Scotland · EDINBURGH TOURS

Edinburgh Tours & Tickets: The 15 Best

489 tours  ·  from $5

Edinburgh gives up more the further down you go: the rock, the closes off the Royal Mile, then the sealed vaults under South Bridge. Build a first visit out of these 15, and leave one slot for the day trip north.

The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour - Through the closes and wynds of Old Town
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The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour

1.The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9,272 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $26Our pick

Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town with a costumed guide playing a notorious Scottish character, then visit Greyfriars Kirkyard and South Bridge’s underground vaults. Expect dark stories, audience participation, stairs, and a lively performance style. Guides have included David, Maggie Dickinson, Dr. Robert Knox, Frederick, and the Fairy Wife.

“great storyteller. Lafayette enjoys his work made the tour into a game too. I think a few more stops should be added to it.”

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Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town - How the South Bridge vaults set the scene
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Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town

2.Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8,506 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $33

Meet at 300 Lawnmarket for a guided walk through Edinburgh’s Old Town before entering the chilly vaults beneath South Bridge. Guides such as Josh, Louisa, James, and Kieran bring stories of poverty, crime, witchcraft, and ghost sightings to life. Expect uneven ground, tight spaces, steep steps, and roughly an hour in English.

“Very interesting learning about the history of the vaults. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, and made the tour interesting and fun.”

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Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe and Pitlochry Tour - Fort William and Ben Nevis from the road
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Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe and Pitlochry Tour

3.Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe and Pitlochry Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6,854 reviews · 12 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $67Top rated

Travel from Edinburgh through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs to Glencoe, Fort William, Loch Ness, the Cairngorms and Pitlochry. Your Hairy Coo driver-guide, such as Ryan, Rod, John or William, provides live stories throughout. Choose a Loch Ness cruise, Urquhart Castle visit or Deanston whisky stop, with extra fees payable.

“Horrible tour. Tour guide Meko or whatever it is his name talked the whole time and a lot of personal stuff. Super annoying”

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Loch Ness & Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh with Cruise - Callander and Loch Lomond scenery
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Loch Ness & Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh with Cruise

4.Loch Ness & Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh with Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6,022 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $84

Travel from Edinburgh in a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach with an English-speaking guide such as Jim, Kenny, Shea, or Andrew. Stop at Glencoe, Fort Augustus, Spean Bridge, and Pitlochry, then cruise Loch Ness. Expect stunning scenery, local stories, regular breaks, and a very long day on the road.

“Kenny was the best guide, he played local music for the area on our ride. Extremely informative, great driver and host.”

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Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket - Mary, Queen of Scots and the Great Hall
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Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

5.Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,540 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $51

Meet near St Giles’ Cathedral and walk to Edinburgh Castle with a guide such as Joe, Raj, Sonia, or Valeria. The 90-minute tour takes place outdoors within the castle walls, covering royal stories, the Great Hall, and major viewpoints. Afterward, explore the palace, museums, prisons, and other buildings at your own pace.

“The tour itself is all outdoors, so bundle up accordingly. After the official tour you are able to go inside the various buildings, which is very cool. Our tour guide was extremely informative and entertaining. We loved it!”

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Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour in English - Entering the castle without waiting in the main line
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Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour in English

6.Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour in English

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,214 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $52

Meet Little Fish Tours near Adam Smith’s statue on the Royal Mile, walk to Edinburgh Castle with an English-speaking guide, and hear stories about its rulers, dungeons, Crown Jewels, and unusual characters. Your guide leads you through the castle grounds for about 90 minutes, then you explore the buildings alone. Guides may include Koffe, Steph, Greg, Graeme, Euan, or Ben.

“Greg was a wonderful guide. He was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. I would recommend this tour.”

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Edinburgh: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe & Fort William - Fort William is your practical lunch stop
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Edinburgh: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe & Fort William

7.Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe & Fort William

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,337 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $62

This 12-hour Stewart Tours trip takes you from Edinburgh to Callander, Glencoe, Fort William, Glenfinnan Viaduct and Pitlochry in an air-conditioned coach. An English-speaking driver guide such as Keith, Scott, Alastair or Brian shares Scottish stories along the way. The Jacobite Steam Train may cross the viaduct, but train travel is not included.

“It was a wee bit early for us but happy to oblige! We joined the tour on Anthony's bus and we both mist say it was the best tour we've been on recently! He is a smart witted knowledgable guid and driver with a great sense of (local...) humor that made the tour totally enjoyable and super informative. While watching the scenery of this great land go by and understanding the history as Anthony told it kept our interest all 10+ hours! Anyone going on a Stewart Tours trip should hope they get Anthony as their guide. All well worth it.”

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The Chocolatarium Chocolate Tour Experience in Edinburgh - From cocoa tree to chocolate bar
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The Chocolatarium Chocolate Tour Experience in Edinburgh

8.The Chocolatarium Chocolate Tour Experience in Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,322 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $44

Spend about 90 minutes at The Chocolatarium in Edinburgh’s Old Town, learning how cocoa becomes chocolate, sampling more than 30 varieties, and designing your own bar to take home. English-speaking guides such as Coco, Kelly, and Hannah lead a lively, hands-on visit for ages 6 and up.

