Some Harry Potter places make us wish magic was real, while others make us so glad it’s not real.

Places we’d visit

Diagon Alley

Diagon Alley would be one of our top choices if we could magically spend a day in the wizarding world. Tucked away behind London’s unsuspecting streets is this magical haven filled with wand shops, bookshops, cauldrons, robes, magical pets, and wizarding confectionery.

We would most definitely pop into Ollivanders, poke around Flourish and Blotts, and spend way too many Galleons.

Hogwarts Castle

Of course Hogwarts isn’t just a school; it’s basically its own world. There are moving staircases, secret passages, enchanted classrooms, talking portraits, common rooms, towers, and centuries of mystery hiding inside that castle.

Hogwarts would make for great exploring if you didn’t have to attend classes and take exams. We would of course still obey the rules and stay out of those forbidden corridors.

Hogsmeade

Hogsmeade is Britain’s only 100% magical village in the series, so of course we have to include it on our list. Who wouldn’t want to peruse the shelves at Honeydukes for magical sweets, check out Zonko’s Joke Shop, or sip on a Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks?

Throw in snow-dusted rooftops and Hogwarts peeking in the distance, and Hogsmeade might be the coziest place in the wizarding world.

The Burrow

Granted, the Weasley family’s house isn’t some grand castle. But the Burrow is so charming because it’s all crooked and contains countless fun magical items and the chaotic charms of a huge wizarding household. Between cooking from Mrs. Weasley, the backyard, and loving family-feel, the Burrow is probably where we’d most like to spend the night.

The Hogwarts Express

Even if Hogwarts wasn’t at the end of the ride, boarding the Hogwarts Express would be something I’d want to do. Leaving from Platform 9¾ in King’s Cross Station, the red steam engine transports Hogwarts students across the English countryside to Hogsmeade. We would pick our seat by the window, stock up on some Chocolate Frogs and other snacks from the candy cart, and relax on the ride.

Places we’d avoid completely

Azkaban

There’s not enough magic in the world that we’ll visit Azkaban voluntarily. Perched on a secluded island in the North Sea, Azkaban was home to some of the wizarding world’s most vile offenders. It was also protected by Dementors for much of its existence, soul-sucking creatures that leached people’s joy and hope. Pictures will do us fine.

The Forbidden Forest

The forest adjacent to Hogwarts may look scenic from outside the castle, but entering it would be a different story. Centaurs live there, as do giant spiders, unicorns, and hundreds of other magical beasts. Not all of them are friendly towards uninvited guests. Hogwarts students aren’t even allowed to wander in carelessly, something we definitely wouldn’t argue with.

The Chamber of Secrets

A thousand-year-old hidden chamber underneath Hogwarts sounds incredible, until you realize what was in it. Built by Salazar Slytherin, the Chamber of Secrets houses a Basilisk, a giant magical snake that can kill with its stare. Between creepy tunnels underneath Hogwarts, giant snake imagery, and dark history, we’d prefer to let this Hogwarts mystery remain a mystery.

Knockturn Alley

A few feet away from the happy shops of Diagon Alley is Knockturn Alley. This shopping district specializes in questionable businesses and objects related to Dark magic. It’s where Borgin and Burkes can be found. We would peek down the alley, but we wouldn’t be that curious to explore it by ourselves.

Little Hangleton graveyard

By appearance alone, the cemetery outside the village of Little Hangleton would be considered your typical haunted cemetery. However, thanks to Harry’s visit there, it becomes one of the creepiest places in the story. It has strong ties to the Riddle family and Voldemort’s rise back to power.