Every Harry Potter superfan wants to go to Hogwarts. To get an owl. To be chosen by a wand. To sit under the sorting hat. Author J.K. Rowling’s book series is a genuinely iconic work of literature, and Warner Bros.’ feature film adaptations brought the world of Harry Potter to life in vivid fashion. But of course none of it’s real. You can’t go to Hogwarts. You’ll never get lost in the Forbidden Forest. And you’ll never fly on a broom.

But with the arrival of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort, suddenly Harry Potter fans were offered the next best thing. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade opened at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure theme park in 2010, literally bringing Hogsmeade to the real world. The entire area is immersive, as guests walk under a “Welcome to Hogsmeade” sign, breeze past the Hogwarts Express, and scurry through the snow-covered town on their way towards the crown jewel: Hogwarts itself. And of course Hogsmeade was only the beginning, as Universal opened The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley in 2014 in the neighboring Universal Studios Florida theme park, and construction is already underway on a brand new Potter ride in Hogsmeade.

If you’re a Harry Potter fan and are thinking of making the trek to Orlando, you’ll be in heaven. But at first blush the Wizarding World may seem overwhelming, so we’ve put together a handy list of must-do’s and must-see’s while at Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure so you can be sure your time was well spent. Behold, the best things to do at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade.

And for even more recommendations, check out our first timer's guide to Universal Orlando.

Ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

The anchor of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade is the thrill ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and it's pretty great. This is a motion-based dark ride that’s located inside the Hogwarts castle, during which you board an enchanted bench, take hold of your broomstick, and are whisked away on a flight in and around Hogwarts that’s augmented by 3D screens and practical effects.

Harry Potter actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint appear in the ride as they shot the scenes during production of the Potter films, and they guide you along a journey that takes you to the Quidditch field, into the Forbidden Forest, and to the tiptop of Hogwarts Castle itself.

The ride is thrilling and wholly immersive, and it’s the closest you’ll get to feeling like you’re flying on a broomstick. But honestly, the queue itself is almost as good as the ride. The folks at Universal Orlando have taken great care to create a full Harry Potter experience, so as you make your way to the station to board the ride, you walk through various hallways, corridors, and rooms in Hogwarts Castle—including even Dumbledore’s office. These areas are augmented by high-tech screens in which the characters from the films interact, making the experience wildly enjoyable. And of course there’s the paintings, which move and converse with one another just like in the books and films.

So yeah, from beginning to end, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is one of the most important things you should do in Hogsmeade.

Ride Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

The other most important thing to do in Hogsmeade is check out the newest attraction Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. This thing opened in 2019 and is not just the best attraction at all of Wizarding World, it's one of the best theme park attractions anywhere. State of the art technology allows you to hop on Hagrid's motorbike (you can choose to sit in the driver's seat or side car) to take a trip through the Forbidden Forest. What follows is part roller coaster, part dark ride, and all immersive.

The roller coaster portion of Hagrid's is thrilling but not too terrifying, and you'll be amazed with how smoothly the ride comes to a halt to take a gander at state-of-the-art animatronics of Hagrid and various creatures. Surprises ensue and you never quite know what's next, but the entire thing is an absolute blast. But be prepared to check this one out as quickly as you can, because the lines are long.

Speaking of, the queue for Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is pretty engaging in and of itself. You'll get to explore a hidden and dilapidated building deep in the Forbidden Forest where Hagrid has been hanging out. Keep an eye out for plenty of Harry Potter Easter Eggs along the way.

Dine at The Three Broomsticks

Theme park food can sometimes have a tendency to be, well, less than ideal, but that’s not the case at The Three Broomsticks. The restaurant located inside Hogsmeade serves plenty of traditional English dishes, like beef pasties, shepherd’s pie, and fish and chips. There’s also a delicious smoked turkey leg or chicken and ribs plate if you’re looking for something a bit less English. If want to find a place to sit down and have some lunch or dinner but don’t really want to leave the world of Harry Potter, it’s an easy recommendation. But if you’ll be in Islands of Adventure early in the morning, I’d highly recommend the breakfast menu at The Three Broomsticks.

