Scotland · CITY TOURS

The 15 Best City Tours in Scotland

48 tours  ·  from $9

Open-top buses, small-group walks and the private car version, in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. These 15 are compared on route, how long a ticket stays valid and what it costs.

City Sightseeing Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour + Kids Go Free - Nicolson Square, Chambers Street, and George IV Bridge
City Tours, Edinburgh Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

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

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

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

See Edinburgh’s castle-topped skyline from an open-top double-decker, then hop off near the Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace, Parliament, and Dynamic Earth. The 70-minute loop includes commentary in nine languages, free headphones, and a kids-go-free offer for up to three children per paying adult before March 31, 2026.

“Not a lot of history being spoke about on the audio. They could fill it more. Other then a somewhat easy to get around the town, I would skip”

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City Sightseeing Glasgow Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour - Merchant City, the Barras, and Glasgow Green
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City Sightseeing Glasgow Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

2.City Sightseeing Glasgow Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,873 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $27

See Glasgow from an open-top double-decker bus on the Red Route, with live guides such as Luke and Jim from April to September, or use the Yellow Route’s electric buses in high season. Your one or two-day ticket covers major sights including the Cathedral, Kelvingrove, Riverside Museum, and Celtic Park.

“The Hop on Hop off Bus Tour was wonderful and informative. Purchase of 1 tour gave you access to two different tours. The audio feed was nice, but the busses with live guides was excellent.”

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Glasgow City Centre Walking Tour with Local Guide - The City Chambers, impressive from the outside
City Tours, Glasgow Tours, Guided, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

Glasgow City Centre Walking Tour with Local Guide

3.Glasgow City Centre Walking Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,326 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $16Best value

Start at George Square and walk through Glasgow’s historic center to the City Chambers, Strathclyde, Cathedral, Necropolis, street art, and Gallery of Modern Art. Local guides such as Louise, Stephen, Liz, and Gabe add humor, personal stories, and useful advice. Expect an outdoor walk of 1.5 to 2 miles.

“Great tour! Excellent, friendly local guide. Good overview of history of the old town, giving you information on where to spend more time.”

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City of the Dead: The Double Dead Tour - Is $31.90 good value?
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City of the Dead: The Double Dead Tour

4.City of the Dead: The Double Dead Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 900 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $31

Walk from St Giles’ Cathedral into Edinburgh’s South Bridge Vaults, then continue to Greyfriars Kirkyard and the Covenanters’ Prison. English-speaking guides such as Ben, Nat, Ian, and Grant mix local history, dark tales, humor, and occasional jumpscares in a small group of up to five.

“We had a great time with Ben! He made sure that everyone was safe, and he was very engaging with his storytelling. We loved having access to the vaults and graveyard that others didn’t have access to, and it was a wonderfully fun experience with our two teens.”

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Inverness City Daily Walking Tour (11:30am, 2pm & 5pm) - Inverness Castle and the city’s upper terrace
City Tours, Inverness Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

Inverness City Daily Walking Tour (11:30am, 2pm & 5pm)

5.Inverness City Daily Walking Tour (11:30am, 2pm & 5pm)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 664 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $20

Walk central Inverness with an English-speaking local guide such as Christine, Steve, Karen, or Elaine. In 90 minutes, you’ll see the castle, cathedral, River Ness, Town House, Eden Court, and Old High Church, along with lesser-known corners and stories of Jacobites, local customs, and Scottish lore.

“Steve was a very good guide. The tour was laced with history and humour. Well done Steve! Would highly recommend.”

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Underground City of the Dead Tour - What you see in the South Bridge vaults
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Underground City of the Dead Tour

6.Underground City of the Dead Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 272 reviews · 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.) · from $27

Meet near St Giles’ Cathedral for a small-group tour into Edinburgh’s South Bridge vaults. Your English-speaking guide, such as Ben, Beth, Rebecca, Lloyd, or Heather, explains the grim lives once lived below street level, along with the legend of the South Bridge Entity.

“Lloyd effectively brought to light the truly macabre nature of life in the underground vaults of Edinburgh”

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Edinburgh City Bike Tour - Choice of E-Bike or Manual - Bruntsfield Links and The Meadows
City Tours, Cycling Tours, E-Bikes, Edinburgh Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Edinburgh City Bike Tour – Choice of E-Bike or Manual

7.Edinburgh City Bike Tour – Choice of E-Bike or Manual

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 241 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $87

Join Ricky, Stuart, or Ricardo for a small-group ride through Edinburgh’s parks, canal paths, Georgian streets, Leith, and Portobello Beach. Choose a manual bike or e-bike, with helmets, gloves, rain jackets, and panniers available. The route covers hills, traffic, cobblestones, and quieter paths.

