Top Europe Literary Tours

Discover the Harry Potter movie locations of Oxford on this walking tour. Visit the famous Bodleian Library to see the hall used as Hogwarts’ Infirmary in many movies, and view other locations in one or two of Oxford’s oldest colleges. As you walk, enjoy a fun Harry Potter quiz, and learn about Oxford University and other famous children’s books written in the city. Entrance fees to the Bodleian and select colleges are included.

Experience the magic of the world’s most famous wizard—and discover insider sights and stories you'd miss if exploring alone—on this Harry Potter–themed walking tour of Edinburgh. Alongside your Potter-mad guide, stroll the city's winding streets, and spot the mysterious alleys and atmospheric landmarks that inspired the wizarding world.

Housed in the Borghese opulent family’s former villa, the Borghese Gallery is one of the world’s most prestigious art collections. Witness works of art by Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian, and many more on this small-group guided tour that includes skip-the-line access to the gallery, so you can avoid the long queues and start exploring as soon as you arrive.

Reaching the Warner Bros. Studio Tour on the outskirts of London means working out trains and connections before you even arrive. Ride a coach straight there from central London at a departure time you pick when booking, with entry included. Once inside, explore the film sets, costumes, and props of the Harry Potter™ movies at your own pace, and see how the special effects were made.

London’s Bloomsbury district was a haven for influential writers in the 19th and 20th centuries. With this private walking tour, explore the houses, squares, and museums with a guide for a more in-depth look at the area than if exploring alone. Visit the homes of writers such as Charles Dickens and WB Yeats, chart the life of Virginia Woolf, and uncover stories and places you might not discover on your own.

Harry Potter™ fans won’t want to miss this magical experience at Warner Bros. Studio London. Bypass the crowds with a timed-entry small-group tour. See behind the scenes and discover how the movies were made—your guide ensures you don't miss a thing. Get up close to the original film sets, props, and costumes, learn facts you won't hear anywhere else, and snap photos of the wizarding world as you explore.

This family-friendly tour reveals London locations used to film scenes from the world-renowned Harry Potter™ movies, including King's Cross Station, Goodwin's Court, Borough Market, and Westminster. Exploring the city with a guide means that you’ll be party to insider info and movie trivia that you won’t find in the guidebooks, and you don't have to worry about getting lost among the central London crowds.

Finding authentic Shakespeare sites in London can be tricky without local insight. This private tour solves that by guiding you to landmarks tied to the Bard, while a former professional actor brings the stories to life with dramatic readings. Learn about his life, works, and controversies—including religion and authorship—ensuring a richer, more engaging experience than wandering the city on your own.

Follow in the footsteps of iconic playwright William Shakespeare on this half-day walking tour of central London. Explore the lively South Bank and tour the Globe Theatre, plus see the site of the original theater and its competitor, the Rose Theatre. Additional attractions include Southwark Cathedral, Winchester Palace, the Golden Hinde, and Borough Market.

Explore the wonders of the Vatican City with this engaging half-day private tour designed for kids and families. Discover ancient Roman and Greek statues, Raphael’s Rooms, Galleries of Tapestries and Maps, the Sistine Chapel, and more. Pre-booked tickets allow you to skip the long lines, and an expert guide leads you through the treasures to avoid getting lost.

See London through the eyes of the great Charles Dickens on this private walking tour. Rather than trying to find Dickensian sights yourself, join a guide who can provide insider details about Dickens’ work and characters for a more enriching experience. Visit places Dickens frequented, see locations that inspired his novels, and more.

Tread in the footsteps of the Bard on this private Shakespeare tour of London. Get an intimate glimpse of areas he frequented and influenced as you explore on foot, stopping at St John's Gate, Guildhall Library, and the Globe to learn more about the life and legacy of the world-famous playwright. Benefit from the personalized attention of your private guide and choose from a range of tour times to suit your schedule.

The vast size of the Vatican Museums can be overwhelming for young visitors. On this family-friendly tour, zip past the long line and head directly inside the galleries. Learn about the most important works with an art historian guide who will keep kids engaged. Walk through the Raphael Rooms, see the stunning frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, and enjoy an experience tailored to your family.

Break down the vast Vatican complex into manageable pieces and take in the highlights in just a few hours on this private tour. Save time with skip-the-line admission and head straight to the Vatican Museums to the most important masterpieces by Michelangelo, Raphael, and others, including the stunning Sistine Chapel.

Follow in the footsteps of the world’s most famous boy wizard on a private Harry Potter walking tour. Visit filming locations and book-inspired sites while enjoying personalized storytelling about London’s magical connections. Re-enact scenes and pose for selfies without the rush or noise of a group, making this tour perfect for dedicated fans.

Take a deep dive into Madrid’s contemporary art scene with this small-group tour of the Salesas-Chueca neighborhood. With a local artist as a guide, you’ll visit several art galleries, where you will meet with owners and learn about how the galleries operate. You’ll also enjoy a visit to your artist-guide’s own studio for a more personal view of Madrid’s artistic life.

Lose yourself in the magical world of Harry Potter™ on this private walking tour of London. Visit the locations used to film the Harry Potter movies, including the Leaky Cauldron, Diagon Alley, the Ministry of Magic, and the Ollivanders Wand Shop, and follow in the footsteps of characters such as Harry, Hermione, and Dumbledore. Hotel pickup is included. Plus, this personalized tour lets you explore at pace suited to you.

Enjoy a guided walking tour of the Left Bank and discover the ‘Lost Generation’ of artists, writers, and jazz musicians who flocked to Paris between the two World Wars. See cafes and residences where the artists gathered, worked, and lived, including the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, James Joyce, William Faulkner, and Ezra Pound. Note that the bohemian Left Bank of the 1920s and 30s now is largely populated by high-end establishments.

Immerse yourself in the art and architecture of 16th-century Rome on a private tour of Villa Farnesina, a beautiful Italian Renaissance residence and museum. With a guide, walk through rooms decorated with original paintings by Raphael and his artistic disciples, learning the symbolism and history behind each work from a dedicated guide. Modern multimedia from an electronic tablet and other aids help enhance the rich viewing experience.

Seeing Michelangelo’s “David” is a must-do in Florence but the lines to get inside the Accademia Gallery can be long. This private tour offers skip-the-line access to the gallery to ensure you maximize your time. On the way to the Accademia, your art historian guides you on a walking tour through Florence's public squares and markets to see landmarks including Giotto's Bell Tower and the Ponte Vecchio.

Explore the Vatican's noteworthy sights on this half-day private tour. An expert guide points out and explains the history of the pieces while you avoid lengthy queues with pre-reserved tickets. Marvel at wonders including Ancient Roman and Greek statues, Raphael’s Rooms, the Galleries of Tapestries and Maps, the Sistine Chapel, and Saint Peter’s Basilica and Square. Take photos and enjoy your time at the Vatican.

Far more than your typical coffee shops, the historic cafes of Budapest epitomize the city's golden age of the 19th and early 20th century. Walk through the city en route to its most iconic cafes alongside an art historian guide on this private tour, which includes stops at five of the classic cafes that inspired Budapest's writers, poets, and artists. Gain a deeper understanding of the city's history and culture as you go.

You could read *A Moveable Feast*, Ernest Hemingway’s 1964 memoir about Paris. But there’s nothing like experiencing the famous writer's Parisian haunts yourself. Ideal for literary aficionados, this small-group walking tour delves deep into the Lost generation. Explore the Left Bank on foot, discovering places where Hemingway (and other luminaries like James Joyce, Gertrude Stein, and F. Scott Fitzgerald) once lived and worked, with archival photos to bring lost literary histories to life.