Get to know the city better with the 9 best walking tours in Edinburgh!
There’s nothing quite like a tour to make a trip truly memorable—especially when it takes you to the best spots in town. I’m a total tour junkie, especially when I’m venturing into uncharted territory for the first time.
Sure, some tours can be pricey, but here’s a little secret: walking tours are a budget-friendly alternative that lets you explore a city. They involve some legwork, but that’s part of the charm—seeing the sights up close, one step at a time.
If it’s your first time in the city, I’ve got you covered. Here are the top walking tours in Edinburgh that I can’t recommend enough!
Walk The Old Town Ltd
– Media from walk_the_old_town_edinburgh
Meeting Point/Starting Point: St Giles’ Cathedral, West Parliament Square on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh.
Operating Hours: Wednesday – Sunday: 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM
Tour Duration: Around 1 hour
Tour Fee:
- £25 per adult
- £20 per child, student or concession
- Children under 3 years of age go Free
Walk The Old Town Ltd offers immersive walking tour services that introduce visitors to the historic charm of Edinburgh’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Their tours focus on bringing the city’s past to life through storytelling, historical insight, and engaging guided experiences.
The company specializes in two-hour historical walking tours that explore the city’s cobbled streets, iconic landmarks, and hidden corners. Visitors are guided through Edinburgh’s fascinating history while discovering stories that shaped Scotland’s capital.
One of the highlights of Walk The Old Town Ltd is their team of costumed guides who portray historical characters while sharing detailed knowledge of the city. Their costumes are handmade using local Scottish textiles, adding authenticity and a personal touch to the storytelling experience.
The tours feature intriguing historical tales, including stories about Greyfriars Cemetery, notorious figures from Scottish history, and eerie legends that have become part of Edinburgh’s cultural identity. These elements make the experience both educational and memorable.
Walk The Old Town Ltd focuses on small group walking tours to ensure a more personalized and comfortable experience. This setup allows guests to interact with the guide, ask questions, and fully immerse themselves in the stories and locations being explored.
The company also strives to provide an inclusive and stress-free experience for visitors from all walks of life. They are pet-friendly, welcoming guests to bring their pets—whether a cat, dog, lizard, or other companion—as long as the animal is on a leash or safely carried during the tour.
In addition, the guides bring over ten years of experience in the travel and tourism industry, contributing to the professionalism and quality of each tour. Ticket prices are currently set at £25.00 for adults and £20.00 for children and concessions, while children under three years old can join the tour free of charge.
Tips:
- Stay close to the group. Walking near the guide ensures you hear the stories clearly and don’t miss important details. Small groups make it easier to interact and ask questions.
- Ask questions during the tour. The guides are knowledgeable and passionate about Edinburgh’s history, so they welcome curiosity. Engaging with them can make the experience more informative and memorable.
Walking Tours Edinburgh
– Media from walking-tours-edinburgh
Meeting Point/Starting Point: St Giles’ Cathedral, West Parliament Square, Edinburgh
Tour Duration: 2 to 2.5 hours
Tour Fee: £25 per person
Walking Tours Edinburgh offers an immersive experience into Scotland’s transformation during the Scottish Enlightenment. Their tours focus on how the nation evolved from clan conflicts and religious strife to become a hub of intellectual and cultural progress.
Visitors are introduced to key figures such as David Hume, Adam Smith, Walter Scott, Dugald Stewart, Henry Home, Robert Adam, James Hutton, and James Watt. These individuals shaped philosophy, economics, literature, architecture, and scientific thought that impacted the world.
The tours provide vivid historical context, from the dark alleys of Old Edinburgh to the architectural brilliance of The New Town. Guests can visualize historical sites like the Nor Loch and understand their evolution over centuries.
Walking Tours Edinburgh also highlights intriguing stories, including Walter Scott’s influence on literature and Highland tourism. The guides weave narratives that connect local events to global historical developments.
The service explores Scotland’s complex socio-political landscape, including the 1707 Union with England and its long-term impact. Tour-goers learn how economic and political crises shaped the country’s intellectual and cultural achievements.
Specialized tours, such as the upcoming “Culloden and the Enlightenment,” delve into significant historical events with both local and international ramifications. These tours balance battlefield history with Enlightenment-era insights, providing a multidimensional perspective.
Overall, the tours are engaging and educational, appealing to history buffs and casual visitors alike. They combine storytelling, site visits, and expert knowledge to create a memorable walking experience.
