This review provides a comprehensive description of the atropisomerism of meso-di- and tetraarylporphyrins with substituents in ortho-positions of the aryl ring, as well as in corroles and in conveniently substituted phthalocyanines. Different methods of study were examined: X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy (both static and dynamic aspects), classical kinetics, HPLC and theoretical calculations. Then the four atropisomers, the tautomerism of the inner protons, the 'picket fence' concept, conformationally restricted meso-tetraarylporphyrins and the influence of the metal on the conformation were discussed based on 250 references.