“The chocolate experience was a perfect balance of education about chocolate, hands-on making chocolate and tasting chocolate. Fun and memorable for any age. Our group of 5 loved it!”

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Original Harry Potter Locations Tour in Edinburgh : Guided Tour - Along the Royal Mile toward Edinburgh Castle
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Original Harry Potter Locations Tour in Edinburgh : Guided Tour

9.Original Harry Potter Locations Tour in Edinburgh : Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,236 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $19Best value

Follow a guide such as Robbie, Jenny, Orla, or Xander through Edinburgh’s Old Town and Royal Mile on a two-hour Harry Potter walk. Hear stories about J.K. Rowling’s inspirations, see the Castlehill graveyard and original Diagon Alley facade, and join an interactive house quiz. Expect 1.5 miles of easy walking, outdoor stops, and weather exposure.

“Our guide Robbie was great and the experience was amazing, would totally recommend/do it again in future! He shared many Harry Potter world fun facts I did not know even though I am a big fan of HP, totally worth the experience.”

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Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder and Legends - Old Calton Burial Ground and Canongate Kirkyard
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Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder and Legends

10.Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder and Legends

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,862 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $29

Follow a local guide from the Royal Mile through shadowed lanes, North Bridge, Calton Hill, and an Edinburgh cemetery. Expect real stories of murder, witch trials, body snatching, torture, and haunting, plus city views and a pub finish. Guides such as Niamh, G, Brian, James, and Charlie are known for lively storytelling, but the route can vary.

“If you're into gruesome history stories this tour is for you. We done it in the typical Scottish weather, heavy rain and wind and yet still had a great time. The tour guide was really funny and knowledgeable. You get to see the real edinburgh and hear stories you probably wouldn't usually hear. It's a fun tour and definitely worth the money.”

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Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe & The Highlands - Loch Tulla gives you a quick, wide Highland view
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Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe & The Highlands

11.Loch Ness, Glencoe & The Highlands

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,771 reviews · 12 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $62

Spend a full day touring Scotland’s Highlands from Edinburgh, with stops at Callander, Glencoe, Fort William, Fort Augustus, Pitlochry, and the Commando Monument. Your English-speaking driver-guide, possibly Keith, Anthony, Brian, or Ross, fills the long drives with history, music, jokes, and local tales. An optional Loch Ness cruise costs extra.

“We were quite intimidated by the length of the tour however it honestly flew by. The commentary along the drive was nice and wide spread facts and jokes. The breaks to stretch always came at a nice time and broke up the long journey nicely. All of the stops were delightful and Anthony constantly was looking to give more than just the minimum, he was constantly going out of his way to make the experience special. We didn’t have any admission fees to pay - everywhere we went we were just able to walk around easily. In Loch Ness we didn’t take the optional £21 (each) boat tour but we…”

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Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness and Glencoe Day Trip from Edinburgh - Perthshire and the Highland cows
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Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness and Glencoe Day Trip from Edinburgh

12.Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness and Glencoe Day Trip from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,793 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $74

Leave central Edinburgh with a local driver-guide and cross Perthshire, the Cairngorms, Loch Ness, and Glencoe in one long day. You can add a Loch Ness cruise and Urquhart Castle visit for £30 in cash. Guides such as Chris, Alan, Terry, Ben, and Jamie are praised for lively stories, while short stops mean snacks are wise.

“Steven B was great! Several photo stops and great information. Loch ness boat tour was a bit underwhelming but the rest of the tour was very scenic.”

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Ghost Bus Tour of Edinburgh - The Royal Mile and Old Town stories
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Ghost Bus Tour of Edinburgh

13.Ghost Bus Tour of Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,761 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $24

Ride a vintage Routemaster through Edinburgh after dark as an English-speaking guide covers Burke and Hare, witch hunts, executions, and haunted sites. You’ll pass Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Greyfriars, Grassmarket, and Holyroodhouse, with theatrical effects and a possible short stop near Greyfriars.

“This tour was hilarious and very informative thoroughly enjoyed, well worth the money spent. The guide and driver worked very well together”

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City Sightseeing Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour + Kids Go Free - Nicolson Square to George IV Bridge: Old Town access
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City Sightseeing Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour + Kids Go Free

14.City Sightseeing Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour + Kids Go Free

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,683 reviews · 1 hour 10 minutes (approx.) · from $24

Ride Edinburgh’s open-top double-decker bus past the castle, Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace, Parliament, and Arthur’s Seat views. Use recorded commentary in nine languages, hop off at 15 stops, and rejoin buses about every 20 minutes. Up to three children travel free with each full-paying adult until March 31, 2026.

“Very slow and lack any real information. Lots of accordion music Lots of sitting at bus stops and would not have purchased. I have done many of these and this tour is one of the worst”

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The Potter Trail Private Tour - Potterrow and the places where the story took shape
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The Potter Trail Private Tour

15.The Potter Trail Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,353 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $104

Follow a private 90-minute Harry Potter trail through Edinburgh’s Old Town. Your English-speaking guide connects Greyfriars gravestones, Hogwarts inspirations, Potterrow, Rowling’s writing places, and Victoria Street’s Diagon Alley feel. Bring a wand-shaped pen or umbrella for spells, questions, and family-friendly fun.

“Allister was fantastic! He was informational while humorous. Made my families trip to the city of Edinburgh very fun❤️”

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