Self-guided tour with included entrance at Lello Bookstore

Porto, Portugal

High interest

Booked 5+ times today.

30 minutes to 1 hour (approx.)

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Overview
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What's Included

Digital ticket for access to the Livraria will be sent via chat by the experience provider.

Presencial Guide
Printed ticket

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Livraria Lello
R. das Carmelitas 144, 4050-161 Porto, Portugal
Go directly to the address indicated, corresponding to the official entrance of the Lello Livraria. Upon arrival, look for a library employee or enter the access queue indicated at the venue and present your ticket to the entrance at the scheduled time.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Livraria Lello

Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation

Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

3.6

based on 23 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Sort by: Most recent

Reading is Knowledge

Katherine_G, Aug 2026

Get tickets before date of visit and schedule after five pm. It was great that you could purchase a book and cost deducted from ticket fee. Exceptional Library and staff very helpful!

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Dear Katherine, Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a great experience at Livraria Lello and that you appreciated the opportunity to purchase a book with the ticket value deducted from the purchase. It’s wonderful to know that you also found our staff helpful and welcoming. Thank you as well for sharing your helpful tip about purchasing tickets in advance and visiting later in the day. We’re sure this will be useful to other travelers planning their visit. We truly appreciate your kind words and recommendation. Thank you for choosing to explore Livraria Lello with us, and we hope to welcome you back to Porto in the future! Warm regards, Luka Destinations

Lovely but not worth $84 Euro

Dana_B, Aug 2026

There was no tour of the bookstore - you walk around like you would any other bookstore. Not worth $84 Euro for two.

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Dear Dana, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad to hear that you found Livraria Lello lovely, although we’re sorry to know that the experience did not meet your expectations. We would like to clarify that this experience is designed as a self-guided visit, meaning that there is no guide accompanying guests inside the bookstore. The experience includes admission to Livraria Lello along with our self-guided tour materials, allowing visitors to explore the bookstore at their own pace. We’re sorry if this was not clear when you made your booking, and we truly appreciate your feedback as it helps us make the experience and its description clearer for future travelers. Thank you again for choosing to visit Livraria Lello with us. Warm regards, Luka Destinations

Worth a Visit

Cindi_P, Aug 2026

Well organized and the staff is helpful and kind. Follow their instructions for the best experience. This is a beautiful and unique bookstore, as photos and descriptions have told you. I cannot shop for a book in a crowd, so I chose not to buy anything. It was worth it just to wander about and to get a look at the wonderful staircase. I wish it was a relaxed space and not such a tourist destination, though I totally understand why it is a tourist “must see.” On that note, timed admission tickets are a brilliant way to make a visit manageable and hopefully beneficial to the bookstore. Again, I cannot say enough about the helpful and welcoming staff. Claudia was especially wonderful. She helped me learn how to pronounce the name of the bookstore and that added to the charm and the fun of the experience. She also suggested where to find a restroom, as the bookstore did not have one available that day.

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Dear Cindi_P, Thank you for taking the time to share such thoughtful feedback about your experience at Livraria Lello. We’re glad to hear that you appreciated the beauty and uniqueness of the bookstore, as well as the organization and helpfulness of the staff. We’re especially happy to know that Claudia made your visit more welcoming and enjoyable. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with her. We also appreciate your comments about the crowds and timed admission. As one of Porto’s most visited landmarks, Livraria Lello can become quite busy, particularly during peak periods. The timed entry system is designed to help manage visitor flow and make the experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible while preserving the character of this special place. Thank you again for sharing your experience and for highlighting the small details that made your visit memorable. We sincerely hope to welcome you again on a future visit to Porto. Warm regards, Luka Destinations

The Tourist Trap never to be seen again

Ira_A, Jul 2026

The long lines made us think we were in for something special. Well what a disappointment. The lines were very long and turned out to be just a gift store

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Dear Ira, Thank you for taking the time to share your honest feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your visit to Livraria Lello did not meet your expectations. We understand that the long queues can be frustrating, particularly when the experience itself turns out to be different from what you anticipated. Livraria Lello is a historic bookstore with a strong focus on its architecture, atmosphere, and book collection, but we recognize that its appeal is not the same for every visitor. We respect your opinion and are sorry that you felt the experience was more like a gift shop than the unique bookstore you were expecting. We also appreciate your comments regarding the waiting time. High demand can lead to significant queues, and we understand how this can negatively affect the overall experience. Thank you again for sharing your perspective. We hope you were able to enjoy other experiences during your time in Porto. Warm regards, Luka Destinations

Incredible

Paul_L, Jul 2026

Gets a little crowded- but overall a great experience!!! Would love to find more 1 of a kind books in this store.

