If Livraria Lello seems familiar, it’s perhaps because this ticketed bookshop (the price of entry is deducted from any purchase) served as an inspiration for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series – JK Rowling lived in Porto for two years in the 1990s.

More than 100 years old, Livraria Lello’s forked crimson staircase, stained-glass windows and majestic ceiling (which looks like it’s carved from wood but is, in fact, plaster) are as impressive as its huge literature collection. We’re still waiting for our Hogwarts letter, but in the meantime, a visit to Livraria Lello will do.

Rua das Carmelitas, Porto; livrarialello.pt

Nearby: Following a gelato stop a couple of doors down from Livraria Lello, head out with an expert guide on one of Porto’s free walking tours (portowalkers.pt) to ensure you capture everything in Portugal’s second city.

Beautiful independent bookshops from around the world