For breakfast, the restaurant offers a delightful traditional English breakfast, which includes black pudding, eggs, sausage, sautéed mushrooms, and more. You can also spring for a nice bowl of porridge, or sit tight with some tremendously fluffy pancakes. As with lunch and dinner there are more “American” offerings available as well, but the English breakfast is a delight that further serves to transport you to the world of Harry Potter.

Indeed, great care was taken to crafting the actual restaurant in the style of an English pub, so you’ll feel right at home inside. Moreover, there are Harry Potter Easter Eggs hidden throughout, so keep an eye out for ghosts or house elves floating about. And if it’s later in the day, connected to The Three Broomsticks is a genuine pub, The Hog’s Head, based on Aberforth Dumbledore’s pub from the books. Here you can try some of Universal’s original Wizarding World-themed alcoholic offerings, such as Hog’s Head Brew.

Watch the Frog Choir Performance

If you plan on spending a considerable amount of time in Hogsmeade, you’ll want to catch a performance of the Hogwarts Frog Choir. These are live performances of a small choir of Hogwarts students, each from a different Hogwarts house, and accompanied by vocally inclined frogs.

These are delightful and relatively brief little performances that provide a bit of a respite from the day, and are sure to light up the faces of young ‘uns in the crowd. The performers sing a medley of songs a capella, and the frogs join in at very opportune moments. And if you’re in Hogsmeade for the holiday season, you’ll catch a couple of extra snazzy holiday-themed tunes that aren’t sung during the summertime.

Enjoy the Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle

Universal Orlando debuted a new feature at Hogsmeade, “The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle,” within the last few years. This is a terrific light show that plays out on the Hogwarts Castle façade, accomplished via cutting edge projection mapping technology. Iconic elements from Potter lore magically appear on the Hogwarts Castle, and are accompanied by music based on the original scores from the films.

The show runs through all the major Hogwarts houses, with small sections devoted to each house as the castle is adorned in its respective colors. It’s a really terrific way to close out your evening at the park, and the technology is astoundingly good. But the best version of Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle is during the holidays, when a very special holiday-themed version of the show plays out, complete with falling snow and floating carolers. So if you’re thinking of going to Universal during the holiday season, do not miss out on this extra special version of the show.

Drink Butterbeer

Obviously. But which version of butterbeer will you choose? There’s the regular kind, which is super sweet and butterscotch-y. There’s the frozen kind, which is more like an icee (until it melts, then it’s also super sweet and butterscotch-y). And then there’s my personal favorite: hot butterbeer. This warmed-up version of the popular drink is only available seasonally, but it goes down smooth like a cup of hot cocoa (but—and I know, this is blasphemy—somehow better than hot cocoa).

Hogsmeade has a full-service butterbeer truck in the center of the street, so folks can line up on either side and take their pick of the famous Potter beverage. You can also order butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks, and there are a variety of other beverages available throughout Hogsmeade if butterbeer’s not your style—take your pick from pumpkin juice to apple cider.

Ride the Hogwarts Express

With the opening of the neighboring Diagon Alley area in Universal Studios Florida came one of Universal Orlando’s most brilliant inventions: The Hogwarts Express. This is a genuine train that you can board and ride to the neighboring theme park (assuming you have a multi-park pass, that is). But Universal took tremendous care in not only bringing the Hogwarts Express and its station to life, but doing so in a way that makes each entrance wholly unique.

Entering the Hogwarts Express from Hogsmeade allows you to enjoy the laid back atmosphere of a train station just outside of Hogwarts, which means magical imagery and forestry is all around. The queue lines up beneath the actual train, but it’s a relaxing and open atmosphere that is also thankfully in some serious shade.

The train is a ride unto itself, as you board at the direction of a bona fide Hogwarts conductor. Once in your booth, a screen in place of a window allows you to take in the sights as you make your way back to London’s King’s Cross station. You’ll pass by a couple of spooky sights, but you can also spot Fred and George Weasley doing some viral advertising for their joke shop that’s located in Diagon Alley, Wesley’s Wizard Wheezes.

It’s a really beautiful ride that also serves as a relaxing and easy crossover route between the two Universal Orlando parks. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the trip.