a stunning special edition book you can keep.
Totally! Even if you’re not a bookworm, the staircase, stained glass ceiling, and historic vibe make it one of the most beautiful places in Porto.
The library is plendid, beautiful gives magic despite the significant flow of people. For tickets, no problem
Everything was lovely, and appreciated the voucher to get a book 📕 The only problem was too many people and not enough cold air.
The staff is super friendly, even though the library is always super busy. The place is magificent and super well looked after
Entering is already magical ... despite the number of people there is an atmosphere of a book tale of bibliitecs.... wood.... shelves ... smell of books.... thousands of them.... The interior is amazingly beautiful with its floors and ceiling.... It is a beautiful place full of stories waiting to be told or read.
The architecture of this bookshop, especially the typical interior. But too many people, even at lunchtime...
Guess I must have missed the part about losing the app before going. Slight delay at the door. Extremely crowded but interesting and beautiful inside
It was cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The library very nice , but too many people
I loved the experience of such a beautiful bookshop in the centre of Porto, the interior design was stunning.
Far too busy inside to be able to enjoy fully. Could not appreciate the books nor building as could not move around easily.
It was interesting from a historical stand point, but basically it was an overpriced old bookstore. We paid $41 each for our tickets and it was way overpriced for the venue. We had a $10 credit for a book purchase from the ticket, but didn't find anything to use it on that wasn't overpriced already. It was crowded, the books were priced high and just not worth it. Would not go again. Look at photos of the store instead.
It was nice to see the bookshop and the architecture but it was not worth €10. It was too busy and hard to move around. It's just a nice bookstore. Not worth the wait to get in or the entrance fee.
The ticketing experience with Headout was fine. The bookstore was a very special experience and nice to visit such an old store.
Schedule pretty much respected regarding time reservation. But too many people are allowed inside, difficult to even walk in the library wich is very nice to see
The ease of being able to combine two interests into one purchase. I've done many HOPON/OFF tours. This one puzzled me a bit going through residential areas as a tourist. Didn't know the yellow line was part of it, which we were staying in Gaia, and ran out of time in the 24hr slot to do. I wish the 24hr ticket was a timed 24 hr from when you validate it and not the calendar day. The library was wonderful and they did not boot you out which I was surprised about !
Such a special place! Unique experience in a beautifully designed book store! The staff was so welcoming and friendly and helpful. And we just loved the book store!
The building & architecture are stunning & well worth a visit. I never used my voucher to buy a book as there wasn't anything appealing to me. I think more travel books on Porto & possibly phrase books should be on offer.
The staff is very friendly and helpful. The Ambassador is like something out of a fairy tale, and he is a visionary. The spacious interior is made of wood, which is full of unusual design and spots. I recommend it 😊
I am glad to have the opportunity to visit the famous Lello bookstore. There are too many people, which makes rhe experience far less enjoyable.
It was a sardine can of people. It was a beautiful buidling and interior but it was unpleasntly crowded. I would not recommend it to anyone in the future and it was not worth paying to get into.
The place is really worth seeing. There are way too many people though. Nevertheless rhe organization is very good end the entry/exit process rums smoothly.
Catarina is Wonderful!!! She was a great help in selecting a very special book for our daughter-in-law. Thank you Catarina.
The Livraria is beautiful, however, it's really busy and too many people at the same time are allowed in, which makes the experience much less enjoyable. However, I like that the price of the ticket counts towards a book! Overall I'd recommend
The building's exterior and interior are awesome and can only hint at this institution's remarkable past. Today, it seems to be a Disney-like interpretation of a quirky bookstore and the fee-based entry ritual is only a part of its odd no-longer-new personality. I sense that the uniformly-bound texts (admittedly in multiple languages so all tourists can enjoy them) are not the necessarily the best editions available, but they are certainly beautiful to look at. It doesn't have the character of an old, fascinating bookstore, as one might hope for, but rather offers a library fantasy for those who want to pay 10, 15, or 25 Euros to wander around for 30 minutes. One would get one's entry fee reimbursed when buying one of their books, but for true book lovers, there is not really a usefully-curated collection aimed at literature lovers or bibliophiles. It is intended for the general public, though, and is appealing especially to fans of the Harry Potter series, which is a loverly and popular way for them to guide their business model. It was a fun visit and offered countless photogenic vistas, in spite of the large timed crowds that flow through every 15 minutes. Definitely worth seeing for its grace and beauty, but not if the goal is literary or bibliophilic inspiration.
