Things to do in Scotland
Day Trips from Edinburgh13 optionsEdinburgh Underground City14 optionsEdinburgh Tour Highlands44 optionsJacobite Steam Train Tours30 optionsEdinburgh Ghost Tour24 optionsStirling Castle Tours39 optionsWhiskey Tour Edinburgh13 optionsLoch Ness Tours58 optionsEdinburgh Walking Tour76 optionsBoat Tour Loch Ness9 optionsEdinburgh Airport Taxi10 optionsIsle of Skye Tours27 options
The unmissables
Most booked
Edinburgh: Underground Ghost Tour & Greyfriars Kirkyard★ 4.65 (10,634) · 1h 15m
Top rated
Loch Ness & Glencoe Tour from Edinburgh: Scottish Highlands★ 4.79 (7,327) · 12h 30m
Best value
Edinburgh: Underground Vaults & Royal Mile Dark History Tour★ 4.70 (9,389) · 1h
Recommended (7)
Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour & Entry Ticket★ 4.81 (6,736) · 1h 30m£ 41View ›
Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe & Highlands Day Tour★ 4.92 (6,430) · 12h 30m£ 45View ›
Edinburgh: Loch Ness & Highlands Small-Group Tour with Cruise★ 4.72 (6,275) · 12h£ 103View ›
Edinburgh: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe & Fort William Day Trip★ 4.93 (6,179) · 12h£ 45View ›
Edinburgh Castle Tour: Pre-Booked Entry & 3000 Years of History★ 4.89 (5,781) · 1h 30m£ 39View ›
Edinburgh: Harry Potter Walking Tour with Trivia & Castle Views★ 4.89 (4,609) · 2h£ 15.50View ›
Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glen Coe & Ben Nevis Full Day★ 4.76 (4,460) · 12h£ 69View ›Top rated (10)
Edinburgh: Lind & Lime Gin Distillery Tour & TastingYou arrive with a gin and tonic, learn the story of Lind and Lime, bottle and label your own 5cl bottle on the production line, then mix and sip a Gimlet cocktail while hearing more about the distillery. The whole thing takes 75 minutes and includes two drinks plus tastings in the shop. You leave with a bottle you made yourself and the skills to mix a proper Gimlet at home.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a hands-on distillery experience rather than just a tasting — the bottling line and cocktail-mixing parts are what turn it into something you actually do, not just watch.
Bruar Falls: Canyoning Adventure with Jumps & Waterfall RappelsYou’ll scramble through pine forests to leap into Bruar’s wild pools with local guides who know every ledge by heart. Expect jumps up to ten meters high, natural slides carved by centuries of water, and waterfall abseils that leave your pulse racing. Small groups mean more laughs (and more courage). You’ll walk away soaked but oddly proud — maybe even craving another go.
Edinburgh: Harry Potter & Horrible Histories Walking TourYou walk Edinburgh's Old Town with a specialist guide who connects J.K. Rowling's real writing spots to the city's medieval streets and darker history. You see the gravestones that inspired character names, visit the two cafes where Rowling wrote, stand in the Grassmarket execution site, and get views of Edinburgh Castle from angles most visitors miss. The group stays under twelve people, so the pace stays conversational and you're not fighting crowds.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand how Edinburgh actually inspired Harry Potter rather than chase film set locations, and you'd rather have a guide who knows both the literary history and the city's real past than navigate the Old Town alone trying to connect the dots yourself.
Edinburgh: Glencoe & Glenfinnan Viaduct with Steam TrainYou travel by mini-coach from Edinburgh through Callander and Glencoe, stopping for refreshments and lunch, then head to the Glenfinnan Viaduct overlooking Loch Shiel where you can watch the Jacobite Steam Train cross (April–October, weather and schedule permitting). The route also passes Fort William and Ben Nevis, with a final stop in Perthshire before returning to Edinburgh. A driver-guide handles all navigation and timing, so you just show up and ride.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Highlands scenery and the Glenfinnan Viaduct in a single day without renting a car or navigating between stops — the driver-guide handles the route and timing, which is what makes a ten-hour loop feel manageable instead of exhausting.
