Harry Potter Tours in Edinburgh: The 5 Worth a Whole Day

1.Original Harry Potter Locations Tour in Edinburgh : Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,236 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $19Our pick

Start at the William Chambers Monument for a two-hour, 1.5-mile walk through Edinburgh’s Old Town and central streets. Guides such as Robbie, Jenny, Orla, and Xander mix Harry Potter facts with local stories, quizzes, and views of Edinburgh Castle. The tour suits families, but bring good shoes and rainwear.

“​A huge thank you to our guide, Xander! He was brilliant and clearly so passionate about both the wizarding world and Edinburgh itself. He brought so much energy and humor to the walk, making the stories of J.K. Rowling and the city's inspiration truly come alive. It made the two hours fly by! Xander is the perfect guide to bring the magic of Edinburgh to life. Highly recommended!”

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2.JK Rowling’s Harry Potter Walking Tour in Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 547 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $24

Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town with a guide who connects J.K. Rowling’s life to places linked with Harry Potter. See Victoria Street, Greyfriars Kirk, Tom Riddle’s grave, and the hotel where Rowling finished the final book. Guides such as Sarah, Kristel, Ryan, and Callum bring plenty of book trivia and Edinburgh stories.

“Sarah, our guide, is a passionate Potter enthusiast. She capably led the group in an organized manner as she painted the story of how JK Rowling used Edinburgh sites to create her magical tale.”

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3.Harry Potter Tour & Edinburgh Castle Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 340 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $102

Walk Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, Old Town, Greyfriars Graveyard, Victoria Street, and other Harry Potter-inspired spots with a guide such as Jackson, Hazel, Paul, or Kirsty. Then explore Edinburgh Castle on your own for two hours. Expect a small group, plenty of hills and cobbles, and more city history than film locations.

“Jackson, our tour guide was very informative and entertaining. He had high energy and was very excited to share all the HP tales with us. I would encourage to anyone to ask for him as their guide for this tour. All of the sites on the tour gave you a clear picture of where JK Rowling got her idea for places and characters. Well worth the time and money.”

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4.2-Day Jacobite Experience including the Hogwarts Express from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 335 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $492

Spend two busy days traveling from Edinburgh through Pitlochry, Culloden, Loch Ness, Fort Augustus, Mallaig, and Glencoe. You ride the Jacobite Steam Train, known as the Hogwarts Express, stay overnight with breakfast, and travel by small-group minivan with a guide such as Paul, Steven, Ian, or Jamie. Expect long driving days and several extra fees.

“Ian our tour guide was fantastic! He had all of the details handled and we were truly able to just enjoy. It was a great way to see the sights outside of Edinburgh. Ian was knowledgeable and super friendly. We had an issue with the bus, but the tour company took care of it.”

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5.Guided Harry Potter Tour in French

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 57 reviews · from $43

Follow a French-speaking guide through Edinburgh’s Old Town and the places linked to JK Rowling’s Harry Potter stories. You’ll hear about the author’s time in local cafés, walk narrow cobbled streets and a graveyard, explore character-name origins, and see Rowling’s handprints. The tour lasts two hours and returns to the Royal Mile.

“Very interesting. We discover the city at the same time as JK Rowling's anecdotes.”

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