A Wizard-Lover’s Guide to the Best Scotland Harry Potter Tours

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

Are you looking for the best Scotland Harry Potter tours? You’re in luck!

It’s no secret that Scotland is a Harry Potter lover’s paradise. Home to dozens of filming locations as well as being the birthplace of the books, there are a whole host of activities for Potterheads to enjoy in this magical country.

I’m a huge Harry Potter fan and have visited many of the Harry Potter spots throughout Scotland during a road trip I took while studying abroad.

There are a vast range of Scotland Harry Potter tours to choose from, and no matter your budget or how much time you have to spend in Scotland, you’re guaranteed to find a tour that will transport you into the wizarding world. 

Top Picks: Scotland Harry Potter Tours

Best Scotland Harry Potter Tours for Potterheads

3-Day Isle of Skye and Scottish Highlands Tour Including “Hogwarts Express” Ride

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars (see reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 3 days | ⚡ Book now

The Scottish Highlands are home to many Harry Potter filming locations across all eight films, and it’s no wonder this little slice of the world was chosen as the setting for the franchise – the landscape in the Scottish Highlands is some of the most magical in the world. 

This 3-day coach tour takes you around the area’s highlights, including Glencoe, Portree, and the Isle of Skye.

You’ll stop at some of Scotland’s most impressive natural attractions, such as the folklore-famed Loch Ness and the cascading waterfall at Kilt Rock. The trip also includes a tour of the legendary Dunvegan Castle. 

The trip’s highlight has got to be the Jacobite Steam train ride. This iconic train is the model used as the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films, and the train journey is regularly voted as one of the most beautiful journeys in the world.

During the train ride, you’ll cross Glenfinnan Viaduct, which you’re guaranteed to recognize from the films – it features in virtually every Hogwarts Express scene.

Sit back and admire the rolling green hills and barren moors – you’ll feel like you’re heading to Hogwarts! 

Glenaladale Cruise – Great for wizard spotting!

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars (see reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 2 hours | ⚡ Book now

This two-hour-long cruise voyages around the tranquil Loch Shiel, a 17-mile-long lake located in the Scottish Highlands. This lake will be very familiar to Harry Potter fans – it’s the lake that Hogwarts is next to in the films.

Sadly, Hogwarts was superimposed into the setting, so you won’t see it on your cruise, but the loch has a very distinctive shape, and it won’t take too much imagination to picture Hogwarts right in front of you.

On board the cruise, you’ll tour around recognizable Harry Potter scenery, and you’ll also get the chance to do some wildlife spotting – this area is full of native Scottish species like red deer and golden eagles. 

After the cruise, the tour continues to historical sites like the Glenfinnan Monument and St. Mary and St. Finnan Catholic Church.

This Harry Potter tour in Scotland is the perfect way to discover the country’s remarkable history while also enjoying the breathtaking natural scenery of the area.

You’ll also stop at the Glenfinnan Viaduct, and if the timing is right, you might even see the Hogwarts Express storming over the bridge! 

2-Day Jacobite Experience including the Hogwarts Express from Edinburgh

⭐️ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars (see reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 2 days | ⚡ Book now

This small group tour travels through the Scottish Highlands, visiting some of the most notable historical sites in the area.

Your guide will impart their knowledge on the country’s Jacobite history as you visit sites such as the Culloden Battlefield, the setting for the final bloody fight between the Jacobites and the British. 

You’ll also visit the ruins of the Dunkeld Cathedral and will be able to admire the beauty of the Glencoe National Nature Reserve, which is one of the nation’s most loved places.

It’s home to awe-inspiring scenery and also holds a very sorrowful past which you’ll learn about as part of the tour. 

Included on the tour is a ride on the Jacobite Steam Train (or the Hogwarts Express to Harry Potter fans!) from Fort William to Mallaig and back again.

The scenery you’ll be immersed in on this Scotland Harry Potter tour is some of the best in the country, and you’ll fall in love with the mythical and majestic mountain views. 

5-Day Isle of Skye, Loch Ness and the Jacobite Steam Train from Edinburgh

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars (see reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 5 days | ⚡ Book now

This 5-day tour encapsulates Scotland’s highlights and ventures through the country’s most beautiful natural wonders.

