Livraria Lello is a historic bookstore dating back to 1906 in Porto, Portugal. People often dub this bookstore the “Prettiest Bookshop in the World,” and for this reason, it is popular among tourists. Not to mention, speculation suggests that J.K. Rowling’s visit to Livraria Lello in 1991 inspired the interiors of Hogwarts and the Flourish and Blotts bookstore in the Harry Potter universe. Now which of the Livraria Lello tickets is worth it?
Visitors must purchase a ticket to enter Livraria Lello. There are two different tickets available for purchase online: Silver and Platinum.
Silver Ticket (€10)
The Silver ticket includes entry to the bookstore and an €10 voucher for purchasing a book. This ticket allows you to reserve a time-slot for your visit, allowing you direct entry into the bookstore. This ticket is great for those who want to admire the interior of this bookstore and do some casual browsing of the novels they offer.
Here are the books my friends bought with their voucher.
Platinum Ticket (€50)
The Platinum tickets allow you to reserve a time-slot for your visit, giving you priority entry into the bookstore. They also grant you access to the Gemma Room and provide a €50 voucher to use toward any books.
If you are a big book lover and have great interests in art and culture, I think getting the platinum tickets for €50 can be worth it. With the platinum tickets, you get a €50 voucher for a book and access to what Livraria Lello calls the “Gemma Room.” Aptly named for a space that holds their precious jewels, the room houses their collections of rare books, manuscripts, first editions, and luxury books (coffee table books).
Your visit begins with a small guided tour in languages tailored to the people in the group. You will learn about the beginnings of Livraria Lello before visiting the Gemma Room. Upon entry, you will notice moderately sized room is lined with shelves of books from different genres. Some of the books are for sale, which you can use your voucher towards.
That being said, a lot of the books are only for display and preservation. This includes first editions from various Portuguese authors, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone, and also a signed copy of Margaret Atwood’s Bluebeard’s Egg. At the end of the tour, you can go back upstairs to find a book to purchase or find a book in the Gemma Room that’s for sale. There are books for sale in the Gemma Room for all interests, such as photography, architecture, fashion, film, etc. You can even take home a rarity like a first edition of Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita for €5,000 or Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll for €9,500.
Overall I had a wonderful time learning about the bookstore and seeing the first editions of books I enjoy. You definitely feel the appreciation the folks at Livraria Lello have for preserving these pieces of history.
If you are planning a visit to Porto, I recommend visiting the Livraria Lello. Don’t forget to purchase your tickets in advance. Also, don’t forget to cross the bridge over to Vila Nova de Gaia and take in the immaculate riverside views of Porto.
Happy Travels!
Verona
* Guest Post
** Not Sponsored
Hi Cathy,
It seems that they no longer offer gold. It looks as if the new benefits of Silver have replaced what used to be Gold. It seems to have the same perks of what was the Gold ticket (voucher, chosen time-slot, etc) as a lower price. Thank you for catching that change – I have updated the post.
Hello. Where can I purchase a Livraria Lello Gold Ticket for €15.95 as you recommend? When I click on your link to purchase tickets, there is no GOLD ticket option and no ticket for €15.95. Is there somewhere else to purchase the gold ticket?