Scotland · EDINBURGH TOURS

The 15 Best Edinburgh Tours & Tickets

487 tours  ·  from $5

Edinburgh rewards an early start and a plan for the rain. Build a first visit out of these 15: the castle and the Royal Mile, the vaults under South Bridge, and the minibuses that leave for the Highlands before nine.

The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour - Greyfriars Kirkyard and Edinburgh’s graveyard legends
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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 after dark with a costumed guide playing characters such as Dr Robert Knox, Lafayette, or the Fairy Wife. Hear grim tales in the closes, visit Greyfriars Kirkyard, then enter the South Bridge vaults. The 75-minute tour is in English, costs $26.35, and suits families at 6:45pm.

“Can’t express enough how much fun I had exploring Edinburgh at night with the Fairy Wife. She transported us to the 16th century with colorful and enthusiastic storytelling. Genuinely one a kind!”

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Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town - Entering the dark, chilly chambers
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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 in Edinburgh’s Old Town for a guided walk along part of the Royal Mile before entering the chilly South Bridge vaults. Guides such as James, Louisa, Joshua, Kieran, and Aimee share stories of hardship, crime, witchcraft, and ghostly sightings. Expect uneven ground, tight spaces, and steep steps.

“Great tour that gives a great insight into the history of the vaults as well as being slightly spooky. We couldn't have asked for a better tour guide than Kieran. He was knowledgeable, entertaining, funny and friendly!”

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Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe and Pitlochry Tour - Glencoe: powerful scenery, very little time
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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, Glencoe, Fort William, Loch Ness, Cairngorms National Park, and Pitlochry in about 12.5 hours. Your Hairy Coo driver-guide, such as John, Rod, William, or David, provides live stories and local context. Choose a Loch Ness cruise, Urquhart Castle visit, or Deanston whisky stop.

“We had a great time with Allen! Would definitely request him again for any other Scottish tours that I did. He was very accommodating to my family who gets car sick easily and made sure we could sit at the front. He was also so kind to pull over every chance he got so we could see lots of different sites.”

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Loch Ness & Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh with Cruise - Glencoe: Scotland’s beauty with a darker story
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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, stopping at Callander, Glencoe, Fort Augustus, Spean Bridge, Pitlochry, and the Forth Bridge. A 50-minute Loch Ness cruise is included, while meals and drinks are extra.

“Long day , yet so worth it. Bus tour, great guide called Stefan that was most knowledgeable. The Scottish highlands, Glencoe and Lochness were wonderful.”

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Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket - Inside the fortress walls for about 70 minutes
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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

Enter Edinburgh Castle with a reserved ticket and spend about 90 minutes on a guided walk through its historic grounds. Guides such as Joe, Raj, Sonia, Valeria, and Jen bring Scottish stories to life, then leave you free to explore the palace, museums, prisons, and Great Hall.

“I would recommend this tour as it covers Edinburgh Castle long and fabulous history. We went with Niamh who is an excellent tour guide, very passionate and knowledgeable with a great sense of humour.”

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Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour in English - The walk toward Edinburgh Castle
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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 near Adam Smith’s statue on the Royal Mile for a 90-minute English tour led by guides such as Koffe, Steph, Greg, or Graeme. Hear Scottish stories on the walk to Edinburgh Castle, enter with a skip-the-line ticket, then explore the castle buildings independently.

“What a fascinating tour of the castle! Our guide Steph is the best ever…she told us so much about Scottish history, and she made it alive with her story telling skills and passion about for her land and people.”

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Edinburgh: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe & Fort William - Fort William for lunch and a proper break
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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

Travel from Edinburgh into the Highlands with an English-speaking driver-guide, stopping at Callander, Glencoe, Fort William, Glenfinnan Viaduct, and Pitlochry. You’ll have photo breaks, lunch time, and a chance to see the seasonal Jacobite Steam Train, though train sightings are not guaranteed.

“Alaistar was a great guide. Very knowledgeable and funny. Beautiful scenery. I highly recommend this tour.”

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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

At The Chocolatarium in Edinburgh’s Old Town, you’ll follow cocoa from tree to chocolate bar, taste more than 30 varieties, and make a custom bar to take home. Guides such as Coco, Kelly, Hannah, and Bogi keep the 90-minute visit lively for adults and children age six and up.

“Book early! Very entertaining, educational and delicious way to spend a couple of hours! Chocolate expert Hannah was terrific.”

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Original Harry Potter Locations Tour in Edinburgh : Guided Tour - Why the guide matters so much
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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

Walk 1.5 miles through Edinburgh’s Old Town with guides such as Robbie, Jenny, Orla, and Xander, linking Harry Potter to Greyfriars Kirkyard, Diagon Alley, the Royal Mile, Princes Street, and Edinburgh Castle. Expect quizzes, local stories, and an easy pace, but dress for wet weather.

“We had a fantastic time on the Harry Potter walking tour in Edinburgh! Our guide, Orla, was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. She brought the stories to life and shared lots of fascinating facts about Edinburgh itself, which made the tour feel even richer. I especially loved the house tournament quiz we did along the way — such a fun touch, and having a winner at the end added a nice bit of excitement. Overall, a really enjoyable experience and highly recommended for any Harry Potter fan visiting the city!”

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Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder and Legends - Calton Hill for witch trials and wide city views
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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

Walk from the Royal Mile through shadowy closes, North Bridge, Calton Hill, and a historic burial ground. Guides such as Niamh, G, Brian, and James bring Edinburgh’s murders, witch trials, body snatchers, and legends to life before finishing at a local pub.

“Not like regular guides tours! Lots of facts and fun! Even our teens enjoyed the tour. Lovely guide!”

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Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe & The Highlands - Callander: coffee, comfort, and possible Highland Cows
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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 by air-conditioned coach. Visit Callander, Glencoe, Fort William, Loch Ness, Pitlochry, and the Commando Monument, with an optional boat cruise at Fort Augustus. Guides such as Keith, Anthony, Brian, and Ross add history, humor, music, and local stories.

“While it is a long day -- it's well worth the journey. The drive through the Highlands was the highlight for us. Simply stunning. We loved Glencoe. Loch Ness itself was nice, and we're glad we visited. The other stops along the way were, however, so much more incredible.”

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Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness and Glencoe Day Trip from Edinburgh - Leaving Edinburgh and crossing the Forth
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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

Travel from Edinburgh into the Highlands with an English-speaking driver-guide, stopping in Perthshire, the Cairngorms, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, and Glencoe. You can add a Loch Ness cruise and castle visit for £30 cash per adult. Expect a long, scenic day with short stops and limited meal time.

“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 - Holyroodhouse and the eastern end of the route
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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 entertaining conductor recounts executions, Burke and Hare, witch hunts, and haunted sites. Expect comic acting, spooky effects, and views of the Royal Mile, Greyfriars, Grassmarket, Edinburgh Castle, and Holyroodhouse. Tours run in English for about an hour.

“It was brilliant definitely worth it fantastic hosts very entertaining had lots of laughs on this tour”

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

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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The Potter Trail Private Tour - Potterrow and the place linked to early writing
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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 guide through Edinburgh’s Old Town to see gravestones linked to Harry Potter names, possible Hogwarts inspirations, Potterrow, the Elephant House, and Victoria Street. Guides such as Caroline, Charlie, Allister, and Roisin add stories, humor, spells, and local context.

“We had a wonderful morning with Roshiun (sorry if I misspelled your name). She was very friendly and informative. We learned quite a lot about Edinburgh, JK Rowling and the Harry Potter trail. Don't hesitate to book this tour, it was well worth the money!”

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