Like any avid reader, I struggle to resist a really good bookshop, especially one that's particularly pretty. So when I headed on a city break to Porto and discovered it was home to the 'world's most beautiful bookshop', it would have almost been rude not to go and check it out for myself.

Livraria Lello is one you've probably already seen heaps of photos of, whether on your social media feeds or in round-ups of some of the world's most breathtaking book havens.

The spectacular bookshop boasts an iconic spiral staircase amongst two floors that are jam-packed with books thanks to the impressive floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. On the subject of that ceiling, it's decorated with impressive stained glass creations, the kind you'd expect to find in a famous Church instead of a shop.

The bookshop has garnered increased attention in recent years thanks not only to its social media clout, but the reports that it inspired some of the Hogwarts scenery in the Harry Potter films, attracting thousands of Wizarding World fans from around the globe.

However, the shop isn't particularly huge, so it was struggling to keep up with the increased popularity, meaning it moved to a ticketed entry system.

This was something I wasn't aware of until I actually arrived in Porto, but fortunately there were still several slots available during our few days' stay. I booked online within a matter of minutes, and had a slot for 9.30am the next morning, when I was hoping to avoid the worst of the crowds.

There are various ticket options included guided tours, but I just wanted to have a nosey and a wander so I went for the basic entry ticket, which is €12 per person (approximately £10). The ticket isn't just for crowd control; the shop put the system in place after they were finding that hordes of visitors were coming in, not buying anything, and putting off potential customers.

Still, if you buy some books then the €12 charge gets detracted from your total, although I didn't expect to buy any given I (wrongly) assumed all of the books would be in Portuguese.

I dutifully arrived at 9.30am the next morning, and was taken aback by the number of people already queuing from earlier and later time slots, as the shop still operates a 'one in, one out' system as part of the queues. I joined the designated queue for my timeslot, dutifully did a bit of grumbling about what the point of entrance times is if everyone mixes anyway, and then quickly found my pessimism to be unfounded, as within 15 minutes of joining the queue, I was entering the shop.

Instantly, I could see what the hype was about.

I know the phrase "like something out of a fairytale" gets thrown about a lot, but this truly describes Livraria Lello. You walk in and are instantly facing the towering bookshelves that reach the ceilings, and the grand staircase gives the impression that you've stepped into a ballroom scene (it had serious Bridgerton vibes).

Despite my inital doubts that I'd buy any books, I was quickly proven wrong. Livraria Lello has pivoted to cater to both locals and tourists; the bookshop stocks heaps of books in various languages, with dedicated sections so you can go and check out the stock that you can actually read easily.

This proved to be a very helpful system as it also meant that you weren't jostling with loads of tourists to browse - and it clearly works as I ended up picking up about five books. (That €12 entry fee was very quickly worth it!).

The shop also boasts some stunning limited edition covers exclusive to Livraria Lello, along with a range of merchandise catering to fans of Harry Potter and The Little Prince. The queue at the till was surprisingly short, making the entrance fee feel more reasonable, given the crowds in the shop when I was there.

The beauty of Livraria Lello is that it's nestled in the heart of Porto, a stone's throw away from numerous stunning landmarks. As a Brit, I couldn't help but be drawn to the nearby McDonald's - before you quietly judge me, it's often hailed as the world's most beautiful McDonald's, so naturally, I had to see what all of the fuss was about!

For more details and to book tickets, visit livrarialello.pt. For additional information about Porto, check out visitporto.travel.