I enjoy checking out different markets in new couriers and this one didn't disappoint…read more From fresh fruits to wine, charcuterie and fresh pasta, this place is one I'd definitely stop by again. I ordered a €3 green wine from one of the drink carts and then €6.50 cheese and bread mini platter for an afternoon snack. Crowded but fast turnover since it's not really a linger and chat sort of spot.

Looking for a unique experience in Porto?…read more Then this is a place to check out. Many local produce, artists, food vendors gather here to sell at this market. Here you can sample local delicacies, bring back home A souvenir, or just take in local vibes.

Be corky with me! On the corner and gorgeous cork for the…read morevegan lover! Good value for high quality cork made in Portugal! Pluses 1. So much selection 2. Plenty of bags 3. Some sale items Areas to improve 1. They don't have the cork hat so I have to go to the other location Highly recommended! They don't give refunds but they offer exchange, the customer ahead of me did that.

Sometimes you just have to touch a item to know. My glass…read morecase was worn to the point of shredding. A cork case was a perfect solution. Then, you see the nice compact wallets. Light, with RFID panels in place. Ok get that.... But a Artist sketch book with a cork front and back. Ohhh, very unusual. Guess they have just what I needed. Gracias.

Some people find this a magical place that they are convinced inspired J.K. Rowling to create her…read morevision of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter books. Others see it as the overcrowded, moneymaking result of its own publicity. Given Jamie W and I had to pay 12€ per person in advance to enter, I lean a bit more to the second camp, even though we appreciated the ornate combination of Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau architecture, especially the stylized, curving red staircase in the middle (Photo 6). The staff credits the payment against a potential book purchase, but make sure you know what you want beforehand because casual browsing was nearly impossible given the streaming masses taking selfies. The bookstore dates back to 1906 but didn't become a heavy tourist magnet until the Harry Potter phenomenon exploded. Ironically, Rowling never took inspiration from this shop as she admitted not being aware of the bookstore while living as an English teacher in Porto in the early 1990's. If you can shift your perception of the space from a bookstore to the pure tourist attraction it has become, you may feel more satisfaction with a visit. As Instagrammable as it is, Jamie and I spent a mere fifteen minutes here. We were overcome by the swarms pouring in, even though the staff made a valiant effort in controlling the number of people at any given time. I really don't mean to discourage you from visiting. Just dial down your expectations of wizardry accordingly. RELATED - Exploring Porto? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/N4i04zdRK2

A not so magical overcrowded bookstore…read more Livraria Lello is one of Porto's most popular stops, renowned for its stunning bookstore interior. Its double spiral staircase is promoted as an inspiration for Harry Potter despite JK Rowling denying ever having set foot while living in Porto. From afar, we were met with huge lineups outside the stained glass exterior. Once inside, it was overcrowded with many tourists roaming about. The decor features wood carvings, stained glass, and an iconic red spiral staircase right in the center. If you're the first one visiting at 9am, it might be a beautiful experience. But for everyone else it's congested and claustrophobic while squeezing wall-to-wall like a tourist trap. There are too many tourists scheduled for each entry time. Staff were nice enough to allow our entry at 10:30, despite coming an hour after our scheduled entry time due to jet lag. Another saving grace is the €12 silver entry fee can actually be used as credit towards book purchases. There were books of many languages on the second floor while a number of classic novels were available. For €15, we picked up Great Gatsby with edge gilding from this so-called most beautiful bookstore in the world. That's great value as we paid only an extra €3 for the book. Skip it or hit it? With overcrowding, I recommend to skip unless you manage to reserve the 9am slot or visit in the offseason.

During our trip to Porto, we decided to visit the market as a rainy day adventure. It was fun to…read moresee the different produce and seafood offered for sale by small, local merchants. The market is broken up into different areas. As I love seafood, this section was my favorite. There were tanks full of octopus and squid, and lots of varieties of fresh fish, and frozen seafood. I saw some of the largest shrimp I've ever seen. It's a great place to visit.

Temporarily moved while the original 19th century structure undergoes MASSIVE renovations that are…read moreexpected to take at least two years, the Mercado Temporário Bolhão is in business in a very nicely remodeled level of the parking lot UNDERNEATH La Vie Porto Baixa, which is only two short blocks from the original Bolhão. Yes, these should be completely separate businesses as the vibe and feel of the Bolhão isn't here even though many/most of the original vendors are here. They have done a quite well at keeping the look and feel of a farmer's market here. It's clean, it's quite well lit and when we stopped by, it was very busy. Fishmonger, butcher, flowers, wine (of course), bakers and so much more. There is even a spot for filming demonstrations - there was one underway when I was here. There is signage everywhere nearby so if you can find the original Bolhão, you will have no trouble finding the Temporário Bolhão. So while it's not the original Bolhão, it's darned close. I am a fan. [Review 9884 overall, 1462 of 2018.]