A Walking Tour of Porto: On the Trail of The Real-Life Inspiration for JK Rowling’s Harry Potter

Attention Harry Potter fans! Porto — Portugal’s second-largest metropolis after Lisbon — should be be at the top of your literary travel must-list.

As Kevin and I walked around the city of Porto, we kept noticing eerie similarities between the epic fantasy novel and real-life. Within minutes of arriving in Portugal, we passed a group of university students wearing traditional garb that looked more in line with the Ministry of Magic than say, a university lecture on Bio Chem!

Kevin half-joked, “I feel like I’m about to bump into Harry Potter any minute!”

That’s when we Googled “Porto and Harry Potter” and discovered the wild connection. JK Rowling once called Porto her home for 2 years teaching English in the early 1990’s. Rumors swirl to this day just how much influence Porto had on her early work. And while some of these connections may be urban legends or simply myth, we couldn’t help but feel the Harry Potter magic in the air.

Below is an easy-to-follow, self-guided walking tour we put together where you can retrace the steps of JK Rowling. And by the end, you might feel the urge to dust off those fantasy novels and be sucked in once again!

Stop #1: Livraria Lello Bookstore

There is no other way to put it — Livraria Lello Bookstore in Porto is simply magical. It’s hard to believe that the place nearly shut down permanently before Harry Potter hit the scene. One of the shopkeepers told us the place nearly shuttered, and pretty much it was just 9o-year-old guys who used to frequent the dusty bookstore. The scene today is MUCH different as fans from around the world flock to take in the Harry Potter setting.

Livraria Lello was allegedly one of Rowlings favorite spots (and it doesn’t take much imagination to see many of the elements of the grand staircase in Hogwarts Castle). You’ll feel transported to another era as you walk underneath the Gothic arches, down the swirling staircase and red-painted wooden steps.

It can be a mob scene – though tourists must buy timed tickets for entry (5 Euros) at the shop around the corner. Our recommendation? Plan your trip later in the day when the crowds die down and you can have the place to yourself. Even better yet, make a purchase and have it gift wrapped. We were the last people in there, which allowed us to get our own personal photo shoot!

Stop #2: University of Porto

Now look at these university students and tell us there wasn’t any inspiration for Harry Potter? While Rowling lived in Portugal, we’re sure she saw plenty of these kids roaming the streets. It certainly is striking — black capes, colored cords and pressed white shirts and ties. When I was in college, if I put on a polo shirt, I considered it dressing up! We almost felt like asking, “Can you point us to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft?” The University of Porto is just steps from the bookstore. But what about the nearby magical wand shop?

Stop #3: Praca dos Leões (Lion Fountain)

Another spot just minutes from the bookstore is Praca dos Leões (Lion Fountain). Rumor has it that it may have inspired Rowling’s vision for the Gryffindor House, one of the four houses at Hogwart.

Rowling never went on the record saying the fountain was her inspiration (at least that we could find), but we found the resemblance pretty remarkable. And as we regularly joke, who needs facts to get in the place of a good story? Regardless, the fountain is a lovely place to stop and take a rest. Since you’re near the University of Porto you’ll likely also see a few wizards, umm, I mean students, hanging about and chatting on their iPhones!

Stop #4: Cafe Majestic

Cafe Majestic is where the magic came together. JK Rowling spent much of her time seated at the cafe drafting what we’d all come to know as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. This bustling and historic cafe is in the heart of Porto and is likely a very different scene than when Rowling first wrote here in the early 1990’s.

It’s a pretty fancy spot — and was once where many of the city’s elite would gather including artists, writers and politicians. The former president of Brazil also loved to frequent the place. Today you’ll find many tourists from around the world stopping by to peek into a slice of the past, take off a load or have some afternoon tea.

Stop #5: Sao Bento Railway Station

Our last recommended stop on the Harry Potter walking tour is a must. The historic São Bento train station – known for its intricately tiled entrance hall – looks like a movie set. The saga came alive for us upon walking into the main entryway with its high vaulted ceilings and dark wooded interior.

Even if you aren’t boarding a train, we highly recommend a stop here to check it out. And feel the inspiration that Rowling likely had during her formative years in Porto and creating the world of Harry Potter. It’s exactly the kind of building you’d almost expect to hold the secret of Platform 9 3/4 for Hogwarts via the Hogwarts Express.

We hope you enjoyed retracing our steps through Porto and the world of Harry Potter. At this point, you likely could use a rest! And for anyone who knows us, we love our coffee shops. We recommend taking a break inside the train station at Jeronymo, part of a chain of cafes in Porto.

We loved our time in Porto, and certainly felt its magic! Be sure to check out our next post where we head to Madrid!