It’s the perfect tour for Harry Potter fans looking to tick off the best parts of the Scottish Highlands, along with experiencing the not to be missed train ride aboard the magical Jacobite Steam Train (or Hogwarts Express to the wizards out there!)

You’ll visit quaint Scottish villages like Callander and Kilmahog, where you can witness life in rural Scotland and sample some delicious local delicacies. 

During the tour, you will have the opportunity to explore the natural beauty of Scotland, including its lakes, mountains, and rolling hills.

You will also visit historical sites such as Eilean Donan Castle and Culloden Battlefield, as well as iconic Harry Potter filming locations like Glenfinnan Viaduct and Glencoe National Park.

The tour includes transportation by a comfortable coach and accommodations in selected hotels or guesthouses.

Some meals and the services of a knowledgeable tour guide who will share information about the history, culture, and landmarks of the areas visited are also included.

A life less narrow, the Genius of Harry Potter, private 5 ¼ hr tour ϟ

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars (see reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 5.5 hours | ⚡ Book now

Regularly dubbed as the ‘home of Harry Potter,’ Edinburgh is an enchanting city to visit and is an even more magical place to explore as a Harry Potter fan. 

This half-day walking tour is the perfect Harry Potter tour in Scotland for fans wanting to learn more about the franchise’s real-life influences and inspirations.

The tour journeys around Edinburgh’s winding streets and mysterious alleyways, discovering the places that inspired J.K. Rowling in the creation of the Harry Potter series.

The tour starts at Greyfriars Kirkyard, where you will see the gravestones with names you might recognize – it’s believed that this cemetery inspired the names of some of the characters in the books, such as Tom Riddle and McGonagall.

You will also visit the Elephant House café, where Rowling wrote some of the early chapters of the books, and Victoria Street, which is thought to have inspired Diagon Alley and has a wizarding world vibe to it. 

During the tour, your guide will share interesting facts and stories about the inspirations behind the characters, creatures, and locations in the Harry Potter series. You’ll also learn about J.K. Rowling’s life in Edinburgh and how the city influenced her writing.

This is a private tour and can accommodate up to 5 people, so it is an excellent option for a group of Potter-loving friends visiting Edinburgh. 

Original Harry Potter Locations Tour – Edinburgh

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars (see reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 2 hours | ⚡ Book now

Similar to the tour above, this Scotland Harry Potter tour takes you to the most famous Edinburgh locations that played a part in creating the books.

As well as all the top spots like Greyfriars Kirkyard, the Elephant House Cafe, and Victoria Street, your Potter-loving guide will also take you to Edinburgh’s top landmarks, such as Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. 

This two-hour-long group tour costs just $20, so it is an excellent option for travelers on a budget! 

5-Day Isle of Skye, Oban, St Andrews and North West Highlands Tour

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars (see reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 5 days | ⚡ Book now

This 5-day tour offers a leisurely way to explore the beauty of Scotland, allowing you to take your time and enjoy the sights without feeling rushed.

The itinerary covers ancient castles, mountains, glens, historical sites, a whisky distillery, geological wonders, and beautiful lochs.

One of the benefits of joining a group tour like this is you can save yourself hours of research and planning, and instead focus on soaking up the experience. 

The tour includes visits to highlights such as Loch Lomond, the Culloden Battlefield, Urquhart Castle, and St. Andrews Cathedral. Day 2 is the big day for Harry Potter fans – you’ll spend the day traveling around Glencoe National Park, which was used as a filming location for Hagrid’s Hut in ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.’ You’ll also get to see the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct on this day as well. 

The Scottish Highlands hold vast natural beauty and have been used as the setting for many famous movies and TV shows.

As well as visiting Harry Potter locations in this tour, you’ll also have the opportunity to see filming locations from things like ‘James Bond’ and ‘Outlander.’

Additionally, you’ll experience memorable moments such as a Lochcarron seal spotting cruise and visit remote nature spots that would be hard to reach by public transport. 

Private one hour Harry Potter walking tour

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars (see reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 1 hour | ⚡ Book now

This is another excellent Harry Potter walking tour of Edinburgh. It’s led by a Tourism Management Graduate who wrote her thesis on Harry Potter about Scottish tourism – so she’s undoubtedly a very knowledgeable guide! 

The tour covers Greyfriars Kirkyard, The Elephant House Cafe, The Royal Mile, Grassmarkets, and the Writer Museum.

