It is really pretty inside but I'm not sure it's worth going in unless you go in the very early…read moremorning. We got tickets for the afternoon and still had to wait in line for quite some time. Once we finally got in, it was an absolute madhouse. You couldn't turn without bumping into anyone and as a result it was really hard to peruse the books they had.

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

Livraria Lello gets all the attention in Porto but I'm going to push this treasure box of a shop as…read morethe best place for readers (vs Instagrammers and fans of Harry Potter). Located on Rua des Flores and just a few blocks from the train station, Chamine appears tiny from the outside. Step inside and you'll find out that there are actually several levels with over 1,000,000 books and publications. Things are well organized by topic and language too. And it's not just books- there are old records, magazines and even some vintage posters. I stopped because they were displaying a vintage liquor poster from the 60's in gorgeous condition. The kind owner Pedro explained that 2000 had been printed and the company had gone out of business just a month later so his father had bought the whole lot at auction. For a VERY reasonable price I could not say no. While my treasure was wrapped (very well) we were invited to explore the 2nd floor which houses a family museum of sorts including several very rare posters. My purchase made it home safely and is currently getting framed. We had a genuinely wonderful experience here and I'd recommend it to anyone who loves old books.

This is a lovely bookshop with a very antique feel! There are beautiful vintage typewriters and…read morethings on display here, and a mix of paperbacks to gorgeous antiquarian books to be found.

Lovely store with wide variety. My daughter loved the music boxes, I wish I knew where to get one…read morein Canada, they were out of the one she wanted. The Jasmine hand lotion we brought home is beautiful and the staff were polite and friendly.

When you walk up to this two-story store, you'll notice a line of tourists waiting to see the grand…read morestaircase inside Livraria Lello. However, another beautiful staircase next door is inside Fernandes, Mattos & Ca. When you walk in, you'll see it surrounded by wood tables of all types of gifts from ceramics to backpacks to clothes. Walk up the stairs to find art, household goods, and much more. I bought my wife three teardrop-shaped plates from Portugal for 26 Euros.

A real find! Looking to get off busy Sta Catarina I asked yelp for coffee near me and got this…read moregem. On a quiet side street--R. Formosa--and not easy to find. Great little bookstore with nice music, funky art, assorted antiques and friendly staff. Simple coffee shop menu. Atmosphere! The scent of old books. And to think I almost walked another block to Starbucks!

Great coffee and bookshop. Excellent coffee with a quirky and friendly vibe. Recommended.read more