Edinburgh: Underground Vaults Ghost Tour & Whisky Tasting
Stories of Blood & Witchcraft in Edinburgh's Deepest Vaults
You descend into Edinburgh's largest underground vaults with a master storyteller, hear true accounts of witchcraft and torture through audio-enhanced narration, then warm up in a candlelit cellar with a whisky or local ale. Small groups, year-round departures, children five and up welcome.
Step-by-step itinerary
Evening ghost tour and whisky tasting
- Meet at Mercat Cross
- Join Edinburgh mob reenactment
- Hear tales of witchcraft and spirits
- Explore medieval closes and vaults
- Descend into Blair Street Underground Vaults
- Listen to storyteller's horrific stories
- Gather in Megget’s Cellar for whisky
- Enjoy more ghost stories by candlelight
- Mercat Cross Entry included 30m
- Edinburgh Old Town 30m
- Stockbridge Market Entry included 1h
What’s included
Your evening includes entry to Blair Street Underground Vaults, a dram of whisky or a glass of locally-made pale ale or soft drink served in Megget's Cellar, a small-group experience with a master Storyteller guide, exclusive access to the hand-picked Sounds of Edinburgh audio playlist delivered through TourTalk devices, and candlelit storytelling in the cellar. Service animals are welcome.
- Every day 19:00
Information
Evening ghost tour through Blair Street Underground Vaults with storyteller, whisky tasting in candlelit cellar, and exclusive audio experience. Small groups, all year round.
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Traveler reviews
The experience
Your Storyteller meets you at the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh Old Town as the light starts to fade. From there, the medieval closes narrow and the air shifts. You're about to descend into Blair Street Underground Vaults, the city's largest and deepest caverns, where the real stories live. The tour doesn't just tell you about witchcraft, torture and restless spirits. It layers them in. You'll hear the distant clatter of workmen, whispers of criminals, and the cries of crowds that once surged past this very spot. A hand-picked audio playlist of Edinburgh sounds plays through TourTalk devices, so the atmosphere isn't just what your guide says. It's what you hear around you.
The vaults themselves are cold and dimly lit, and your cloaked guide moves through them with the ease of someone who knows every story, every corner. The tales are grisly and they're all true: witches burned, bodies hidden, debts settled in darkness. You're not standing in a museum. You're standing where it happened. After about an hour moving through the caverns, the group gathers in Megget's Cellar, where candlelight and warmth replace the stone and shadow. That's when you get your dram of whisky, or if whisky isn't your thing, a locally-made pale ale or soft drink. Your Storyteller doesn't stop talking: the stories just get more intimate, more conjured, as if the candlelight itself is pulling them out of the walls.
The whole experience is built around small groups, which means you're not shuffling through with fifty other people. Children from age five can join, and the tour runs year-round, so you'll need comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate layers: the vaults don't warm up just because it's summer. The multi-sensory approach (the sounds, the guide's voice, the whisky warming your hands) is what sets this apart from a standard ghost walk. You're not just learning Edinburgh's past. You're meant to take it home with you: the smell of leather and smoke, the playlist, the stories that stick.
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.
What time does the tour start?
The tour departs in the evening (exact time varies by season). Check your booking confirmation for the precise departure time.
What if I don't drink whisky?
A locally-made pale ale or soft drink is offered instead. You'll still gather in Megget's Cellar for the final part of the tour.
Are the vaults accessible if I have mobility issues?
The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, but the vaults involve descending into caverns and walking through narrow medieval closes. If you have specific mobility concerns, contact the operator before booking.
Do I need to book in advance?
Tours are guaranteed year-round, but booking in advance is recommended, especially during peak tourist season.
What should I wear?
Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. The vaults stay cool year-round, so a light jacket is a good idea even in summer.
Is this tour run by Mercat Tours?
Yes, this is a Mercat Tours experience. They're known as Edinburgh's Master Storytellers and specialize in walking tours that connect visitors with the city's history and people.
Operated by Mercat Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated today
Edinburgh: Underground Vaults Ghost Tour & Whisky Tasting
2h · EN
from £ 32 per person
≈ US$ 43 in your currency
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