15 Harry Potter Tours in Edinburgh to Build a Day Around

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

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

Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town with guides such as Robbie, Jenny, Orla, and Xander, linking Rowling’s inspirations to Castlehill, Greyfriars, the Royal Mile, Princes Street, and Edinburgh Castle. Expect Harry Potter trivia, local stories, and a house quiz on an easy 1.5-mile route. The tour runs in all weather and ends near the castle.

“Our guide Robbie was great and the experience was amazing, would totally recommend/do it again in future! He shared many Harry Potter world fun facts I did not know even though I am a big fan of HP, totally worth the experience.”

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2.Hogwarts Express and Scottish Highlands Tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,114 reviews · from $262

This 13.5-hour trip pairs a coach tour through Pitlochry, Glenfinnan, Mallaig, and Glencoe with a one-way Jacobite Steam Train ride to Fort William. Your English-speaking guide, such as Tim, Tiegan, Cara, or Steve, handles the long drive with stories and local history. Expect stunning views, standard-class seating, and a real train ride, not a themed Harry Potter attraction.

“Every part of it was memorable! The Highlands were stunning. I felt like I was finally home. Lunch in Mallaig was great. The Jacobite train was everything we expected. Do not expect the interior of the Hogwarts Express, you’ll be disappointed. BuRead more”

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3.3-Day Isle of Skye, ‘Hogwarts Express’ Train and Highlands Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 972 reviews · from $926

Spend three days traveling from Edinburgh through Glencoe and Rannoch Moor to Portree, with two nights in a 3-star hotel or B&B. Ride the Jacobite Steam Train across Glenfinnan Viaduct, visit the Old Man of Storr and Dunvegan Castle, then return via Eilean Donan, Loch Ness, and Dunkeld. Guides such as Jada, Louise, and Steve are known for lively stories and careful driving.

“Isle of Skye is a gorgeous area .....lots of scenery (especially when it's sunny.... we were very lucky!) Our driver was very knowledgeable and friendly, despite the fact that she had only been driving this route for @ 6 months! Despite the long distance riding in a bus, I would definitely recommend this trip as a way to get out of the city and see the spectacular countryside of Scotland!”

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4.Hogwarts Express and Scottish Highlands Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 662 reviews · 13 hours · from $268

Travel from Edinburgh by comfortable coach through Fife, Perth, Glen Coe, and Rannoch Moor, then board the Jacobite Steam Train from Mallaig to Fort William. Guides such as Charlie, Cara, Connor, and Graeme add Scottish history, Harry Potter film lore, music, and humor. It is a long day, with no coach restroom and possible train changes.

“Loved our guide Ryan P- he was so informative. So much history- loved the stories. Bus was nice and comfortable. The train was ok but windows dirty and so photos affected. The bus was crystal clear windows, leather seats that were comfortable and air was lovely. I would highly recommend the trip. Loved the extra stop too! Long day but so worth it!”

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

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

Follow an English-speaking guide through Edinburgh’s Old Town to see places linked with J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter. Visit Victoria Street, Greyfriars Kirk, and the site where Rowling wrote the final book. Guides such as Sarah, Kristel, Ryan, and Callum bring different styles, from detailed storytelling to light trivia. The tour starts at 3:30 pm on the Royal Mile and costs $24.19.

“Krystal our guide wad extremely conscientious and personable. She had very interesting details and an interesting way about her. Our group was a bit large. A smaller group would have been easier for her to manage and less of a disruption to others.”

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6.Harry Potter’s Alnwick Castle and Scottish Borders Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 431 reviews · 9 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $88

Leave Edinburgh at 8:15 a.m. for Bamburgh Castle, Alnwick Castle, and Coldstream on a nine-and-a-half-hour guided trip. You’ll cross into England, see Harry Potter filming sites, explore castle grounds, and hear local history from an English-speaking guide such as Connor, Cara, or Heidi. Castle admission, meals, and hotel transfers are extra.

“Loved it. Cara our guide was amazing and super hospitable with my grandmother and her mobility issues. She went above and beyond to help her enjoy the tour as much as everyone else. Highly recommend.”

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7.2-Day Highlands Tour with Hogwarts Express

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 428 reviews · 35 hours · from $481

Travel from Edinburgh into the Highlands with an English-speaking guide, stopping at Pitlochry, Culloden, Clava Cairns, Loch Ness, and Glen Coe. The trip includes one night in Fort Augustus and a one-way ride on the Jacobite steam train across the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Guides such as Steven B, Iain, Ben, and Keith are known for lively stories and thoughtful service.

“Our guide Graham was excellent, keep the dad jokes coming!”

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8.Harry Potter Tour & Edinburgh Castle Visit

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

Walk Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, Old Town, Greyfriars Kirkyard, Victoria Street, and other Harry Potter-inspired sites with a small group of up to 15 people. Guides such as Jackson, Hazel, Kirsty, and Paul mix J.K. Rowling trivia with Scottish history, then send you into Edinburgh Castle with a two-hour admission ticket.