It was realy easy to order the tickets online!! We loved the bookstore so much. It was really pretty😍😍
Step into literary magic at Livraria Lello & leave with a free book!
Inclusions
Entry to Livraria Lello
Ticket acts as €10 voucher toward any book (redeemable in-store during your visit)
Alexandra
Stephanie
Erzsebet
Book store and getting tickets was easy. The line even with the ticket pre-purchased was long I was not expecting to have to wait again
Tickets are quick and easy to obtain. The pass for the Lello bookshop (Porto) is a plus given the long queues (even at the last slot). The bookshop is well worth a visit - it's magnificent, but very busy! It's a bit cramped. The staff are very friendly and helpful, which is not the case with all visitors... It's well worth a stop, if only for the beauty of the place and the kindness of the staff.
Exciting, beautiful, helpful Staff(very), Diego helped us so much!! Even working overtime w no pay. Loved being inside!!!
The gold voucher was well worth it. You get to skip the line and you get a book from their collection. The interior is very beautiful. The only downside is that it's crowded, so it's only worth a short visit in my opinion.
The gold ticket is good value- the queues otherwise are round the block!!! It is an extremely popular place to visit so be prepared for limited photo opportunities-the book selection is really good with the "free" books grouped together in your chosen language. The only downside is that it is so very crowded - less popular times would be my choice!!
Amazing architecture. You really need to be familiar with Harry Potter though. Otherwise it is a ticket to a nice bookstore.
It was great to see the book shop and I bought some beautiful books, however the crowds were ridiculous. People taking too much ime to pose for photos etc completely blocked walkways and stairs. I'm not sure what the solution is but crowd control needs addressing.
Overrated, expensive experience, crowded, hot and quite unpleasant.
Not long waiting in the queue with the gold ticket. Staff very helpful
Interior Architecture Really nice staff
The venue was too crowded. I had difficulty to walk etc
Getting tix ahead of time so no line
Easy to navigate the website to purchase the tickets, had gold so the staff looked after us.
See the world’s most beautiful bookstore & get a limited-edition book to keep forever!
Inclusions
Entry to Livraria Lello
One book limited-edition book from Livraria Lello’s ‘The Collection’
Fonseca
Naomi
Carolyn
Enjoy priority entry, a guided art tour, collectible books & explore Álvaro Siza’s vision.
Inclusions Livraria Lello
Priority entry to Livraria Lello (skip-the-line access)
One book included from the Lello Edition (Pop Collection or The Collection)
Lello Foundation Museum
Access to the exhibition and Álvaro Siza’s Open Sculpture
Guided tour of the foundation space
Free copy of Inclined Light, a book inspired by Siza’s work
Livraria Lello
Lello Foundation Museum
Alex our guide made the tour so interesting, relaxing. He saw everyone in the group. His English was so clear and soft to listen to.
Explore Porto by land, air & water, walking tour, Livraria Lello entry, cable car & cruise
Inclusions
Guided walking tour of Porto
Tickets to enter Livraria Lello
Ticket to cable car
River cruise along the Douro River
Professional guide in English, Portuguese, or Spanish (based on option selected)
Exclusions
The library is plendid, beautiful gives magic despite the significant flow of people. For tickets, no problem
Everything was lovely, and appreciated the voucher to get a book 📕 The only problem was too many people and not enough cold air.
The staff is super friendly, even though the library is always super busy. The place is magificent and super well looked after
Entering is already magical ... despite the number of people there is an atmosphere of a book tale of bibliitecs.... wood.... shelves ... smell of books.... thousands of them.... The interior is amazingly beautiful with its floors and ceiling.... It is a beautiful place full of stories waiting to be told or read.
The architecture of this bookshop, especially the typical interior. But too many people, even at lunchtime...
Guess I must have missed the part about losing the app before going. Slight delay at the door. Extremely crowded but interesting and beautiful inside
It was cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The library very nice , but too many people
I loved the experience of such a beautiful bookshop in the centre of Porto, the interior design was stunning.