Tips:
- Arrive 10–15 minutes early to secure a good spot near the front — it makes hearing the guide’s stories much easier, especially in crowded areas. Also, wear comfortable shoes because the tour covers both cobbled streets and slopes of Old and New Town, and having a notebook or phone handy helps you jot down the fascinating historical tidbits about figures like David Hume, Adam Smith, and Walter Scott.
- Avoid Peak Crowds: Morning tours or weekday slots tend to be less busy, making it easier to hear the guide and enjoy the streets without large tourist groups.
Edinburgh’s Dark History Tour
– Media from sandemanfreetours
Meeting Point/Starting Point: 130 High Street (The Royal Mile), on the corner with Stevenlaw’s Close
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Tour Duration: Around 2 hours
Tour Fee:
Adult: £20
Child: £15
Edinburgh is packed with a lot of history, and if you’re looking for a walking tour that offers a deeper dive into its grim secrets, then Edinburgh’s Dark History Tour may be your cup of tea. This tour takes around 2 hours to complete and is child-friendly!
You’ll venture into the city’s streets where many legends and haunting stories of murder, mayhem, and folklore originated. This includes a trip to the Old Calton Burial Ground, and the Canongate Kirkyard, all while hearing stories of the city’s grim past.
Tips:
- Children are allowed to join you on this tour, but be aware that the places you’ll be visiting might scare them away. It’s best to bring your teenagers here or children who aren’t afraid of exploring cemeteries and eerie streets. Don’t worry, all places are completely safe and guided!
- While food is not included in the itinerary, don’t forget to ask your tour guide for the best places to dine near the area. They know a bunch about the city and where to snag great deals on food if you’re on a budget. Just don’t forget to leave them a tip for their trouble. They’ll appreciate it!
Edinburgh Harry Potter Tour
– Media from sandemanfreetours
Meeting Point/Starting Point: 130 High Street (The Royal Mile), on the corner with Stevenlaw’s Close
Tour Duration: Around 2 hours
Tour Fee:
Adult: £14
Child: £12
Many of my friends who visit always say my hometown looks like it’s straight out of a Harry Potter book, and I couldn’t agree more! The city’s streets are where J.K. Rowling brought the series to life, making the Edinburgh Harry Potter Tour a must.
On this tour, you’ll visit the spots that inspired iconic characters like Lord Voldemort and Professor McGonagall, and even step onto the streets that sparked the creation of Diagon Alley. How cool is that?
Tips:
- Anyone of all ages is allowed to join in on the tour, but do note that people with mobility aids and wheelchairs may be asked to stay behind. This is because the walking tour involves visiting old buildings that don’t always accommodate guests in wheelchairs. Expect some steps and steep hills.
- If you’re looking to purchase legit Harry Potter merchandise and memorabilia, you can visit the Museum Context: Harry Potter Retailer Store along Victoria Street. You can also purchase replicas of props and Harry Potter-themed clothing in the store! If you have items for trade and exchange (related to the franchise), you can also send them over here.
Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour
– Media from sandemanfreetours
Meeting Point/Starting Point: 130 High Street (The Royal Mile), on the corner with Stevenlaw’s Close
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm
Contact Details: +44 131 225 9846
Tour Duration: Around 1 hour and 30 minutes
Tour Fee:
Adult: £35
Child: £25
If your last visit to Edinburgh Castle was plagued with long queues, then booking the Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour will redeem that experience for you. This walking tour includes priority access to the castle, so you don’t need to wait out front just to get in!
Moreover, the tour includes a 1.5-hour walkthrough around the castle grounds, a trip to the National War Museum and War Memorial, the St. Margaret’s Chapel, and a visit to the still-working Mons Meg Cannon. There’s a lot of history to unfold on this tour!
Tips:
- Remember to only bring small bags with you to the tour. The castle staff will not let you enter if you are carrying a bag heavier or bigger than 30 litres, unfortunately. You won’t need that much stuff inside, anyway!
- Your Edinburgh Castle tour comes with an expert guide who’ll make sure you hit all the must-see spots, but don’t rush off when the tour ends! Your ticket lets you stay until closing (5:00 pm), so feel free to keep exploring the castle’s memorials and museums at your own pace.
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
– Media from elptour
Meeting Point/Starting Point: 18-20 Grassmarket
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 am to 9:30 pm
Contact Details: +44 800 169 7410
Tour Duration: Around 2 hours
Tour Fee: Adult: £20
The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour isn’t just your average stroll. It’s the only walking tour in the UK to snag the prestigious Scottish Thistle Award for cultural tourism. That’s reason enough to make it a must for first-time visitors!