Throughout the tour, your guide will point out all the different Harry Potter inspirations and points of interest in the city, and as it’s a private tour, you’ll be able to ask as many questions as you like. 

Scottish Highlands and Hogwarts Express Tour from Edinburgh

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars (see reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 13.5 hours | ⚡ Book now

This tour is a magical experience for both Harry Potter fans and nature lovers alike. Over the course of the 13-hour day trip, you’ll escape the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands with plenty of Harry Potter-themed stops along the way. 

The tour begins with sightseeing stops en route to Mallaig, a picturesque fishing village. From there, you’ll board the Jacobite Steam Train, which famously doubled as the Hogwarts Express in the movies, and travels along the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct.

Along the way, you’ll discover behind-the-scenes facts and see filming locations from the Harry Potter movies. The tour concludes with a visit to the dramatic scenery of Glencoe before returning to Edinburgh. 

With round-trip transit from Edinburgh, this stress-free experience provides an opportunity to see Highland highlights like Mallaig, the Glenfinnan Viaduct, Loch Shiel, and Glencoe, all while riding on the Jacobite Steam Train.

The nature and scenery in this region are second to none, and this day trip is a fantastic way to experience it – especially for Harry Potter fans! 

JK Rowling’s Harry Potter Walking Tour in Edinburgh

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars (see reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 2 hours | ⚡ Book now

This walking tour takes you through Edinburgh’s enchanting old town and is the perfect way to experience some magic while in the city.

Your guide will take you around all the most notable Potter-related sites in the city, including the inspiration for Hogwarts, the street that Diagon Alley is based upon, and the Cafe where J.K Rowling is said to have written the first book. 

Your knowledgeable guide will help you discover Edinburgh’s dark history as you explore the role this played in the inspiration for the books. The tour lasts for two hours and is the perfect way for Harry Potter fans to explore Edinburgh. 

Alnwick Castle as Featured in Harry Potter and Scottish Borders Day Trip from Edinburgh

⭐️ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars (see reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 9.5 hours | ⚡ Book now

Step into the world of Harry Potter and explore the history of the Scottish Borders on this day trip from Edinburgh.

You’ll start by visiting the historic coastal village of Bamburgh, where you can admire the impressive Bamburgh Castle. After spending some time here, you’ll head to the magical Alnwick Castle, the second-largest inhabited castle in England. 

Alnwick Castle was used as a filming location for Hogwarts in two films – ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.’

You might recognize the Outer Bailey, which was the spot where Harry and his classmates learned to ride their broomsticks and also where Harry learned to play Quidditch.

There are dozens of other recognizable spots in Alnwick Castle – it’s a must-visit location for fans of the series! 

Alnwick Castle was also used as a filming location for the hit British period drama Downton Abbey, and the opulent rooms and majestic grounds of the castle make for a brilliant afternoon of exploring.

After a few hours here, you’ll head to the quaint border town of Coldstream before starting the journey back to Edinburgh. 

This is the perfect Scotland Harry Potter tour for fans interested in seeing real-life filming locations and also for anyone interested in discovering some of Britain’s most remarkably preserved castles. 

JK Rowling’s Edinburgh and the Writing of Harry Potter 4hrs

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars (see reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 4 hours | ⚡ Book now

This fan-led walking tour focuses on the writing of Harry Potter and offers an excellent exploration inside JK Rowling’s head.

You’ll visit places that inspired Rowling, such as the Balmoral Hotel and the University of Edinburgh’s Old College and your guide will also take you around places like the Heart of Midlothian Mosaic and a shop selling Butter-Beer ice cream! 

This tour offers something slightly different from the many other Harry Potter walking tours in Edinburgh.

You’ll get the chance to visit a whole host of places that aren’t famous for being a Harry Potter inspiration but might well be – after all, JK Rowling lived in the city while writing most of the books.

Your guide will host a fascinating discussion on what could or couldn’t be an inspiration, and this is the perfect tour for fans wanting to engage in conversations about the series – rather than just looking at locations. 

Final Thoughts: Best Harry Potter Tours in Scotland

As you can see, there is really no shortage of incredible tour options on offer.

Harry Potter tours in Scotland are a fun way for fans of the series to immerse themselves in the world of Harry Potter and see some of the real-life locations that inspired J.K. Rowling’s magical creations.