I have one other question about Porto. we haven't been to Porto before, and I hear mixed opinions about visiting Livravia Livello. I know I will get the priority tix if I go, but the question is should we go? Thanks for any advice.
Posted by
11159 posts
It is worth it just to see the staircase. And JK Rowling started writing her Harry Potter books there too. .
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
5581 posts
We went to the bookstore when we were in Porto. (April 2023). I enjoyed it well enough, my husband thought it was overrated, and he's the Harry Potter fan. It is quite an attractive bookstore. We bought the 15euro ticket that provides a timed admission and a book. There was a fairly decent number of books to pick from in English.
My suggestion would be to go if you have interest, but if you have a time conflict with something else you'd like to do, I would say do that. One place that some don't do/know about is the Stock Exchange which was an amazing building and the tour was excellent.
Posted by
Elmwood, IL, USA
362 posts
Yes go, the surrounding area is nice too.
Posted by
Big Island of Hawaii
675 posts
No, JK Rowling said in an interview in 2020 that she has never been to Livraria Lello. She did say that she wrote in a cafe in Rua Santa Catarina in Porto.
Posted by
141 posts
I also was at the bookstore in April with my family. We love bookstores and have a Harry Potter fan in the family so this was a must stop for us. We bought the advanced timed ticket. The store is beautiful but it is tight to get around I still think it was worthwhile to see the staircase and the interior. I'm glad we went but I was also traveling with 2 teens who enjoy books.
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
5581 posts
It is a beautiful bookstore with way too many people. I did the advance ticket, "free book" option. I'm ambivalent about it. If we were short on time, in retrospect, I'd skip. My daughters did think the books I got from the store were cute".