Guides Clart and McBrain will lead you through the courtyards and pubs of Edinburgh’s Old and New Town. They bring the city’s literary history to life with a script so witty, it might just have you thinking they’re the real stars of the show.
Oh, and did I mention? These guides are professional actors who happen to be experts in Edinburgh’s literary legacy—so prepare for an entertaining, history-packed experience.
Tips:
- Heads up: this tour kicks off after 7:30 pm, so it’s not exactly kid-friendly. Besides the late start, you’ll be hopping between pubs, and while kids can usually tag along during the day, they’re not allowed in Edinburgh pubs after hours, even when they’re with an adult. So, maybe leave the little ones at home for this one and enjoy the evening on your own!
- Note that ticket prices don’t include the drinks in the pubs you’ll visit. Carry some cash with you, so that you can purchase snacks and drinks on the go during the tour. You won’t be staying too long in the pubs since there are other places to see, but don’t hesitate to come back for more after the tour ends.
Walking Tours in…Scotland
A Wee Walk and a Whisky Tour
– Media from walkingtoursinscotland
Meeting Point/Starting Point: Outside The Scottish Whisky Experience, 354 Castlehill
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:30 am to 5:00 pm
Contact Details: +44 141 474 0746
Tour Duration: Around 2 hours
Tour Fee: Adult: £120
A walking tour with a taste of the finest Scottish whisky? Don’t mind if I do!
One of the best walking tours in the city for whisky lovers is the A Wee Walk and a Whisky Tour of Walking Tours…in Scotland. It’s a highly-rated tour on TripAdvisor, so you can count on them to give you an experience like no other.
On the tour, you’ll visit a number of historical landmarks and take a break at the city’s oldest pubs, including the Tolbooth Tavern. Your ticket price already includes three full drams, so get ready for an evening of walking and drinking.
Tips:
- Do note that this is a private tour, so rates are pricier than usual. You won’t be sharing the tour with other people unless they’re part of your group.
- I highly recommend getting gift cards for your friends for the next time they visit the city!
- You can book your tour up to a year in advance, which makes it perfect for planning ahead or even grabbing a thoughtful gift card for someone. Slots can fill up fast, so locking in your spot early is always a smart move!
Auld Reekie Tours
The Vaults and Graveyard Tour
– Media from auldreekietours
Meeting Point/Starting Point: 45 Niddry St
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Contact Details: +44 131 557 4700
Tour Duration: Around 1 hour and 30 minutes
Tour Fee: Adult: £24
If you’re a big fan of horror movies and want to live out some spooky vibes, then the Vaults and Graveyard Tour from Auld Reekie Tours should be on your radar. The tour starts at Greyfriars Graveyard, where you’ll meet Greyfriars Bobby.
You’ll be hearing a lot of spooky stories about the body snatches of Covenanters Prison, walk through the Niddry Street vaults, and maybe even feel the presence of one or two ghost friends along the way. I’m just (half) kidding!
Tips:
- This tour is designed for guests above the age of 12. If you have children who love spooky stories, you may be able to tag them along. No promises, though!
- If you want to get better value for money, I highly recommend getting the group tour rate instead. The tour costs £24 per person, but for a group of 4, you can get tickets for just £17.50 per person. It’s a good deal considering the number of places you’ll be visiting.
The Terror Tour
– Media from auldreekietours
Meeting Point/Starting Point: 45 Niddry St
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Contact Details: +44 131 557 4700
Tour Duration: Around 1 hour and 30 minutes
Tour Fee: Adult: £24
For those who can stomach gore, I highly recommend going on the Terror Tour. It’s a level up in terms of graphic content, highlighting medieval torture methods and instruments used during the 14th and 15th centuries.
You’ll traverse through the haunted underground vaults at Niddry Street, Old Town, as well as the exhibition of medieval torture instruments. There’s a lot of graphic content in this tour, so make sure to come with a gut of steel!
Tips:
- Note that there are no toilet breaks scheduled during the tour. There are no toilets either in the places you’ll be visiting, so I highly recommend doing your business before leaving for the tour.
- The vaults have remained unchanged since the 1700s, so it’s no surprise they can feel a bit damp now and then. You’ll find the temperature inside to be surprisingly warm, though. Make sure to wear practical shoes to navigate comfortably (covered shoes and no heels).