Livraria Lello in Porto is one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, and a must‑see for anyone exploring the city. It opened in 1906 to celebrate both literature and architecture in a single space.

The shop stands on Rua das Carmelitas, in Porto’s historic centre, close to the Clérigos Tower and the university area. Its elegant façade blends into the city streets, but inside the building, it feels very different. Many people look at it as a mystical and magical place: high ceilings, dark wood shelves, and a famous red central staircase that leads visitors up between floors filled with books.

Livraria Lello is also known for its stained‑glass ceiling, which lets natural light in down into the main hall. For visitors, the experience is part bookshop, part museum: you can browse titles, enjoy the architecture, and feel the atmosphere of an old cultural space that is still very much alive today.

Have you visited Livraria Lello? What kind of book would you most want to find inside this bookshop?