“Fun morning biking around Edinburgh. Ricky has lots of local knowledge and enjoys sharing it. The ride went at a good pace. The only downside was the group was a bit larger than what I would have expected. There were 14 people and two guides. It got a little backed up at busy intersections.”

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City of the Dead Haunted Graveyard Tour - The old closes and alleyways
City Tours, Edinburgh Tours, Ghost Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

City of the Dead Haunted Graveyard Tour

8.City of the Dead Haunted Graveyard Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 225 reviews · 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.) · from $27

Meet your English-speaking guide at St Giles Cathedral for an 80-minute walk through Edinburgh’s closes and Greyfriars Kirkyard. Guides such as Ross, Gerry, and Grant mix history, humor, and ghost stories before taking you into the locked Covenantor’s Prison, home of the famous Mackenzie Poltergeist.

“Our guide, Ross, was spectacular, engaging, and full of dark humor. It was a very fun tour where we learned many anecdotes we didn’t know about Edinburgh, as well as terrifying stories from different spots around the city, with the cemetery as the main highlight. We had a great time, and it’s an experience we highly recommend if you want to enjoy yourself while discovering the darker side of the city.”

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Aberdeen City Centre Walking Tour (2pm) - Netherkirkgate and the oldest routes through the center
Aberdeen Tours, City Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

Aberdeen City Centre Walking Tour (2pm)

9.Aberdeen City Centre Walking Tour (2pm)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 217 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $19

Meet at the Robert the Bruce Statue for a 90-minute group walk through central Aberdeen. You’ll see Marischal College, hidden lanes, street art, the tunnels, Shiprow, and the Maritime Museum exterior while guides such as Kirsty, Bronwyn, and John bring local stories to life.

“Not lots of walking. Through the city. History of buildings and city. Maybe as interesting as possible for the city.”

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Big Bus Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off City and Britannia Bus Tour - The Britannia route, from Waterloo Place to the waterfront
City Tours, Edinburgh Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Big Bus Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off City and Britannia Bus Tour

10.Big Bus Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off City and Britannia Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 172 reviews · 1 hour 10 minutes (approx.) · from $34

Use one 48-hour ticket on two Edinburgh bus routes: a city circuit covering the Old Town, museums, Holyrood, and the castle area, plus a slower route to Royal Yacht Britannia and the Botanic Garden. Audio commentary, headphones, mobile entry, and unlimited hop-on hop-off rides are included, but Britannia admission costs extra.

“We have ridden hop on hop off buses in Edinburgh and Glasgow before. This bus didn't announce stops as they should along with large gaps in business times. We rode it to get to Dean village and got very limited information. I won't book this company again.”

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City Sightseeing Inverness Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour - Stop 1: Inverness Bus Station
City Tours, Inverness Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

City Sightseeing Inverness Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

11.City Sightseeing Inverness Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 171 reviews · 55 minutes (approx.) · from $20

See Inverness from an open-top double-decker bus on a 55-minute loop with recorded English commentary. A 24-hour ticket covers city sights, River Ness views, green spaces, and a short run toward Dochgarroch Loch, with seven listed stops and buses roughly hourly.

“Excellent views of Inverness from the top deck with useful information over the speakers. Driver was freindly and journey very smooth.”

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Loch Ness,Culloden Battlefield,Cawdor Castle & Much More From Inverness City - Reaching Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle
Cawdor Castle Tours, City Tours, Culloden Battlefield Tours, Culloden Battlefield Tours in Inverness, Inverness Tours, Loch Ness Tours, Loch Ness Tours in Inverness, Tour Reviews

Loch Ness,Culloden Battlefield,Cawdor Castle & Much More From Inverness City

12.Loch Ness,Culloden Battlefield,Cawdor Castle & Much More From Inverness City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 153 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.)

Spend 7 to 8 hours with a private guide from Historic and Scenic Tours Inverness, visiting Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, Cawdor Castle, Beauly Priory and Glen Ord Distillery. Hotel, airport and station pickup are included, with guides such as Mike, Jim, William and Lewis.