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Dear Paul, Thank you very much for your fantastic review! We’re delighted to hear that you had a great experience at Livraria Lello and that you found the visit incredible overall. We understand that the bookstore can become crowded, particularly during busy periods, and we appreciate your understanding. We also love your suggestion about having more one-of-a-kind and unique books available. It’s a great observation, and we appreciate you sharing it with us. Thank you again for your kind words and valuable feedback. We hope to welcome you back to Porto and Livraria Lello in the future! Warm regards, Luka Destinations

Beautiful book shop.

Ian_R, Jul 2026

It’s a beautiful place. Not sure how looking at books can be sold as a self guided tour! Staff weren’t very polite and the wait was long and in the rain!

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Dear Ian, Thank you for taking the time to share your honest feedback. We’re glad that you appreciated the beauty of Livraria Lello and its unique atmosphere. At the same time, we are sorry that the overall experience was disappointing, particularly because of the long wait in the rain and your interaction with the staff. We also understand your comment regarding the term “self-guided tour.” This experience is designed to allow visitors to explore the bookstore independently, at their own pace, rather than as a guided tour with a guide accompanying the group. We appreciate that the wording may have created different expectations. We sincerely apologize that the waiting conditions and service affected your visit. Your comments regarding the queue and staff are valuable, and we will share them with the relevant team. Thank you again for your feedback. We hope that, despite these difficulties, you were able to appreciate what makes Livraria Lello such a unique place. Warm regards, Luka Destinations

Must see book shop

Wendie_A, Jul 2026

Despite coming in peak season it was much less crowded than I expected. The bookshop is a must see for book lovers and Harry Potter fans. Loved the experience

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Dear Wendie, Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a lovely experience at Livraria Lello and that the crowds were more manageable than you expected, even during peak season. It’s wonderful to know that you enjoyed the visit and would recommend it to fellow book lovers and Harry Potter fans. The bookstore’s unique architecture and atmosphere certainly make it a memorable place to discover. Thank you again for sharing your experience and kind recommendation. We hope to welcome you again on your next visit to Porto! Warm regards, Luka Destinations

Long line

Jorge_S, Jul 2026

Long lines to enter but mostly organized. Recommend visiting if someone never has. Book selections were good and well organized by the different languages.

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Dear Jorge, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback! We’re glad to hear that, despite the long lines, you found the entry process mostly organized and that you would recommend visiting Livraria Lello, especially for first-time visitors. We’re also pleased that you enjoyed the book selection and found it well organized by language. We truly appreciate your recommendation and your helpful observations. Thank you again for visiting us, and we hope to welcome you back to Porto in the future! Warm regards, Luka Destinations

Not recommended.

Meghan_R, Jul 2026

I would not recommend this 1) The time slot I had booked and had confirmed months ago, the day prior "was no longer available" so we were moved to a later time 2) You don't actually get in at the time you are assigned, you are waiting in line with ~100 other people for your exact 15 minute slot and get in 15ish minutes late 3) They oversell the time slots to the point it is literally shoulder to shoulder and you can't look at any books comfortably 4) The book selections are VERY limited and mostly LL editions of books. Save your time and money and go to the world's oldest book store in Lisbon or any other bookstore for that matter.

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Dear Meghan, Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback. We are truly sorry that your experience did not meet your expectations. We sincerely apologize for the change to your confirmed time slot at short notice. We understand how frustrating this can be, particularly when a visit has been planned and booked months in advance. We also appreciate your comments regarding the queues and the number of visitors during your time slot. Although entry is organized around scheduled periods, high visitor demand can still result in waiting and crowded conditions, and we understand that this significantly affected your ability to comfortably enjoy the bookstore. Your feedback regarding the book selection is also appreciated. We understand that the range of titles and editions may not suit every visitor, and we respect your perspective. We are sorry that you felt the experience was not worth your time or money. Your comments regarding scheduling, visitor flow, and the overall experience are valuable and will be taken into consideration as we work to improve our service and communication. Thank you again for sharing your honest feedback. Warm regards, Luka Destinations

Never read much but this joint would be epic for anyone

Glenn_M, Jun 2026

Just a great experience to go into an old old school bookstore. Unique design and layout well worth a look

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Dear Glenn, Thank you very much for your fantastic review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Livraria Lello and appreciated its unique design, layout, and historic atmosphere. It’s wonderful to know that even as someone who doesn’t read much, you found the bookstore to be such a memorable and worthwhile experience. Thank you for sharing your recommendation with other travelers. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again on your next visit to Porto! Warm regards, Luka Destinations

Worth the trip; prepare for the lines

Judi_H, May 2026

Lello is an extraordinary bookstore for its gorgeous woodwork, the iconic winding staircase, and near-Baroque-style ceilings. The lines were very manageable in the mid-morning (I was there for a 10:45 am entry), but as the day went on, it did get unwieldy, as my fellow travelers reported. I found the line to purchase a book worse than the line to get in, so I opted out and chose to seal my memory with photographs.