Edinburgh: Highlands & Loch Ness Private Tour with Ben NevisYou spend a full day in a private vehicle with a driver-guide, moving through Stirling Castle, Doune Castle, the Trossachs, Glencoe, Ben Nevis and Loch Ness. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, as are snacks and chilled water. You choose where to stop for photographs and whether to take the optional Loch Ness cruise. The vehicle is yours alone, not shared with other groups.Is it for me?This works well if you want to see the main Highlands landmarks in one day without renting a car or arranging your own transport and timing — the private vehicle and flexible stops mean you move at your own pace and don't follow a group schedule.
Scottish Highlands: 2-Hour Group Surf Lesson & EquipmentYou arrive at Dunnet Beach, get fitted into a quality wetsuit, and spend two hours learning to surf from experienced local instructors. The lesson includes on-sand instruction, personalized coaching in the water, and all equipment. Small group size means you get real attention, and the fixed 2-hour window keeps the session focused without dragging into the afternoon.Is it for me?Book this if you want to actually learn to surf in one session without renting equipment separately or worrying about the cold — the provided wetsuits and small group instruction mean you can focus on the waves instead of logistics.
Edinburgh: Royal Mile & Old Town Private Walking TourYou walk the Royal Mile and Old Town's closes with a local guide who carries archive photographs and dresses in a kilt, stopping at Greyfriars Kirkyard, the Grassmarket, St Giles, the Mercat Cross, and the University of Edinburgh. The tour covers Mary Queen of Scots, Deacon Brodie, Bonnie Prince Charlie, and the Burke and Hare murders, with Robert adjusting the pace and depth to your interests. It's a private tour, so you're not part of a larger group, and the whole experience is built around the stories that actually happened on these streets.Is it for me?This works best if you want the real stories behind Edinburgh's most famous streets without joining a larger group — the private format means Robert can slow down where you're curious and skip ahead where you're not. You'll need to be comfortable walking on cobblestones and uneven ground for several hours, but the pace is yours to set.
Glasgow: Ghosts & Gruesome Tales Night Walking TourYou’ll walk through Glasgow’s shadowy streets with a local guide who brings old tales to life—from grave robbers at ancient churches to witches in clocktowers and haunted cemeteries. Taste the city’s eerie atmosphere, see hidden murals, explore Glasgow Cathedral after dark, then finish off with a pint in a famous pub where stories linger longer than spirits.
Private Highlands Tour from Edinburgh: customize your dayYou spend a full day driving through the Central Highlands with a local guide who adjusts the route to what you actually want to see—castles, lochs, walks, whisky, or Rob Roy's story. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, the van is private, and you move at a pace that lets you linger or skip without holding anyone else up. Distillery visits are optional and booked separately.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see the Highlands without following a coach schedule or managing a rental car themselves. Expect a full day out with flexibility built in—that's what makes customizing the route possible without holding other passengers back.
Edinburgh: Sky to Sea Bike Tour, Arthur’s Seat & PortobelloYou’ll pedal from Arthur’s Seat down to Portobello Beach with a local guide who actually knows Edinburgh’s quirks—expect city views, salty air, and stories you won’t find in guidebooks. Includes hotel pickup, bottled water, all gear (even gloves if it rains), plus your choice of regular or e-bike for those climbs that sneak up on you.
Lowest price (10)
Edinburgh Old Town Walking Tour: Royal Mile & Greyfriars BobbyYou walk the Royal Mile from High Street down through St Giles' Cathedral and the Grassmarket to Greyfriars Kirkyard, hearing stories of Scottish history, William Wallace, and the legendary Greyfriars Bobby along the way. A local guide handles the narration and timing, so you don't have to plan the route or wonder what you're looking at. The tour ends near a museum, leaving your afternoon open.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Old Town landmarks connected by real stories rather than visited as separate stops — the guide's knowledge is what turns a walk into a narrative, and the fixed route means you don't spend time figuring out where to go next.
Edinburgh: Witch Hunts & Burke Murder Walking GameYou work through a self-guided game across Edinburgh's most haunted landmarks, solving clues at each stop to unlock stories of witchcraft trials, public executions, and infamous murders. Play offline, start anytime, and move at your own pace through Greyfriars Kirkyard, the Grassmarket, Mary King's Close, and beyond. No guide, no fixed schedule, no internet needed — just you, the clues, and the city's darkest past.Is it for me?Choose this if you want to explore Edinburgh's haunted history at your own pace without a guide's schedule dictating your day — the self-guided format means you can linger at any location, take breaks, or spread the experience across multiple visits without penalty.
