One of the first things you do when you fall in love with the Harry Potter universe is fantasise about which house you would be in. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin all value such different traits when it comes to its students, that you could probably place yourself quite easily if you know yourself well enough. And if you don’t? Well, there’s always Pottermore.

I’m a Ravenclaw. 100%. The only thing that ever made me think otherwise was my ridiculous love of adventure. I thought the adventurous among us were destined for Gryffindor, but to be honest, I can’t imagine there’s a single person out there who wouldn’t drop what they’re doing right now, jump on the Hogwarts Express, grab a broomstick, or apparate to Hogwarts if they were given the oppertunity – well, to Hogsmeade, because everyone knows you can’t apparate inside of Hogwarts.

Unfortunately, most of us mere muggles never got a letter to the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but that doesn’t mean we can’t travel somewhere magical. It got me thinking – where would my inner Ravenclaw want to go? So using the personality traits of each house, I’ve come up with a few places you might want to visit next.

Gryffindor

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart.

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart.

Queenstown, New Zealand

Gryffindor values bravery and daring above all other traits, which makes them perfectly suited for an epic adrenaline fuelled holiday, and the first place that springs to mind is Queenstown in New Zealand. Queenstown is the home of adrenaline junkies. Not only can you skydive here, but you can also bungee jump and bungee swing, as well as handglide and speed around on a jet boat or jet ski for hours on end.

Cape Town, South Africa

Like Queenstown, South Africa isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s full of amazing opportunities for anyone wishing to test out their courage – something Gryffindors have in abundance. From cage diving with sharks, to kite surfing the massive, crushing waves of the west coast, South Africa is as beautiful as it is terrifying. You could even abseil down the 112m Table Mountain if you’re daring enough – it’s one of the largest commercial abseils in the world.

Leon, Nicaragua

Finally, Leon in Nicaragua will certainly test your nerves. It’s home to an active volcano called Cerro Negro, which you can actually board down if you’re brave enough. Volcano Boarding is the ultimate adrenaline rush because who knows when the volcano will become active again. You can also paraglide, surf and flyboard in Leon – flyboarding is like using a real life jet pack, but over the water. How awesome is that?

Hufflepuff

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal.

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil.

Cork, Ireland

Students from Hufflepuff are known for being kind and friendly to all, which make’s Cork in Ireland perfect for them. As one of the friendliest cities in the entire world, it’s probably filled with thousands of Hufflepuffs already. With a picturesque riverfront, cozy pubs and beer gardens, beautiful architecture, and intriguing museums, Cork is oozing with charm. It will come as no surprise that they took third place for friendliness in 2018.

Helsinki, Finland

From friendliness to happiness, Helsinki is another place Hufflepuff’s should add to their bucket list. It is consistently voted the happiest place on earth – not even Disneyworld can beat it. The Finns are incredibly good at converting wealth into wellbeing, and with the lowest population density in Europe, free healthcare and education, as well as incredibly low rates of crime, it’s hard to believe anyone could be unhappy there.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Another Nordic city that ranks high on the happiness scale is Copenhagen, but not just that – it’s incredibly eco friendly there too. Since a lot of Hufflepuff’s value hard work, dedication and fair play, I think they will appreciate how much effort Copenhagen have put into becoming a truly green city. Surrounded by water and parks, and filled with sustainable hotels, organic restaurants and electric bikes, the city aims to be the first carbon-neutral capital by 2025.

Ravenclaw

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you’ve a ready mind.

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Ravenclaw house prizes learning, wit and intellect above all else in its members. Since Edinburgh was the first place to become a UNESCO city of literature, I can’t think of a single Ravenclaw that wouldn’t jump at the chance to visit. Having given birth to the likes of Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Arthur Conan Doyle – some of the most iconic authors in the world – it’s a breeding ground for creativity. It’s also where J.K.Rowling herself wrote Harry Potter, so you can even go on a Harry Potter tour of the city.

Prague, Czech Republic

Since most Ravenclaws are very curious about the world, Prague is another excellent place to explore because it is so incredibly steeped in history. Founded in the 9^th century, it became the capital of the Bohemian Empire, and then the Holy Roman Empire. It was led by some of the most iconic kings and queens in all of history, including Wenceslaus the 1^st, which you may recognise from the Christmas carol ‘Good King Wenceslas’.

Athens, Greece

As one of the oldest cities in the world, Athens is also incredibly historical and will satisfy even the most learned of Ravenclaws. The city has been continuously inhabited for over 5000 years, and is well known for being a city of creativity and genius. From Socrates to Aristotle, some of the most brilliant minds were developed here. Without Athens; democracy, philosophy, science and education as we know it, wouldn’t exist.

Slytherin

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You’ll make your real friends.

Those cunning folks use any means

To achieve their ends.

Dubai, UAE

Students in Slytherin house are notorious for being ambitious, valuing power and quality over every other trait, which makes them the perfect candidates for a luxurious holiday – and where is more luxurious than one of the most expensive cities on Earth, Dubai. With the worlds only 7 star hotel, Bugatti taxi’s, police that drive Lamborghinis and gold plated ATM’s, they don’t skimp on the outrageous.

Tokyo, Japan

Slytherin also values achievement and determination, so where better to visit than the most technologically advanced city in the world – Tokyo. The Japanese are some of the most determined people alive, continuously pushing the boundaries when it comes to tech. A superpower in smartphone technology, robotics, AI and automobiles, Tokyo even has the fastest train systems in the world.

London, England

Finally, for a house that craves power, there can’t be a more suitable holiday destination than London, one of the most powerful cities out there. It’s constantly voted the most influential place in the world, and topped the Global Power City Index for the fifth year in a row. It ranks high in economy, liveability, accessibility, and research/development. Plus it’s home to the Ministry of Magic! No, but seriously, any Harry Potter lover needs to visit London, if only to see Platform 9 ¾ and the other filming locations.

What Hogwarts House do you belong to? Did you know straight away, or did Pottermore tell you? Where do you like to travel? Would you visit any of these locations? Let me know below.

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What to read next:

• A Geeks Guide to Vienna
• Five Things That Harry Potter Fans Can Do In York
• A Harry Potter Tour of Edinburgh
• Harry Potter Filming Locations in London

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