Response from Host, May 2026

Dear Judi, Thank you very much for your thoughtful review! We’re delighted to hear that you appreciated the beauty and unique atmosphere of Livraria Lello, especially its remarkable woodwork, iconic staircase, and stunning architectural details. It’s wonderful to know that your morning visit allowed for a more comfortable experience. We also appreciate your helpful observations regarding the lines throughout the day. As one of Porto’s most visited landmarks, the bookstore can become significantly busier during peak hours, and feedback like yours is valuable for helping future visitors plan their experience. Thank you again for sharing your experience with us. We’re very happy that the visit was worthwhile for you and hope you enjoyed the rest of your time in Porto. Warm regards, Luka Destinations

There weee too many...

Daisy_L, May 2026

There weee too many people in the bookstore. I wished they would limit the number of people going in.

Response from Host, May 2026

Dear Daisy, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We understand your concern regarding the number of visitors inside Livraria Lello and we’re sorry that the crowd levels affected your experience. Due to the bookstore’s worldwide popularity, it can become quite busy, especially during peak hours and high season. We completely understand your wish for a more controlled visitor flow to allow guests to better appreciate the beauty and atmosphere of the space. Your feedback is very valuable and will be shared accordingly. We truly appreciate your visit and hope you still enjoyed discovering one of Porto’s most iconic landmarks. Warm regards, Luka Destinations

Viator is extremely pricing

HsiaoJu_L, May 2026

Viator charged me eur26 for silver ticket which you can get eur 12 at Lello bookstore website directly.

Response from Host, May 2026

Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your feedback, and we’re sorry to hear about your concerns regarding pricing. We understand your frustration when comparing prices with the official website of Livraria Lello. Please note that prices on third-party platforms like Viator may differ due to service fees, platform commissions, currency conversions, and the inclusion of customer support and booking assistance. That said, we fully agree that pricing should be as transparent as possible, and we regret if this was not clear at the time of booking. Your feedback is very important and helps us improve how we communicate these differences to future guests. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention and hope you still enjoyed your visit to Livraria Lello. Warm regards, Luka Destinations

Fabulous

Sally_Y, Apr 2026

Whether JK Rowing received inspiration from the bookstore or not, it is a must see. Absolutely beautiful!

It is a place to visit,...

Laurence_M, Aug 2026

It is a place to visit, truly incredible architecture, truly magnificent, a staircase that is breathtaking!

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Response from Host, Aug 2026

Dear Laurence, Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Livraria Lello and were impressed by its incredible architecture and breathtaking staircase. It’s wonderful to know that the beauty and unique character of this iconic Porto landmark made such a strong impression on you. Thank you again for sharing your kind words and for choosing to visit Livraria Lello with us. We hope to welcome you back to Porto for another memorable experience in the future! Warm regards, Luka Destinations

Price/quality is disappointing

S_B, Aug 2026

Price/quality not sufficient. It is a rather high amount to be allowed in for a bookstore. The red trap failed. We thought this would be covered in red velvet, but it is a concrete-painted staircase. It looked very beautiful further on. Once you go up, you cannot go back down to the ground floor, so you cannot buy the possible books you saw downstairs. I suspect they are missing out on a lot of sales here. Overall, we had fun and made a very special purchase, but the tickets are too expensive for what you get.

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Response from Host, Aug 2026

Dear S_B, Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback about your visit. We’re pleased to hear that you enjoyed the beautiful surroundings of Livraria Lello and that, despite some aspects not meeting your expectations, you had a pleasant visit and found a very special book to take home. We’re sorry to hear that you felt the experience did not offer the value you were expecting and that the famous staircase was different from what you had imagined. We also appreciate your comments regarding access to the lower floor after going upstairs. Feedback like yours is very valuable, as it helps us better understand our guests’ expectations and identify areas where the experience and information provided can be improved. Thank you again for sharing your honest feedback and for choosing to visit Livraria Lello with us. We’re glad that you were still able to enjoy your visit and take home a special purchase as a memory of Porto. Warm regards, Luka Destinations

The visit is quite...

Jerome_P, Jul 2026

The visit is quite short but the setting is magnificent. A few classics to take away to take advantage of the voucher included in the ticket.

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Response from Host, Aug 2026

Dear Jerome, Thank you very much for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Livraria Lello and found the setting truly magnificent. The bookstore’s unique architecture and atmosphere are certainly what make it such a special place to discover. We also appreciate your helpful suggestion about choosing a few classic books to make the most of the purchase credit included with the ticket. We’re glad you were able to enjoy this benefit during your visit. Thank you again for sharing your experience and recommendation. We hope to welcome you again on your next visit to Porto! Warm regards, Luka Destinations

Nice place, but there's a queue...

Luciana_A, Apr 2026

It was a place I wanted to see. Really beautiful the bookstore, the editions... but there's a huge queue and they're a little delayed.

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Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the beauty of Livraria Lello and its editions it truly is a special place to visit. We also appreciate your comments regarding the queue and timing. Due to the high demand, there may occasionally be some delays and waiting times, but we are continuously working to improve the flow and ensure a smoother experience for all our visitors. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again soon!