A great experience at the Estádio do Dragão, even without a match day! The tour of the stadium was exciting and informative, with impressive insights behind the scenes. From the sidelines to the dressing rooms - everything was perfectly organized. Very friendly staff and a great atmosphere. Highly recommended for any soccer fan. Força Porto!
The museum was really well displayed and interesting. The tour of the stadium could be improved having someone to explain better all the different areas. Generally speking was really worth seeing.
It was a very nice experience, the museum is really cool. But we went also to a tour in Lisbon to Estadio da Luz and there we got a free scarf, a magnet and 10% off in the store. Here you get nothing.
The visit of the stadium it was fantastic. My son was happy to see and seat inside this famous place and after toi see the museum. Hé czme to see all the wonderful "trophées".
Far too busy inside to be able to enjoy fully. Could not appreciate the books nor building as could not move around easily.
It was interesting from a historical stand point, but basically it was an overpriced old bookstore. We paid $41 each for our tickets and it was way overpriced for the venue. We had a $10 credit for a book purchase from the ticket, but didn't find anything to use it on that wasn't overpriced already. It was crowded, the books were priced high and just not worth it. Would not go again. Look at photos of the store instead.
It was nice to see the bookshop and the architecture but it was not worth €10. It was too busy and hard to move around. It's just a nice bookstore. Not worth the wait to get in or the entrance fee.
The ticketing experience with Headout was fine. The bookstore was a very special experience and nice to visit such an old store.
Schedule pretty much respected regarding time reservation. But too many people are allowed inside, difficult to even walk in the library wich is very nice to see
The ease of being able to combine two interests into one purchase. I've done many HOPON/OFF tours. This one puzzled me a bit going through residential areas as a tourist. Didn't know the yellow line was part of it, which we were staying in Gaia, and ran out of time in the 24hr slot to do. I wish the 24hr ticket was a timed 24 hr from when you validate it and not the calendar day. The library was wonderful and they did not boot you out which I was surprised about !
Such a special place! Unique experience in a beautifully designed book store! The staff was so welcoming and friendly and helpful. And we just loved the book store!
The building & architecture are stunning & well worth a visit. I never used my voucher to buy a book as there wasn't anything appealing to me. I think more travel books on Porto & possibly phrase books should be on offer.
The staff is very friendly and helpful. The Ambassador is like something out of a fairy tale, and he is a visionary. The spacious interior is made of wood, which is full of unusual design and spots. I recommend it 😊
I am glad to have the opportunity to visit the famous Lello bookstore. There are too many people, which makes rhe experience far less enjoyable.
It was a sardine can of people. It was a beautiful buidling and interior but it was unpleasntly crowded. I would not recommend it to anyone in the future and it was not worth paying to get into.
The place is really worth seeing. There are way too many people though. Nevertheless rhe organization is very good end the entry/exit process rums smoothly.
Livraria often sells out, and not all Dragão tickets include VIP-area access—this combo secures both.
Inclusions FC Porto Museum and Dragão Stadium
Entry to FC Porto Museum and Dragão Stadium
Staff member assistance
Livraria Lello
Entry to Livraria Lello
Book voucher (redeemable in-store)
One limited-edition book from the exclusive collection (as per option selected)
Exclusions
Audio guides (available for purchase on-site)
Match and event tickets
FC Porto Museum and Dragão Stadium
Livraria Lello
Romeu
Alexandra
Stephanie
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
The library is plendid, beautiful gives magic despite the significant flow of people. For tickets, no problem
Everything was lovely, and appreciated the voucher to get a book 📕 The only problem was too many people and not enough cold air.
The staff is super friendly, even though the library is always super busy. The place is magificent and super well looked after
Entering is already magical ... despite the number of people there is an atmosphere of a book tale of bibliitecs.... wood.... shelves ... smell of books.... thousands of them.... The interior is amazingly beautiful with its floors and ceiling.... It is a beautiful place full of stories waiting to be told or read.
The architecture of this bookshop, especially the typical interior. But too many people, even at lunchtime...