“First of all, viator kept in touch as the payment date approached. Felt very comfortable about booking. Actual tour company did as well. Our guide Lewis was superb. Decked out in proper kilt, he was knowledgeable, thoughtful, and helpful. We put ourselves in his hands, and saw everything we had planned and then some. Do not miss Cawdwer Castle and plan for a wonderful lunch in the Cafe with everything homemade. We would use Viator again. More than worth the money for a private tour for four in a comfortable van.”

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Walking Tours in Inverness City Centre - Inverness Castle from the outside
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Walking Tours in Inverness City Centre

13.Walking Tours in Inverness City Centre

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 128 reviews · from $21

Join local guide Cath Findlay for a 90-minute, small-group walk through central Inverness. Hear Jacobite tales, see Inverness Castle from outside, visit the Victorian Market and Abertarff House, and look for wildlife along the River Ness. The tour begins and ends at 36 High Street.

“Cath was amazing! Such a knowledgeable and fun guide. We learned a great deal on our walking tour. Cath was accommodating and friendly”

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City of the Dead Underground Vaults (Day) - Damnation Alley and the South Bridge Entity
City Tours, Edinburgh Tours, Ghost Tours, Tour Reviews

City of the Dead Underground Vaults (Day)

14.City of the Dead Underground Vaults (Day)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 113 reviews · 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.) · from $27

Meet at St Giles’ Cathedral at 3:30 pm and follow an English-speaking guide into Edinburgh’s South Bridge Vaults. You’ll hear real accounts of families who lived underground, learn about the feared South Bridge Entity, and finish on Niddry Street South after 80 minutes.

“On March 19th, 2025, our small lovely group led by charismatic guide Joshua descended into the dark and mysterious vaults of old Edinburgh. I was rather sceptical - until Joshua started telling us his bone-chilling stories, in the complete darkness, illuminated only by the faint light of a lantern. I still get goosebumps when I remember that strange sensation of being in the presence of something dead and ghostly! The frightening reality of the past intertwined with horror. A brilliant and fascinating tour, played out like a small performance. Bravo, Joshua! For the first time in many years, I went to bed that night with the lights on!”

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Merchant City Music Walking Tour of Glasgow - The Britannia Panopticon and its old stage stories
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Merchant City Music Walking Tour of Glasgow

15.Merchant City Music Walking Tour of Glasgow

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 94 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $27

Follow Glasgow’s music story from The Clutha Bar to The 13th Note on a two-hour walk led by local guides such as Fiona and Phil. Hear stories about Bowie, Dylan, The Smiths, punk, Postcard Records, and Glasgow’s live-music venues. Expect easy walking, a small group, and a 20% Mono Cafe discount.

“The history of music in Glasgow is rich and fascinating. You'll walk about two hours with one comfort break. Our guide, Fiona, was impressive in her breasts and depth of knowledge. She's an arts journalist and clearly has a love for Glasgow and it's musiciand. I take walking tours all over the world, and this was one of the best!”

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New in City Tours

★ 5.02 Hour Private Walking Tour in Inverness City Centre with a Guide9 reviews
★ 5.0North Highland Tour including Dunrobin Castle and much more From Inverness City16 reviews
★ 4.0Inverness Quest: Self Guided City Walk & Immersive Treasure Hunt5 reviews
★ 4.0Glasgow Private Transfer from Glasgow city centre to Glasgow (GLA) Airport5 reviews
★ 4.0Glasgow Private Transfer from Glasgow Airport to City centre30 reviews
★ 5.0Glasgow City to Edinburgh Airport4 reviews
★ 4.5Glasgow Airport – City Transfer7 reviews
★ 5.0Fun Glasgow City Centre Walking Tour GuidedFrom $419 reviews
★ 4.5Private Edinburgh City Tour10 reviews
★ 4.5City Escape: Loch Ness Private Day TripFrom $893 reviews
★ 5.0Edinburgh City Walking Tour, Discover Old Town, Royal Mile with a Local Expert!From $6529 reviews
★ 4.5Edinburgh City of Wizards Exploration Game and TourFrom $83 reviews
★ 5.0Private Executive Edinburgh Airport transfers to Edinburgh CityFrom $1104 reviews
★ 5.0Private Shore Excursion: Edinburgh City and Rosslyn Chapel6 reviews
★ 5.0Edinburgh City 4 Hour Private Guided Taxi Tour4 reviews

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