Aberdeen: Crime & Punishment Audio Walking Tour by GPSYou’ll walk Aberdeen’s streets guided by your phone, hearing true stories of crime & punishment as you pass sites like Marischal College and Mercat Cross. Pause whenever you want for coffee or photos—just pick up where you left off. The audio brings old scandals and harsh laws alive in places you’d never expect. It might stick with you longer than you think.
Glasgow: Gothic Walking Tour at Night with Storytelling HostYou’ll walk Glasgow’s nighttime streets with a seasoned local host who brings ghost stories, body snatchers, and infamous murderers to life. Expect laughter mixed with chills as you explore hidden corners and hear tales you won’t find in guidebooks. If you’re up for some grown-up humor and real city legends after dark, this is your kind of evening.
Stirling Old Town Walking Tour: hidden jails and gravestone secretsYou walk the cobbled streets of Stirling's Old Town with a local guide for 1.5 hours, passing two jails, a 300-year-old graveyard, the Church of the Holy Rude, and Stirling Castle from the outside. The guide tells you stories about executions, witches, battles and everyday life instead of just dates. You get the history without arranging transport or entry fees separately, and you're back in town in time for lunch.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main stories of Stirling's Old Town without arranging a private guide or spending time researching which sights matter — a local guide who knows the place does both for you in 90 minutes.
Oban: Town Walking Tour with Distillery & Ceilidh StoriesYou’ll walk Oban’s lively streets with a local guide, hear real stories at St Columba’s Cathedral and the War and Peace Museum, see legends come alive at the Dog Stone, and catch whisky scents near Oban Distillery. Expect small surprises—a laugh over Gaelic words or a sudden sea breeze—that make you feel part of Oban for a morning.
Edinburgh: Royal Mile & Castle Walking Tour in SpanishYou walk the Royal Mile and Edinburgh's Old Town with a Spanish-speaking guide for three hours, stopping at Edinburgh Castle, St Giles' Cathedral, Greyfriars Kirkyard, and the Grassmarket. The guide shares historical facts, myths and legends about the Scottish capital while you navigate the atmospheric streets and alleyways. You'll see the major landmarks, hear the stories behind them, and end with an iconic view of the castle from a narrow close—no need to arrange your own route or worry about missing the context.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Edinburgh sights and their stories in one morning or afternoon without planning your own route—the guide handles the pacing and context, which is what turns a walk into an understanding of how the city actually works.
Edinburgh Old Town Pub Crawl: 5 Bars, Free Shots & Queue JumpYou get taken through five-plus bars in Edinburgh Old Town with free entry, a free shot at each venue, discounted drinks on a wristband, and all the night's photos afterward. The guide handles the route and timing, so you just show up at Stockbridge Market and go. Book if you want the main spots without the queue stress and the logistics sorted.Is it for me?Book this if you want to hit Edinburgh's best drinking spots without figuring out the route, waiting in queues, or paying cover charges — the guide and the wristband deals handle all three. Group size and composition are restricted to keep the vibe right, so check the rules before booking.
Edinburgh Comedy Attic: Late-Night Stand-Up & Drinks Above PubYou get admission to an intimate, rotating stand-up show hosted by Rick Molland with three acts pulled from the UK circuit each night. The room is small enough that comedians can see you react, heckling is fair game, and the late-night slot means no early finish. Book ahead—seats fill fast.Is it for me?Book this if you want stand-up comedy without the theater-seat distance—the room is small enough that the show feels like a conversation, and the rotating line-up means no two nights are the same. The late-night slot and pub setting keep the energy high without an early finish.
Edinburgh: Harry Potter Walking Tour & Castle ViewsYou walk the Royal Mile, stop at Greyfriars Kirkyard to see the real graves that inspired character names, pass Victoria Street (Diagon Alley's model), and end with views of Edinburgh Castle. A local guide handles the two hours and the connections; kids go free. No need to arrange your own route or miss the smaller details that make the walk worth taking.Is it for me?Pick this if you want the Harry Potter locations without planning the route yourself and want to understand why each place mattered to Rowling—the guide does that work. Kids going free makes it practical for families.
