Cafés where ideas took shape, a storybook bookshop, black cloaks and real brooms: Porto as (perhaps) imagined by J.K. Rowling. Book for €1.50 and decide for yourself at the end what it was worth.
Fun fact: J.K. Rowling lived in Porto in the early 1990s, teaching English just as she was beginning to write the story of the boy wizard.
Highlights
- The Porto where J.K. Rowling lived
- Café Majestic, Livraria Lello and São Bento station
- Black cloaks, seven emblems and other magical clues
- The true story behind Salazar Slytherin
- Finish among the brooms in a century-old shop
Full description
Before she became the world’s most famous author, J.K. Rowling lived in Porto and taught English. And Porto, with its black cloaks, storybook bookshops and towers reaching for the sky, has plenty to say about the magical world. On this tour, your local guide will lead you to the clues fans find all over the city, separating legend from fact (and enjoying both). We’ll start at Café Majestic, where they say the first ideas took shape, then continue past Livraria Latina and São Bento station, which many compare to Platform 9¾. The Clérigos Tower will tell us about astronomy and dragons, Livraria Lello about the most dream-worthy library, and the University about the cloaks that inspired the uniforms and the legend of the seven emblems. You’ll discover the true story behind Salazar Slytherin, and we’ll finish among the brooms in a century-old brush shop. How does it work? The €1.50 you pay when booking is just a booking fee: it reserves your place in the group, but doesn’t go to the guide. The tour itself is pay-what-you-wish: at the end, you give your guide whatever you think they’ve earned. Most people leave €15–€20 per person, but here the price is set by your smile, not a fixed fee.
Route
Duration: 2 h 15 min
- Meeting point
On foot
1Estatua Os Corcéis
Guided visit · 10 min
Meeting point at Praça Dom João I
On foot (5 min)
2Café Majestic
Guided visit · 10 min
Where Rowling is said to have shaped her first ideas
On foot (3 min)
3Livraria Latina
Guided visit · 10 min
The classics locals associate with the series
On foot (8 min)
4Estación de São Bento
Guided visit · 10 min
Porto’s Platform 9¾? Tiles and ghosts
On foot (5 min)
5Torre de los Clérigos
Guided visit · 10 min
The astronomy tower and the dragons in Portuguese history
On foot (3 min)
6Livraria Lello
Guided visit · 10 min
The (controversial) bookshop associated with Hogwarts (exterior visit)
On foot (2 min)
7Universidad de Oporto
Guided visit · 10 min
Black cloaks and the legend of the seven emblems
On foot (2 min)
8Iglesias do Carmo y Carmelitas
Guided visit · 10 min
The hidden house and the Inquisitorial Squad
On foot (5 min)
9Palacio de Justicia
Guided visit · 10 min
The real Salazar and Salazar Slytherin
On foot (5 min)
10Tienda de cepillos Belomonte
Guided visit · 10 min
A magical finale among the brooms
For reference only: the route and times may change on the day.
Duration: 2 h 15 min
Shared group
Up to 6 people
Guide / driver speaks
Spanish
What's included
Local Spanish-speaking guide
A walking tour of just over 2 hours through central Porto
Stories, fun facts and recommendations from a local
Not included
Your pay-what-you-wish contribution to the guide at the end of the tour (the average is €15–€20 per person)
Admission fees (Livraria Lello and monuments; exterior visits only)
Food, drinks and transportation
Meeting point
Porto, Portugal
The exact meeting point is provided in the booking confirmation.
Important information
Not suitable for
- Wheelchair users
- People with reduced mobility
What to bring
- Comfortable shoes (there are hills)
- Water
- Cash for your tip
Not allowed
- Groups of more than 6 people, even if they book separately
Good to know
- Look for the blue umbrella with yellow “Free Tour” lettering
- Arrive 10–15 minutes before the start time
- The tour runs rain or shine
- At the end, leave whatever tip you feel is fair, in cash
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to the tour’s start time: your booking fee will be refunded. If your plans change, please cancel to free up your place for another traveler.
Company's general termsShowHide
A pay-what-you-wish free tour: the €1.50 paid when booking is a booking fee and does not include payment for the guide. At the end of the tour, each person gives the guide whatever they consider fair, in cash and euros only (the average is €15–€20 per person). Maximum 6 people per booking: we cannot accept groups of more than 6, even if they book separately. Are you a larger group? For large groups, we require a prepayment of €12 per adult and €5 per child, or you can book a private tour. Unofficial tour, not affiliated with the author or the rights holders of the series. There are hills. Monument visits are exterior only; admission is not included. Drinks, food and transportation are not included. Stops may vary depending on the guide, weather or events in the city. Free cancellation up to the start time.
Questions and answers
Where is the pick-up?
At the hotel, rental or address you give when booking. The company confirms the exact spot and time.
Can I bring children?
Yes. Count children in the number of people. For child seats or other needs, write to the company through the booking messages.
Can we stop wherever we like?
On a private service the vehicle is just for your group: agree stops with the driver, within the service's duration.
Can I cancel?
Free cancellation up to the tour’s start time: your booking fee will be refunded. If your plans change, please cancel to free up your place for another traveler.
How do I pay?
Online, by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. You get the confirmation by e-mail straight away.
What if I have more questions?
After booking, talk to the company through the booking messages. Before that, write to us at [email protected].