“Would highly recommend! So much trivia that I didn't know before. Jackson was great - he brought awesome energy to the tour.”

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9.2-Day Jacobite Experience including the Hogwarts Express from Edinburgh

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

Travel from Edinburgh in a small-group minivan with a guide such as Paul or Steven B. Visit Pitlochry, Clava Cairns, Culloden, Loch Ness, Mallaig, and Glencoe. Ride the one-way Jacobite train from Fort William, stay overnight in Fort Augustus, and return to Edinburgh by about 8 p.m. on day two.

“First off, Jamie (I hope that's how he spells it), our guide, was great! He taught us about the different terms/phrases that originated in Scotland, knowledgeable about the history, and overall good guy to be around. I'd have a pint with him outside of the tour 🤙🏾 The tour itself was a fun time with the kids! The steam train and all the filming locations was quite magical. The B+B was very nice a quaint in a beautiful little town right on the loch. Highly recommended! Cheer! -Mike”

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10.Edinburgh’s Amazing Harry Potter Walking Tour – Kids Free!

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 238 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $20

Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town with a local guide and connect JK Rowling’s life to places such as Greyfriars, Old College, Waverley Station, and Victoria Street. Expect about two hours on cobbled, uneven streets, a group of 15 or fewer, plenty of city history, and a friendly pace suited to families. Guides may include Benjamin, Jackson, Hazel, Kirsty, Kristy, or Paul.

“Kirstin was great! The tour was a lot of fun not only did she talk about Harry Potter but gave a little bit of history as well and facts about other actors and movie locations as well. It wasn’t strenuous I feel anyone could do the tour. She was also very attentive and made sure no one got left behind. Highly recommend”

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11.6 Day Outer Hebrides, Isle of Skye & optional ‘Hogwarts Express’

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 223 reviews · 6 days (approx.)

Travel from Edinburgh through Glencoe, Lewis, Harris and Skye in a small group of up to 30. You’ll see blackhouses, beaches, brochs, lighthouses and Eilean Donan Castle, with five nights of accommodation, breakfasts and ferry crossings included. Add the Jacobite Steam Train for the Glenfinnan Viaduct ride.

“Tour guide Sophie made this an amazing trip. Not only was she an amazing driver but she was knowledgable,kind and made the driving time so fun. Some on the tour stayed at actual B&B which i was expecting but the hotels did serve breakfast. All with friendly and accommodating staff.”

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12.JK Rowling’s Edinburgh & the Writing of Harry Potter 4½hrs

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 213 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Join guide Sam for a private 4.5-hour walk through Edinburgh’s Old Town, linking J.K. Rowling’s life and writing with Greyfriars Kirkyard, Victoria Street, Makars’ Court, Old College, and other Potter-related sites. Expect a fast pace, detailed storytelling, interactive touches, spoilers, and more than 5 km of hills. It suits devoted book fans best.

“I booked this for an activity for a stag weekend as my brother (the stag) is a huge potterhead. This was a great activity very interactive and interesting. Sam (our guide) did a number of fun activities throughout the tour which got the whole group involved and felt a part of it. Also he kindly bought us some ice cream! It was a great way to explore Edinburgh and get your bearings around the city. There were a number of opportunities to sit down throughout the tour, so you aren't walking for 4 hours! Sam was a great guide, very friendly, knowledgeable and appropriately dressed in wizarding attire. We learnt…”

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13.Isle of Skye and Hogwarts Express 4-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 142 reviews · 83 hours · from $1,071

Travel from Edinburgh through Loch Lomond, Glen Coe, Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle and the Isle of Skye in a group of up to 16. You’ll spend two nights on Skye, ride the Jacobite Steam Train if operating, and hear Scottish history, folklore and Harry Potter stories from an English-speaking driver-guide such as Rose, Brodie or John.

“Our guide, Rob was wonderful, very accommodating and helpful, he also made the driving portion enjoyable and entertaining with his stories and humor! Highly recommended”

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14.Guided Harry Potter Tour in French

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 57 reviews · from $43

Spend two hours walking Edinburgh’s Old Town with a French-speaking guide who connects JK Rowling’s life to Harry Potter. Visit cafés, a local graveyard, narrow cobbled streets, and the handprints of the author. The tour begins and ends by City Chambers on the Royal Mile.

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

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15.Harry Potter’s Edinburgh: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 42 reviews · 40 minutes to 1 hour (approx.) · from $11Best value

Follow an English-language VoiceMap audio walk from Castlehill to the Elephant House, stopping at Harry Potter film locations, Victoria Street, the Writer’s Museum, and graves linked to familiar names. The $11.99 tour runs about 40 minutes to an hour, works offline, and lets you pause for shops, photos, or museums.

“Since we knew we would becoming in later afternoon to Edinburgh, this tour was great for us to do on our own at our own time. The audio tour gave very good instructions and we enjoyed learning more about places in Edinburgh that influenced JK Rowling's books about Harry Potter. Victoria Street is awesome!”

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