Guess I must have missed the part about losing the app before going. Slight delay at the door. Extremely crowded but interesting and beautiful inside
It was cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The library very nice , but too many people
I loved the experience of such a beautiful bookshop in the centre of Porto, the interior design was stunning.
Far too busy inside to be able to enjoy fully. Could not appreciate the books nor building as could not move around easily.
It was interesting from a historical stand point, but basically it was an overpriced old bookstore. We paid $41 each for our tickets and it was way overpriced for the venue. We had a $10 credit for a book purchase from the ticket, but didn't find anything to use it on that wasn't overpriced already. It was crowded, the books were priced high and just not worth it. Would not go again. Look at photos of the store instead.
It was nice to see the bookshop and the architecture but it was not worth €10. It was too busy and hard to move around. It's just a nice bookstore. Not worth the wait to get in or the entrance fee.
The ticketing experience with Headout was fine. The bookstore was a very special experience and nice to visit such an old store.
Schedule pretty much respected regarding time reservation. But too many people are allowed inside, difficult to even walk in the library wich is very nice to see
The ease of being able to combine two interests into one purchase. I've done many HOPON/OFF tours. This one puzzled me a bit going through residential areas as a tourist. Didn't know the yellow line was part of it, which we were staying in Gaia, and ran out of time in the 24hr slot to do. I wish the 24hr ticket was a timed 24 hr from when you validate it and not the calendar day. The library was wonderful and they did not boot you out which I was surprised about !
Such a special place! Unique experience in a beautifully designed book store! The staff was so welcoming and friendly and helpful. And we just loved the book store!
The building & architecture are stunning & well worth a visit. I never used my voucher to buy a book as there wasn't anything appealing to me. I think more travel books on Porto & possibly phrase books should be on offer.
The staff is very friendly and helpful. The Ambassador is like something out of a fairy tale, and he is a visionary. The spacious interior is made of wood, which is full of unusual design and spots. I recommend it 😊
I am glad to have the opportunity to visit the famous Lello bookstore. There are too many people, which makes rhe experience far less enjoyable.
It was a sardine can of people. It was a beautiful buidling and interior but it was unpleasntly crowded. I would not recommend it to anyone in the future and it was not worth paying to get into.
The place is really worth seeing. There are way too many people though. Nevertheless rhe organization is very good end the entry/exit process rums smoothly.
Catarina is Wonderful!!! She was a great help in selecting a very special book for our daughter-in-law. Thank you Catarina.
The Livraria is beautiful, however, it's really busy and too many people at the same time are allowed in, which makes the experience much less enjoyable. However, I like that the price of the ticket counts towards a book! Overall I'd recommend
The building's exterior and interior are awesome and can only hint at this institution's remarkable past. Today, it seems to be a Disney-like interpretation of a quirky bookstore and the fee-based entry ritual is only a part of its odd no-longer-new personality. I sense that the uniformly-bound texts (admittedly in multiple languages so all tourists can enjoy them) are not the necessarily the best editions available, but they are certainly beautiful to look at. It doesn't have the character of an old, fascinating bookstore, as one might hope for, but rather offers a library fantasy for those who want to pay 10, 15, or 25 Euros to wander around for 30 minutes. One would get one's entry fee reimbursed when buying one of their books, but for true book lovers, there is not really a usefully-curated collection aimed at literature lovers or bibliophiles. It is intended for the general public, though, and is appealing especially to fans of the Harry Potter series, which is a loverly and popular way for them to guide their business model. It was a fun visit and offered countless photogenic vistas, in spite of the large timed crowds that flow through every 15 minutes. Definitely worth seeing for its grace and beauty, but not if the goal is literary or bibliophilic inspiration.
It was realy easy to order the tickets online!! We loved the bookstore so much. It was really pretty😍😍
From contemporary art to literary magic—experience two Porto icons in one.
Inclusions Serralves Foundation
Entry to Serralves Foundation
Access to Serralves Park
Access to the Serralves Contemporary Art Museum
Access to the House of Serralves
Access to the Manoel de Oliveira House of Cinema
Livraria Lello
Entry to Livraria Lello
Book voucher (redeemable in-store)
Serralves Foundation
Livraria Lello
Alexandra
Stephanie
Erzsebet
